AS/A2 Sociology

Sociology

Level: AS and A2

Exam Board: OCR

Syllabus No: AS 3878, A2 7878

What will I study?

Everybody is part of society. What we often do not realise is that the society in which we live shapes our experiences of life and who we are. We like to think we are free-thinking and choice-making individuals. But how true is this? Can we really do what we want or are we constrained by social forces beyond our control such as our social class, our ethnicity and our gender?

At AS, you will do two modules: Exploring Socialisation, Culture and Identity looks at how your personal identity is shaped by your gender, social class, ethnicity, nationality and globalisation, and Culture and Socialisation will involve you looking at how your identity and life experience is influenced by either health (e.g. what are your chances of living to a ripe old age?, do we discriminate against those who are disabled or suffering from mental illness? etc) or youth (i.e. what is it like to be a young person in the UK in 2008?).

If you are successful at AS, you can proceed to the A2 course which involves the study of either Crime and Deviance and/or Mass Media, and Social Inequality and Difference.

How is this course assessed?

The course is assessed by examination throughout. There is no coursework. You will sit your first AS module in January 2009 and the other in May 2009. All examinations are made up of data response questions, i.e. you will be given information either as prerelease materials or in the exam and expected to write mini-essays based on it.

What next?

An A level in Sociology provides an excellent background for careers in law, journalism, the caring professions, policing, the civil service, advertising, market research, teaching and a range of management and business areas.