

- Do you enjoy making observations about society?
- Would you like a short programme that provides you with insight into modern society?
- Do you want to acquire theoretical knowledge and understanding of social institutions and conditions?
- Do you want a programme that is both academic and practical?
The micro-credential programme in sociology provides students with practical and theoretical knowledge of sociological approaches in their chosen field.
Programme structure
The programme is 30 ECTS and is organised as one year of part-time study.
The programme is made up of:
- Mandatory courses, 20 ECTS
- Elective courses, 10 ECTS
Specialisations
Students may choose between the following specialisations:
- Health and welfare
- Sociology of Criminology
- Social Science Research Methods
Organisation of teaching
The programme is taught in English.
Main objectives
Students should:
- expand their knowledge and understanding of specific areas of sociology
- learn to compare theories, concepts and methods in the subject
- learn to gather information in the subject and present it in an appropriate way
Other
Students who complete the programme with an average grade of 8.0 meet admission requirements for a Master's programme.
BA-, B.Ed- BS- degree or equivalent qualification. All international applicants, whose native language is not English, are required to provide results of the TOEFL (79) or IELTS (6.5) tests as evidence of English proficiency.
30 ECTS credits have to be completed for the qualification. Students can select between the following areas of specialization: Health and welfare, Sociology of criminology and Social science research methods.
- Certified copies of diplomas and transcripts
- Proof of English proficiency
Further information on supporting documents can be found here
Programme structure
Check below to see how the programme is structured.
- Fall
- Not taught this semesterFÉL102F(In)equality and welfare in the Nordic countriesMandatory (required) course10A mandatory (required) course for the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse Description
The Nordic welfare model is frequently viewed as an ideal model for other welfare state, as it has achieved the greatest success in equalizing outcomes. Iceland is a part of the nordic model, but it is different in many ways, for example with more limited support to individuals and less spending on welfare. Yet, there have been great achievements regarding equality, Iceland is generally among the countries with the highest levels of gender equality and multiple indicators that measure inequality are lowest in Iceland.
In this course, we will go over the major sociological theories on inequality and the welfare state, and the position of Iceland will be considered both compared to the other Nordic countries as well as other welfare state in advanced, industralized nations. We will focus on the organization of the welfare state, how scholars have classified welfare states, and the consequences of the welfare state for example for health, inequality, and the opportunities that individuals have in society.
Language of instruction: IcelandicFace-to-face learningDistance learningPrerequisites - FÉL301FSocial research methodsElective course10Free elective course within the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse Description
This course has three main objectives. i) that students gain a better understanding of the research process and common methods, ii) that students get training in reading and criticizing existing research, and iii) that students get training in developing research questions with respect to theoretical issues and existing research. Lectures: We discuss concepts and methodologies emphasizing i) the strengths and limitations of various methods, ii) the connections among methodologies, methods, and theoretical issues. Discussion sessions: Students read research articles and discuss research methods in relation to specific sociological topics.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisites - FÉL0A1FCrime and Social DevianceElective course10Free elective course within the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse Description
This course covers a detailed overview of theories in criminology and sociology of deviance. Students will read empirical research testing these theories in Iceland and elsewhere.
Different types of crimes and topics will be discussed in criminological/sociological light, such as gender and crime, immigration and crime.
Emphasis is placed on linking theoretical discussion with empirical research.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisites - Not taught this semesterFMÞ501MRegression analysisElective course10Free elective course within the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse Description
This is a comprehensive course in multiple-regression analysis. The goal of the course is that students develop enough conceptual understanding and practical knowledge to use this method on their own. The lectures cover various regression analysis techniques commonly used in quantitative social research, including control variables, the use of nominal variables, linear and nonlinear models, techniques that test for mediation and statistical interaction effects, and so on. We discuss the assumptions of regression analysis and learn techniques to detect and deal with violations of assumptions. In addition, logistic regression will be introduced, which is a method for a dichotomous dependent variable. We also review many of the basic concepts involved in statistical inference and significance testing. Students get plenty of hands-on experience with data analysis. The instructor hands out survey data that students use to practice the techniques covered in class. The statistical package SPSS will be used.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisites - Not taught this semesterFÉL089FSurvey research methodsElective course10Free elective course within the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse Description
The purpose of this course is to provide students with understanding on how to plan and conduct survey research. The course will address most common sampling design and different type of survey research (phone, face-to-face, internet, mail etc.). The basic measurement theories will be used to explore fundamental concepts of survey research, such as validity, reliability, question wording and contextual effect. The use of factor analysis and item analysis will be used to evaluate the quality of measurement instruments. The course emphasizes students’ active learning by planning survey research and analyzing survey data.
