Sociology
Why should I study A Level Sociology?
Sociology is the study of societies and the way that they shape people's behaviour, beliefs and identity. You will have the exciting opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the world around you and reflect on social issues that are often relevant to your own social experiences. Sociology is regarded as a demanding and rigorous A Level which combines well with any other combination of subjects.
It opens up the possibility for fascinating discussions, for example, ‘What is the dark side of the family?’, ‘How would a sociologist research gang activity?’,‘Why are over 30% of children across the UK living in poverty?’
Studying sociology will definitely help develop your essay skills, allowing you to discuss different views on social issues in a critical and evaluative way. Being able to draw on a range of perspectives, evidence and contemporary issues is excellent preparation for university and employment. Sociology provides a strong understanding of social and political issues, past and present.
What will I learn about?
The course will cover a wide range of topics such as socialisation, culture and identity. You will learn about the family as an agent of socialisation and a main transmitter of culture in contemporary society.
In addition to this, you will study how sociological research is carried out and the ethical and theoretical issues that arise from this. The section on Understanding Social Inequalities, will allow you to explore patterns and trends of social inequality in relation to: social class, gender, ethnicity and age. The final component will encourage debates around globalisation and the digital world and we will complete a detailed study of crime and deviance, which will include patterns and trends in crime and how crime and deviance can be explained through different theoretical perspectives.
How will I be assessed?
The A Level is assessed by three written exams at the end of the course.
Paper 1: Socialisation, Culture and Identity (30%)
· An Introduction to the ‘Individual and Society’
· ‘The Family’
Paper 2: Researching and Understanding Social Inequalities (35%)
· Research Methods
· Understanding Inequalities – class, gender, ethnicity and age
Paper 3: Debates in contemporary society (35%)
· Globalisation and The Digital Social World
· Crime and Deviance
What skills will I develop?
Throughout this course you will develop your skills in the following areas:
· Essay writing
· Critical thinking and the ability to consider issues with a global outlook
· Debating and communication skills
· Analysis of qualitative and quantitative data
Where could this subject take me in the future?
Universities recognise that sociology A Level provides students with a very good foundation in social, political and policy knowledge. A sociology student will have the skills needed for many jobs. Sociology allows learners to assess arguments and understand what makes people tick. Therefore, popular careers involve the police, teaching, law, social work, media, politics and health.
Exam Board: OCR | Course Code: H580
