Welcome to the Department of Sociology
WELCOME TO THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY AT TRINITY COLLEGE , UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN
The Department of Sociology at Trinity College , University of Dublin is a vibrant, outward looking department that combines intensive research activity with a strong commitment to high quality undergraduate and postgraduate teaching. It is a member of the School of Social Sciences and Philosophy, one of around 24 schools within Trinity.
What is Sociology?
| The American Sociologist C. Wright Mills coined the term sociological imagination to describe the process of linking individual experience with social institutions and one’s place in history. Sociological imagination suggests that people look at their own personal problems as social issues, and try to connect their own personal experiences with the workings of society. The sociological imagination enables people to distinguish between personal troubles and public issues. One of the primary goals of sociological imagination is to help develop the ability to participate in social life and step back and analyse broader meanings of what is going on in the world around us. |
The Department of Sociology at Trinity College Dublin is committed to exploring the social and cultural challenges facing fast changing contemporary societies and equipping students with research methods skills.
Examples of issues addressed specifically by sociologists in Trinity College include:
- social inequalities of all kinds
- the meanings of culture and identity
- the changing nature of work
- multiculturalism, race relations and immigration
- national and ethnic conflicts
- changing gender relations
- the social aspects of climate change
The Department is located beside the main Trinity campus in the centre of Dublin, next to the world-renowned Temple Bar and within walking distance to government departments and the Dáil (Irish Parliament), the National Library, the National Museum, the National Gallery, and close to Dublin’s main shopping area. Trinity College ’s commitment to excellence ensures that staff and students have access to one of the finest academic libraries in Europe and to a wealth of electronic resources. Members of staff publish regularly in peer-reviewed journals and produce books and book chapters with significant academic impact. For staff research interests please see individual entries, and Research
Every year, the Department of Sociology welcomes a number of Erasmus, international exchange and visiting students from Europe and around the world on its undergraduate courses. For details about the various exchange and visiting programmes please see individual entries on our homepage or contact Dr Daniel Faas, daniel.faas@tcd.ie
Students equipped with third-level qualifications in Sociology are well placed to understand the world and obtain rewarding careers in a range of occupations in Ireland , Europe and beyond. Our graduates fill positions in the public and private sector, the media, management, the civil service, policy analysis and evaluation, human service delivery and social planning in areas such as health and education, NGOs and research institutions.
Postgraduate teaching
Doctoral research programme:
Our research postgraduates have a good rate of success in obtaining research scholarships and postdoctoral fellowships. Many of our graduates have attained academic positions, for example:
Taught Masters programmes :
The innovative, 12-month inter-disciplinary M.Phil in Race Ethnicity, Conflict draws students from around the world. Graduates make an important contribution to social policy and research in relation to immigration, ethnicity and antiracism in Ireland and abroad. Please contact the course coordinator Dr Ronit Lentin, rlentin@tcd.ie
A new taught Masters programmes is planned for 2010-11:
MSc in European Employment Studies . Please contact Dr Torben Krings, tkrings@tcd.ie
The Department of Sociology’s research activities focus on globalization, migration and ethnicity; employment and the labour market, through the Employment Research Centre; environment; conflict resolution; information and communication technologies; development; culture and identity; and attitudes to family formation. TCD sociologists are involved with TCD’s Institute of International Integration Studies (IIIS), the Social Attitude and Policy Research Group http://www.social-phil.tcd.ie/SAPRG.php, and the Centre for Post Conflict Justice http://www.tcd.ie/cpcj/ .
Recent research awards include the Trinity Immigration Initiative, IRCHSS under the ‘Research Development Initiative’ scheme, NORFACE under the ‘Migration in Europe - Social, Economic, Cultural and Policy Dynamics’ transnational research programme programme http://www.norface.org/migration7.html , the Environmental Protection Agency, EU-funded research on the European labour market, EU-funded 12-country research on sustainable development (CORASON), the Family Support Agency http://www.fsa.ie/research/ , and ‘CiviTurn: Citizenship Integration in Northwest European Migration Societies’ project
Contact:
Department of Sociology, Trinity College Dublin ,
3 College Green Dublin 2.
Head of Department: Dr Ronit Lentin
Executive Officer: Fiona Mc Intyre
tel: (01)8962701 / 8961871
fax (01) 6771300
email: mcintyrf@tcd.ie
SOCIOLOGY OFFICE HOURS - DURING TEACHING TERM:
10.30am - 12pm
2.30pm - 4pm
Contact: mcintyrf@tcd.ie | Last updated: Jan 28 2010 | Back to top