Sociology A Level [Y1]

You can only apply for one course type on an application.

Applying for A-Levels and/or V-Levels? You can choose to study three A-Levels or create a mixed programme combining A-Levels with other qualifications, including the new V-Levels. You will select the courses from a list of relevant subjects when you apply.

Applying for T-Levels? T-Levels are full-time courses that allow you to focus on one subject.

Applying for Vocational courses? Our technical and professional vocational courses are full-time programmes focusing on one subject. You can apply for up to two courses in the same application.

We accept applications to more than one campus; however once you have attended an interview session and received an offer from us, you will need to confirm your first-choice course and the campus you want to study at.

Sociology A-Level teaches you to question things in the world that you may have previously taken for granted. It gives you the opportunity to consider issues that affect our everyday lives, such as gender inequality, Black Lives Matter, LGBT rights and the impact of poverty.

During the two years, you will study five separate but related units. You will look at families and households and explore how the British family has changed in the past 50 years. What are the reasons behind the decrease in marriage and the increase in divorce? Why have both the death rate and birth rate fallen in the UK? How has the status of children changed over the past 150 years? You will study education and discover why certain groups (boys, certain ethnic minorities, children from deprived backgrounds) tend to underachieve in the education system. What is the point of the education system? You'll analyse the media and ask why it matters who owns the media in the UK. How has social media changed the way that we consume news? Should social media be regulated? How are different groups represented in the media? You'll take a closer look at crime and deviance and learn to challenge things like the official crime statistics. Why don’t women commit as much crime as men? Do prisons work? How can crime be reduced? Finally, you'll improve your research methods and evaluate whether surveys are accurate – why should we be wary of them? What questions should you ask about any type of research?

You will be assessed by essay-based exams in your second year. There are three exam papers, each two hours long. Paper one will focus on education, paper two will focus on the media and family, and paper three will focus on crime and deviance.

Our general entry criteria to study 3 A-Levels is: Minimum five GCSEs grade 4-9 with English Language or Maths at grade 5. For a mixed Level 3 programme the criteria are: Minimum five GCSEs grade 4-9 with English Language or Maths at grade 4. Subject specific entry criteria apply:A GCSE grade 4 in English Language.

This course fits well alongside other essay based A-Level subjects such as Politics, History, English, Philosophy, Law, Psychology. It is a good foundation for progression to any humanities or social science degrees. It is very relevant for careers in Social work, The Police, Teaching, The Law, Nursing and Youth Work. In addition, it will teach you to be a critical thinker and how to write well-structured essays – both of which are highly valued by employers.