This course is taught every other year.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisites - FÉL303FIntroduction to economic statisticsElective course6Free elective course within the programme6 ECTS, creditsCourse Description
The course is taught in collaboration with Statistics Iceland.
The goal of this course is to enhance students' ability to understand and analyze domestic and international statistics. Students will gain knowledge about the purpose of statistics, their production, and the methodology behind their production. They will also receive training in analyzing published statistics, presenting, and interpreting them in a domestic and international context, depending on their subject matter.
Students will gain practical experience by working on realistic projects where statistics are used to analyze economic and social developments and to evaluate government actions based on statistics. Students will submit an analysis report aimed at providing information that can be used as a basis for government policy and evaluation of their actions in specific areas.
Teaching will take place from September 1 to October 17. Teaching will be online with meetings in real-time. First online-meeting is Tuesday September 2. Further information is available in the syllabus.
Distance learningPrerequisites - FMÞ103FIntroduction to Qualitative ResearchElective course10Free elective course within the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse Description
The course’s objective is to introduce students to the diverse, academic criteria of qualitative research in social sciences and secondly that student’s gain experience in using qualitative methods. Furthermore, the course is practical in nature where each student works on an independent research assignment, which consists of designing and preparing a research project, collecting and analyzing data, and writing the main findings with guidance from the teacher. Research preparation, the creation of a research plan, data collection and analysis along with academic writing will be extensively covered during the course.
Face-to-face learningDistance learningPrerequisites - FMÞ001FIntroduction to quantitative researchElective course10Free elective course within the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse Description
The main subject of the course is quantitative methods and statistics used in social sciences. The focus will be on research design, sample methods and designing questionnaires. The statistical part will cover descriptive and inferential statistics. Special emphasis will be on factorial ANOVA and multiple regression. Students will get practical training in data analysis using jamovi. Students can use their own data.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisites - FMÞ102FTheories in Social and human SciencesElective course10Free elective course within the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse Description
The course covers recent writings and currents of thought that mark, or are likely to mark, turning points in social and cultural theory. Particular care will be taken to situate theories in their historical and social contexts. Attendance to weekly 40 min. discussion classes throughout the course is compulsory. Distance learning students attend in person or via the Internet (with Zoom).
Face-to-face learningDistance learningPrerequisites - Spring 2
- FÉL098FHealth and InequalityMandatory (required) course10A mandatory (required) course for the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse Description
Social inequality impacts health. Those who are more vulnerable in society have, in general, worse health than those with more resources. In this course, we will focus on the relationship between social standing and health. Students will be introducted to the major theories within medical sociology, for example Link and Phelan´s theory of fundamental causes of disase and we will cover major empirical research in the field. One of the most important contribution of sociology is an understanding of how larger societal forces (for example, the health system and the welfare system) shape individual lives and therefore we will look at how the relationship between social standing and health is shaped by these forces. Since our health is a complex phenomenon we will also look at it from an interdisciplinary perspective, by using insights from public health, health science, antropology, and political science.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisites - Not taught this semesterFÉL213F(In)equality and welfare in the Nordic countriesMandatory (required) course10A mandatory (required) course for the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse Description
The Nordic welfare model is frequently viewed as an ideal model for other welfare state, as it has achieved the greatest success in equalizing outcomes. Iceland is a part of the nordic model, but it is different in many ways, for example with more limited support to individuals and less spending on welfare. Yet, there have been great achievements regarding equality, Iceland is generally among the countries with the highest levels of gender equality and multiple indicators that measure inequality are lowest in Iceland.
