SOCIOLOGY (A Level)
What is Sociology A level?
Sociology is the systematic study of human society. In Sociology A Level you will learn about different sociological theories of society, and you will apply them to answer questions ranging from: ‘Is religion still important in the UK’ to ‘Are families still patriarchal?’
Exam Board: AQA
What will I learn?
Education - Theories of the roles and purpose of
education; differential educational achievement; pupil subcultures and pupil identity. Introduction to sociological theories and methods of enquiry; applying research methods to study of education.
Culture and Identity - different conceptions of
culture; the socialisation process; the self, identity
and difference as both socially caused and socially constructed; the relationship of identity to age, disability, ethnicity, gender, nationality, sexuality and social class in contemporary society; the relationship of identity to production, consumption and globalisation.
» Beliefs in Society - Theories of religion; religion as a source of change, conflict and stability; secularisation and religion in a globalised society; religious organisations including sects and cults.
Crime and Deviance - Theories of crime and
deviance; the social distribution of crime; crime
prevention and control; victims of crime.
How will I be assessed?
100% examination – three 2-hour exams
Entry requirements
Grade 6 or above in English Language or Literature and another Humanities subject
Where can Sociology A level take me?
With Sociology A Level you could go on to study almost any degree. If you loved the A Level you might want to particularly consider in particular undergraduate degrees in Sociology, Politics, Psychology, Criminology, History or English. Sociology is a very popular subject at degree level. The traditional occupation for sociology graduates has been social work or some other form of public sector welfare work such as the probation service. However in practice sociology graduates go into a much wider range of jobs, including human resources, journalism, marketing and teaching.
Further reading and watching
Chavs: The demonization of the working class – Owen Jones
Living Dolls: The Return of Sexism – Natasha Walter
The news: Politics is in the world around us and is constantly changing so reading a quality newspaper (e.g. The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Independent, The Times) each week is vital along with following the news every day the news every day.