AS Course Outline
What Is Sociology?
“Sociology is the art of examining society as if it were a glass onion. Sociologists peel back the
layers to see why society exists.”
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 today 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 Board) AS Specification |
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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.
|
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Unit Two
120 Minutes
90 Marks
60% of AS Exam
|
Education & Methodology
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.
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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.
Recommended Reading
Sociology: Themes and Perspectives Haralambos 7th Edition
