Welcome to the Sociology Open Day at Newcastle University Dr Lisa Garforth, Admissions Officer

1. Welcome to the Sociology Open Day at Newcastle UniversityDr Lisa Garforth, Admissions Officer Welcome from Prof Robert Hollands, Head of Subject.

2. Who are we? A small, friendly sociology department “You’re lucky. Newcastle Sociology is exactly the right size. Big enough to offer lots of choice of optional modules and specialisms, small enough to know every student as an individual.” (External Examiner). highly rated for research excellence and teaching support85% of research ‘internationally-recognised’ or above in 2008 RAE; and teaching: 87% in 2011 NSS for overall student satisfaction; 8th nationally in sociology NSS scores for teaching and academic support A diverse and supportive community: around 100 students/year on our 2 degrees: Sociology (L300) and Politics and Sociology (LL32)

3. Taking teaching seriously • A geographically, socially & intellectually diverse group of around 20 lecturers in sociology & social anthropology • Passionate, enthusiastic experts teaching in specialist areas • A carefully built and coherent degree programme designed to: • equip you with core subject knowledge and skills and allow you to pursue your own choices and interests • support your progression from foundations at Stage 1 to independent research and learning at Stage 3 • Excellent personal tutor system and individual student support .

4. Stage 1Core modules provide a foundation in your discipline, build study and research skills... Modules include: The Sociological Imagination; Knowing in Sociology; Comparing Cultures; Social Justice and Citizenship; Doing Sociology… …and a choice of modules from Geography, Politics and Sociology… and beyond.

5. Stage Two & Three • Increasing option choices • Core modules extend and develop your skills and knowledge in research methods and analysis • Supporting you to do sociology as well as study it through your 3rd year dissertation – an independent research project of your choice with the hands-on support of an experienced supervisor “From time to time, I have a look back at my thesis and I’m proud of its quality… My success in my dissertation and degree overall made me raring to go in the professional world with the knowledge that hard work pays off.” Paul Quinn, 2010 graduate. Recent dissertation projects: is there a ‘big society’? educational inequalities, X-Factor, gender roles in India, student bedrooms, media representations of sex work; student activism and occupations; the medicalization of death, Fair Trade and development discourse, utopian ideals in Avatar and its fan communities;

6. Stage Two & Three current options: Issues in Urban Sociology; Anthropology of Eastern Europe; Anthropology of India; Sociology of Health and Illness; Emotions in the Social World;Sociology of Identities; Regulating Sexuality; Image, Spectacle and Media; Sociology of Tourism; Sociology of Work; Race, Racism & Society; Sociology of Evil; Making People: An Anthropology of Belonging, Life and Death; Sociology of the Environment; Crime, Culture and Society

7. Newcastle careers • 94.3% of 2010 UK/EU graduates entered employment/further study within 6 months of graduating, 78% in graduate level positions. • Our multi-award winning Careers service is one of the best, largest and most innovative in the UK • Building graduate employability skills • in the curriculum: graduate skills framework; Career Development Module • in the university: Ncl+ opportunities to develop graduate skills, improve your CV, get involved in community work.

8. Sociology: taking you where you want to go Newcastle Sociology graduates pursue a wide range of careers in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors http://www.ncl.ac.uk/careers/dlhe/course_reports/index.php?crs=L300 100% of 2010 graduates in Sociology in work or study within 6 months of graduation (DLHE survey) Sociology engages with contemporary social debates with direct relevance to employers: urban issues; media; crime; environment; political institutions; social change; work… Students learn to become independent researchers able to plan, carry out, and present their own project

9. Careers: examples from our alumni Kirsty Morrin, 2010. MA Social Research, Newcastle University Farhaan Mumtaz Husain, 2010. MSc Contemporary South Asian Studies, Oxford University after internship at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Jonathan Atkinson, 2008. Inclusion Information Officer, Leeds City Council Early Years and Youth Service. Victoria Hodgson, 2008. EFL teaching in Northern Spain. Francesca Carpenter, 2007. Broadcast Journalist and Producer for British Forces News. Stef Anderson, 2006. Development Officer, Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums Meg Aubrey, 2004. Education Consultant and Assessor Catriona Rooke, 2002. Researcher, Edinburgh University Centre for Population Health Studies. Bridget Woodard, 1999. Business Development Manager, Sue Ryder Bristol. John Jones, 1999. Head of Personal and Social Education, International School, Paris

10. Widening horizons: after Sociology at Ncl Cait Hewitt, 2003, Deputy Director of Aviation Environment Federation. “The academic training I got through my Sociology course has been invaluable… So many aspects of human behaviour only make sense by considering the social and economic contexts in which individuals feel and act, and to get to grips with the key questions in social and environmental policy it’s essential to be able to take this broader perspective.” Emma Proud, 2000. Economic Development Manager, Mercy Corps, Ethiopia. “The lectures blew open my world…They encouraged me to look critically at the world around me and gave me tools to analyse it with.” Ash Parsons, 1999, Neighbourhood Crime Reduction Officer.“I found the teaching to be excellent and the subject matter to be irresistible, vital stuff. I finished the course equipped with a Swiss Army knife for dismantling lazy prejudices and inept policy initiatives…”

11. The NSS 2011: what our students say Teaching & academic support ranked 8th best nationally for Sociology; ranked 1st nationally for Sociology for organisation & management of the degree programme. 100% of students participating in NSS 2011 agreed: that lecturers made the subject interesting. that they were able to contact staff when they needed support. “There is a lot of support available in the school and I have never struggled to find help when I have needed it, whether academic or otherwise. The teaching staff are incredibly enthusiastic and make an effort to get to know their students personally which I really appreciate.” Clare, Sociology Stage 2 “Both the Sociology and Politics departments offer a range of different modules taught by friendly and enthusiastic lecturers, which has given me the boost that I have needed throughout my years at Newcastle.” Kerry, Sociology and Politics Stage 3

12. Supporting students at Newcastle Investing £200 million in our compact, safe, sustainable campus Student Wellbeing for advice, counselling, support. Wide choice of affordable, well-situated accommodation. Award-winning and student-friendly library http://www.ncl.ac.uk/tour/academic/robinson-library/

13. Fees at Newcastle £9000 per annum from 2012 Maintaining world class excellence in teaching and research, developing our campus Up to a third of undergraduate students will benefit from financial support of £2,000 per year, with £29m allocated to fee waivers and bursaries to 2017 http://www.ncl.ac.uk/undergraduate/finance/ for more information

14. We think you’ll get the best idea of what we do here by talking to us, so now it’s time to meet our staff and students. We’ll do our best to answer your questions today – but if we can’t, please check our website or contact me, Dr Lisa Garforth, Admissions Officer in Sociology, lisa.garforth@ncl.ac.uk