MA Sociology with Quantitative Methods
About this course
Sociology with quantitative methods is a degree that takes one of the fundamental social sciences and equips it with the statistical and data-analytic tools that are transforming both academic research and professional practice. Sociology asks why societies are organised the way they are, how inequality is produced and sustained, and how social change happens. Quantitative methods give you the means to investigate these questions with the rigour and evidence base that complex social phenomena require. At the University of Edinburgh, one of the UK's leading social science institutions, this four-year full-time programme combines sociological theory and substantive topics with training in statistical analysis, survey methods, and the handling of large social datasets. You will engage with the major theoretical traditions in sociology and with contemporary debates about inequality, identity, health, work, culture, and globalisation, while developing practical competence in software for statistical analysis and the skills to design and execute quantitative research. The programme also includes a year abroad, which places you in a different academic and social environment and enriches your comparative understanding of how different societies work. Graduates with strong quantitative skills are in high demand in a social science landscape where data analysis is increasingly central to both research and policy. Edinburgh's research intensity and strong academic community make it an excellent place to develop both the theoretical depth and the technical skills the programme offers. Graduates go on to careers in social research, policy analysis, government statistics, market research, data analytics, public health, education, and consultancy. The combination of sociological understanding and quantitative competence is particularly valued in organisations that work with social data. Many graduates also continue to postgraduate study in sociology, social statistics, data science, or public policy.
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