University of Wolverhampton, BA (Hons), Philosophy and Sociology

Philosophy Year 1: Introduction to critical thinking and philosophy; explores ways of living that are thought to be immoral, dangerous or unhealthy, and asks why we often find certain kinds of bad behaviour exciting and attractive. Year 2: Key traditions in moral philosophy and students get the chance to assess their own moral intuitions and concepts; students acquaint themselves with classical epistemology - the theory of knowledge - and its problems and difficulties; they may also investigate the Enlightenment - widely regarded as the movement that formed the central institutions and structures of the modern western world. Year 3: Embraces the ethical issues arising from relations between the individual and the state/the law, and the means used to bring about legal and political change; students explore current understanding of conscious intelligence, or explore the traditional place of women within philosophy; they may also investigate what it is to be true to yourself, with the freedom to determine who you really want to be. Sociology Year 1: Explores a variety of themes including gender, leisure and popular entertainment; students are encouraged to think sociologically about issues such as crime, women's campaigning and volunteering; the 1st year also considers the impact of industrialisation and urbanisation, and the emergence and development of capitalist industrial societies. Year 2: Looks at social and cultural change in contemporary Britain; it discusses gender relations, police and society, and theories of crime; race and racism is explored, as is political sociology, and students get the chance to investigate both classical and contemporary sociological theory. Year 3: Covers key themes in sociological reasoning, family diversity, and contemporary issues in criminology; students may explore gender and development in non western societies, the sociology of health and illness, and global educational issues; the changing role of work in social and cultural life is considered, and students may investigate ageing in society as well as the nature and impact of globalisation; students could also undertake a placement where they carry out a practical piece of research usually for a voluntary or community organisation.