Sociology
EXAMINATION | ADVANCED
Sociology fosters the development of critical and reflective thinking with a respect for social diversity and inclusivity in our society; and to encourage an awareness of the importance of social structure and social action in explaining social issues. Students are encouraged to develop their own sociological awareness through active involvement with the contemporary social world. The eminent sociologist C.Wright-Mills said “you must learn to use your life experience in your intellectual work: continually to examine and interpret it.” (The Sociological Imagination, 1959). Sociology encourages students to be inspired, moved and changed by following a broad, coherent, satisfying and worthwhile course of study and to reflect on the relevance of their own experience of the social world to enhance their ability to play informed roles within different social contexts. Sociology prepares students to make informed decisions about further learning opportunities and career choices. The British Sociological Association provides more information, promoting the study of Sociology in higher education.
Curriculum
Exam Qualifications
Year 9 Options
Choose this subject if...
You are interested in the way society works. Topics that are covered in this course include power relationships and inequalities based on social class, gender and ethnicity; the usefulness of official crime statistics, victim surveys and self-reports; explanations for why people commit crime; reasons for the growth in family diversity; changes in relationships and roles within the family; patterns and trends in educational achievement according to social class, gender and ethnicity; effects of recent changes in the education system; the relevance of sociological theory; and the usefulness of different research methods.
Future career / further education options
• Professional degree in law, business, education, health and medicine, social work or counselling.
• Journalism, politics, public relations/marketing, business human resources or public administration
• Criminal justice system, business, social service and government
• Future graduate work in Sociology in order to become a professor or researcher
Assessment
| Paper 1 | Paper 2 | |
| Name: | The sociology of families and the sociology of education | The sociology of crime and deviance and the sociology of social stratification |
| Assessment: | Exam | Exam |
| Weighting: | 50% of GCSE | 50% of GCSE |