What is covered by the course?
All the following must be an integral part of the study of each topic area:
- sociological theories, perspectives and methods
- the design of the research used to obtain the data under consideration, including its strengths and limitations
- attention must be given to drawing out the links between topic areas studied
Students must study the following two core themes:
- socialisation, culture and identity
- social differentiation, power and stratification
The themes should be understood and applied to particular substantive areas of Sociology. These themes are to be interpreted broadly as threads running through many areas of social life and should not therefore be regarded as discrete topics.
In addition, students must understand the significance of conflict and consensus, social structure and social action, and the role of values.
Year 1
Component 1 - Education with research methods
Component 2 - Family
Year 2
Component 3 - Media
Component 4 - Crime and Deviance (with theory and methods)
How is it examined?
At the end of the two years, students sit three papers, each of them 2 hours long.
Paper 1 - Written Assessment (2 hours)
- Education with Theory and Methods
- 33.33% of the total A-Level
Paper 2 - Written Assessment (2 hours)
- Topics in Sociology
- 33.33% of the total A-Level
Paper 3 - Written Assessment (2 hours)
- Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods
- 33.33% of the total A-Level