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SOCIOLOGY

Supplementary subject 

About the programme
Language: English | Place of study: Aarhus  |  Commencement: August / september

Introduction

Sociology involves the study of human social relations, interactions and actions. On the supplementary subject in sociology, you will thus explore both specific practices of individuals, and social dynamics in small groups and large organisations and institutions, as well as entire societies. The aim of sociology is to gain knowledge of human communities and societies and their fundamental principles and contexts, as well as learning how and why they develop over time.

Individual, group, organisation and society

The supplementary subject gives you a sound introduction to sociology as a discipline within the social sciences, including the central theories, methods and topic areas of sociology. Students gain academic and theoretical knowledge as well as specific methodological and analytical skills which will enable them to identify, examine and analyse current issues of relevance to society based on the academic field of sociology and their own core competences. The supplementary subject involves collaboration between the Department of Anthropology and the Department of Philosophy and History of Ideas. The supplementary subject thus provides you with a cross-disciplinary basis for working in a range of different fields with central significance for society; and you will gain a foundation for working in various occupational functions in the public and private sector. Part of the supplementary subject focuses in particular on political and economic sociology, and a number of the courses have a practical dimension. You will also learn to collect your own qualitative empirical data.

Questions

  • What is it that ties communities such as small groups or large societies together? Or in other words: What does their social cohesion consist of?
  • How do social differences and inequalities arise, how are they reproduced, and what is their impact on a group or society?
  • What is globalisation, and how do global developments influence life as it is lived in various local communities?
  • How does the war on terror affect society and relations between various parts of the population

Admission requirements

In order to be admitted to a supplementary subject, you have to be enrolled in a bachelor’s degree programme at a Danish University. Futhermore, the academic regulations of the bachelor’s degree programme have to allow for a combination with supplementary subject. 

ECTS requirements

It is a requirement that you have passed 60 ECTS credits in your core subject before 15 April. Introductory courses are not included when calculating these ECTS credits. 

Level requirements

English B

History B or History of Ideas B or Comtemporary History B or Social Science B

If you do not meet the level requirements, you can supplement subject levels.

Restricted admission

40 seats. The number of seats is indicative and can be adjusted continuously by the university.

In evaluating qualified applicants, the admissions committee assesses each applicant on the basis of the average mark (i.e. GPA) obtained in the core subject in the Bachelor’s degree by 15 April. Propaedeutic courses are not included in the GPA.

All Bachelor’s supplementary subjects require a sufficient number of participants. Therefore, we kindly urge you to make up to four applications to make sure you are admitted to a Bachelor’s supplementary subject in case your highest priority is not offered. The same applies if your highest priority has restricted admission and not all qualified applicants are admitted.

Non-permissible combinations of subjects

You cannot take a supplementary subject in the same field as your central subject. The general rule is that you may not choose a Bachelor’s supplementary subject with the same title as your central subject.

If you are supplementing a subject level in the Danish upper secondary school and do not finish the supplementary subject before August, you have to upload the documentation that you are registered for the supplementary subject to your application for admission no later than 1 August. Deadline for uploading documentation for passed supplementary subject is 5 September.

Academic regulations

The academic regulations contain further information about the structure of the supplementary subject in sociology, what it contains, and what will be expected of you as a student. You can also read about the types of exam and the exam requirements.

-       SEE ACADEMIC REGULATIONS

Structure bachelor

 

Student life

The academic life of students of sociology

Most of the teaching involves classroom instruction, but considerable emphasis is placed on connecting the theoretical teaching with specific cases, the analysis of these cases, and practical exercises. Students will also be given the opportunity to apply the methods and forms of analysis of sociology in practice by collaborating with external partners such as institutions, organisations or companies. Study groups will consist of a variety of core competences. This will ensure that students are given cross-disciplinary challenges and invited to collaborate across academic areas, as well as investing their own core competence in the exploration of sociology.

The social life of students of sociology

The supplementary subject in sociology is taught at a central location on the university campus, giving you access to a wide range of social activities. You’ll be able to find a Friday bar, and before the semester starts there is an introduction to the supplementary subject involving both academic and social activities.

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Career

A supplementary subject in sociology will add a new dimension to your core academic competence. You will gain a range of methodological and analytical skills enabling you to independently and systematically collect, process and assess empirical data with a view to performing a sociological analysis of current issues of relevance to society. You will develop the ability to select, use and assess qualitative methods; you will gain basic understanding of quantitative methods; and you will learn to find and interpret patterns in a body of material ranging from analyses of local practice to national or even global processes. Finally, you will have the opportunity to gain experience of practical collaboration with organisations and institutions, as well as gaining experience of cross-disciplinary teamwork.

In combination with your core competence, a supplementary subject in sociology can give you the chance to apply for work in many different areas such as analysis and consulting, administration and organisation, politics and development, research and evaluation, and teaching and education. For instance, you could work with analysis in a special-interest organisation or a firm of consultants, involving the collection and interpretation of data. You can also apply for jobs in the fields of administration and HR, where you can contribute to the development of an organisation and its employees. Or you could teach at university colleges or other institutions of higher education, where the field of sociology is included in a wide range of the courses on offer.