Sociology

Your destination: Degree-level study at UoA

Sociology looks at how people interact, the institutions they create, and the cultural beliefs and practices that shape their lives. Sociologists study colonialism, racial and environmental justice, migration, health systems, sexuality and gender, class and labour issues, legal and penal systems, disasters, and much more.

As sociologists we care about how the world works, and we wish to leave things better than we found them. Our graduates have therefore been drawn to jobs in policy analysis, law, journalism, union advocacy, central and local government, economic and social justice, environmental activism, marketing, business and more.

We don’t just prepare students for their first job out of university. We’re committed to building skills and attitudes that prepare them for jobs that haven’t even been invented yet.

Begin your journey into Sociology by way of the TFC:

Semester One

TFCSOC 91F: Foundation Sociology 1

We introduce the fundamental building blocks of sociology. You will explore key sociological concepts that explain social inequalities, enabling you to think sociologically about this issue. In particular, students learn how social structures (for example, class, race/ethnicity, gender and sexuality), social institutions (for instance, the state) as well as interactions between people produce and sustain various forms of inequality.

Assessments

  • Assignments: 60%
  • Exam: 40%

Timetable

  • Lecture: two one-hour lectures per week
  • Tutorial: two one-hour tutorials per week

Semester Two

TFCSOC 92F: Foundation Sociology 2

In this course, you will further develop your sociological thinking by exploring people's diverse experiences of living in Aotearoa New Zealand and of being a New Zealander. We will do this by examining the social norms, values and experiences of different individuals and communities across Aotearoa New Zealand. Drawing on a variety of case studies, we will look at the way in which people and communities here have vastly different experiences, which show that being a "New Zealander" means a multitude of things.

Assessments

  • Coursework: 50%
  • Final Exam: 50%

Timetable

  • Lecture: two one-hour lectures per week
  • Tutorial: two one-hour tutorials per week