What SUBJECT AREA ARE YOU INTERESTED IN?

Sociology and Public Services

Our degrees are designed to make a difference to the lives of people and communities around the world. Your studies at USW will give you the skills and insight you need to help others and lead social change, locally and globally.

Sociology and Public Services

Public Services

PUBLIC SERVICES

Public services affect our day-to-day lives in many ways, from the collection of refuse to community regeneration and the protection provided by the emergency services and the health service. Looking at issues of power and decision-making, you’ll investigate how decisions come about, who makes them and what difference they make in the real world.

 

TAUGHT BY EXPERTS 

The teaching team have many years of experience in delivering courses for the public sector and also has a strong research profile in the field, so our course content is cutting-edge. Our students benefit from a range of guest speaker events, including talks from police forces, equality organisations and local government. 

-

BECOMING A RETAINED FIREFIGHTER IS THE BEST DECISION I COULD HAVE MADE. MY LECTURERS HAVE BEEN SO SUPPORTIVE OF MY PART-TIME WORK, AND I’VE BEEN ABLE TO FIT MY SHIFTS IN AROUND STUDYING.

John Stowell
BA (Hons) Public Services

LINK THEORY WITH PRACTICE 

A key feature of your public services degree is the link between theory and practice. Learning is frequently based on real-life data, as well as examples and case studies from public, voluntary and community organisations. This ensures that what you learn is relevant to the workplace and situations you may encounter when you graduate. 

There are activities and trips as part of the course, which include team building exercises with organisations such as the armed forces and visits to the Houses of Parliament and the Senedd. 

 

PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITIES 

You’ll be encouraged to undertake a short-term placement during your studies with potential opportunities to work with public sector organisations such as the NHS. This valuable opportunity will further enhance your employability skills and add value to your CV, as it can be evidence to future employers that you have the skills and abilities that they are looking for. 

Sociology

SOCIOLOGY

Sociology examines how our social environment shapes our actions. It explores the values, beliefs and ideas that people hold, the lives we live and the choices we make. It supports the ability to apply sociological knowledge to real world issues, including within social policy.

 

STIMULATING STUDY  

Our sociology degree will nurture the skills you need to excel at university, and you will develop a firm understanding of sociological theories, and how these can be applied to real world problems. 

You will have the opportunity to attend field trips such as Newport Rising to take part in the torch-led Chartist march; the Dusty Forge community hub, and the Welsh Senedd. You will also receive support to complete a 70 hour work placement of your choice.   

Our lecturers have extensive knowledge in areas such as sustainable development, education and community cohesion, global conflict, equity and inclusion, and youth and community work.  

-

LECTURERS ON THE COURSE HAVE BEEN FIRST-RATE. THEY ARE ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT THEIR AREAS OF EXPERTISE, AND THEIR TEACHING STYLES VARY – THEY KEPT ME ON MY TOES.

Sara Daniels
BSc (Hons) Sociology

KEY TOPICS AND TRANSFERABLE SKILLS  

Key topics across the sociology degree include social class and inequalities, social and environmental justice, violence and conflict, media and crime, and families and communities. 

As you study sociology, you will develop the transferable skills that are sought after by employers, including research and project management, problem-solving skills, design thinking, understanding others, and a range of communication skills.  

 

STUDY FURTHER AFIELD  

There are also opportunities to study for up to a year in Europe, the US, or further afield. Studying abroad is a great boost to your learning and your CV. You would gain an international perspective on your studies, and the time you spend overseas can count towards your sociology degree. 

Entry requirements

USW take all aspects of an application into consideration and you may receive a personalised offer based on your predicted grades.

Please make sure you check the entry requirements for your course on UCAS before you apply.

Open days

Our next undergraduate open day will be:

30.11.24

Get to know USW

At a USW open day, you’ll have the chance to explore our campuses, meet academic staff and current students, take part in interactive activities related to your course, learn about life at USW, take tours of the accommodation and facilities, and get lots of advice around support, money, careers and study options.

Don’t forget to follow us on social to keep up with what’s happening at USW. #USWFamily

More dates

11.01.25

22.03.25

14.06.25

Find out how to apply

What subject area are you interested in?