Sociology courses

A sociology degree explores why people behave the way they do within society. During your studies, you will look at the things that influence everyday life, like consumerism, religion, gender, socioeconomics and pop culture. 

Most undergraduate students study sociology by enrolling in a Bachelor of Arts and majoring in sociology subjects. Postgraduates can specialise in an aspect of sociology like gender studies through a Master of Arts. 

You can expect your sociology studies to be very theoretical and research focused. You will explore the social and cultural issues that shape modern society, and then evaluate your findings through research papers and case studies.   

Depending on your course, you’ll develop skills in:

• Social research methods
• Interviewing
• Data analysis
• Social development theory
• Social psychology

A sociology degree looks at how people behave as a collective, while a psychology degree looks at how people behave individually. 

You should choose sociology if you’d like to conduct research that could help a particular social group, like young people, families or migrants. Choose psychology if you’d like work one-on-one with people on their personal issues and mental health challenges.    

If you can’t decide, there are qualifications available through our marketplace that combine both disciplines, such as the Bachelor of Psychological Science and Sociology. This study path has its advantages. It allows you to understand the social and psychological reasons people behave the way they do, which could make you a more well-rounded sociologist. 

You should study a degree in sociology if you want to understand why social problems exist—so you can change things for the better. Sociologists use research and data to investigate a broad range of issues, from social inequality, gender and racism to youth crime rates and homelessness. Their findings often influence government policies, community development projects and healthcare processes, to name a few. If you’d like your work to truly make a difference, sociology is an area worth considering. 

You should study your sociology degree online if you’re looking for flexibility. The courses available online through Open Universities Australia give you the freedom to study at a pace that suits your lifestyle. You can take on as many—or as few—subjects at a time as you like, which means you can dictate when you finish your course.

This also makes it possible to travel or work while you study, since you’re not required to attend lectures face to face. Sociology is all about gathering new experiences, so this can only help you in your coursework. 

There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.

• You can enrol without entry requirements 
  We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don’t meet the entry requirements for a degree, we’ll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there.
• You have total control over how you study
  Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We’ll introduce you to flexible study options you didn’t even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.
• You’ll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
  Once you enrol through us, you’ll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you’ll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students.
• We’ll help you navigate the university world
  Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.

Your sociology degree could lead to a job in any industry where research, critical thinking and data analytics skills are needed. 

Graduates commonly go on to pursue careers in: 

• Social research
• Social policy planning
• Community development
• Social services and welfare
• Criminal justice
• Business analysis
• Academia and teaching
• Journalism and communications

Read more about the different career opportunities for sociologists. 

Before starting an enrolment, it’s important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you’re eligible to apply. If you don’t quite meet the requirements, we may be able to help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study.

Chat with us to find out more.

Unlike when you study through a traditional university, you can enrol you in most of the undergraduate subjects available through our website instantly. Enrol in the subjects you’re interested in, and as soon as your study materials arrive, you can start learning online.

As you start completing your subjects, you’ll eventually need to apply to your uni to formally enter your degree. Enrolling in subjects is a great way of becoming eligible and applying successfully. Check out the Registering in this degree section on the degree page you're interested in for more information.

Postgraduate subjects are different. Most of them are restricted, meaning you’ll have to apply for entry and be accepted before you can start studying online. You’ll find information about the application process on the postgraduate degree page that you’re interested in.

Enrolling is easy. You can enrol online or over the phone with a student advisor.