This unit enables students to take a specialist elective in an area of sociology not covered in the three streams of the new sociology major. It makes it possible to draw on the knowledge and expertise of the staff group, to introduce and trial new subjects and employ outside specialists in sociology when seen as appropriate. Specialist electives will be offered, subject to staff interests and student demand.

In 2016, this special elective unit is called Social Movements and Social Protests. Social movements such as the women's, human rights and the environmental movements, and more recently anti-globalisation and occupy movements have had a major impact upon the politics of advanced industrialised nations.  Drawing upon both 21^st and late 20^th Century examples of protest-based movements, this unit introduces key concepts and major theoretical debates relevant to the analyses of social movements, and considers some of the methodological problems encountered when undertaking social movement research.  After introducing the notion of social movements and how their form and leadership differs from formal political institutions, several examples of important social movements are considered.  While this unit is part of the sociology major, students will not require extensive sociological training in order to complete it. It is also ideal for students with some background in the social sciences to take as an elective. 

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