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- What is Sociology? What do Sociologists do?
- Is Sociology ‘practical’?
- What are my career prospects as an NTU Sociology graduate?
- What is special about the Sociology Honours programme at NTU? What skills will I develop?
- What kind of academic background is best suited for entering the Sociology Honours programme at NTU?
- Does the Sociology Honours programme accept international students?
- What are the Division’s requirements for graduation?
Division-Specific FAQs
Sociology
What is Sociology? What do Sociologists do?
Sociology is the study of social relations, how they are formed and what their consequences are.
Sociology is the broadest of all social science disciplines: all spheres of social life – the cultural, the economic, and the political – are open to sociological inquiry. Sociologists strive to understand, for example, how norms and values shape peoples’ lives; how people organize themselves to forge collective action; how power works in a political system and in everyday life; and how social inequalities are maintained or how social equity is achieved. Sociologists also study past and ‘foreign’ societies and engage in cross-cultural comparison, deepening our understanding of human diversity.
In practicing Sociology, we – and our students – learn to analyze the social conditions that make a significant impact on human lives. In understanding the causes and consequences of social change, we confront difficult issues affecting different people in different ways. These may include moral issues concerning human wellbeing, social justice, and the quality of life. But they may also include strategic issues concerning the effectiveness of how organizations are run or how policies are made and implemented.
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Is Sociology ‘practical’?
Yes! Doing sociology is an exciting and engaging process that involves the collection and analysis of empirical data relating to people as located within particular social settings – rather than in terms of individual personality or psychological make-up. The questionnaire survey, participant observation, and the interview are the methods sociologists employ to evaluate and refine existing understandings of social processes, bringing about new and insightful ways of looking at social issues. By combining theoretical knowledge with empirical investigation, sociology is an eminently practical discipline. In cultivating an awareness of the social implications of personal choices, organizational decisions and public policies, sociology develops in us an ability to think through complex issues and to move beyond conventional wisdom – and this ability is required in many organizations and vocations today.
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What are my career prospects as an NTU Sociology graduate?
Our graduates will enter the job market equipped with a set of critical thinking skills and practical experience in analyzing many aspects of social life – which they have developed through research training in both qualitative and quantitative methods. Their skills and attitudes make them valuable to potential employers and institutions in areas such as the following:
- Social Research
- Civil Service and Public Administration
- Management (including Human Resources, Corporate Communications, etc.)
- Education and Training
- Media (including Public Relations, Advertising, Journalism, and Broadcasting)
- Business, Marketing, and Private-Sector/Commercial Organizations
- Creative Industries (including the Arts, Arts Management, Heritage, Design, etc.)
- Voluntary Organizations (Non-governmental Organizations, Foundations, etc.)
- International Organizations (Embassies, MNCs or TNCs, Regional Bodies, etc.)
In addition to pursuing careers in a wide variety of fields, an NTU Honours degree in Sociology enables you to continue on to graduate-level studies in the social sciences or other relevant fields such as business, law, and government. (Entry requirements for such programmes are established by the respective universities.)
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What is special about the Sociology Honours programme at NTU? What skills will I develop?
Sociology at NTU is a direct Honours programme, which offers depth of engagement with sociology as a discipline and the breadth that comes from exposure to other disciplines offered by HSS and other Schools in NTU. Our faculty members are deeply committed to both teaching and research, imparting a practical craft and a spirit of life-long learning. Our curriculum is designed to encourage intellectual curiosity, scholarly rigour, self-initiative, group discussion, and writing and communication skills. In addition, the learning experience is enhanced by participation in student activities, professional attachments to companies and businesses outside the university, and overseas exchange programmes.
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What kind of academic background is best suited for entering the Sociology Honours programme at NTU?
The Sociology Division looks out for candidates with strong critical thinking and writing skills. There is no single subject that gives you these skills: you can develop them by studying biology, chemistry, economics, geography, history, language, literature, mathematics, physics, etc – any subject that requires you to think through the material and write about it. In addition, we regard an active interest in current affairs, both within Singapore and internationally, as essential in a Sociology applicant.
Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis, and the Division also interviews and administers writing tests for all candidates to ensure that our students are suited for the Sociology Honours programme.
Sociology also involves both qualitative and quantitative research; O-level Elementary Mathematics is a minimal requirement, and our programme will ensure that competence in Social Statistics is part of the skills set of our graduates.
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Does the Sociology Honours programme accept international students?
Yes, we do. In general, 20% of NTU’s intake is made up of international students.
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What are the Division’s requirements for graduation?
Details of courses and requirements are available in the Sociology brochure. You can expect to take a number of core courses that are central to giving you a broad understanding of Sociology. In addition to these compulsory courses, you will choose from a list of elective courses that deal in greater depth topics that you may have particular interest in, such as family, gender or tourism. You will also be expected to complete at least one course in either qualitative or quantitative research methods, which gives you a hands-on experience in conducting research. Finally, having fulfilled certain course requirements, you will work on a Graduation Project with the mentoring of a faculty member. This provides training in independent scholarly work, and is an exciting opportunity for students to design and conduct research on topics of their choice.
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