Sociology


Course Duration: 2 years Course Level: A Level
Sociology b -

Why study Sociology?

I want to understand more about the world and the different cultures within it.

I care about social problems like poverty, crime and social inequalities between genders, ethnicities and age groups

I would like to learn about contemporary events which happen in society e.g. local and national news

I would like to discuss ways in which society could be improved, to better the lives of people in the UK

Course Overview

Sociology is the scientific study of society. Sociologists are interested in our social world – from the small details of how our identity forms, looking at influences of family, friends, the media, religion and so on, to big issues like inequality and politics.

The course consists of three units:

  • Socialisation, Culture & Identity with Families & Households: Looking at the nature/nurture debate, what influences our behaviour and shapes our personality, and the evolution of identity in contemporary society – for example gender fluidity, modern sexualities (LGBTQ+), disability and whether ‘national’ identity still exists.

We also study changing roles and relationships within the family and assess the relevance of a variety of theoretical perspectives on this, including Feminist, Marxist and Functionalist viewpoints.

  • Researching and Understanding Social Inequalities: A fascinating look at just how unequal the world continues to be in terms of class, income and wealth, gender, age and ethnicity, but more importantly, ways in which we can make changes to improve society in years to come. Let’s be a part of the change! You will also have the opportunity to carry out your own sociological research on an area of your choice within the curriculum within this module.
  • Globalisation & the Digital Social World with Crime & Deviance: An up-to-date look at the impact of changing digital communications, including the power of social media, on our identity, relationships and even on global cultures and conflicts (such as the Taliban’s use of social media to incite terrorism).

In Crime & Deviance you will learn about the Criminal Justice System and analyse patterns of offending and victimisation. We have very interesting and sometimes controversial discussions about how certain groups are policed and the reasons why people commit crime, drawing upon empirical examples from the news, such as the George Floyd tragedy in 2020.

Careers

Sociology can lead onto a variety of professions such as higher education and research and any career which involves working with people. Sociology teaches you good communication skills and the ability to understand ‘where people are coming from’. Professions can include Teaching, Nursing, Journalism, Police and Probation Work, Social Work, Counselling, Politics, Human Resources, Law, Marketing and Business Management.

What subjects go well with Sociology?

Here at SSFC you have the opportunity to study a combination of three subjects. Sociology goes with most subjects as it covers a broad spectrum, however we find that many of our students prefer Humanities subjects such as Psychology, Criminology, Law, History, Geography and English.

Entry requirements

As Sociology is an essay-based subject, we require you to have a grade 4 or above in English.

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