To make informed choices, knowledge about different theories is required. A further three modules introduce areas of specialisation within sociology. Industrial sociology addresses core issues related to the sociology of work and industrial relations within South Africa. The Sociology of education provides an overview of the limits and possibilities of education within society. Group dynamics addresses social influence, the impact of groups and social categories on relationships in and between groups, racism, identity and social movements.
Sociology is the study of society and social behaviour.
It is concerned with people as social beings and the societies they live in. The impact of social, political and economic institutions within society are studied in order to understand how these broader processes impact on daily lives. By reviewing these processes, the open-ended nature of social life and constraints imposed by societal structures are considered. Sociology as a core discipline in the social sciences contributes to an understanding of societal dynamics. In the nineteenth century, sociology emerged as a discipline to study the large scale social changes brought about by the industrial revolution.