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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 great, it’s very different to school, and I think it’s a good step to going to university. The support was amazing, I loved all of my teachers, they helped me through everything. The College is friendly and you will succeed.

Heidi Adamson Brattland, A Level 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

My time at the college was definitely life changing, I have learnt a lot of new skills, and obviously it’s a completely new experience. The support was great, there was always people there to help and try make it as easy as they can for you. The college is really fantastic, it has helped me on the way to get to what I want to achieve within my career goals.

Erin Morgan, BTEC student