A Level Sociology

"The fascination of sociology lies in the fact that its perspective makes us see in a new light the very world in which we have lived all of our lives."

What does the subject involve?

Sociology is the study of society and human behaviour and explores how society influences us to become the people that we are. We study topics and themes such as crime, families, politics, education, religion, media, identity, power, social class, age, gender and ethnicity. It is a fascinating subject for people with questioning minds as it looks beyond what we consider to be 'normal' and encourages students to 'get behind the scenes'. Sociology develops a greater understanding about the world we live in and answers a lot of big questions.

What kind of student is this course suitable for? 

Sociology is a very popular yet demanding subject. Sociology students should have an interest in social and political issues, plus current affairs. Successful sociologists have the confidence and willingness to participate in discussions and debates, are open minded and respect the views of others. Students will be expected to write effectively and develop sophisticated essay writing skills. It will improve your skills of interpretation, analysis and evaluation which are essential to all A-Level and degree courses. Sociology will encourage you to be more critical in your thinking; to be able to assess the value of arguments and explanations and it will enable you to explore ideas in great depth. It will encourage a greater respect and understanding of people, opinions and cultures.

What could I do with this subject after sixth form?

Sociology is a respected academic subject that is valued by universities and employers. It is an extremely useful qualification in a number of careers such as law, journalism, teaching and lecturing, social work, police, nursing, probation work, research, the civil service etc. Many students go on to study sociology at university, often combining it with subjects such as philosophy, politics, psychology, history and geography and other popular degree routes include criminology, politics, primary education and nursing.