Sociology is the study of human interaction within society, it looks at social behaviours, interactions and the institutions that make up society.  As a social science subject, it examines the relationships between how society is structured and organised along with the impact on different groups of people. Sociology students use critical thinking, data collection and analysis and evaluative skills to understand and examine the ways in which people exist within a given culture and society.

Education and methods in context.   This first topic introduces students to the study of a major social institution that they think they know well: the education system.  They explore issues such as the purpose of the education system, why some children get better outcomes than others, how different government policies have changed the education system over time and how the education system prepares people for the world of work.  Students develop an understanding of the different ways in which research is undertaken in sociology, evaluating the different methods and their usefulness.

Families and Households By studying the institution of the family, students are able to apply their growing knowledge of different sociology theories and perspectives.  They will look at the changing structure of families, at the roles of men and women in the family, the social construction of childhood and how this is evolving and the different governmental policies around families and children.

The Media.   In this topic, students explore and evaluate the role of the media, both traditional and new, in wider society.  They study questions such as ‘who owns and controls the media?’, ‘to what extent are audiences manipulated by different media?’ and what are the effects of new (social) media on society?’

Crime and Deviance.  This major topic is studied in Year 13 and works as a synoptic unit, drawing on much of the learning from Year 12.  Students learn about different approaches to the study of crime and deviance, different types of crime, such as global crime and state crime, methods of control and punishment and theories such as victimology and new criminology. 

There is no coursework element to A level Sociology.  

3 exams, each 2 hours long.

Paper 1:  Education with Methods in Context
Paper 2: Topics: Families & Households; Media
Paper 3: Crime and Deviance; Theory and debates.

An A level in sociology can help unlock a range of higher courses and careers.  Many students go on to study sociology, social policy, social sciences and political and international relations at University.  Careers that use sociology A level include public sector work, teaching, law, social work, the civil service and the media.

Sociology Specification Link