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Is a sociology degree not as good as others?
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Kayleigh1414
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#1
i really enjoy sociology but when researching what course i should do at university i found a lot of people were calling it a 'mickey mouse' degree..
is it looked down on as apposed to say business management?
is it looked down on as apposed to say business management?
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Old School
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#2
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#2
(Original post by Kayleigh1414)
i really enjoy sociology but when researching what course i should do at university i found a lot of people were calling it a 'mickey mouse' degree..
is it looked down on as apposed to say business management?
i really enjoy sociology but when researching what course i should do at university i found a lot of people were calling it a 'mickey mouse' degree..
is it looked down on as apposed to say business management?
However, if you're just looking to go to university for the sake of it (as many do) then it's a pointless exercise that will give you substantial debt for no actual gain.
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jacob7191
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#3
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#3
usually the people who claim that sociology is a mickey mouse degree are the same people who don't actually know anyone who has ever studied it nor do they know what sociology as a course is concerned with.
It is a social science which means that the skill sets you develop are varied and highly adaptable therefore making you attractive to employers
It is a social science which means that the skill sets you develop are varied and highly adaptable therefore making you attractive to employers
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alexsasg
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#4
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#4
It's not a "mickey mouse subject" 
I'm planning on doing it myself, and how on earth can it be called that when people study it at highly prestigious places like LSE and Durham, not to mention Cambridge (as a PhD subject, or part of PPS at undergrad level). However, I would say that with sociology, because some people don't see it as "academic" enough or something (tell that to Durkheim. Or Marx, for that matter), a degree in it is a lot more valued if it's from a "good" uni i.e. Russell group or Durham etc. It is a bit pointless if you're just going to UEL or London Met to do it, because employment in that field is just more difficult to come by then. (no offence to anyone at those institutions, I'm merely stating those being of league tables and YES, I know they are not everything but ultimately, they're what employers etc look at).
I'm planning on doing it myself, and how on earth can it be called that when people study it at highly prestigious places like LSE and Durham, not to mention Cambridge (as a PhD subject, or part of PPS at undergrad level). However, I would say that with sociology, because some people don't see it as "academic" enough or something (tell that to Durkheim. Or Marx, for that matter), a degree in it is a lot more valued if it's from a "good" uni i.e. Russell group or Durham etc. It is a bit pointless if you're just going to UEL or London Met to do it, because employment in that field is just more difficult to come by then. (no offence to anyone at those institutions, I'm merely stating those being of league tables and YES, I know they are not everything but ultimately, they're what employers etc look at).
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karateworm
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#5
It's not a mickey mouse subject, I've been told it's higher rated than Psychology.
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lovely_me
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#6
Shippy
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#7
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#7
(Original post by karateworm)
It's not a mickey mouse subject, I've been told it's higher rated than Psychology.
It's not a mickey mouse subject, I've been told it's higher rated than Psychology.
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karateworm
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#8
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#8
(Original post by Shippy)
really?
really?
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Shippy
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#9
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#9
(Original post by karateworm)
My head of 6 Form told me that on results day, so I'm not entirely sure.
My head of 6 Form told me that on results day, so I'm not entirely sure.
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karateworm
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#10
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#10
(Original post by Shippy)
Hmm, I was considering doing psychology or sociology... I was put off doing sociology because most people have said it's a waste and won't lead anywhere.
Hmm, I was considering doing psychology or sociology... I was put off doing sociology because most people have said it's a waste and won't lead anywhere.
Sociology is a social science, the same as Politics, Anthropology etc. It's the study of people, but whereas Politics looks at the formation and use of power, Sociology looks at the way society works.
If you're aiming for a good Uni, that's the important thing really. Sociology at an ex Poly isn't worth it, but at a Russell Group, it's perfectly respectable.
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dollar
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#11
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#11
I know a girl who studied Sociology at Leicester Uni, she went into Human Resources as soon as she finished her degree and was earning 40k.
I also know someone else who studied Politics and Economics at an ex Poly and is now the Director of a company at age 35.
I also know someone else who studied Politics and Economics at an ex Poly and is now the Director of a company at age 35.
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Shippy
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#12
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#12
(Original post by karateworm)
People are speaking ****.
Sociology is a social science, the same as Politics, Anthropology etc. It's the study of people, but whereas Politics looks at the formation and use of power, Sociology looks at the way society works.
If you're aiming for a good Uni, that's the important thing really. Sociology at an ex Poly isn't worth it, but at a Russell Group, it's perfectly respectable.
People are speaking ****.
Sociology is a social science, the same as Politics, Anthropology etc. It's the study of people, but whereas Politics looks at the formation and use of power, Sociology looks at the way society works.
