Sociology

Entry Requirements:

Six GCSEs 9-4, two from English, Maths OR Science

Two at least grade 6

What is Sociology?

A Level Sociology provides students with an opportunity to explore the social world in further depth, examining the impact of social change and policy making on individual experiences. Students study five key units; Families and Households, Education, Crime and Deviance, Social Inequality and Research Methods. This provides opportunities for detailed discussions and insights into a changing world and to examine the differences in relation to ethnicity, age, gender and social class.

Component 1: Core, Families, Households and Education

Percentage of total A level mark: 40%
Method of assessment: 2 hours and 30 minute examination paper, which consists of six compulsory questions, requiring students to display a range of skills including knowledge and understanding, application and interpretation and analysis and evaluation. Some questions are short marks requiring students to demonstrate supporting evidence to a topic of discussion and others are made up of essay based questions and answers which require students to demonstrate a structured argument.

Component 2: Research Methods

Percentage of total A level mark: 20%
Method of assessment: 1 hour and 45 minute examination paper with one compulsory question divided into four parts. This is based on stimulus material and one question will involve an extended writing piece where the students have to design, justify & evaluate a piece of sociological research.

Component 3: Social Inequality and Crime and Deviance

Percentage of total A level mark: 40%
Method of assessment: 2 hours and 30 minute examination paper which includes four compulsory questions, requiring students to display a range of skills including knowledge and understanding, application and interpretation and analysis and evaluation. Some questions are short marks requiring students to demonstrate supporting evidence to a topic of discussion and others are made up of essay based questions and answers which require students to demonstrate a structured argument.

Skills

Students will learn and build upon a range of skills which they will practice through both their verbal contributions to lessons and written work. In particular, students will develop their analytical and interpretative skills and become confident to structure and write detailed essays which show evidence of debating and evaluation.

Careers/Destinations

Students who study Sociology go into working environments and careers in a range of areas: education sector, the police, social work, media and journalism, advertisement, criminal justice work and public relations.