Sociology - A Level

Sociology is a popular and enjoyable subject because students can see it as directly relevant to their lives, and a gateway to many interesting professional careers. Lessons include a wide range of teaching methods but the most popular are the lively debates the subject content can generate. Students are encouraged to analyse, assess and evaluate in oral and written formats, equipping them with a wide range of transferable skills. Independent learning is cultivated, and all students are supported in taking an aspirational attitude to maximize their potential. No prior knowledge of the subject is required but an interest in, and awareness of, contemporary social and political issues are both assets.

The A Level Sociology follows the WJEC specification.
Sociology uses competing theories and concepts to examine issues and themes such as:

AS UNIT 1: ACQUIRING CULTURE (Written examination: 1:15 hours).
Section A - One structured question on the key concepts and processes of cultural transmission, socialization and the acquisition of identity.
Section B- Family including a compulsory question and a choice between two essay questions.

AS UNIT 2: UNDERSTANDING SOCIETY AND METHODS OF SOCIOLOGICAL ENQUIRY (Written examination: 2 hours).
Section A - Methods of Sociological Enquiry
Section B- Understanding Society: Education.

A2 UNIT 3: POWER AND CONTROL (Written examination 2 hrs).
The questions in this section are on the theme of Crime/Deviance.

A2 UNIT 4: SOCIAL INEQUALITY AND APPLIED METHODS OF SOCIOLOGICAL ENQUIRY (Written examination: 2 hrs 15 hours).
Section A- Applied Methods of Sociological Enquiry.
Section B - Social Inequality. Questions in this section are on the theme of social differentiation and stratification.

The course is demanding, requiring literacy skills for essay work, and analytical and evaluative skills for researching methodological studies and texts.