Through the study of different issues such as socialization, identity, culture, power, organization, regulation, class, inequality, cultural and social conflict, globalization, change and social  movements, the training in sociology is primarily designed to understand the social players (individuals or groups), their relationships and connections in contemporary society at a time of profound change. The Master in Sociology aims to develop:

• intellectual grasp of the tools and main issues in sociological analysis
• ability to understand social processes and problems for practical purposes related to research, diagnosis, evaluation and social intervention
• ability to maintain a critical distance 
• good methodological investigation skills (qualitative or quantitative) 
• practical ability to conduct either basic research (research focus) or in a professional field (professional focus) related to  social intervention or intercultural relations and development) professional focuses

These skills as a sociologist are required in associations, business, government departments as well as in research departments or in consultancy.

In addition to an in-depth study of the various disciplines in sociology, the research project is a key component of the 120 credit Master. It is therefore possible to do a research placement, either in the field of basic research or in a professional field relating to the social requirements of the different players and organizations.

The 120 credit Master in sociology contains core subjects, optional ‘area’ subjects and four different focuses.  

• The core subjects (65 credits) contain subjects relating to theoretical cross-disciplinary issues (20 credits), Jacques Leclercq Chair lectures (6 credits) in which renowned lecturers present their research,  qualitative or quantitative methodology (10 credits), a seminar in the practical aspects of research  (7 credits) and a final piece of work (22 credits)
• optional subjects, grouped according to different areas of sociological analysis (e.g. work, city, religion, family, education, globalization), can be selected depending on students’ training and research project (25 credits)

In addition, students may choose to acquire specific skills by choosing one of four different focuses (30 credits):

• research focus relating to the development of basic research skills and involving a placement in a research centre ;
• the research and social intervention professional focus is designed to develop research and social intervention skills in a particular area of society such as social work, towns, education, training and work ; it involves a research and intervention placement in a body outside the academic world ;
• the socio-anthropology of interculturality and development professional focus is designed to develop skills in the creation, execution and assessment of development projects in an intercultural context, both in the Northern and Southern hemispheres ;
• teaching focus which develops teaching and training skills in the field of social sciences.

Doctoral programme : doctorate in Sociology

To have gained a first university degree including the following credits :

• 21 credits in sociology/anthropology or both subjects together (with at least 15 credits in sociology)
• 24 credits in methodology (with at least 8 in quantitative methodology and 8 in qualitative methods)
• 9 credits in language (must be English unless there is special permission for another language)

The 30 credits for the subsidiary subject(s) of sociology/anthropology may therefore be used to satisfy these requirements.
If the total of prerequisite subjects is more than 15 credits, entry to the Master programme is conditional on the successful completion of a preparatory year and gaining a maximum of 60 credits.

The project - a key part of the training  

Each student enters the programme with a training project which is discussed between him/her and member of the academic staff. The programme of lessons and seminars is not intended to be a pre-determined route, even though there are some compulsory points. The student’s individual project is a key part of the process and he/she has considerable latitude in how the training is actually made up and managed.

The project is centred on carrying out research and there are different ways of helping the student to acquire the necessary skills: both group and individual supervision as well as a research placement. The presentation of a dissertation is just the final stage in a process which begins on the first day of the first year, involving selection of a research topic, choice of a subject area, acquisition and application of methodologies, familiarity with previous research from the literature, formulation of hypotheses, collection and interpretation of data, theorisation of results, writing a report, oral presentation of the results and possibly even publication.

In the Research and Social Intervention focus, the relationship between the research topic, the placement and the dissertation is discussed between the host institution, the student and the academic placement supervisor. The research topic should be relevant not only to the host institution, but also for the student and the focuses available in the programme. 

Carrying out research requires additional methodological skills and more detailed knowledge of the area of study. It also requires knowledge of cross-disciplinary issues. With the help of the teaching staff, these different perspectives are brought together.

Among the many international elements of the programme, there are the Jacques Leclercq Chair lectures, allowing students at Louvain to attend lectures given by researchers of international standing. These lectures are held in English or in French.

During the programme, a study visit abroad of a semester is possible through the Erasmus and Mercator programmes. Partnership agreements with many leading European and North American universities reinforce this part of the training.  In addition, students may undertake a research placement (either basic or professional research) in a foreign institution, subject to the agreement of the placement supervisor.