Sociology

Course summary

Sociology is the study of human society including social relationships, social interaction, and culture. Areas studied in sociology can range from families, power and control, education, media influence, acquiring culture, inequality and poverty. Students will be encouraged to keep up to date with current affairs and will study our forever changing society. The AS components of the course focus on the theme of socialisation, identity and culture and learners are expected to analyse concepts in relation to Wales and contemporary research. The course develops learners’ understanding of the key concepts and processes of socialisation and culture through detailed study of ‘families and households’. The A2 course focuses on the themes of power, differentiation and stratification with issues relating to social order and social control studied through ‘crime and deviance’ and ‘social inequality’. The emphasis will be on effective demonstration of knowledge and high level skills of analysis, interpretation and evaluation. Learners are required to use empirical evidence, statistical data and examples drawn from Wales where applicable, and to evaluate the usefulness of sociological theories. This component of the course also requires learners to understand methods of sociological enquiry.