Public Sociology

Public sociology takes the discipline's analytical tools into direct engagement with the social questions that matter most: inequality, poverty, health, migration, crime, community, and the policies that shape how societies respond to these challenges. It is a form of sociology that sees academic knowledge not as something to be confined to universities but as something to be put in dialogue with the public, with policymakers, with communities, and with the organisations working to address social problems. This programme at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh is built around exactly that commitment.

You will study the theoretical foundations of sociology, engaging with the classical and contemporary thinkers who have shaped the discipline's understanding of how social structures operate and how they can be changed. Alongside theory, you will develop research skills in both qualitative and quantitative methods, learning to gather evidence, analyse data, and communicate findings to a range of audiences. The public orientation of the programme means that you will also engage with how sociological knowledge is translated into policy and practice, and how sociology can contribute to debates about social justice, public health, and community wellbeing.

The four-year structure at Queen Margaret gives you the time to develop both depth and the capacity for independent research.

Graduates are well placed for careers in social research, policy analysis, voluntary and community sector organisations, health and social care, public health, education, journalism, and the civil service. The capacity to gather evidence, think critically about social problems, and communicate findings clearly is valued across a wide range of knowledge-intensive roles. Many graduates continue to postgraduate study in sociology, social policy, public health, or research methods, and some pursue doctoral research in applied social science.