Sociology

Course summary

A-Level Sociology aims to inspire a student to reflect upon the world we live in, fostering an understanding of the inter- relationships between individuals, groups, institutions and societies. It will enable a student to develop critical thinking and appreciate theoretical and conceptual issues. The modules that a student will study are: Paper 1 Education with Theory and Methods - This module introduces a student to key themes of educational policy and practice linking themes to research methods on gender differences in education. They will study class difference and the merits of cultural deprivation on achievement. They will evaluate the role ethnicity and parental influence may play in educational outcomes. A student will develop skills in research methods to evaluate the reliability of research on educational policies. Paper 2 Topics in Sociology Family and Households and The Media - This module explores the methods of sociological enquiry and uses the context of social difference and inequality to develop knowledge and understanding of family and households and the media. This fosters the development of critical thinking around social diversity in terms of social class, gender, ethnicity and age. Paper 3 Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods - This module challenges a student to examine sociological theory and explanation in relation to pattern and trend of crime both nationally and globally. In what ways can crime and deviance be explained in order to allow society to reduce offending rates and reoffending rates? A student will explore the impact of social class, gender and ethnicity on crime rates. This will develop their skills in research methods to evaluate the reliability of research on crime.