BASc Sociology and Global Sustainable Development
Bachelor of Arts & Science (BASc)
Three years full-time programme
Joint honours degree
Study abroad & work placement opportunities
Sociology - the study of humans in society - is at the heart of the roadmap towards a sustainable future. Each of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals has a sociological aspect, and understanding the social implications of world trade, economic growth, and climate change has never been more critical. Since the birth of the neoliberal era, major global transformations have redefined societies across the world, producing social unrest, increased wealth inequality, and new migration trends. Sociologists are now focusing on why the current organisation of society might itself be unsustainable, researching innovative solutions to develop social-environmental relationships that are less environmentally harmful. By studying Sociology with Global Sustainable Development (GSD) you will be combining sociological concepts including race, identity, ethnicity, and gender and applying these to global issues such as wealth inequality, elite power, and food security. The interdisciplinary approach of a GSD BASc will give you the creative freedom to research topics that you feel most connected to.
Duration*
- 3 years full-time; or
- 3 years full-time with integrated study abroad programme; or
- 4 years full-time with intercalated year spent either studying abroad or on work placement.
Entry requirements
Please see our Entry Requirements page.
UCAS code
CATS
An Honours Degree requires a minimum of 360 CATS during the course, comprising 120 CATS per year. For this course of study, credits are normally split equally between Global Sustainable Development modules and modules offered by the Department of Sociology.
Award
Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc)
Location of study
University of Warwick
Tuition fees
Find out more about fees and funding
Scholarship and Bursaries
Warwick Undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarship
We believe there should be no barrier to talent. That's why we are committed to offering a scholarship that makes it easier for gifted, ambitious international learners to pursue their academic interests at one of the UK's most prestigious universities. This new scheme will offer international fee-paying students 250 tuition fee discounts ranging from full fees to awards of £13,000 to £2,000 for the full duration of your Undergraduate degree course. Find out more about the Warwick Undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarship.
Additional course costs
There may be costs associated with other items or services such as academic texts, course notes, and trips associated with your course. Students who choose to complete a work placement or study abroad will pay reduced tuition fees for their third year.
* You will be automatically enrolled on the three-year course, however, you have the option to change to a four-year course with an intercalated year in your third year. During the intercalated year, you may pursue a study abroad programme or a work placement (subject to you meeting departmental academic requirements).
If you are interested in the world's problems, want to learn more about them and have a social conscience, then you should study GSD. If you are flexible and adaptable and able to consider global issues from different perspectives, understand their complexity, can think creatively about potential solutions and want to be equipped to make a real difference to the world, then you should study GSD at Warwick. A BASc in Sociology and GSD will give you an interdisciplinary skill set for investigating and analysing societies across the world. Your research and studies will form a bridge between the arts and social sciences, endorsing a holistic approach throughout. Our two departments are built upon principles of diversity and embracing different opinions and, as such, a BASc in Sociology and GSD encourages you to think differently from a 'traditional' degree course. You will be encountering sociological concepts and taking these on board as you research innovative solutions for sustainability across the world. Upon completing your degree, you will have the opportunity to explore career pathways in both the arts and sciences, applying your diverse skill set to a wide variety of employment opportunities.
"Often, global sustainable development is prioritised in its economic or environmental dimensions"
"Sociology - the study of society - is well-placed in accompanying GSD. Often, global sustainable development is prioritised in its economic or environmental dimensions without due attention being paid to social questions such as: ‘might the organisation of society itself be unsustainable?’ Studying Sociology and GSD together helps put you at the forefront of how to better address these and other neglected questions."
Senior Teaching Fellow, GSD
First Year
Core GSD modules
- Economic Principles of Global Sustainable Development (GD104)
- Environmental Principles of Global Sustainable Development (GD105)
- Social Principles of Global Sustainable Development (GD106)
- Global Sustainable Development Project (GD107)
Core Sociology modules
- Introduction to Social Analytics in Social Inequalities Research (SO130)
- History of Sociological Thought (SO128)
- Researching Society and Culture (SO120)
- Class and Capitalism in a Neoliberal World (SO126)
Certificates
Second Year
(remaining at Warwick)
Core Sociology module
Optional core Sociology module
or
Optional core GSD module
or
or
Optional module(s) with a GSD focus
- Approved optional module(s) with a GSD focus, including from other departments across the University
Optional Sociology modules
Certificates
Second Year
(integrated year abroad with Terms 2 and 3 at Monash University)
Term 1
Core Sociology module
Optional core GSD module
or
or
Optional module with a GSD focus
- Approved optional module with a GSD focus, including from other departments across the University
Optional Sociology module
Terms 2 and 3
Students spend Terms 2 and 3 abroad at Monash University, studying relevant modules. Students are required to register on the module Study Abroad Part-Year (GD200) which recognises the period of study abroad.
Final Year
Core GSD module
Optional module(s) with a GSD focus
- Approved optional module(s) with a GSD focus, including from other departments across the University
Optional Sociology modules
Certificate
Explore the lists of GSD and Sociology modules
Your university experience could be a truly global one by studying overseas. You can access study abroad opportunities via two routes:
1. Study abroad in terms 2 and 3 of your second year
Read the transcript for this video.
You could spend terms 2 and 3 of your second year studying abroad at our Department's partner institution, Monash University, home to the world-leading Monash Sustainable Development Institute. Our integrated programme is specifically structured so you can spend time abroad without having to extend the overall length of your course. Your academic achievements abroad will count towards your degree awarded by Warwick, meaning your studies will be both rewarding and rewarded! You will continue to pay your course fees in full to Warwick and you will also continue to receive your student loan, if eligible.
2. Year-long study abroad
You may, alternatively, choose to spend an intercalated year at one of Warwick's many other partner institutions across the world. You'll spend your first and second years at Warwick, studying abroad in your third year. You'll then return to Warwick for your final year. Your year abroad won't count towards your final mark, but it will be recorded on your Higher Education Achievement Report, giving you the freedom to take chances with your module choice and push yourself outside of your comfort zone with your learning. Please see here for more information about the intercalated study abroad opportunity.
Find out more about your options for studying abroad.
Read the transcript for this video.
In the GSD Department, we have a dedicated Employability and Placement Manager who’ll provide you with one-to-one careers guidance. They work in collaboration with employers, so you’ll be supported in securing appropriate work placements. You’ll have access to specialist pre-placement advice, guidance and preparation, as well as on-going support during your placement.
Find out more on our Careers pages.
Single honours
Joint honours
- Economic Studies and Global Sustainable Development
- Education Studies and Global Sustainable Development
- Global Sustainable Development and Business Studies
- Hispanic Studies and Global Sustainable Development
- History and Global Sustainable Development
- Life Sciences and Global Sustainable Development
- Philosophy and Global Sustainable Development
- Politics, International Studies and Global Sustainable Development
- Psychology and Global Sustainable Development
- Theatre and Performance Studies and Global Sustainable Development
93.3%
Our single honours Global Sustainable Development course scored 93.3% for overall satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2022
87.2%
Our Global Sustainable Development courses (single honours and joint courses collectively) scored 87.2% in the National Student Survey 2022
Our joint honours Global Sustainable Development courses are fully accredited with the Institute for Environmental Management and Assessment. This means that upon graduation from the courses, our students receive a professionally recognised level of knowledge, skills and tools for working in sustainability practice.