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Sociology A Level

Course content

Human beings are social creatures and sociology helps you to make sense of the world. Sociology students will explore human behaviour as it relates to social interaction with individuals, social groups, and social institutions (e.g. the family, the workplace etc.) Over two years you will study the following…

Year 1

Socialisation, culture and identity
Families and relationships
Research methods that allow for the understanding of social inequality relating to social class, gender, ethnicity and age
Understanding social inequalities relating to social class, gender, ethnicity and age

Year 2

Globalisation and the digital world
Crime and deviance

What have students who have taken this course in the past progressed to?

Studying Sociology empowers one to ask the what, how and why questions about human society, it also helps to develops a strong background in writing, critical thinking, theory, and research. Our students have gained transferable skills that are essential to a number of different occupations in areas such as: research, administration, public health, human services, business, counselling, law, politics, and public relations. In fact, almost any job that deals with interpersonal skills can benefit from a sound sociological background.

How will I learn?

You will experience a variety of teaching methods and styles, but the course is mainly classroom based, inclusive of the use of computers to access the latest society-related statistics. Group presentations and class debates are included in our learning. There are also options to attend enrichment activities such as a visit to the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood to take part in a workshop about the social construction of Childhood and a walking tour of London focusing on the life of Karl Marx.

How will I be assessed?

How Will I Be Assessed – We work to the AQA exam board and there are three two hour written exams, consisting of 80 marks, accounting for a third of the A – level each. These are taken at the end of a two year course.

Paper 1: Education with Theory and Methods

Education: short answer and extended writing, 50 marks
Methods in Context: extended writing, 20 marks
Theory and Methods: extended writing, 10 marks

Paper 2: Topics in Sociology

One option from this list

Culture and Identity

Families and Households

Health

Work, Poverty and Welfare

One option from this list

Beliefs in Society

Global Development

The Media

Stratification and Differentiation

Section A: extended writing, 40 marks

Section B: extended writing, 40 marks

Paper 3: Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods

Crime and Deviance: short answer and extended writing, 50 marks

Theory and Methods: extended writing, 30 marks

You will answer a mix of short and longer questions, some based on source material.

How much time should I be expected to spend on assignments, projects, field trips etc.?

You will be expected to spend around 5 hours per week outside lesson time to complete set work

Which awarding body is the course validation by?

AQA

For more information visit the AQA Website: https://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/sociology/a-level/sociology-7192/specification

Expected prior knowledge

No prior knowledge of the subject is necessary. You will need to have passed English to a level 6 and be proficient in communicating in written format. Secure skills in History and Religious Studies can be helpful, but not essential. An interest in the social nature of the human species and an eagerness to understand cause of human behaviour.