BASS Politics and Sociology

This module aims to introduce the discipline of sociology through the lens of inequalities in contemporary British society. It explores how sociological perspectives are suited to making sense of inequalities and introduces students to a range of different forms of inequality, such as class, race and gender. This module is perfect for those who have previously studied sociology and want to explore it further, as well as for those who are new to the discipline.  

The course aims to:

1. Introduce students to the discipline of sociology through a focus on inequalities in contemporary British society.
2. Introduce students to a range of topics and forms of inequality, for instance class, race and gender, and develop their understandings of particular areas for sociological study (e.g. Education; Cultural Representations; Health and so on).
3. Help students to gain an awareness of theoretical ideas and empirical research so  they have an understanding of the relationship between sociological arguments and  evidence.
4. Enhance study skills by introducing students to a body of literature that they must read and evaluate for class discussions, exercises and assessments.  
5. Help students develop a sense of the complexity of social life and different explanations of it and how to develop a reasoned argument around them. 

Understand what it means to consider British society from a sociological perspective and to have a sense of the different fields within the discipline of sociology.

Have an understanding of the inherently social nature of everyday life and the various inequalities persisting within it. In addition to appreciating the processes by which social change and social stability co-exist.

Be able to analyse and answer questions sociologically.

Know more about a variety of theoretical perspectives in the discipline.

Be able to engage with different ideas and novel ways of seeing things.

Have a better understanding of recent empirical research.

Be aware of the use of different research methodologies and how they shape substantive findings.

Understand the relationship between theory and research.

Be able to handle a greater volume of reading material than before.

Know how to apply what they have learnt from readings to class discussions and exercises in essay writing                                                  

Appreciate the complexity of social situations and events and how they can give rise to different explanations that must be assessed in a reasoned way

The course units described here are indicative and may change year to year:

Introductions: Thinking Sociologically (Sociological Perspectives; Making Sociology Global)

Class Inequalities (Understanding Social Class; Class Inequalities in Context)

Race and Racism

Gender and intersectional inequalities (Understanding gender and feminist sociological perspectives; social inequalities as complex and interrelated).

Each week there will be a two-hour lecture and a one-hour tutorial.  Students’ weekly engagement with the Canvas e-learning page is essential. There may also be a range of digital mechanisms used in-class such as menti-meter and padlet (with discussions, polls and quizzes etc). Activities are synchronous.  

Critically appraise ‘British society’ and inequality from a sociological perspective

Understand a variety of theoretical perspectives in the discipline

Be aware of the use of different research methodologies and how they shape substantive findings

Appreciate the relationship between theory and research

Make sociological arguments using theory and research

Appreciate the complexity of social situations and events and how they can give rise to different explanations that must be assessed in a reasoned way 

Formative assessment:

one non-assessed task offering formative feedback

Summative assessment:

100% One assessed piece of coursework (1500 words)

All sociology courses include both formative feedback – which lets you know how you’re getting on and what you could do to improve – and summative feedback – which gives you a mark for your assessed work.

Required readings will be made available electronically via Canvas. All other readings should be available from the University Main Library. The following more general textbooks are helpful and recommended:

Giddens, A. and Sutton, P.W. (2017) Sociology, Cambridge: Polity Press.

Macionis, J. and Plummer, K. (2012) Sociology a Global Introduction, Harlow: Pearson.

Cohen, R. and Kennedy, P. (2007) Global Sociology, London: Palgrave.  

Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2027 will be £10,050 per annum. Tuition fees for international students will be £29,200 per annum.

For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships and bursaries, including the Manchester Bursary , are available to eligible home/EU students.

Some undergraduate UK students will receive bursaries of up to £2,000 per year, in addition to the government package of maintenance grants.

You can get information and advice on student finance to help you manage your money.