Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - Media and Sociology

The course explores how identities are constructed through engagement with media, emphasizing how various social divisions—such as disability, class, ethnicity, gender, religion, nationality, and sexuality—shape both access to media and modes of representation within it. Through a focus on key themes like political economy, representation, discourse, and identity, students will gain a deep understanding of how human behavior is influenced by media and its relationship with society.

Practical learning is a cornerstone of the programme, with students gaining hands-on experience in writing for different media platforms. This includes journalism, promotional writing, public relations (PR), and digital media platforms like web content writing, blogging, and social media. The course also encourages creativity in the planning, design, and creation of media projects, developing essential skills in script or treatment writing, digital video production, and editing.

Students will have opportunities to bring sociology to life through work placements, community engagement, and extracurricular activities, such as an active student society and fascinating guest speakers. Relevant study visits further enhance the learning experience, giving students real-world applications of the subject.

The course offers a dynamic approach to sociology, with students applying theoretical concepts to real-life contexts. This includes visiting local religious centers, participating in sociological walking tours of the city, and taking exciting field trips to explore both national and global perspectives. Derby, the city and county itself, serves as both a living laboratory and a classroom, where students actively engage with the sociological landscape.

Modules focused on media and communication industries encourage students to critically examine philosophical questions surrounding identity, ethics, and global citizenship, making them consider their roles as responsible media consumers and producers in a globalized world.