Miss N Ewart (Head of Department)

Miss M Cherry

What is Sociology?

A Level Sociology encourages students to explore and question the society they live in. Through the study of contemporary social issues, students develop critical thinking, analytical skills and the ability to evaluate different viewpoints using sociological theories and evidence.

Students will investigate key questions such as:

• How do family, education and the media shape our identities?
• Why does inequality exist in society?
• How do factors such as social class, gender and ethnicity affect life chances?
• How does power operate in society?

What sort of work will I be doing and how will I be assessed?

In St Colman's we follow the WJEC specification for A Level Sociology. The course is divided into four units which explore how society shapes our lives and how sociologists investigate social issues.

Unit 1: Acquiring Culture
Students study socialisation, culture and identity alongside the topic of Families and Households.

Unit 2: Understanding Society and Methods of Sociological Enquiry
Students develop their understanding of sociological research methods and study the topic of Education.

Unit 3: Power and Control
Students explore how power and inequality operate in society through one option topic. The topic we study is Crime and Deviance.

Unit 4: Social Inequality and Applied Methods of Sociological Enquiry
Students apply research methods to investigate social issues and examine patterns of social inequality in contemporary society.

Throughout the course, students develop analytical, evaluative and essay-writing skills while applying sociological theories to real-world issues.

What will be expected of me?

Students must have an interest in the workings of their society and an enquiring mind. Students are encouraged to keep up with current affairs and watch the news or read a newspaper regularly. Thorough independent revision, essay writing and past paper practice are essential for success in this subject.

Careers and Sociology

A Level Sociology develops valuable skills including critical thinking, communication, research, analysis and evaluation, making it a highly transferable subject.

Students may progress into careers such as:

• Teaching and Education
• Social Work and Youth Work
• Law and Criminology
• Policing and Criminal Justice
• Psychology and Counselling
• Journalism and Media
• Human Resources and Business
• Marketing and Public Relations
• Civil Service and Public Policy
• Health and Social Care