Sociology
“We are social creatures to the inmost centre of our being. The notion that one can begin anything at all from scratch, free from the past, or unindebted to others, could not conceivably be more wrong.” – Karl Popper
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: Grade 5 in GCSE English Language or Literature and, if studied, Grade 6 in GCSE Sociology
Subject Leader: Mrs M Kelly
Examination Board: AQA
A-Level Syllabus: 7192
Examinations: 100%
What is A-Level Sociology?
Sociology is the study of society – how people interact in groups. A-Level Sociology examines social behaviour from a variety of perspectives: how it originates and then develops, and the ways people are organised into groups according to distinctions such as class, gender and race. A-Level Sociology also looks at the institutions and forces which shape and are shaped by groups within a society, such as the media, religion and education.
A-Level Sociology focuses on contemporary society, providing an awareness of the importance of social structure and actions in explaining social forces and issues.
Some questions A-Level Sociology covers include:
- Why do boys underachieve in the education system?
- Why are black people five time more likely to be stopped and searched?
- Why are women more religious when religion oppresses them?
A-Level Sociology helps you to develop knowledge and understanding of the essential sociological theories and methods (such as Functionalism, Marxism and Feminism) with which sociologists make sense of the diversity of societies, and of the forces which have and will continue to shape social change.
What Makes a Good Sociologist?
A good sociologist needs an outward-looking perspective on the world, and should be prepared to ‘walk in another person’s shoes’. They should be interested in reading the news on a daily basis to be able to relate the topics learnt in class to the outside world. Above all they should be able to think critically and independently about society and the diversity which its citizens experience. They should be passionate about understanding our rapidly changing world, as well as their place within it.
What Can I Expect to Learn in Sociology?
The A-Level will be examined through 3 examinable components
- Education with Theory and Methods (33%)
- Topics in Sociology – Families and Households and Media (33%)
- Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods (33%)
Where Could Sociology Take Me?
Sociology provides an excellent starting point for any social science degree from Economics, Psychology, and Politics to Criminology and Philosophy. You do not need to have an A-Level in Sociology to take Sociology at university, though it helps.
Sociology A-Level complements a wide range of other A-Level subjects. Many students choose degrees which combine Sociology with Psychology as the two subjects complement one another. While Sociology studies the influences society has upon individual behaviour, Psychology examines the impact of the individual mind.
Another popular combined degree is the study of Sociology with Criminology. While Sociology covers the study of crime, Criminology goes into greater depth thereby making the two subjects an ideal combination.
A degree in Sociology can lead to many career options including teaching, advertising, research, marketing and business. Sociology is an academic subject teaching you transferable skills so really it is up to you, which area of work you choose to go into afterwards.