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Sociology

A Level

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Sociology

A Level

Availability & Details

Sociology - A Level HF1-SOCIAL/C01

Venue
Havant Campus

Type of study
A Levels

Dates
(2 years)

Examination board
WJEC (Formerly Welsh Joint Education Committee)

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Overview

As a sociologist, you will study the impact of social structures on peoples opportunities and experiences and begin to understand the reasons why people differ depending on their circumstances.

This course is designed to appeal to you if you are curious about the world in which we live, what makes us the people we are and what our role and function is in society. You will investigate different social functions such as youth cultures, education, social inequalities, crime and deviance. A central theme is the research methodology used by sociologists to collect their data.

Five GCSEs at grade 4 or above including English Language.

On this course, you will study: Year 1

  • Education
    Why do some pupils achieve more qualifications than others? Is it because of their class, gender or ethnicity, or is there an exact correlation between hard work and exam results? We will examine the functions of education, patterns of academic attainment by class, gender and ethnicity, labelling and subcultural pupil groups and policies affecting education. We will also discover how sociologists research education.
  • Youth Culture
    Factors influencing the formation of youth cultures including the media, economic changes, globalisation and the impact of class, gender and ethnicity. Looking at the changing nature of youth cultures including punks, hippies and now gangs. Investigating why youth subcultures commit crime and are often linked to drugs. How does the media influence our views and understanding? Theoretical perspectives of youth cultures: functionalist, Marxist, feminist, postmodernist, interactions.

Teaching is delivered by a variety of methods such as small group work, presentations, quizzes, debates and practical research. The research undertaken by students will allow them to experience some of the practical, ethical and methodological issues that sociologists encounter in their fieldwork.

Three exams at the end of the second year:

Paper 1: Socialisation & Culture. Variety of short answers as well as essay responses.

Paper 2: Methods and Social Enquiry. Variety of short answers as well as essay responses.

Paper 3: Social Inequality and Crime and Deviance. Variety of short answers as well as essay responses.

A good A Level pass in a range of subjects will help you to progress to Higher Education or relevant employment. A sociology degree, and the skills it brings, is invaluable for careers in social research, law, teaching/lecturing, social work, the police force, journalism, media, politics and many others.

My experience at the college was enjoyable and productive, with thoroughly helpful people surrounding you, an excellent experience. I wasn’t expecting it to be as good as it was, with the work shop time and experience I had, it was a great two years preparing me for the next stage.

Edward Smith, BTEC student

I overcame a couple of barriers by working really hard to get the top grades. My experience was really good, with the course and the lecturers, the residentials and activities, together it was all really good. I had really great teaching support, I could always go to the lecturers and speak to them if I needed to.

David Stenning, Public Services student

I’m very, very happy, I didn’t expect to do so well. The College has been helpful and supportive. I loved my courses, and the teachers were really good – every single one of them. The facilities are great, but it’s the staff that really make this place.

Matthew Randell, A Level student