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Sociology

Sociology is a stimulating and dynamic subject. You will be studying ‘individuals within a social setting that includes groups, organisations, cultures and societies’ and also the inter-relationships between them. Sociologists study society, which is a social system made up of social institutions such as the Family, Education, Law, Politics, the Media and Religion. You will study how we acquire our culture and how social structures affect individuals. You will also study the nature of power and social control and the nature of social divisions.

The course is divided into four units, two at AS and two at A2.

AS level

Unit 1: Families and Culture. (20%)

This unit focuses on the role of the family and how we learn to be members of society. It includes defining the family, exploring relationships within the family and issues such as diversity, gender roles, marriage and divorce.

Unit 2: Research Methods and Education. (30%)

This unit encourages students to explore the nature and practice of social enquiry and includes the study of the various methods employed by sociologists in their research. It also includes definitions of educational terminology, patterns and trends regarding the achievements of different social groups by class, gender, ethnicity and locality and sociological explanations of these trends.

Assessment

Unit 1: 1 hour written paper

Unit 2: 1.5 hour written paper

 

There are assessment opportunities in January and May.

A2 level

Unit 3: Social Control – Understanding Crime (20%)

This unit looks at the patterns and trends of crime, sociological explanations of crime, agents of social control and the role of the media in such things as moral panics.

Unit 4: Applied Research Methods and Social Divisions (30%)

This unit requires students to apply their knowledge of sociological methods. It also includes the study of social inequality which includes looking at the patterns and trends of inequality in our society and the sociological explanations for this inequality.

Assessment

Unit 3: 1.5 hour written paper

Unit 4: 2 hour written paper

 

There are assessment opportunities in January and June

Sociology is useful for a range of university courses and careers including: community work, housing management, teaching, personnel management, police force, probation service, public sector administration, social work and welfare advice work.

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