All about A level Sociology – course information

What's A level Sociology about?

Sociology is the study of society - how people interact in groups. A level Sociology examines social behaviour from a variety of perspectives: how it originates and then develops, and the ways people are organised into groups according to distinctions such as class, gender and race. A level Sociology also looks at the institutions and forces which shape and are shaped by groups within a society, such as the media, religion and education.

A level Sociology focuses on contemporary society, providing an awareness of the importance of social structure and actions in explaining social forces and issues. Some questions A level Sociology covers include:

• Why do boys underachieve in the education system?
• Why are black people five time more likely to be stopped and searched?
• Why are women more religious when religion oppresses them?

A level Sociology helps you to develop knowledge and understanding of the essential sociological theories and methods (such as Functionalism, Marxism and Feminism) with which sociologists make sense of the diversity of societies, and of the forces which have and will continue to shape social change.

Sociology will help you to think about society in a new and critical light, questioning the status quo and developing a sophisticated understanding of the real issues that affect the society we live in. It is an excellent subject for showing you how society works and for making you aware of the range of conditions that individuals within society experience. Students often comment that they didn't realise how varied the human experience can be and how powerfully group identity shapes a person's future.

A level Sociology is offered by OCR, WJEC and Edexcel, but the most popular option is offered by the AQA exam board as it provides an interesting range of option topics teachers can choose from. Topics include one from Culture and Identity, Families and Households, Health, Work, Poverty and Welfare,  and one topic from Beliefs in Society,  Global Development, The Media,  Stratification and Differentiation .

All the exam boards cover core areas of Sociology, which include:

• Knowledge and understanding of contemporary social issues and changes
• Understanding and evaluating key sociological theories and perspectives
• Understanding and evaluating the methods of sociological research
• Developing students' interest in the social, political and economic issues that affect society

What sort of work is involved?

Through studying A level Sociology you will learn to think critically and independently about society and the diversity which its citizens experience. You will also develop an informed understanding of our rapidly changing world, as well as your place within it.

Sociology is an essay-based subject, so it involves a lot of reading and writing, strengthening your ability to develop an argument both in class and on paper. The subject requires you to debate issues for which there are several different but well-accepted explanations, and to become critical of different viewpoints. By analysing the strengths and limitations of all perspectives studied, you learn not to take things for granted, or to accept assertions at face value!

What background do I need?

GCSE Sociology is not required to study the subject at A level. However, it is desirable to have a GCSE in a written subject, such as English, History or Religious Studies, as this would help prepare you for the essay writing on the course. You need to appreciate the importance of analysis and  balance in tackling conflicting points of view.

You should be interested in reading the news on a daily basis to be able to relate the topics learnt in class to the outside world.

Above all you need an outward-looking perspective on the world, and you should be prepared to 'walk in another person's shoes'.

Where can it lead?

Sociology provides an excellent starting point for any social science degree from Economics, Psychology, and Politics to Criminology and Philosophy. You do not need to have an A level in Sociology to take Sociology at university, though it helps.

Sociology A level complements a wide range of other A level subjects, though don't forget that the top universities expect you to be taking a 'challenging' combination of A levels, which means that you might be at a disadvantage if you do not include at least one 'challenging' subject in your programme, or if you also take A levels with a similar outlook (so perhaps best not to combine Sociology with Psychology and Politics A levels unless that's really essential to you).

However, many students choose degrees which combine Sociology with Psychology as the two subjects complement one another. While Sociology studies the influences society has upon individual behaviour, Psychology examines the impact of the individual mind.

Another popular combined degree is the study of Sociology with Criminology. While Sociology covers the study of crime, Criminology goes into greater depth thereby making the two subjects an ideal combination.

A degree in Sociology can lead to many career options including teaching, advertising, research, marketing and business. Sociology is an academic subject teaching you transferable skills so really it’s up to you which area of work you choose to go into afterwards.

 One year course?

A level Sociology is possible to study in one year, but requires you to work really hard as there is much  content to cover in class and on your own, and a lot to revise at the end of the course. Because the writing of analytical essays is so important, it helps if you already have that skill: if you can't develop it quickly you will struggle.

 Assessment

A level Sociology is a linear qualification, which means exams take place at the end of two years. It is assessed through examinations in which consist mostly of essay-based questions, plus several structured questions.

The three A level exams each count for a third of the final mark:

• Paper 1: a two-hour exam on Education in Society, with associated sociological theory and methods
• Paper 2: a two-hour exam on two option topics (see earlier)
• Paper 3: a two-hour exam on Crime and Deviance, with associated sociological theory and methods

This article was written by Sakine Koc, Director of Studies at MPW College London