SOCIOLOGY (AQA)

AS Course Outline

What Is Sociology?
"Sociology is the art of examining society as if it were a glass onion. The layers are peeled to reveal the true society we live in."

Sociology Sociology at AS does not require previous GCSE experience of the subject. It will be suited to students who are interested in social issues and wish to discover why society exists in its present form. Students will examine why people live in families, why families break down and what different types of families exist in the UK.

Sociology examines differences in marriage patterns, why do men avoid doing housework and what family is the most popular one in Britain? Candidates will examine the workings of the modern education system and how the interaction between teachers and students affects educational attainment. Race, Gender and Class will be evaluated as factors that affect attainment also.

Students will develop a keen interest in the theoretical perspectives found in sociology, such as Functionalism, Marxism, Feminism, The New Right, Post Modernism, Interactionism and Positivism. Students will learn about the various methodologies employed by sociologists to gain their data.

Students will face questions such as:
"Is the modern nuclear family in decline?"
"Is Childhood a Social Construct?"
"Are teachers to blame for labelling students?"
"How has the government reformed the education system?"
"What methods do sociologists use to research their theories?"

What Skills Will Students Develop When Studying Sociology?

  • Sociology enables students to maturely understand how the society works and give them a greater understanding as to why society exists in its present form.
  • Students will be able to use their sociological awareness to be critical of what others take for granted. They will see issues from a variety of different viewpoints.
  • Students will develop problem solving skills in applying their knowledge of the sociology to different social situations.
  • Students will develop their essay writing skills during the course and will have to assimilate information and present it in a clear and concise way.


SOCIOLOGY (AQA) AS Specification

Unit One
60 Minutes
60 Marks
40% of AS Exam

Families and Households
This exam deals with the diversity of family types in the UK, divorce, marriage, childhood, decline of nuclear family, government's policy on the family and theoretical perspectives.

Unit Two
120 Minutes
90 Marks
60% of AS Exam

Education & Research Methods
This exam deals with the impact of Class, Gender and Race on educational attainment, the impact of recent educational reforms from 1979, Social Policy in Education and Theoretical Perspectives.

Candidates answer one question on education, one question on sociological research methods in the context of education and one question on research methods.

Structure of the Course

This course will be taught for 6 lessons per week. Homework will be set weekly and deadlines must be adhered to. Reading of textbooks and sociological coverage in broadsheet newspapers is essential.

Course Textbook

Sociology: Themes and Perspectives Haralambos 7th Edition

Fees and Dates