[ Sociology Department ]

What is Sociology?

Sociology is a 'multidisciplinary' subject - which means that it complements the study of other subjects: Politics, Social Policy, History, Anthropology, Psychology, Religious Studies, GNVQ Health and Social Care.

Sociology is the study of people in society. As Sociologists, we are fascinated by:

• Society and culture;
• How different societies work and why;
• The causes of change within society;
• Different classes/social stratification;
• Social trends;
• Who has the wealth and the power? Why?;
• The differences between cultures.

Why study Sociology?

Because it's brilliant - and it's brilliant because it's meaningful and relevant.

• You will study Sociology and it will open your eyes. . . to the world way beyond your school.
• You will study Sociology and it will give you an insight into the way societies work.
• You will study Sociology and get equipped with crucial skills.

Course content

AS Level:
Unit 1 = Families and Households (eg: changing patterns of marriage, cohabitation, separation, divorce and child bearing).
Unit 2 = Education (eg: different explanation of the different educational achievement of social groups by social groups by social class, gender and ethnicity).
Unit 3 = Methodology (eg: different quantitative and qualitative methods and sources of data).

A Level:
Unit 4 = Religion (eg: different definitions and explanations of the nature and extent of secularisation.
Unit 5 = Theory and Methods (the relationship between Sociology and social policy).
Unit 6 = Crime and Deviance (the social construction of, and societal reactions to, crime and deviance, including the role of the mass media).

Where will Sociology lead you?

An A Level in Sociology is a good foundation for further study (degrees) in other subjects:

• Law
• Politics & Social Policy
• Women's Studies
• American Studies
• Anthropolgy
• Religious Studies
• Psychology
• History