Welcome to the Midlands State University Community Studies Department! The Department of Community Studies offers degree programs that are very pertinent to our understanding of contemporary social dynamics including how these are shaped by historical events and experiences. Formerly the Department of Sociology, the Department of Community Studies is evolving into a versatile department offering four Undergraduate and three Postgraduate Degree Programs. Undergraduate Degree Programmes include Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Anthropology, Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Industrial Sociology, Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Migration and Population Movements and Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Sociology and Social Policy.
Masters Programmes include Master of Science in Demography and Population Studies, Master of Science in Sociology and Social Anthropology, Master of Science in Social Research, Policy and Innovation.
Prospective Careers
Due to the diverse and versatile programmes offered by the department, graduates can explore careers in various fields that require an understanding of human behaviour as well as research, critical thinking, analytical and communication skills. Careers can be pursued in both the private and the public sector along the following lines:
- Social welfare/service (e.g. humanitarian aid provision, Non and Inter-Governmental Organisations, youth work, health services management, social work, health administration, disability services, health centres)
- Research careers in public research organisations, academic institutions and non-academic research institutions in the public and private sector such as in: social welfare and humanitarian aid provision, the criminal justice system and policing institutions, migration and demography modelling, marketing, tourism, media, development work, policy development and analysis, Non and Inter Governmental Organisations, youth work and health services management.
- Social policy/law/politics (housing management, policy development and analysis, legal investigator, policy advocate, policy analysis, urban planning, polling, social research.
- Business (e.g. monitoring and evaluation, banking and finance, marketing and advertising, human resource management, market research analyst, industrial conflict mediation and consultancy)
- Criminal Justice (e.g. law enforcement, courts, juvenile justice)
- Education (e.g. lecturer, researcher, university student services, social science teacher)
- Communication (e.g. journalism, public relations, media)
Community Studies Students’ Association:
The Community Studies Students’ Association was formed by students for all students who are enthusiastic about taking their learning beyond the classroom. This student led society seeks to help in the moulding of graduates and the development of various hard and soft skills by exposing students to the practical side of our Degree Programmes. The society does this through their mandate to carry out various activities and initiatives such as philanthropic work, workshops, research and publication of issues affecting students and the community, fundraising projects, outreaches and various social activities such as dinners and sporting events. Membership is open to all registered students.