Sociology

Course summary

Year 1 - Role and function of education - Theories – Functionalism, New Right Marxism, Feminism, Social Action - Educational policies – Have they created equality for all? - comprehensive system, private schools, grammar schools, marketisation, free schools, parentocracy, New Labour policies, Current Conservative government - Achievement of social groups– internal and external factors – class, gender and ethnicity. Why do girls outperform boys? - School processes and impact on achievement of social groups – labelling, self fulfilling prophecy, setting and streaming, sub cultures, hidden curriculum Year 2 - Theories of religion – does religion cause conflict? - Religion and social change – Martin Luther King - Secularisation – how religion is becoming less significant in people's lives - Religion, renewal and choice – individuals can pick and choose different religions that suit their own identity - Religion in a global context – the impact of globalisation on religion e.g. the rise in Fundamentalism - Organisations, movements and members – sects, cults and new religious movements e.g. Scientology - Ideology and science – science vs religion