Program Overview

Our course provides a thorough training in the major areas of sociology and human rights. Growing your understanding of both fields, and developing a wide array of practical research skills, you are encouraged to explore and address the broadest questions about our society. You cover the many different social tensions, interactions and networks that make up everyday life, as well as the definition, development, and abuse of rights around the globe. With an impressive range of optional modules to choose from, you can engage your curiosity about a wide range of topics such as:

• Forms of democracy
• Principles and practices of human rights
• Ethics and public policy
• Citizenship, multiculturalism and human rights
• Social divisions and inequality

You also have the opportunity to complete a supervised dissertation on a topic that inspires you, encouraging you to think differently and connect with live issues and debates, and preparing you for your graduate career.

Placement year

Alternatively, on a placement year you can gain relevant work experience within an external business, giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market and providing you with key contacts within the industry. You will be responsible for finding your placement, but with support and guidance provided by both your department and our Placements Team.

A Placement-Linked Project module is also available as an alternative to the dissertation module in your third year. You attend shorter placements (a minimum of 150 hours in total), and use your learning on placement to inform a research project; fantastic work experience for your CV.

If you complete a placement year you'll only pay 20% of your usual tuition fee to Essex for that year.