Study Sociology at Otago

Sociology’s promise and the sociological imagination

If you believe that Sociology has meaning, relevance and applicability beyond the university, you are already one step ahead in developing your sociological imagination. This term was coined by the American sociologist, C. Wright Mills, who wanted us to see how our ‘private troubles’ related to ‘public issues’.

For instance, instead of blaming the poor for their circumstances, with our sociological imagination we can begin to see how political arrangements, economic forces and the broader social order operate to create a world in which some people have the opportunities to advance, while others do not.

While the experience of being poor, unemployed or discriminated against is felt very deeply at the personal level, our sociological imagination encourages us to understand how the thoughts, feelings and actions of the individual relate to broader structural and historical realities.

In the words of Mills, “The sociological imagination enables us to grasp history and biography and the relations between the two within society. That is its task and its promise. To recognize this task and this promise is the mark of the classic social analyst.” (Mills, 1959, p.12)

By igniting your sociological imagination, you will begin to understand how personal choice is shaped by social context.

Build a degree that makes you see the world differently

Are you interested in people and social relationships? Do you wonder why some people are marginalised, while others have the power to discriminate? Do you find habits, mannerisms and everyday life interesting? If so, Sociology is for you.

Sociology is useful for anyone working with people, particularly in groups or organisational settings. Sociological research and analysis can make an important contribution to the development of sound social policies that address inequality and promote social justice.

In addition, the study of Sociology will help you to acquire diverse skills that can be applied in a range of settings. These include the ability to:

• ask insightful questions about power, human behaviour and social processes
• deepen our understanding of social issues using a variety of research methods
• critically analyse information
• develop your own theories about the social world
• propose alternatives that promote social justice

Background required

The single most important requirement for the study of Sociology is curiosity and the willingness to look beneath the surface. A background in history, social geography and liberal arts is useful, but not required. Most students will be studying Sociology for the first time so everyone will be on an equal footing.

Career opportunities

Sociology graduates work in a variety of fields such as local and national politics, government departments and non-profit organisations, trade unions, social services, public health, journalism, social policy development, advertising and marketing, human resources, socio-legal associations and academia.

Sociology at Otago

Sociology can be studied as a major or a minor subject within the 3-year Bachelor of Arts degree. Many students who choose to major in the Arts or Social Sciences include Sociology papers in their degree. Throughout your degree you will be challenged to design and conduct research that explores the operation of social power and the production of social inequality.

In their first year, Sociology students are introduced to key concepts and approaches in local and global sociology.

Topics include race, class and gender; deviance and crime; basic social processes (such as interaction, socialisation and culture); aspects of institutional life (such as family, religion, education, politics and the economy); and drivers of social change (such as globalisation, environmental sustainability and popular protest).

Second and third year courses expand on these foundations, and students are given the opportunity to develop their critical and analytical skills by engaging in social theorising, research design and data analysis.

Teaching style

Sociology at Otago has a reputation for teaching excellence and innovation. Our teaching style involves interactive lectures and small group tutorials, where students are encouraged to apply theoretical concepts to practical cases. Students are helped to prepare for University life and are given assessment tasks that incorporate incremental skills development.

Qualifications

Explore your study options further. Refer to enrolment information found on the following qualification pages.

• Bachelor of Arts (BA)
• Bachelor of Arts and Commerce (BACom)
• Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc)
• Bachelor of Arts with Honours (BA(Hons))
• Postgraduate Diploma in Arts Subjects (PGDipArts)
• Master of Arts (Coursework) (MA(Coursework))
• Master of Arts (Thesis) (MA(Thesis))
• Diploma for Graduates (DipGrad)
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Key information for students

• Domestic students
• International students

Contact us

Email sgsw@otago.ac.nz
Website otago.ac.nz/sgc

This information must be read subject to the statement on our Copyright & Disclaimer page.

Regulations on this page are taken from the 2021 Calendar and supplementary material.