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Sociology


Sociology

Exam Board: AQA

Entry Requirements: Grade 6 in Sociology GCSE or grade 6 in English language/literature

What will you learn?

Studying sociology offers insights into social and cultural issues. It helps you develop a multi-perspective and critical approach to understanding issues around culture, identity, religion, crime, families and social power.

  • Education and methods in context: You’ll consider the role of education in society. For example as part of your studies you’ll look into gender and ethnicity differences in school achievement.
  • Research methods: You’ll learn how to conduct your own sociological research, from interviews to reviewing documents and official statistics.
  • Families and Households: You’ll learn about family structures and changes in attitudes and values have changed over time
  • Crime and deviance with theory and methods: You’ll learn about criminal and deviant behaviour, including factors that might lead a person to follow this path in life and how the media portrays them
  • Theory and methods: You’ll expand on your knowledge of research methods and study theory and methods.
  • Beliefs in Society: You’ll learn the significant of religion, ideology and science.

What does the assessment look like?

At A-level there are three exams, each account for one third of your grade. The three exams last 2 hours and are worth 80 marks each. The exams consist of a mixture of short answer and extended writing questions.

Choose this subject if you…

Are truly interested in what is going on in the world around you and why humans behave in different ways. If you want to look more objectively at our society and how the parts of society fit together and change, then sociology may be of interest to you.

What can an A-level in this subject lead to?

The top six degree courses taken by students who have an A-level in sociology are:

  • Sociology
  • Psychology
  • English studies
  • Business studies
  • Law
  • Teaching

Recommended reading:

  • Chavs – Owen Jones
  • Natives – Akala
  • The McDonaldsisation of Society – George Rilzer