“Sociology provides many distinctive perspectives on the world and addresses the most challenging issues of our time…..

Sociology aims to make sense of society and may help us build a ‘better’ one”

The Sociology Department is committed to fostering excellence in Teaching and Learning. It aims to provide students with high levels of skill and knowledge to equip them for sociological analysis. This is achieved through diversity of teaching methods and by encouraging independent learning. The department is committed to raising the competence of students so that they can present ideas and analysis through a wide range of media.

Put briefly and very simply, sociology is an attempt to understand how society works. It is concerned with the relationships between people, and how these relationships form part of the broadest set of relationships between social groups, and with how groups and individuals are related to wider society. An important part of this interest concerns the question of social change and the analysis of those processes that bring about change. The study of society is only one part of our concern since it must rest on an analysis of the social behaviour of groups, individuals and organisations.

A LEVEL SUBJECT CONTENT

AS

Unit 1: Family and Households

Unit 2: Education and Sociological Methods

A2

Unit 3: Beliefs in society;

Unit 4: Crime and Deviance and Sociological Theory and Research Methods

METHOD OF ASSESSMENT

Unit 1

Written Paper: 1 hour

Weighting: 40% of total AS 20% of total A level marks

This paper consists of five parts.

Unit 2

Written Paper: 2 hours

Weighting: 60% of total AS 30% of total A level marks

A) One question on Education. This question consists of four parts

B) One question on Sociological Research Methods in the context of education. This question consists of one part.

C) One question on Free standing Sociological Research Methods. This question consists of four parts.

Unit 3

Written Paper: 1 hour and 30 minutes

Weighting: 20% of total A level marks

Answer one compulsory question (consisting of either two or three parts) and one question from a choice of two (This will consist of one essay).

Unit 4

A) One question on Crime. this question consists of two parts.

B) One question on Sociological Research Methods in the context of Crime and Deviance. this question consists of two parts.

C) One question on sociological theory and methods. this question consists of one essay.

CAREER POSSIBILITIES

The combination of skills obtained in studying Sociology provides students with a wide variety of educational and career opportunities. Jobs closely related, either directly or following further training include:

Teaching	Probation Work	H.R. Management
Law	Youth & Community Work	Health Administration
Journalism	Health & Medical Careers	Clinical Sociology
Social Work	Psychology	Administration

ANY OTHER INFORMATION

What Sociology can offer you?

§ Excellent teaching

§ Exemplary results at AS and A2

§ Relevant subject material to understand your life

§ A way of seeing why others behave as they do

§ Training in how to think and write clearly

§ New ways of looking at the world

§ A range of future career opportunities

Excellent teaching	Exemplary results at AS and A2	Relevant subject material to understand your life
A way of seeing why others behave as they do	A general subject that stretches your mind	Training in all the key skills
Training in Citizenship	Training in how to think and write clearly	Mental skills in analysis
A wide education	New ways at looking at the world	Interesting discussion lessons
A range of future career opportunities	Practical ways to understand your world