What is Sociology?
Sociology is thestudy of how society is organized and how we experience life. Sociologists have conducted much ground-breaking research in major social issues such as poverty and crime. If you become a Sociology student you will not be provided with quick answers but what you will discover is how to think about these issues for yourself.
Why study Sociology?
Many students study Sociology for the personal enrichment it brings them, broadening their minds and enabling them to see their world in new and interesting ways. If you choose to study Sociology you will gain a range of very valuable skills; for example, you will learn how to work independently; you will learn how to find information, extract what is important from it and turn it into an argument. With newly acquired skills and insights into the workings of society it is not surprising that a wide range of employers see a Sociology qualification as being highly relevant; many students decide to continue their Sociology studies at college and then beyond to university to study a degree or post graduate qualification in the subject.
People who have studied Sociology open up a wide range of job markets and many become lawyers, doctors, social workers, teachers or politicians to name but a few examples.
What topics are studied?
We will follow the new AQA Specification (8192). In summary, there are seven key areas that students are asked to consider:
2. Social structures, social processes and social issues
3. Families
4. Education
7. Sociological research methods
Assessments
Paper 1: The sociology of familes and education
What’s assessed
- The sociology of familes
- The sociology of education
- Relevant areas of social theory and methodology
Students will be expected to draw on knowledge and understanding of the entire course of study to show a deeper understanding of these topics.
How it’s assessed
- Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
- 100 marks
- 50% of GCSE
Questions
- Section A has two multiple choice questions followed by a range of short extended responses.
- Section B gas two multiple choice questions followed by a range of short and extended responses.
Paper 2: The sociology of crims and deviance and social stratification
Whats assessed
- The sociology of crime and deviance
- The sociology of social stratification
Relevant areas of social theory and methodology
- Students will be expected to draw on knowledge and understanding of the entire course of study to show a deeper understanding of these topics.
How it’s assessed
- Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes
- 100 marks
- 50% of GCSE
Questions
- Section A has two multiple choice questions followed by a range of short and extended responses.
- Section B has two multiple choice questions followed by a range of short and extended responses.
The AQA Sociology specification requires students to:
- draw on information and evidence from different sources and demonstrate the ability to synthesise them.
- analyse and evaluate different research methods used in sociological investigations and assess, critically, the appropriateness of their use.
- analyse and evaluate information and evidence presented in different written, visual and numerical forms.
- apply their understanding to explore and debate the current sociological issues outlined in each of the topic areas.
- use sociological theories and evidence to compare and contrast social issues, construct reasoned arguments and debates, make substantiated judgements and draw conclusions.
- draw connections between the different topic areas studied.
Students will study key ideas of classical sociologists including Durkheim, Marx and Weber, referencing their view of the world and their contribution to the development of the discipline.
Students will also learn how to apply various research methods to different sociological contexts. They will be introduced to sociological terms and concepts concerned with social structures, social processes and social issues.
GCSE Sociology requires 120-140 guided learning hours in total (typically a double and a single period per week.) We use the AQA examining board for GCSE Sociology.