Sociology

Course summary

Sociology is the study of society – how it works, why it works, and how it could change. It’s a fascinating subject that covers all aspects of modern life. Studying sociology at A Level will give you an awareness of the social, political and economic issues that shape society. It will help you develop greater understanding and empathy towards communities that differ from your own and open your mind to a diverse range of ideas, experiences and beliefs. A-level sociology will leave you with a greater appreciation of the world around you and the diversity of contemporary society. You will be able to recognise and help find solutions to issues that specific communities and groups face and help build a fairer society for all, as a result. Families and Households - You will study the relationship of the family to social structures. You’ll identify changing patterns in marriage, divorce, cohabitation and separation and investigate the diversity of contemporary household structures and family units. You will also explore the UK’s demographic trends (e.g. birth and death rates) over the last 120 years. Education - This topic introduces you to the education system’s functions and role and its relationship to society’s class structures and economy. You will explore how an individual’s academic achievement is influenced by their social group, age, gender and ethnicity. You will also become aware of the significance of educational policies in improving access to education and equality within the system. Crime and Deviance - This module explains the social reasons for crime and deviance and will help you understand the concept of social control. By investigating recent crime patterns and trends, you will discover how identity and culture influence the social distribution of crime. You will also develop an understanding of the criminal justice system and the prevention techniques to reduce the prevalence of crime in society. The Media - You will investigate the role of the media within society and how its content can shape our perception of specific communities. You will scrutinise the representation of gender, sexuality, ethnicity, disability, age and social class in the media and understand the relationship between content and audience. Theory and Methods - Alongside your topic-specific studies, you will develop a knowledge of the theories and research methods that underpin sociology. You will understand how research is conducted to gain insight into society, assess the value of different types of data and consider the ethics behind the sociological study.