Sociology

What is Sociology and why choose Sociology as an option?

Sociology is the study of human society and how human beings interact with each other. It is therefore a very broad subject, covering a variety of topics ranging from the role of families in society to the reasons behind crime and other deviant behaviour. As such Sociology seeks to understand and explain the whole spectrum of human behaviour, from why people get divorced to whether or not poverty can lead to criminal behaviour.

Sociology enables students to develop a variety of skills, including the ability to communicate ideas both orally and in writing and the ability to empathise with others in order to gain a better insight into social situations, often with the intention of helping others and making positive changes to the world in which they live. Students interested in taking Sociology as an option therefore need an interest in people, and often express a desire to work with people when they leave full time education. Indeed, Sociology is an excellent option to take because it opens up a range of opportunities both academically (higher education) and vocationally (many employers welcome Sociology students because they realise that in learning Sociology, students develop an understanding of people and develop their skills of communication and empathy.)

At St. John Fisher School Sociology is available at GCSE, A/S and A2 Level and is a very popular and successful option within the school. The AQA syllabus is followed at each level. Below is a brief outline of the subjects taken at GCSE and A’ Level and their assessment criteria.

Key Stage 4

Topics studied:

• Studying Society
• Families
• Education
• Crime and Deviance
• Mass Media
• Social Inequality

Assessment:

• Two written papers (1 hour 30 minutes each)
• No coursework

Key Stage 5

A/S Sociology

Topics studied:

• Families and Households
• Education and Sociological Methods

Assessment:

Each unit consists of an exam and does not include coursework.

A2 Sociology:

Topics studied:

• Beliefs in Society
• Crime and Deviance and Theory and Methods

Assessment:

Each unit consists of an exam and does not include coursework.