If you're aiming for a good Uni, that's the important thing really. Sociology at an ex Poly isn't worth it, but at a Russell Group, it's perfectly respectable.
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Millz
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#13
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#13
(Original post by karateworm)
My head of 6 Form told me that on results day, so I'm not entirely sure.
My head of 6 Form told me that on results day, so I'm not entirely sure.
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karateworm
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#14
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#14
(Original post by Millz)
Lol, well, he or she lied. Sociology is not a serious subject; some aspects are very serious though. I would say, the PPS from Cambridge and the social and political science degree, from institutions such as York and LSE for example, are excellent academic degrees. Sociology, I am not too sure about, but I have met a lot of intellectual people who have studied it, look at Anthony Giddens. So maybe it is not what you study, but rather down to your own motivation and individual achievement.
Lol, well, he or she lied. Sociology is not a serious subject; some aspects are very serious though. I would say, the PPS from Cambridge and the social and political science degree, from institutions such as York and LSE for example, are excellent academic degrees. Sociology, I am not too sure about, but I have met a lot of intellectual people who have studied it, look at Anthony Giddens. So maybe it is not what you study, but rather down to your own motivation and individual achievement.
I'm doing Sociology at Nottingham in September, and I'm sure I'm going to get very bored of informing people that their snobbery is ill-founded.
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Millz
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#15
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#15
(Original post by karateworm)
For a second then I thought you had something to add... but by your own admittance you don't actually know, and are merely parroting an old prejudice.
I'm doing Sociology at Nottingham in September, and I'm sure I'm going to get very bored of informing people that their snobbery is ill-founded.
For a second then I thought you had something to add... but by your own admittance you don't actually know, and are merely parroting an old prejudice.
I'm doing Sociology at Nottingham in September, and I'm sure I'm going to get very bored of informing people that their snobbery is ill-founded.
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Jabberwox
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#16
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#16
I don't want to insult anyone here, but my personal definition of "Mickey Mouse degrees" are things like sport, dance, drama, film, etc. Because you can go to specialist schools for that sort of thing, you don't need a degree. A LOT of good actors, for example, don't necessarily have a drama degree. Most have degrees in English, History, etc and more academic subjects.
You will get the snobs who say sociology is a pointless degree but I really don't think it is; if you enjoy it, and know you will get something out of studying it, then why not
if you're going for the sheer sake of it, and chose it out of thin air, then it's pointless in itself. If sociology's your passion, and you have a good idea of the sort of career you want to have after university, then go for it! 
You will get the snobs who say sociology is a pointless degree but I really don't think it is; if you enjoy it, and know you will get something out of studying it, then why not
if you're going for the sheer sake of it, and chose it out of thin air, then it's pointless in itself. If sociology's your passion, and you have a good idea of the sort of career you want to have after university, then go for it! 
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karateworm
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#17
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#17
(Original post by Millz)
If you look at political debates, for example, sociologists are always good at stating the obvious, and saying that there is a problem. But I am yet to come across sociologists who have offered a solution. In my opinion, (no disrespect) it is laughable to compare sociology to psychology, psychology is far more respected as well as academically rounded, by its self, than sociology. I took it around in circles, but my point is this, sociology forms an excellent part of a social science or political science degree, but by its self, it is weak.
If you look at political debates, for example, sociologists are always good at stating the obvious, and saying that there is a problem. But I am yet to come across sociologists who have offered a solution. In my opinion, (no disrespect) it is laughable to compare sociology to psychology, psychology is far more respected as well as academically rounded, by its self, than sociology. I took it around in circles, but my point is this, sociology forms an excellent part of a social science or political science degree, but by its self, it is weak.
Besides, you don't know that sociology is a worse degree than psychology... it's your own opinion on their individual's ability to argue rather than anything objective.
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Antifazian
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#18
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#18
I also know people who have studied Sociology and gone on to get excellent jobs afterwards. It's what you make of it, probably like the majority of degrees.
Don't worry about the snobbery, it usually comes from people who are very insecure with an aspect of their own life and try to hide it by lashing out at others.
Don't worry about the snobbery, it usually comes from people who are very insecure with an aspect of their own life and try to hide it by lashing out at others.
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Kayleigh1414
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#19
(Original post by lovely_me)
rock and a hard place there
rock and a hard place there
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Kayleigh1414
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#20
(Original post by dollar)
I know a girl who studied Sociology at Leicester Uni, she went into Human Resources as soon as she finished her degree and was earning 40k.
I also know someone else who studied Politics and Economics at an ex Poly and is now the Director of a company at age 35.
I know a girl who studied Sociology at Leicester Uni, she went into Human Resources as soon as she finished her degree and was earning 40k.
I also know someone else who studied Politics and Economics at an ex Poly and is now the Director of a company at age 35.
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