Department of Social Sciences

Social Sciences is a dynamic and innovative Department within the Glasgow School for Business and Society. We are dedicated to providing both undergraduate and postgraduate students with a friendly, engaging and research-led learning environment. We are committed to research excellence, public engagement and community empowerment. Our learning, teaching, research and community engagement is informed by our commitment to the Common Good.

Our focus on distinct academic disciplines means that we are able to provide strong disciplinary pathways on the BA/BA (Hons) Social Sciences (in Criminology and Policing, History, Politics, as well as Sociology and Social Policy) and the MSc Health History. However, our interdisciplinarity also means that we make valuable contributions to the MSc International Economics and Social Justice, and the MSc Climate Justice at GCU.

Research

Social Sciences at GCU seeks to engage with two of the societal challenges outlined in the GCU Research Strategy - Inclusive Societies and Healthy Lives. Therefore, our work contributes to the research themes of social innovation, equalities and justice, and public health and long-term conditions.

As a department, we are organised around the academic disciplines of criminology, history, politics and public policy, and sociology and social policy. However, our teaching and research also reflects a strong interdisciplinary focus. In research, we contribute to the work of both The WiSE Centre for Economic Justice and The Yunus Centre for Social Business and Health, and we are in partnership with the University of Strathclyde in the Centre for the Social History of Health and Healthcare. Within the Department of Social Sciences, we host the Scottish Poverty and Inequality Research Unit and a number of interdisciplinary research groups – the Gender Research Group, the Justice, Violence and Gender Research Group and the Sport and Physical Activity Research Group.

Our research in all these areas underpins our teaching and also means our teaching has an applied aspect, focusing on real-world challenges to equip our students with the skills necessary for global employability, critical citizenship, and life-long learning.

Explore our research

Degree courses

BA (Hons)

Social Sciences

Mode of study	Duration	Start date	Location	UCAS code
Full Time	2 - 4 Years	Sep 25	Glasgow	L000

Follow a career focused on understanding and changing society. Study this degree course and explore issues such as crime, justice, democracy, globalisation, immigration, gender, consumer culture and human rights.

MSc

Human Rights

Mode of study	Duration	Start date	Location
Full Time	1 Year	Jan 25	Glasgow

Develop your knowledge of international human rights and study how these rights are realised, inhibited and supported, and how they can eliminate poverty, inequality and discrimination.

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