SOCIOLOGY IN ACTION - 2026/7

Module Overview

The module will introduce students to the practical elements of sociology through the sociological imagination. Students will apply their sociological imagination to contemporary issues in society and the local area, enhancing their digital capabilities, resourcefulness and resilience and employability skills. The module will critically engage with diverse contemporary cultural issues through the sociological imagination.

Module provider

Sociology

Module Leader

MUIR Robyn (Sociology)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 4

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

Indicative key content themes include:
¿ The sociological imagination
¿ Contemporary issues facing society

Indicative weekly themes which may be amended for each year of study include:
¿ What is the sociological imagination?
¿ ¿Living¿ at Home
¿ ¿Living¿ Online
¿ ¿Living¿ Through Unprecedented Times
¿ The Sociological Imagination in Practice
¿ Group Visit Preparation
¿ Writing Up Observations

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Students will complete an individual version of the assignments.

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate that they have met the learning outcomes through the building of employability and group work skills, and critical engagement with the local area and their sociological imagination.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

Assessment 1 ¿ Group Sociological Imagination Presentation (40%)
The presentation will demonstrate your understanding of the sociological imagination, and how it can be applied to contemporary issues.

Assessment 2 ¿ Group Case Study (60%)
The group case study will demonstrate your application of the sociological imagination to understand the local area.

Feedback
Students will receive regular verbal feedback in class through individual and group tasks. There will also be opportunities in class for students to receive verbal feedback on their assignment preparation through class activities.

Written feedback on the group presentation and the group case study will be given to provide students with the knowledge of what they have done well in assignments and what they can improve on. This will feed into their future performance on modules in the second and final year of their degree. This will be achieved through written comments, as well as overall feedback.

Module aims

• Introduce students to a key theory in sociology, the sociological imagination
• Encourage students to apply their sociological imagination to community, space and culture in relation to contemporary issues and the local area
• Introduce students to urban sociology
• Apply sociological theories to their observations

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:
Develop students knowledge, skills and capabilities around the sociological imagination and sociology in action through engaging with the local area and contemporary issues. This will enhance their critical thinking and employability skills. This is achieved through interactive sessions that include lectures, individual and group activities.
Interactive sessions will enable students to apply the sociological imagination to diverse cultural contexts and their local area. Reading, individual and group tasks will be set to enhance student understanding and facilitate their own reflections and critical thinking. Individual and group work tasks will contribute to their resourcefulness and employability.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: SOC1064

Other information

The Department of Sociology is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability, and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module enhances students skills in Employability, Digital Capabilities, and Resourcefulness and Resilience. Employability Students will be supported to enhance their employability throughout the module by developing key transferable skills: critical thinking, online and offline research, and group work. Critical thinking will be developed across each topic in the module through the sociological imagination to enhance student¿s abilities to communicate effectively. Online and offline research will feature in both assessments, with students explaining the sociological imagination in Assessment 1, and applying the sociological imagination to the local area in Assessment 2. Group work is a key feature of Assessment 1 and 2, but will also feature in class throughout the module. Digital Capabilities Students will be encouraged to conduct online research throughout the module to enhance their digital capabilities. Resourcefulness and Resilience Students will work together in groups throughout the module, and both assessments. Working with other students, communication, negotiation, organization and time management skills (which all contribute to preparation for class and their assessment) will all contribute to building resourcefulness and resilience.

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2026/7 academic year.