Postgraduate: Honours

UJ BA Honours Programme in Sociology, Industrial and Urban Studies

1. The mission

The UJ BA Honours Programme in Sociology, Industrial and Urban Studies focuses on sociological practice by applying sociological knowledge to develop analytical and innovative approaches to social and organisational problems facing South African society. Experiential learning is incorporated into the curriculum and in student’s use of sociological concepts, theories, principles, methods and techniques in practice settings. In particular, the Department strives to promote the acquisition of skills sought after by the state and civil society in the labour market.

2. Programme goals

The goals of the Honours programme are aligned with the mission of the Sociology Department and are as follows –

1. To provide students with substantive and fundamental knowledge and skills regarding sociology and its ethical practice.
2. To provide students with the ability to discuss the role of theory in sociological practice, and the interaction between theory and practice.
3. To facilitate students’ abilities to contribute to current debates in sociology on intermediate and advanced levels.
4. To enable students to plan, design, and execute research and social interventions using appropriate methodology and frameworks.
5. To enable students to understand, interpret, analyse and present research data to advance practical solutions to societal problems.

3. Learning goals and outcomes (measurable)

The following section will outline the learning outcomes of the Honours Program in measurable terms. These Program Outcomes are aligned with course-specific goals and CAPACS standards. Upon completing the Honours degree in Sociology/Industrial Sociology/Urban Studies, graduates should be able to –

1. Critically and creatively examine different theoretical models and constructs in Sociology/Industrial Sociology/Urban Studies.
2. Apply these theoretical models and constructs to specific social problems in authentic South African contexts at a micro, meso and macro level.
3. Design, plan, and execute a quantitative or qualitative research task based on a theoretical framework within an authentic context, be able to reflect on their research and report on research findings.
4. Demonstrate competency in communication skills and appropriate use of computer technology.
5. Work in a group and reflect on their participation in groups.
6. Engage with and critique in a constructive manner the ideas of his/her peers and others.
7. Develop an understanding of the social and political issues involved in sociological practice.
8. Apply professional ethics to their work as sociologists.
9. Project cultural and aesthetic sensitivity towards people from different cultures based on theoretical knowledge.

Our core values

• Academic freedom;
• Diversity and social justice;
• International cooperation;
• Life-long learning;
• Interdisciplinarity

Three Sociology Honours Degrees – Sociology, Industrial Sociology and Urban Studies – Emphasising Sociological Practice

Achieving a minimum grade of 70% in Sociology at the third-year level is required. Please note that the Honours degree program is exclusively available on a full-time basis.

Successfully completing one of the three sociological practice Honours degrees prepares and empowers a student for advanced postgraduate studies, job searches and job creation as well as using innovative approaches for assessment and change

• Each degree is a one-year program
• Five courses (including theory, research methodology and a research project), as well as a 120-hour internship, are required
• Elective courses include: (1) Sociology of Work and Labour Markets; (2) Gender, Family and the Workplace; (3) Group Dynamics; (4) Political Sociology; (5) Urban Sociology; and (6) Clinical Sociology
• Students can apply for a bursary (tuition included)
• Applicants should have an average mark of at least 65% and above.
  Admission will be considered for a student who completed Sociology or Industrial Sociology as a major (up to third-year level) in the preceding BA Degree.
  If a student does not comply with the requirements mentioned above, admission may be granted by the Dean of the Faculty, at the recommendation of the Chairperson of the Department.

Internship Handbook

One of the requirements is to do a 120-hour internship. For more information, please click on this link: 2022 UJ Sociology Internship Handbook

For more information on the internship, please email the internship coordinator: Dr Letitia Smuts Lsmuts@uj.ac.za

Application Forms

Please ensure that you have the following before making your online application:

• Valid email address (Gmail or Yahoo mail account).
• All documents must be certified when uploading documents, ensure that the scanned file is a maximum of 512KB, and that all documents are scanned any of the following types – tiff, pdf, jpg or gif

Each document must be scanned and uploaded as separate attachments. Alternatively, documents can be emailed to ujappdocs@listsrv.uj.ac.za with the provisional reference/student number noted in the subject line of the email.

Step 2: Once an online application has been submitted, please complete Departmental Application.pdf (Honours) and email the form to Ms Bonisiwe Moagi (bonisiwem@uj.ac.za) and Prof Malehoko Tshoaedi (mtshoaedi@uj.ac.za), along with a full academic record and supporting documents as specified on the form. (NB: this form can only be completed once you have made your online application and obtained a student number – see Step 1).

Should you require more information, you can contact Ms Bonisiwe Mokone (bonisiwem@uj.ac.za), departmental manager, or the honours coordinator, Prof Ingrid Palmary (ipalmary@uj.ac.za). Applicants are encouraged to apply by the 30th of October 2020, no late application will be accepted.

B.A. Honours (Sociology) 

Admission requirements: Admission will be considered for a student who completed Sociology or Industrial Sociology as a major (up to third-year level) in the preceding BA Degree. If a student does not comply with the requirements mentioned above, admission may be granted by the Dean of the Faculty, at the recommendation of the Chairperson of the Department.

