Students
Here are a few accounts from past students, where they explain what they did with their degree in Sociology and how it has proved useful.
"I graduated as a mature student from the University of Paisley in June 1995 with Honours (2:1) in Applied Social Studies with Technology and Society and am now employed as a lecturer in sociology and philosophy on the HNC/D Social Sciences programmes at Glasgow College of Nautical Studies. I am also a tutor with the Open University on DD100 Introduction to the Social Sciences and I am external consultant to SQA and an external examiner for Higher Sociology. After studying at Paisley I went on to complete an MA in European Industrial Relations and Human Resource Management at Keele University and Certificate in Tertiary Education at University of Strathclyde, both on a part-time basis. I thoroughly enjoyed studying sociology at Paisley and I developed a thirst for the subject which has continued beyond my time at Paisley - which is testament to the quality of provision offered there. I would recommend studying sociology to anyone as it inspires, challenges and offers explanations to the world around us."
Tony Sweeney
"I graduated in June 1999 in Sociology (then called Technology and Society). Since then, I have been working in resourcing for an IT company. I am studying for membership of the Institute for Personal Development on a day-release basis. I am able to do this in less than the normal period because of the nature and content of my degree, which has given me a real head start. Sociology at Paisley was interesting to study, and has proved very relevant and helpful in my subsequent career."
Gail Maguire
"I graduated from Paisley in July 2000 with the then titled,Technology and Society honours degree. Whilst I feel that studying Sociology at Paisley offered a profound insight with which to conceptually understand society it also enabled me to continually challenge my common-sense understandings and provided me with the necessary tools to further develop my academic and personal interests. I then gained a distinction in an MRes in Social Science Research at the University of Glasgow and have found that my undergraduate degree provided me with an excellent basis, academically and personally, to engage successfully with this level of study. I have now begun to work towards a PhD in medical sociology."
Karen Lorimer
"After graduating from the University of Paisley in 1996 with a BA (Hons) in Applied Social Studies my main interest was in research and I went on to do the MPhil in Social Science Research at the University of Glasgow, graduating in 1998. In February 2000 I joined the MRC Social and Public Health Sciences Unit as a Research Assistant on the Sexual and Reproductive Health Programme. In my research work sociology continues to be the discipline on which my understanding and interpretations are based."
Lisa Williamson
"I graduated in July 2000 with a BA Hons in technology & Society. I worked for a while in House of Fraser and as a 'bar person' at The Tunnel. Meanwhile I was taking part in a three-month interview process, after which I secured a brilliant position as a journalist at the Sunday Post in Glasgow. I thoroughly enjoyed the course at Paisley: the insight it gave me will undoubtedly continue to be invaluable to me on both a personal and professional level."
Arlene Kelly
"I graduated from Paisley in 1995 with an Honours degree in Applied Social Studies (Technology and Society). I then went on to undertake a postgraduate teaching qualification, PGCE (secondary), in Modern Studies and Economics. Modern Studies is a mixture of sociology, politics and international issues. My degree from Paisley gave me the academic skills required to gain a place on this highly competitive teacher training course. Furthermore, the extensive social science methods training which I received at Paisley gave me a thorough grounding for a core subject in the course (Enquiry Skills).
After graduating in 1996 with distinctions in Modern Studies, Economics and Academic Studies, I worked for two years as a probationary teacher before gaining a permanent post as a Modern Studies teacher in a high school in Fife. Overall, my undergraduate degree provided me with a springboard into my chosen profession, while the knowledge and skills I learned there continue to play an important role in my working life."
Avril Williamson
"I graduated in 1996 with a BA Hons in Applied Social Studies with Technology and Society. To be honest I was a bit unsure where this would take me and I started working in the field of community mental health. Although my degree was not entirely related I found it proved useful in giving me a wider view on the social issues that the client group were working with. The discipline of the degree also nurtured a more professional and objective viewpoint. I moved on to train and support volunteers and from developing training packages was drawn to find out how technology could be used as an enabler. I subsequently returned to the University of Paisley to study for a Pgd in Multimedia Communications."
Charlotte Craig