Ask big questions with ICE’s new sociology certificate

Dr Nigel Kettley, Academic Director for Education and Social Science at ICE, previews an undergraduate Certificate in Sociology set to launch this autumn.

Look deep behind the headlines

“Sociology has been around since the 1880s, and its death has been announced many times,” says Nigel, wryly. “But it remains a contemporary and relevant subject. It helps people look afresh at the world and ask big questions about the roles of people, institutions and inequalities.

“For example, during the course, we’ll look at why Britain left the European Union. There are lots of popular opinions about it, but we’ll investigate voter patterns and learn about people’s underpinning motivations.

“We’ll also study class. Many people think it’s a dead issue, but those most adversely affected during the Covid pandemic were from lower socioeconomic groups and specific ethnic backgrounds. As sociologists, we’ll ask why that was.”

Learn flexibly in a supportive community

The new, one-year, part-time course will be delivered entirely online, offering flexibility for students in tandem with the quality of experience expected from ICE.

“There’s no previous experience or qualifications needed; the course is designed for everyone,” adds Nigel. “The key is to bring an enquiring mind to understand and place yourself in the world around you and drill underneath journalistic interpretations.

“We’ll mix pre-recorded lessons and other material with lots of live sessions that give us opportunities to meet as a group, discuss readings and develop a good community of peer-to-peer learning that draws on each of our different perspectives.

For more information on our Undergraduate Certificate in Sociology, click here.