What is the purpose of education? Why are politicians interested in the NHS? Why do inequalities exist in health? How are statistics collected and are they objective?

What an interesting time we live in! Austerity, Political changes, Coronavirus and the NHS, bedroom taxation, working poverty, increase in the use of Foodbanks… to name but a few of the recent social issues and changes that have been taken place. If you are reading and this and thinking, these are things I’ve been questioning, I want to know more! Then maybe the 2+2 degree is for you.

As students on the 2+2 come from range of background, all with differing experiences, students offer interesting and differing viewpoints on such social issues. The 2+2 offers the opportunity to engage with a range of historical and contemporary social issues, both locally and globally. For example, what is the purpose of education? Why are politicians interested in the NHS? Why do inequalities exist in health? How are statistics collected and are they objective? This is achieved though a range of teaching activities such as through discuss, debate, online forums, presentations, research, questions and answer and peer chats, essays and many more! One of the key underpinning themes in sociology is that of inequality and in my class, you may even have the opportunity to participate in an activity of rock, paper, scissors and be either a member of the ruling class or a worker. 

My personal interest lies in sociology and themes of inequality from education, health, life chances, social mobility which influence my teaching and the topic areas studied in the 2+2 social studies, sociology module, but I am also based in the CLL as a teaching fellow and it is so fulfilling to see students who have progressed from college based study to university based study and on to further study such as MAs and PhDs!

This blog was written by Natalie Purnell, teaching fellow on the 2+2 degree pathway.