Sociology (World) A-level

A Level Sociology:

Year 1:

• Socialisation & Culture
• Youth Cultures
• Media
• Sociological Research Methods

Year 2:

• Social inequality
• World Sociology (International Development)

• Within this World Sociology (International Development) unit you will explore:
• How helpful is foreign aid in reducing global inequality?
• How do traditional gender roles & cultural practices explain inequalities within & between nations?
• How is globalisation changing the level of inequality across Africa & Asia?
• How can we increase the status of minority groups within society?
• What role do governmental & non-governmental organisations play in reducing inequality?
• How does sociological theory help us explain the inequalities in the world?

Sociology is much more concerned with how the society around us impacts our actions & behaviour. For example, within the World Sociology unit in Yr2 we're interested in how the media portrays low income countries (LICs) - does it create an image of helpless nations, dependent on the West for help?  Are the actions of national & foreign governments sometimes part of the problem rather than part of the solution to addressing poverty & inequality across the globe?  We're interested in how factors such as upbringing, education, age, race & sexuality all influence our life chances & influence the society within which we live. Psychology is much more concerned with what goes on within our heads, within each individual's mind and centred around that.

What can Sociology (World Soc/International Devpt pathway) lead to?

There are endless specific careers linked with Sociology (please see below) however, we're eager to ensure you develop a range of 'transferable skills' that you can draw upon throughout the rest of your career, regardless of whether Sociology becomes your career goal or not.

These skills include:

•Designing & conducting research

•Analytical skills

•Cross-cultural understanding/empathy

•Ability to consider different opinions

•Presentation/debating skills

•Evaluative skills

•Reading & critiquing information

Specific careers linked to Sociology (World) include:

•Youth worker/social worker, international aid/development worker, marketing/market research, crime analyst, police officer, probation service, law firms, human rights advocacy, welfare rights advisors, criminal justice system, education (teaching), researcher, refugee support (& many, many more).  A particular growth sector for graduates in Sociology/International Development/Geography-related subjects is the area of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).  This is the process whereby companies are eager to minimise the effects of their business on communities and/or the environment by taking greater responsibility.  If you consider McDonald's 'Ronald McDonald Houses', Costa's 'Costa Foundation' or Cadbury's 'fair trade' Dairy Milk, these are examples of CSR at work.

Much of the A-Level programme is the same, regardless of whether you do the Crime or International Devpt (World Soc) pathway. It's only in year 2 when things differ slightly

We need you to be on the correct pathway within the first two/three weeks of the Yr1 course.  After that point, you won't be able to swap.

If you're unsure, take a look at the Sociology video on the college website, this runs through the key aspects of each.  Alternatively, one of the Sociology team will happily talk you through the differences at enrolment.