Sociology

Course summary

‘Sociology lifts the lid on the ordinary and extraordinary, digs around in the hidden meanings and contexts of our lives, and shows that what we take for granted rests on complex and dynamic social processes.’ (Tony Bilton et al 1996). Sociologists study people in society. Put simply, Sociology is the attempt to understand how society works. It provides description and analysis of the patterns and structures in human relationships, and it encourages us to see the world through the eyes of other people. The need to understand the society in which we live is a pressing one. We all have a personal stake in this as we try to make sense of our own lives, as well as a wider responsibility to contribute to public debates about the way our society is organized and how it relates to other societies. Sociology helps us to do this. People who study Sociology gain a range of valuable and transferable skills such as the ability to work in collaboration with others as well as work effectively without close supervision. Students also learn how to extract information from a variety of sources and turn this into an argument. These skills, along with insights into the workings of society are sought after by many employers, in a wide variety of careers such as education, politics, the police force, law, health service, and social research to name but a few. Features of the Course The course will include the study of the family and the education system in year 12 alongside a study of the research methods that sociologists employ. Year 13 will focus on crime deviance and beliefs in society. All students are provided with access to online support and extra resources to support their learning. There will be a range of extra-curricular opportunities that will be determined and organized by those on the course which may include a visit to Durham Prison and a Sociology conference. Key topics studied • Sociology of Education • Sociological Theory and Methods • Topics in Sociology: Family • Crime and Deviance • The Media