Sociology

A-Level

Examination Board: AQA

Specification: 2190

Course Leader: Mrs L Chapman

Contact Email: lchapman@tgschool.net

Are you interested in:

• Social issues?

• Current affairs?

• Diversity and difference?

• Understanding society and social change?

What Will I Study?

Sociology is the study of people in society. Sociology looks at how our identities and behaviour are shaped by society and by social groups such as our families, friends, schools and mass media. Sociology also tries to explain how and why society is changing. Studying sociology will give students a better understanding of the society we live in and the social influences shaping our lives. Sociology encourages students to look at the social world in a critical way and to answer questions about the society based on evidence rather than just opinions.

Unit 1: Education with theory and research methods - You will learn about the role of the education system and why certain groups do better or worse than each other in terms of performance. You will learn to explain and evaluate different sociological perspectives on education, including Marxism, Feminism, Interactionism and Functionalism. You will examine some of the hidden processes that go on in the classroom, including the significance of interpersonal relationships, subcultures and social policies.

Unit 2: Topics in Sociology

(a) Families and Households - throughout this course, you will consider how the concept of family has changed over time, and how it varies in different cultures. Throughout your study, you will consider a range of questions that sociologists seek to answer - for example: What makes a family? How has the position of children and our attitudes towards childhood changed? How can the government shape our family lives through the policies they choose? How do different sociologists view the family? Are husbands and wives equal? How have constructs such as marriage, divorce and cohabitation changed over time? What impact does globalisation and migration have on our family lives? Overall, is the family a positive or negative construct? 

(b) Beliefs in Society - Beliefs are ideas about what we hold to be true. They can result in profound understandings of the universe organised into religious faiths. They can drive ideologies that provide competing political outlooks, and they shape central aspects of our own identity and our relationships with others. Beliefs may reside in the mind but their impact on the world is physical.

Unit 3: Crime and Deviance with theory and methods - You will examine different sociological explanations of crime and deviance, including feminism, Marxism, Interactionalism and Functionalism. You will consider inequalities in the ways that different social classes, genders, ethnicities and ages are viewed in terms of crime and deviance. You will also look at crime control, prevention, punishment and the role of the criminal justice system.

Why Choose Sociology?

Sociology is the scientific study of society. It is the study of people: their relationships, values, beliefs and behaviours. Through the teaching of a wide range of topics, we aim to inspire students to have critical and enquiring minds - debating and discussing many different points of view about society and the world we all live in. Many students are interested in the inequalities that exist between different social groups in society, and our lessons provide a place to explore explanations and different viewpoints on this.

By asking challenging questions, sociology seeks to reveal that which is hidden. How did you become you? Why do some children fail in school, and some succeed? What causes crime, and can we ever eradicate it? What are the global causes of the environmental crisis?

Above all, sociology helps students to understand and explore their own identities and behaviours, and those of other people.

Additional Entry Requirements:

Grade 5 in GCSE English Language or a Humanities Subject at GCSE.

Assessment:

Written examination: Three papers of two hours each.

Leading to futures in:

A-Level Sociology could lead on to further study in a range of subjects and be useful in a multitude of careers. Many students could follow the course with a degree in philosophy, sociology or psychology, but there is always a huge diversity here. Students find the skills and knowledge gained from sociology useful in areas such as medicine, law, human resources and journalism.

Mrs L Chapman (LCH)	Teacher of English
Mr D Yates (DYA)	Teacher of Government & Politics