Exam board

AQA A-level Sociology 7192

Description

Sociology is the study of society and is a stimulating subject in which students achieve a greater understanding of the society in which they live. It will help to develop critical and analytical skills which are seen by employers and universities as essential for a changing world and an increasingly competitive marketplace.

Content

Year 1

• Education – The study of the purpose and changes to the education system and how particular social groups achieve.
• Research Methods – Studying the methods that sociologists use to understand society and the theoretical significance of them.
• Sociological Theory – Core sociological perspectives and debates.

Students can then choose to study either:

• Families and Households – The changing nature of the family in society and gender roles
  OR
• Health – The healthcare system and inequalities in this, with some focus on mental health.

Year 2

• Crime and Deviance – Explanations of crime in society and patterns of crime, looking at changes and possible prevention methods.
• Beliefs in Society – The study of the changing nature of religion and its significance for society.

	Year 12	Year 13
Autumn	An Introduction to Sociology Key concepts Perspectives Education The role of education Social class and achievement Ethnic groups and achievement Gender and achievement Education policy	Crime and Deviance Perspectives of crime – functionalism, Marxism, labelling theory and realism Patterns of crime – social class, gender, and ethnicity Contemporary crime – globalisation, media, green crime, and state crime Prevention and Punishment – victimisation, theories of prevention and punishment, the role of the criminal justice system
Spring	Research Methods and Methods in Context Experiments Questionnaires Interviews Observations Secondary sources Family Sociological perspectives of the family Changing family structures Couple relationships Childhood Health The social construction of health, the body, disability, and models of health Inequalities in healthcare Access to healthcare	Beliefs in Society The role of religion and definitions Secularisation Changes in religion – globalisation, fundamentalism, sects, and cults Patterns of religious belief – social class, gender, age, and ethnicity Science and ideology Revision Core themes Exam skills
Summer	Family Demographic changes Social policy Health Mental Illness The health care industry and professions Sociological Theory Perspectives – functionalism, Marxism, feminism, action theory, postmodernism Debates – sociology and science, values and objectivity, social policy	Examinations Paper 1 - Education with Theory and Methods Paper 2 – Topics: Health and Beliefs in Society Paper 3 – Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods

• A visit to Gloucester Crown Court in Year 13
• A joint Politics trip to Parliament and the Supreme Court
• Speakers and visitors
• FemSoc – A lunchtime society focusing on feminism in contemporary society