Department of Social Sciences

Welcome to the Department of Social Sciences at Glasgow Caledonian University.

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 & Policing, History, Politics, and Sociology & 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 & Justice, and Public Health & Long-term Conditions.

As a Department, we are organised around the academic disciplines of Criminology, History, Politics & Public Policy, and Sociology & 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

Courses 1 - 3 of 3 card list

  • Health History

    • 2021/22
    • MSc
    Award:
    • MSc
    Start date:
    • Sep 2021
    Subject:
    • Social Science
    Take skills in history, humanities, social science or health science and apply them at postgraduate level to history of health, medicine and healthcare study. Progress your career in health, government or academia.

  • Human Rights

    • 2021/22
    • MSc
    • MSc (Two-year)
    Awards:
    • MSc
    • MSc (Two-year)
    Start dates:
    • Sep 2021
    • Jan 2022
    Subject:
    • Social Science
    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.

  • Social Sciences

    • 2022/23
    • BA (Hons)
    Award:
    • BA (Hons)
    Start date:
    • Sep 2022
    Subject:
    • Social Science
    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.
Courses 1 - 3 of 3

Meet the department

Our teaching and support staff are here to help.  For Course and programme enquiries: T: +44 (0)141 331 8630 

E: studentenquiries@gcu.ac.uk

Lecturer in Politics, Programme Leader for the BA Social Science

Ruth’s research focuses on deliberative democracy and democratic innovations, particularly looking at how a deliberative approach can be used to implement policy changes which tackle social inequalities and environmental issues.

Senior Lecturer in Politics

Based in the Department of Social Sciences, Media & Journalism, Dr James Smith's key research interests have centred upon the European Union, Europeanisation, multi-level governance, territorial politics, Scottish government and politics.

Professor, Sociology

Dr Tulle has over 15 years’ experience of doing research in old age, with a particular focus on understanding and theorising how older people make sense of and manage the process of bodily ageing from a cultural perspective.