Citizen Studies - AS/A2 Level
Exam Board: AQA NCS course
code: AS-ASCSTAP/A2-A2CSTAP
Aim In the AS course, students will
address the relationship between the individual, the law and the state,
and the nature of identities.
Underpinning the course of study is
the requirement for students to be actively engaged in a range of
citizenship activities.
Students are required to participate in a
number of citizenship activities, recording their involvement using the
Active Citizenship Profile. The activities can take place in the
classroom, in school, college or within the wider community.
Content
The AS level is divided into two units. Unit 1 is assessment by a
written examination of 1 hour 15 minutes and Units 2 - 4 are assessed by
an examination paper of 1 hour 30 minutes.
At A2, students will
study the principles and characteristics of justice systems, the nature of
representative democracy, the role of parliament in the UK and
contemporary global citizenship issues.
Unit 1: Identity, rights
and responsibilities
The topic list in Unit 1 includes the
following:
· What does it mean to be British?
· How socially
diverse is Britain?
· How far is Britain a multicultural society?
·
What is stereotyping?
· Are we all equal citizens?
· Prejudice,
discrimination and disadvantage
· To what extent does poverty exist in
Britain?
· How can discrimination and disadvantage be reduced?
·
What steps can governments take to reduce discrimination and disadvantage?
·
Rights and responsibilities.
Unit 2: Democracy, active
citizenship and participation
The topic list in Unit 2 includes
the following:
· Making a difference
· The concept and nature
of power
· The citizen and political power in the United Kingdom
·
The nature of government and its impact on the lives of citizens
·
Council of Ministers, Presidency vs UK Parliament, Executive and Monarchy
·
Playing your part: how the citizen can get involved and make a difference
·
Citizenship in action: citizens working together to bring about change
·
The impact of campaigns on political decision making and political
attitudes
· Active citizenship skills and participation
·
Becoming an informed citizen, the participating citizen, being an active
citizen.
Unit 3: Power and justice
In the assessment of
units 3 and 4, candidates are expected to draw upon material and learning
from AS and may also draw upon their active citizenship participation to
inform their judgements.
Crime, Justice and punishment
The
issues considered in Unit 3 include the following:
· The nature of
crime and the role of the police
· The purpose of criminal law and its
role in society and the community
· Crime and morality
·
Elements of a crime
· The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act
·
The impact of the Human Rights Act.
· The Crown Prosecution Service
(CPS) and the trial process
· The Criminal Procedure Rules
·
The prosecution process
· The Criminal Defence Service.
Unit
4: Global issues and making a difference
The issues considered in
Unit 4 include the following:
· Universal human rights
· How
are human rights protected in the UK?
· The role of the judiciary
within the UK and the role of the European Court of Justice and the
European Court of Human Rights
· Case studies of UK human rights issues
·
How has our understanding of human rights changed since 1945?
· Human
rights abuse
· How can citizens and groups bring about change in
relation to human rights?
· Reflecting on their active citizenship
participation, students will consider how individual citizens can and have
made a difference.
Progression/career opportunities This
qualification may be used in conjunction with any of the many award
schemes or records of achievement that recognise active participation in
citizenship activities.
Screening
Students will also be
screened (in the College) and must achieve literacy and numeracy at the
level appropriate to the course.
