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Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
114
Is it the right course for you?
If you want to understand the changes taking place in the
world today, and you’re curious about people and society, then
sociology is for you. As an area of university study, it discusses
numerous ways of describing and analysing society and
investigating social change. Ireland and the world are currently
experiencing rapid processes of social change. The old world
is changing, but what will the new world be like, and how can
we participate in its development? Sociology is foremost among
the social sciences in its understanding of social change.
Course content
The Freshman years
The Junior Freshman (first) year comprises foundation courses
in Sociology, Political science and Economic policy. In the
Senior Freshman (second) year you study issues around gender
and society in different cultures, European societies, and are
introduced to sociological research methods.
The Sophister years
Specialisation in sociological topic areas, and more advanced
analysis, research and presentation skills are provided in the
Sophister (third and fourth) years. In your Junior Sophister
(third) year, you learn about social theory, globalisation and
development, race, ethnicity and identity, and carry out research
projects involving analysis of both numerical data from surveys,
and verbal data that are the outcomes of recorded interviews
and focus groups. The Senior Sophister year offers courses in a
variety of substantive topic areas, including popular culture and
digital lives, the economic sociology of Europe, migration, and
conflict studies. You have the opportunity to carry out your own
independent research project
from start to finish on a topic
of your choice (recent projects included: Immigration and the
prison system, Unmarried fathers’ participation in their children’s
lives, and Counter-urbanisation in the Irish countryside). Many
students find this the most satisfying part of the whole four
years. They also find it a great asset when talking to employers
and applying for jobs.
Assessment
Courses are examined by a combination of continuous
assessment and formal examination. Lectures and tutorials
take up 6 to 10 hours a week, depending on the year.
Study abroad
Students may participate in full-year or half-year exchanges with
universities in France, Italy, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Turkey,
the Czech Republic, Malta and Denmark as well as Australia,
Singapore, China, Canada and the USA in their third year.
Some of these universities offer their courses through English.
Career opportunities
Sociologists work in a wide variety of settings. Sociology
graduates find that their broad training and appreciation
of how society and people work means they can thrive in
careers in the public service, community development, in social
research in statutory or voluntary social-service organisations,
in the print and broadcast media, in business or as university
lecturers. Graduates are working for organisations as diverse
as Goodbody Stockbrokers, the ESRI, the Abbey Theatre,
the Department of Foreign Affairs, Friends of the Earth and
Enterprise Ireland. Careers range from industrial relations to
fashion and marketing and from teaching to tourism.
Did you know?
n
The Department of Sociology is a leading participant
in the Trinity Immigration Initiative and in the Centre for
Post Conflict Justice. It also specialises in research on
technology and society, and on globalisation, reflecting
the integration of Ireland into a globalising world and
the need to understand the processes and implications
involved.
Further information
www.tcd.ie/Sociology
Tel: +353 1 896 2701