Sociology

Course summary

Sociology is a study of the society in which we live. It examines the way it shapes our lives and the way in which we shape it. During their A-level in Sociology students will cover 4 units: Compulsory content: Education with Research Method: In this unit students examine the role and purpose of education alongside the differences in educational attainment by gender, ethnicity and social class. Families and Households: This unit covers aspects such as the changing nature of childhood and changing patterns in household structure alongside the roles of men and women in the home. The Media: In this unit students examine the way in which messages of control and persuasion influence our lifestyles - more often than not without our knowledge. As a result, it looks at who is in control of the media and what that means for us. Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods: Here students investigate the relationship between deviance, power and social control. One other aspect of the unit involves examining how globalisation has affected drug trafficking, people trafficking, cybercrime and other crimes. Trips include visits to the Enlightenment Exhibition at The British Museum, Speakers Corner at Hyde Park, London, and the Sociology University Conference Bedfordshire/Hertfordshire.