Sociology/Theatre Studies

Sociology and theatre studies is a pairing that brings the analytical lens of social science to bear on one of the most immediate and powerful of the arts, and conversely uses the material of theatrical performance to illuminate the social forces sociology seeks to understand. Sociology examines how societies are structured, how inequalities are produced and maintained, how institutions and cultures shape behaviour, and how social change happens. Theatre studies explores how performance creates meaning, how dramatic works engage with politics, identity, and human experience, and how theatre functions as both art and social institution.

Together, they develop a distinctive capacity to read the social world from multiple angles.

At the University of Glasgow, this four-year full-time programme allows you to pursue both disciplines with genuine depth. Your sociology studies will engage you with classic and contemporary theory, research methods, and a range of substantive topics including inequality, race, gender, globalisation, and the sociology of culture. Your theatre studies will develop your analytical understanding of dramatic texts, performance practice, and the history and theory of theatre, and Glasgow's close connections with the theatre industry give you opportunities to learn from and engage with practitioners of national and international standing.

A year abroad is part of the programme, giving you the chance to study at a partner institution and to encounter theatre and social life in a different cultural context.

You will develop strong skills in critical analysis, research, written argument, and the ability to engage with complex material from both theoretical and practical angles.

Graduates of sociology and theatre studies go on to careers in education, arts administration, cultural policy, community arts, journalism, social research, and a wide range of roles in the public and voluntary sectors. Many also pursue careers in theatre, writing, and the creative industries. Postgraduate study in sociology, theatre studies, cultural policy, or social research is a common continuation.