Sociology

Course Details

Video Introduction:

What is this course about?

Sociology is the study of society. It involves taking an in-depth look at the world around us and questioning assumptions and ideas that we may take for granted. In Sociology we will consider questions such as ‘why do men commit more crime than women?’, ‘is there such a thing as an ideal family type?’ and ‘does religion cause conflict or harmony in society?’. In Sociology lessons you will be encouraged to debate and discuss theoretical ideas as well as applying the ideas you have learned in the classroom to real life scenarios which may arise in the media during the course of your studies. The skills you will be encouraged to develop through studying Sociology include critical thinking, analysis and evaluation. You will also have a lot of practice at developing your essay writing skills.

The Sociology course is entirely exam-based and you will have to write a lot of essays! In class we will do a variety of different activities to cater to different learning styles. Sometimes you will be working individually, sometimes in pairs and sometimes in groups. You may be required to do presentations and teach information you have learnt to other members of the class. Some of you will have studied Sociology at GCSE and some of you won’t. If you haven’t studied it before it doesn’t matter; you can still be just as successful as someone who has. If you have studied Sociology before you can expect it to have given you a good grounding, however A-Level is quite different and involves studying theories and ideas in a lot more depth. 

Course Content

Unit 1: Education with Theory and Methods

2 hour written exam (80 marks)

33.3% of A-level. (Including short answer and extended writing questions on Education, one extended writing question on Research Methods as it applies to Education and one extended writing question on Theory and Methods)

Unit 2: Family and Beliefs in Society

2 hour written exam (80 marks)

33.3% of A-level (Including one extended writing question on Family and one extended writing question on Beliefs in Society).

Unit 3: Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods

2 hour written exam (80 marks)

33.3% of A-level marks. (Including short answer and extended writing questions on Crime and one extended writing question on Theory and Methods)

What might this course lead on to?

Sociology is a very popular choice at undergraduate degree level and studying the A Level will be really good preparation for this. An A-level in Sociology can also be beneficial when applying for other unrelated university courses as it indicates that you have skills of analysis and evaluation as well as good essay writing skills.

In terms of a career, an A-level or degree in Sociology is ideal for a career working with people. Common destinations include teaching, social work, the police, probation, nursing as well as events, business, human resources and marketing. It is a course which will open up lots of opportunities for you.

Entry Requirements:

Either a grade 5 in Sociology (if you have taken it) or a grade 5 in English (if you have not taken Sociology at GCSE).