Sociology

Sociology is a diverse subject that aims to understand how we are affected by the society and culture we live in. It looks at topics such as crime, education, families and religion, discussing how decisions made at both a personal and group level are shaped by the wider cultural, political and historical background.

Entry Requirements

5 in GCSE English language

Assessment

3 written examinations, each exam is 2 hours and has equal weighting towards the final A-level:

  • Paper 1: Education with Theory and Methods

  • Paper 2: Topics in Sociology: Families and Households; Beliefs in Society

  • Paper 3: Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods

BEYOND SIXTH FORM

Sociology can be studied further at University as a Degree, and compliments subjects such as psychology, law, teaching, business, social work and healthcare professions due to the broad understanding it gives of society. It is also useful in a number of careers which require a deep understanding of social and political processes such as marketing, advertising, PR, human resources and journalism

Sociologists ask questions about how society works and whether certain groups are included or excluded.

The kind of questions sociologists ask include:

  • Is the traditional family dying out? Is this a bad thing?

  • Why do criminal subcultures form?

  • Is our society still biased against women?

  • Can we blame the mass media for terrorism?

  • Are the youth of today any more rebellious than in the past?

  • Do schools actually provide an education that benefits everyone?

  • Why are most prisoners male?

  • Is there still a clear working class and middle class divide in the UK?

  • Why do girls attain higher grades than boys at school?

Year One: Education, families and households and research methods.

Year Two: Crime and Deviance, Beliefs in Society and Theory and Methods. 

Exam Board - AQA

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