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Sociology

A Level

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Availability & Details

Sociology - A Level HF1-SOCIAL/C01

Venue
Havant Campus

Type of study
A Levels

Dates
(2 years)

Examination board
WJEC (Formerly Welsh Joint Education Committee)

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Overview

As a sociologist, you will study the impact of social structures on peoples opportunities and experiences and begin to understand the reasons why people differ depending on their circumstances.

This course is designed to appeal to you if you are curious about the world in which we live, what makes us the people we are and what our role and function is in society. You will investigate different social functions such as youth cultures, education, social inequalities, crime and deviance. A central theme is the research methodology used by sociologists to collect their data.

Five GCSEs at grade 4 or above including English Language.

On this course, you will study: Year 1

  • Education
    Why do some pupils achieve more qualifications than others? Is it because of their class, gender or ethnicity, or is there an exact correlation between hard work and exam results? We will examine the functions of education, patterns of academic attainment by class, gender and ethnicity, labelling and subcultural pupil groups and policies affecting education. We will also discover how sociologists research education.
  • Youth Culture
    Factors influencing the formation of youth cultures including the media, economic changes, globalisation and the impact of class, gender and ethnicity. Looking at the changing nature of youth cultures including punks, hippies and now gangs. Investigating why youth subcultures commit crime and are often linked to drugs. How does the media influence our views and understanding? Theoretical perspectives of youth cultures: functionalist, Marxist, feminist, postmodernist, interactions.

Teaching is delivered by a variety of methods such as small group work, presentations, quizzes, debates and practical research. The research undertaken by students will allow them to experience some of the practical, ethical and methodological issues that sociologists encounter in their fieldwork.

Three exams at the end of the second year:

Paper 1: Socialisation & Culture. Variety of short answers as well as essay responses.

Paper 2: Methods and Social Enquiry. Variety of short answers as well as essay responses.

Paper 3: Social Inequality and Crime and Deviance. Variety of short answers as well as essay responses.

A good A Level pass in a range of subjects will help you to progress to Higher Education or relevant employment. A sociology degree, and the skills it brings, is invaluable for careers in social research, law, teaching/lecturing, social work, the police force, journalism, media, politics and many others.


"I am delighted with my results and am really looking forward to studying Law at Oxford University. I really enjoyed my time at HSDC Alton and I really appreciate all the help and support from my fantastic teachers, without whom I wouldn't have got my place at Oxford."

Catherine Goldie, HSDC Alton A Level Student

My experience at the college was enjoyable and productive, with thoroughly helpful people surrounding you, an excellent experience. I wasn’t expecting it to be as good as it was, with the work shop time and experience I had, it was a great two years preparing me for the next stage.

Edward Smith, BTEC student

My courses were all especially interesting, I thoroughly enjoyed all of them. All of my lecturers were extremely knowledgeable and I have learnt a lot from them.

Lottie Warren, A Level student