What will I learn?
Do you move through life at 100mph? Are you aware of the amount of choices you have in life? Do you think that the world in which we live is constantly changing? Studying Sociology will allow you to develop an understanding of how the world in which we live can influence our experiences of it. This course encourages you to question society and provides you with the opportunity to develop a range of transferable skills and a level of understanding of central aspects of sociological thought and methods. You will investigate various aspects of our social world in an attempt to look beyond common sense perceptions and uncover the ‘true’ nature of our society and the reasons why it is the way it is.
Key areas of focus include:
- Families and Households
- Education
- Sociological Theory and Research Methods
- Beliefs in Society
- Crime and Deviance
How will I be assessed?
There are no coursework or portfolio components to this course. You will study two discrete units in Year 12 and a further two units in Year 13, as well as developing an understanding of sociological research methods and theoretical perspectives along the way.
You will be following the AQA A’ Level Sociology Specification [7192] and be assessed via three terminal written exam papers sat in the summer of Year 13. Some of the questions on these papers will relate to content that you studied in Year 12. All three papers are 2 hours long, marked out of 80 and worth 33.3% of the total grade awarded. Success in these examinations will result in you being awarded an A level qualification in Sociology.
Where might this course take me?
Intrinsically rewarding in its own right, and the kind of subject that will change you as person, it’s also a highly regarded academic discipline that is welcomed by top universities and other institutions the world over and as such acts as a springboard for those thinking about further study. It would also be of benefit to anyone considering careers in local or national government, politics, civil liberties groups, charity work, social work, health and welfare services, education, the legal profession, personnel, management, market research, the police force, and many more.
Would this be a suitable subject for me?
First of all don’t worry if you have never studied Sociology at GCSE. Most students up and down the country will be in exactly the same position and it will not necessarily handicap you in any way.
If you are a person who often questions the world in which you live and would like to develop your understanding of ‘society’ and how it influences you, then Sociology is the course for you. To get the most out of the course you will need an investigative, and enquiring mind, be prepared for quite a bit of further reading and be motivated to carry out independent research. You don’t need to have studied Sociology before but a good GCSE grade in English is essential.
Sociology is a demanding yet extremely rewarding course and complements many other subjects, most notably History, Psychology, Health and Social Care, Law, Philosophy and Ethics and Economics.
Does this sound like the course for you? Then I’ll look forward to meeting up with you in the near future.
Mr D Fell, subject leader for Sociology.