Why is sociology so fashionable?

Sociology was born (so to speak) in the 18th century when a Frenchman called Auguste de Comte coined the phrase shortly after the French Revolution.

It is the scientific study of human behaviour within a collective context. Within these parameters sociologists have, for a long time, tried to understand the major issues of their time - poverty, unemployment, social conflict, the effect on society of profound industrial and economic change. Today sociologists continue to study these themes but they also examine the effect of the huge changes of our era, including globalisation and mass communication.

Since its heyday in the 1970s and subsequent fall in popularity sociology has reinvented itself. Not only has it broadened its scope of study is has also made its students much more employable.

More courses than ever before now focus on making sure that students understand research methods and have practical experience in using them.

The syllabus of many courses still includes basic areas such as; socialisation, stratification, and identity. However, after the collapse of communism sociology has moved away from Marxist models and has developed new ways to examine class and society and in the process has found a new set of issues which are of sociological interest.

Today you might find yourself studying why men neglect to go to the doctors and put themselves at risk of premature death, "reality television" and its impact on society, or the domestic management of terrorist attacks.

Whatever your syllabus, know this: Sociologists are in demand. They find themselves working in fields as diverse as: Social welfare, local government, medicine, education, research, marketing, advertising, media and recruitment.

For information on research funding or grants, please contact the following organisations: