MA Sociology

University of Essex

Join one of the top sociology departments in the UK, ranked 59th globally and 10th in the UK for sociology in the QS World University Rankings by Subject (2023), and further your understanding of the tensions, interactions and networks that dictate how societies are organised. You contribute to the thinking that guides organisations such as the Home Office, Amnesty International and the United Nations.You explore some of the most important and significant debates in contemporary social theory, learning to think analytically about theoretical questions. You discover the importance of social theory in developing a politically engaged understanding of concepts such as post-structuralism, feminism and actor-network theory, focusing on topics such as:The history of digital piracySociology of human rightsMedia and criminologyGender and sexualityCitizenshipYou also develop the skills needed to make your own contribution to the field, gaining a critical and coherent perspective on empirical research and examining the key assumptions and ideological underpinnings of qualitative and quantitative research.Our Department of Sociology and Criminology is 2nd in UK for research power in sociology (Times Higher Education research power measure, Research Excellence Framework 2021).