In this course, we will go over the major sociological theories on inequality and the welfare state, and the position of Iceland will be considered both compared to the other Nordic countries as well as other welfare state in advanced, industralized nations. We will focus on the organization of the welfare state, how scholars have classified welfare states, and the consequences of the welfare state for example for health, inequality, and the opportunities that individuals have in society.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisites - FMÞ501MSocial science statistics: Regression analysisElective course10Free elective course within the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse Description
This is a comprehensive course in multiple-regression analysis. The goal of the course is that students develop enough conceptual understanding and practical knowledge to use this method on their own. The lectures cover various regression analysis techniques commonly used in quantitative social research, including control variables, the use of nominal variables, linear and nonlinear models, techniques that test for mediation and statistical interaction effects, and so on. We discuss the assumptions of regression analysis and learn techniques to detect and deal with violations of assumptions. In addition, logistic regression will be introduced, which is a method for a dichotomous dependent variable. We also review many of the basic concepts involved in statistical inference and significance testing. Students get plenty of hands-on experience with data analysis. The instructor hands out survey data that students use to practice the techniques covered in class. The statistical package SPSS will be used.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisites - FÉL007FCriminal Justice and PolicingElective course10Free elective course within the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse Description
This course is in direct continuation of Criminological Theory and covers a variety of issues related to crime and society. This involves, among other things, the nature of crime and criminal law, corrections and the role of police in society.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisites - Not taught this semesterFÉL0A5FGlobalizationElective course10Free elective course within the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse Description
The course revolves around the main features and the development of globalization, with special emphasis on how it changes the surroundings of people in present times in a variety of ways.
The course is divided into three themed blocks focusing on mobilities, transnationalism and inequalities. Topics discussed within these themes revolve around how micro-level social practices connect to macrostructural processes and institutions. We will discuss how individuals, groups and organizations connect transnationally; how people, knowledge, ideas and things travel on a global scale; and how these new transnational social spaces, and mobilities within them, are changing the dynamics within the social order, including stratification and differentiation along racial, class, and gender lines. The course provides the opportunity to explore how these practises and processes impact on lived realities, including health and well-being, working lives and security. The course consists of lecturers and discussion lessons in which students will take an active role.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisites - Not taught this semesterFÉL0A4FCrime in IcelandElective course10Free elective course within the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse Description
What is criminology? Criminological data and what criminologists do.
Crime definitions and how crime can be explained and understood. Examples of different theoretical perspectives will be covered in class: Classical Criminology and Social & Psychological Theories. What kind of criminological research and research questions are used with different theories?
Using this theoretical background, a number of crime types and topics within Icelandic criminology will be presented and discussed in class, including the following: Physical and sexual violence, alcohol and drugs in society, crime and punishment, public attitudes to crime and punishment, and social crisis and crime.
Students write a seminar paper and a diary (portfolio) of the topics presented in class. Final exam on-site.
Face-to-face learningPrerequisites - FMÞ201FAdvanced Seminar in Qualitative ResearchElective course10Free elective course within the programme10 ECTS, creditsCourse Description
This course focuses on the variety of approaches and methods found within research. Five qualitative approaches to inquiry are mainly in focus, namely; case study, narrative research, ethnography, phenomenology and grounded theory. Students gain a deeper experiences in data collection and in use of different methods for analyzing their qualitative data. They also gain experience in presenting their findings in written form. Additionally, students have the opportunity to reflect on their own research practices and on themselves as qualitative researchers.
Face-to-face learningDistance learningPrerequisites
The University of Iceland collaborates with over 400 universities worldwide. This provides a unique opportunity to pursue part of your studies at an international university thus gaining added experience and fresh insight into your field of study.
Students generally have the opportunity to join an exchange programme, internship, or summer courses. However, exchanges are always subject to faculty approval.
Students have the opportunity to have courses evaluated as part of their studies at the University of Iceland, so their stay does not have to affect the duration of their studies.
An education in this area can open up opportunities in:
- Sociology
- Media
- Marketing
- Political science
- Gender studies
- Research and consultancy
- PR
This list is not exhaustive.
- The organisation for sociology students is called Norm.
- Norm organises social events throughout the academic year, including workplace tours, new student orientation days and an annual gala.

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The School office offers support to students and lecturers, providing guidance, counselling, and assistance with various matters.
You are welcome to drop by at the office in Gimli or you can book an online meeting in Teams with the staff.
