AREAS

SOCIOLOGY

Subject leader for Sociology: Miss E Ridley

Sociologists are interested in why society works in the way that it does and the extent to which our behaviour – and even opportunities – can be shaped by our social class, age, gender and race. We question the society in which we live in order to understand the relationship between individuals and institutions such as the Education System, Religion and the Mass Media.

Why study Sociology?

Because you want to understand the world in which you live – how and why it functions as it does and who has power and who does not. During the course, you’ll be asking questions such as….

Who controls the Mass Media and should it be restricted in any way?

Do we live in an equal and fair society?

Why is it that factors such as class, ethnicity and gender appear to impact on how well – or otherwise – we do at school?

Is Britain becoming a non-religious society, or is there a rise in extremism and Fundamentalism?

Why does crime occur, and how reliable are official statistics?

Unit 1: Families and Households

What is happening to the ‘traditional’ family? How is social change transforming family life?

Unit 2: Education

What is the role of the Education system? Why are girls outperforming boys at GCSE, A-Level and Degree level but earn less money ten years after graduating? How can we account for differences in attainment by race, location and social class?

Unit 4: Beliefs in Society

Is Religion still relevant to young people? Is a less Religious society a less moral one? What makes people join cults and sects? What factors help to explain secularisation and fundamentalism in the UK? Does Religion oppress us?

Unit 5: Crime and Deviance

What does the crime rate tell us about society? Is prison the best place to rehabilitate criminals? Why is the prison population growing? Why do more males than females commit crimes? What factors account for the rise in gun crime amongst teenagers? Do upper class criminals ‘get away with it’?

By critically studying the way in which our everyday lives are effected by and related to such institutions as the family, education, politics, the mass media, the legal system etc, A level sociology seeks to provide students with the necessary “tools” to make decisions and form judgements about themselves and the world around them which will be of lasting value for the successful navigation of their future.

Career Opportunities with Sociology

Many graduates choose to use their understanding of societies in working directly to help individuals and communities resolve specific issues. The following links describe some of the occupations related to this kind of work. The case studies on the websites should help you to see how other people have got to where they are.

Advice worker (Charity)

Careers Adviser / Personal Adviser

Community Development Worker

Community Education Officer

Counsellor

Housing Manager

International aid/development worker

Probation Officer

Social Worker

Youth Worker

Plus many roles within Education, the Voluntary, Government or Social Care sectors.

Some graduates choose to make use of the research skills and experience that they have gained to pursue occupations within research. The following links describe some of the occupations related to this kind of work. The case studies on the websites should help you to see how other people have got to where they are.

Government Research Officer

Higher Education Lecturer

Market Researcher

Political Party Research Officer

Social Researcher

Trade Union Research Officer

Some students prefer to go into private sector business, and their skills in understanding people and in communicating are particularly valued in occupations such as:

Advertising

Marketing

Human Resources

Journalism – broadcast, magazine, newspaper

Publishing (see also the Bookseller guide to careers in publishing)

Public Relations, see also Lobbying

Sales