Sociology (A Level)

Sociology is for those of you interested in the full story behind the important issues in our society. From race and poverty, to the internet and globalisation – our society is out there and sociology can help you understand your place in it. This is a subject for anyone fascinated about the study of people, communities and places, with an interest on how the external social world affects our everyday lives – and not always for the better. Successful sociology students are inquisitive, open to looking at issues and events from multiple perspectives and can apply what they have learnt to events and issues as they occur. You will need to be able to use your knowledge to construct arguments in the essays that you write and come to informed conclusions and judgements.

What you will learn

Sociology A-level focuses on four main topic areas:

crime and deviance, the media, education and culture and identity. Underpinning all units is sociological theory which will encourage critical thinking and debate on the multitude of perspectives on social life. There is also a clear focus on the role of globalisation and students will study a range of sociological case studies from around the globe. Students will also examine sociological research methods.

The study of sociology will develop a range of skills: communication, interpersonal, analytical, statistical, cross-cultural understanding and leadership skills.

How you will learn

Sociology A-level is delivered through a range of strategies including:

• Conventional class based learning
• Flipped learning online lectures
• Project work
• Researching, reading and watching a range of articles and digital resources.

Students will be taught how to take good notes, how to revise effectively and how to respond to the various exam questions.

Year 1

Education with Methods in Context: The role and functions of the education system, differential educational achievement of social groups, relationships and processes within schools, the significance of educational policies, the impact of globalisation on educational policy, application of sociological research methods to the study of education and identification of the various issues in investigating this area.

Culture and Identity with Research Methods: Different conceptions of culture, the socialisation process and the role of the agencies of socialisation, the self, identity and difference as socially constructed, the relationship of identity to age, disability, ethnicity, gender, nationality, sexuality and social class in contemporary society, the relationship of identity to production, consumption and globalisation.

Sociological Research Methods.

Year 2

The Theoretical Basis for Sociology: Consensus, conflict, structural & social action theories, concepts of modernity and post-modernity, the nature of science and the extent to which Sociology can be regarded as scientific, the relationship between theory and methods, debates on subjectivity, objectivity and value freedom, the relationship between Sociology and social policy

The Media: The new media and their significance for an understanding of the role of the media in contemporary society, the relationship between ownership and control of the media, the media, globalisation and popular culture, the processes of selection and presentation of the content of the news, media representations of age, social class, ethnicity, gender, sexuality and disability, the relationship between the media, their content and presentation and audiences.

Crime and Deviance: The nature and role of crime, deviance, social order and social control, the social distribution of crime and deviance by ethnicity, gender and social class, recent patterns and trends in crime, globalisation and crime in contemporary society; the media and crime; green crime; human rights and state crimes, crime control, surveillance, prevention and punishment, victims, and the role of the criminal justice system and other agencies

Assessment 1. Education with theory and methods, written assessment, 2 hours, 33.3% of final grade.

Assessed through a mixture of short answer questions, short essays and extended essay questions on the topics of the sociology of education, research methods in the context of education and sociological theory.

Assessment 2. Topics in Sociology, written assessment, 2 hours, 33.3% of final grade.

Assessed through a mixture of short essays and extended essay questions. Section A of this paper is Culture and Identity Topic. Section B is the Media topic.

Assessment 3. Crime and Deviance with theory and methods, written assessment, 2 hours, 33.3% of final grade.

Assessed through a mixture of short answer questions, short essays and extended essay questions on the topics of the sociology of crime and deviance, sociological theory and research methods.

Where Next?

Sociology can lead to work in journalism, publishing, marketing, PR, management, economics, politics, social work / research, police and criminal justice work and education.

Course Combinations

Sociology combines particularly well with Economics, Psychology, Media, History, Government & Politics and English courses.