Duration of programme: 1 year

Contact details: Prof Ingrid Palmary Email: ipalmary@uj.ac.za

A brief description of the programme: The modules in the BA Honours (Sociology) programme offers students an understanding of contemporary societal debates and concerns. Students explore social identities and societal structures, global and local linkages, as well as social change and strategies for social intervention. Considerable emphasis is placed on guiding students to conduct independent quantitative research. The programme offers skills in theory, report writing and problem-solving. Students also acquire SPSS skills and competencies and have to complete a 120-hour internship.

B.A.Honours (Industrial Sociology)

Admission requirements: Admission will be considered for a student who completed Sociology or Industrial Sociology as a major (up to third-year level) in the preceding BA Degree. If a student does not comply with the requirements mentioned above, admission may be granted by the Dean of the Faculty, at the recommendation of the Chairperson of the Department.

Duration of programme: 1 year

Contact details: Prof Ingrid Palmary Email: ipalmary@uj.ac.za

Brief description of programme: The modules in the BA Honours (Industrial Sociology) programme offer students an understanding of the changing nature of global workplaces, industries, worker struggles and work dynamics. Considerable emphasis is placed on guiding students to conduct independent quantitative research. The programme offers skills in theory, report writing and problem-solving. Students also acquire SPSS skills and competencies and have to complete a 120-hour internship.

B.A. Honours (Urban Studies)

Admission requirements: Admission will be considered for a student who completed one of the following major subjects and achieved a mark of 70%: Sociology, Industrial Sociology, Geography, Philosophy, Historical Studies, Development Studies, Psychology, Industrial Psychology, Politics, Public Governance and Social Work as a major (up to third-year level) in the preceding BA Degree. If a student does not comply with the requirements mentioned above, admission may be granted by the Dean of the Faculty, at the recommendation of the Chairperson of the Department.

Duration of programme: 1 year (full-time only)

Contact details: Prof Ingrid Palmary Email: ipalmary@uj.ac.za 

Brief description of the programme: The BA Honours (Urban Studies) programme introduces students to critical perspectives on urbanisation and city development. Students become familiar with debates on the politics of cities and institutions, informality, consumption, and ways in which people participate in and reshape city life. Considerable emphasis is placed on guiding students to conduct independent quantitative research. The programme offers skills in theory, report writing and problem-solving. Students also acquire SPSS skills and competencies and have to complete a 120-hour internship.

The following three courses are compulsory for all honours students:

• Research Methodology (Term 1): This course focuses on issues with regard to the scientific nature of social research. Different methodological approaches are studies providing students with conceptual and practical research skill
• Sociological Theory (Term 2): In this course, the student is not only introduced to both classical and contemporary sociological theories but also to meta-theorising and the movement toward theoretical synthesis. In addition, the course reviews theoretical debates on the organisation of work and the transformation of the work process and unemployment, locating these topics within the South African context.
• Statistics for Social Sciences (Term 2): Statistical principles for the human sciences and basic statistics to analyse quantitative data by utilising the software, Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), are taught using the textbook: Eiselen, R., and Uys, T. 2016. Analysing Survey Data using SPSS 26: A Workbook. Johannesburg: University of Johannesburg.  —  To obtain the book, first, pay R200 into the entity 05.05.6500.20 at Student Finance and then present the receipt (proof of payment) to the Sociology departmental secretary at C-Ring 6.

Compulsory attendance of the weekly Wednesday seminar: Students to submit a paper on the seminar.

• Research Seminar: Students undertake a collective research project by making use of qualitative and/or quantitative methods in their research design.

Students enrolled in B.A. Honours Sociology need to choose one course in term 3 and one course in term 4:

• Gender, Family and the Workplace (Term 3): In this course, the student will not only be introduced to the way in which the family as primary socialisation agent teaches its members the culturally defined contents of these gender roles, but also a number of other gender, family and work-related issues are also discussed.
• Urban Sociology (Term 3): This course encourages interrogation of dynamics of urban culture, the place of the city in the global context, urban demography and migration, urban geography and the informal sector, and urban power relations, with a focus on the application of these questions to South African
• Clinical Sociology (Term 3): This course offers students insights into sociological problems and issues, and the skills to solve these problems through innovative interventions.
• Group Dynamics (Term 4): In this course, different aspects affecting behaviour within groups are studied, e.g. group norms, cohesion, competition and cooperation.
• Political Sociology (Term 4): This course centres on a critical examination of societal power relations, focusing on the state, democracy, human rights and civil society, with particular emphasis on social movements.
• Sociology of Work and Labour Markets (offered in term 4): Industrial sociological theory incorporating current debates in South African labour relations are assessed within appropriate theoretical and international contexts.

The following course is compulsory for all Honours students in Industrial Sociology:

• Sociology of Work and Labour Markets (offered in term 4): Industrial sociological theory incorporating current debates in South African labour relations are assessed within appropriate theoretical and international contexts.

Students need to choose one of the following 3 courses offered in term 3:

• Gender, Family and the Workplace (Term 3): In this course, the student will not only be introduced to the way in which the family as primary socialisation agent teaches its members the culturally defined contents of these gender roles, but also a number of other gender, family and work-related issues are also discussed.
• Urban Sociology (Term 3): This course encourages interrogation of dynamics of urban culture, the place of the city in the global context, urban demography and migration, urban geography and the informal sector, and urban power relations, with a focus on the application of these questions to South African
• Clinical Sociology (Term 3): This course offers students insights into sociological problems and issues, and the skills to solve these problems through innovative interventions.