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Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
112
Sociology
COURSE CODES:
PLACES 2012:
POINTS 2011:
DEGREE AWARDED:
TR001 (TSM)
59
390*-565
B.A.
TSM points:
See page 27
Sociology at Trinity College may be studied through four
different degree programmes: TR001 (TSM), TR015
(PPES), TR081 (BESS), and TR083 (Sociology and social
policy).
Sociology (TR001) cannot be studied as a single honor
course. It must be combined with one other subject within
the two-subject moderatorship (TSM) programme. TSM is
a joint honor programme. An honors degree is awarded in
both subjects. See page 36 for a list of the subjects that
can be combined with Sociology.
Within BESS (TR081), after a common first year, students
choose 6 modules in the second year and then proceed to
either specialise in Sociology or to combine it with one of
Economics, Political science or Business. See page 37.
Philosophy, political science, economics and sociology
(PPES/TR015) has a similar structure to BESS but with
Philosophy replacing Business as a subject. See page 99.
See also:
TR083: Sociology and social policy, page 113
What is Sociology?
Sociology is the study of social life, social change, and the social
causes and consequences of human behaviour. Sociologists
investigate the structure of groups, organisations, and societies,
and how people interact within these contexts. The discipline
recognises that class, race, age, gender, culture and technology
determine the path of an individual’s life in ways that become
more clearly visible through the study of sociology. Sociology is
committed to the exploration of the social and cultural challenges
facing fast-changing contemporary societies and equipping
students with research methods skills. Because sociology
addresses the most challenging issues of our time, it is a rapidly
expanding field, the potential of which is increasingly tapped into
by those who craft policies and create public programmes.
Course overview
Each of the four degree courses through which sociology
may be studied cover a range of subjects including migration,
work, employment and organisations, innovation, technology
and society, globalisation and development, gender, conflict,
post conflict and social movements, family, race, ethnicity and
identity, education, popular culture and digital lives.
Is it the right course for you?
If you want to understand the social changes taking place in the
world today, and you’re curious about people and society, then
Sociology is for you. As an area of university study, it discusses
numerous ways of describing and analysing society and
investigating social change. Ireland and the world are currently
experiencing rapid processes of social change. The old world is
changing, but what will the new world be like, and how can we
participate in its development? Sociology is foremost among the
social sciences in its understanding of social change.
Course content
The Freshman years
The Junior Freshman (first) year comprises foundation modules
in Sociology, Political science and Economic policy. In the
Senior Freshman (second) year you study issues around gender
and society in different cultures, European societies, and are
introduced to sociological research methods.
The Sophister years
Specialisation in sociological topic areas, and more advanced
analysis, research and presentation skills are provided in the
Sophister (third and fourth) years. In your Junior Sophister
(third) year, you learn about social theory, globalisation and
development, race, ethnicity and identity, and carry out research
projects involving analysis of both numerical data from surveys,
and verbal data that are the outcomes of recorded interviews
and focus groups. The Senior Sophister year offers modules
in a variety of topic areas, including popular culture and
digital lives, the economic sociology of Europe, migration, and
conflict studies. You have the opportunity to carry out your own
independent research project from start to finish on a topic
of your choice (recent projects included: Immigration and the
prison system, Unmarried fathers’ participation in their children’s
lives, and Counter-urbanisation in the Irish countryside). Many
students find this the most satisfying part of the whole four
years. They also find it a great asset when talking to employers
and applying for jobs.
Assessment
Modules are examined by a combination of continuous
assessment and formal examination. Lectures and tutorials take
up 6 to 10 hours a week, depending on the year.
Study abroad
Students may participate in full-year or half-year exchanges with
universities in France, Italy, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Turkey,
the Czech Republic, Malta and Denmark as well as Australia,
Singapore, China, Canada and the USA in their third year. Some
of these universities offer their courses through English.