Sociology

IS THIS THE RIGHT COURSE FOR ME?

At the core, Sociology is the study of society. In Sociology you will learn not only the what but the how and why the world came to be how it is today. We will study contemporary society and foster the development of critical, reflective thinking to provide you with an awareness of the importance of social structures and social action, which will prepare you to be adaptable for the fast-changing Sociology is a rigorous academic subject, which involves both critical and creative thinking. There is a significant amount of deep analysis and thinking outside the box required, as well as learning how to conduct research and use data. These skills put you in high demand in the workplace.

WHAT WILL I LEARN?

We will follow the AQA Sociology specification which is made up of two core units:

1. Education with research methods and sociological methods
In this unit you will study the role and function of the education system, relationships within schools, and the significance of educational policy, relating to the economy, class, gender and ethnicity.

2. Crime and deviance with research methods and sociological methods
In this unit you will study the social distribution of crime and deviance, as well as recent patterns and trends in crime. You will also look at globalisation and crime, linking to human rights and ‘green crime’, and the role of crime control, including surveillance, prevention, punishment and the criminal justice system.

The Sociology A-Level also has a set of optional units, from which we choose to study the Families and Household unit and the Beliefs in Society unit.
Themes in these units will be applied broadly as threads running through many areas of social life and comparison will be made between them. Throughout all units, you will be encouraged to use examples drawn from your own experience of small-scale research.

WHAT COULD I GO ON TO DO AT THE END OF MY COURSE?

Sociology is a great course, equipping you with vital skills for life including critical analysis, global awareness, cultural competence, interpersonal and communication skills. As an A Level it feeds into university courses such as law, criminology, international relations or development, social sciences and many more. Further down the road it can help with careers such as being a data analyst, policing, human resources, lawyers, public relations, journalism, social services and beyond.

WHAT ARE THE COURSE ENTRY EXPECTATIONS?

Grade 5 in English Language, English Literature and Mathematics GCSE. Grade 7 in RPE, History or Geography.