Student Voice: Studying Sociology and Social Policy

Posted on: 17 January 2023 by Eva-Marie Deeley in Blog

Author Eva-Marie Deeley, a 1st year BA Sociology and Social Policy student, shares her experience of studying at the University of Liverpool and why social justice is important to her.

Why I Chose to Study at Liverpool

I knew what degree I wanted to do very early into my university planning. I chose to study at the University of Liverpool because I found it really inspiring that the Department of Sociology, Social Policy and Criminology are focused on the support of social justice.  Another reason I chose Liverpool is to my love for the city. Being from Manchester, I am used to the friendliness of the North and this can definitely be seen in Liverpool. The city is stuffed with culture and has amazing nightlife so I knew it would be somewhere I’d be very happy living.

My Experience so Far

Something I really like about studing at this university is how connected I feel with the staff. I like knowing that if I need help in anyway there will always be a member of staff I can talk to. I really enjoy my seminar sessions. It is reassuring to know I am allowed ask any questions and get advice from my seminar leaders, both in person and in emails. This makes me feel comfortable with the work load I have.

One of my favourite things about the course is the study independence you can have. Having access to the lecture power points and recordings to the lectures means I can watch any lectures I want to go over again when it comes to revise. This is extremely helpful when it comes to exam season.

My Passion for Social Justice

The main reason I chose to do this degree is because of my pure passion for socioloy and social policy. This course allows me to learn more about social issues and how we as a society can help to solve them. For this reason, my favourite module is Social Change and Social Policy in Contemporary British Society. Within this module we look at various different social issues and how the government has helped or created struggles with the public. As a working-class individual these issues are incredibly important to my heart. Learning about them in such high detail shows me what work I need to do in my future career, which I hope will be as a government advisor.

Another module I love is Sociological Theory as it’s very interesting to understand the history of sociological ideas. I particually find Max Weber’s research into social action and Calvinism extremely interesting as it helps to understand human behaviour.

I believe that when looking at society and its functions, it is important to understand there is never one ‘right answer’. It is clear that society is way too complex with many variables to use consensus terminology. And just like society, there is no ‘right’ answer in sociology. The worlds social norms are a mix between government structures and free will. Understanding human nature is vital to understanding the inequality in different societies. This is why I love sociology and social policy.