Sociology

Course summary

Sociology is the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behaviour. Sociologists investigate the structure of groups, organisation, and societies, and how people interact within these contexts. We explore a range of topics including how the structure of the family has changed and the impact of these changes, the extent to which the education system is meritocratic, the effect of the media on our behaviour, and the patterns of crime and deviance amongst various social groups. We analyse and evaluate how various theories interpret these concepts and social changes - how might Marxists explain the underachievement of many working class children? How do feminists explain the representation of gender in the media? How do Functionalists explain the changing role of the Family? Course content There are 3 modules which will be taught across the two years of the course: Paper 1 – Education with Theory and Methods Education Research Methods in Context Theories in Sociology Paper 2 – Topics in Sociology Families and Households The Media Paper 3 – Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods Crime and Deviance Sociological Theory Research Methods