Nathan Collins : Public Sociology
Why did you choose to study at QMU ?
I choose to study at QMU because it was close to home and given Edinburgh is a beautiful city , I wanted to be able to study somewhere that I wouldn ’ t have to move out and could offer me a study life close to the city . In applying I also took into account that QMU had a lot of services to assist students in their learning and also lots of social extra-curricular activities to take part in whilst studying .
What interested you about public sociology ?
I have always had an interest in philosophical and non-fiction literature and when looking to apply for courses these interests came to the forefront of my preferences . I believed public sociology would offer me a venue to expand upon my literature-based interests and learn how to apply them within an academic and vocational field . I also believe the course encouraged people who wanted to make a change in the world to apply and this interested me .
What have you most enjoyed about your course ? What has been the highlight ?
I have enjoyed most being challenged to adopt a critical lens to societal issues and components , giving me the freedom to explore deconstructing the ideological frameworks that implicitly work within our societies . Furthermore , I have enjoyed public sociology ’ s quality to be applied in everyday aspects of life , whether it be analysis of gender , labour , political movements , environmental concerns , etc . This is a course that has affected my outlook on the world in a very positive and enlightening way .
Have you participated in a course activity you found especially interesting ?
In particular I always took interest in the seminar portion of classes we have for each course : essentially the class all sits in a room together to discuss reading material pertinent to that week of teaching . I always learnt a lot from listening to what other students in my class had to offer regarding the reading , and it always led to constructive and positive discussions that then broadened everybody ’ s understanding of the course material for that week . Aside from this , it was always positive to learn in an environment where discussion amongst other class members was encouraged and we could challenge one another to build in-depth understandings of course material that weren ’ t solely prescribed to us : it encouraged me to take confidence in my own views of the material .
How have your lecturers supported your learning ?
The lecturers I have been taught by have always been immensely supportive , whether in the form of further explaining an idea ; in responding to queries about course work or assignments ; taking time to discuss how you are finding the course ; mentoring your academic voice through tips and help with assignment feedback . The lecturers are a key component to the enjoyment of this course and help to create a positive environment for critical and constructive learning .
Do you have any advice for students who might be interested in applying for this course ?
If you have a keen interest in how cultural norms function , or do not function , or an interest in the stories of people ’ s lived experiences of society , Public Sociology is a course that will focus these interests and give you a space to channel them into everyday life through writing about what matters to large groups of people . The course will definitely give a grander sense of purpose to any interests related to the functioning of society .
Have you been a part of any extracurricular programmes ( e . g . mentoring or volunteering ) during your time as a student at QMU ? If so , how has it helped you develop skills and experience ?
Last year , I was accepted to take part in an exchange program with the university to do a semester of my course at Acadia University in Canada . I am currently on the exchange now and it has helped me to attain a different perspective on my course material , looking at it from a different cultural lens .
Why QMU ?
• We came out top amongst UK universities for student satisfaction on our social sciences courses ( NSS 2021 ).
• You will learn how to make sense of complex and challenging social issues , and how to provoke change . You will understand how the public sociologist and sociological knowledge can create radical approaches to solving social problems .
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