Sociology

Course summary

Studying Sociology at A level will provide you with the answers to these questions and many more about the society you live in today. Everyone is part of society. Society has helped shape who you are and how you experience life, but how much do you understand about it? High crime rates in our inner cities, boys’ underachievement in school, the effects of divorce on children, racism and the police, the effects of the media on violent behaviour, these are among the great debates of today. They are the subject of countless views and opinions, many of which are ill-informed or prejudiced, most expressed simply from personal and often very limited experience. This is where Sociology comes in, because these are all social issues. The Sociologist sets off to try and understand our human world a little better. This task is often challenging and controversial, but to many it is also fascinating and rewarding. Sociology, then, is the study of people in society. By learning how society operates you will be learning how the world works, you will be putting your current life in context and preparing yourself for what society may have in store for you, you will gain the knowledge, analytical and debating skills to add your voice to the great popular discussions of our time in areas such as the family, education, the police/judiciary, the media, religion and politics. The course has been designed to give learners the knowledge, understanding and skills necessary to become Sociologists. Through the study of dynamic and contemporary content, learners can understand and interact with social problems which affect people and society. It looks at four separate but linked areas of sociological study. These areas include Families and Households, Education with Theory and methods, Crime and Deviance and Beliefs in Society.