Exam Board: AQA
Aims
The aims of the course are as follows:
- Provide students with the opportunity to understand how society works, with knowledge development of society’s structures and processes through sociological theories, perspectives and methods.
- Encourage the ability to recognise and evaluate the research conducted by sociologists that contributes to our knowledge of society.
- Enable the ability to discuss the theoretical and methodological perspectives and debates that exist within sociology across the different structures explored in the course.
Entry Requirements
Students should have Grade 4 or higher in GCSE English and Mathematics, or the equivalent grade/mark in their national system of secondary education.
Course Structure
Year 1
- Families and Households
- Education
- Research Methods
Year 2
- Crime and Deviance
- Theory and Methods
- The Media
Assessment
- Paper 1 – Education with Theory and Methods.
- Paper 2 – Topics in Sociology; Families and Households; The Media.
- Paper 3 – Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods.Each assessment is a 2 hour written examination; 80 marks in total; 33.3% of the final grade.
Core Text
Year 1
Sociology for AQA Volume 1: AS and 1st Year A Level. ISBN: 9780745691305 – Ken Browne.
Year 2
Sociology for AQA Volume 2: 2nd Year A Level. ISBN: 9780745696942 – Ken Browne, Jonathan Blundell and Pamela Law.
Careers and Opportunities
Studying Sociology at A Level will provide opportunities to pursue higher education in sociology, philosophy, psychology, politics and law, as well as careers in academic research. This course also provides a deep understanding of the processes and structures that exist within society, relevant to a range of careers and industries, including law enforcement, education, media and various other public and private sectors.
