AS and A2 Level Sociology

AS and A2 Level Sociology

• Venue:
  Windmill Avenue Campus, Kettering
• Duration:
  One year for AS Level or Two years for full A Level (AS Level + A2 Level)
• Start At:
  September 2010
• Concession Fee:
  A Level
• Level of Study:
  Advanced (Level 3)
• Awarding Body:
  OCR

AS and A2 Level Sociology Entry Requirements

• For a 3 AS Level programme you will need a minimum of 5 GCSEs at A*-C including English and Maths
• For a 4 AS Level programme you will need a minimum of 6 GCSEs at A*-C including English and Maths

To progress to A2 Level a minimum of grade D at AS Level is required.

Entry is subject to a successful interview. If you have been out of education for some time you may wish to consider the Access to Higher Education programme as an alternative to A Levels

Content
AS Level
Module 1: Culture and Identity; Families and Households; Wealth, Poverty and Welfare

Students will explore different conceptions of culture, including subculture and mass culture as well as the socialisation process and the sources of concepts of identity. As a second option, students might study how the conceptions of family relationships and household structure have changed due to industrialisation and urbanisation. This option will also look at the nature of childhood and demographic trends in the United Kingdom. The final option for this module is a study of the definitions and distribution of wealth and poverty, including social response to poverty and welfare.

Module 2: Education; Health; Sociological Methods

The first option for this module is a study of the role of education in society as well as the relationships that exist within school settings and the differential social achievement (Which social groups tend to do best in school? Why?). The second option in this module is a study of health, illness and disability as both biological and social constructs. In addition, the study of health looks at the distribution of healthcare among various social groups and classes. The mandatory portion of this unit is Sociological methods, in which students will learn the ethical guidelines for conducting research as well as the mathematical and scientific methods used to carry out and analyse the results of sociological investigations.

A2 Level
Module 3: Beliefs in Society; Global Development; Mass Media; Power and Politics

This module has four different options. The first, Beliefs in Society, will take a look at religious faith in society, including religious traditions, science and religion, and the relationship between religious beliefs and social change and stability. The second, Global Development, will study various theories of development as well as underdevelopment and global inequality, globalisation and trade and their influence on culture, politics and economics. The third option is Mass Media; an in-depth study of the relationship between ownership and control of the mass media as well as the globalisation of media and how it represents age, social class, ethnicity, gender sexuality and disability. The fourth and final option for this module is Power and Politics. In this option, students will study different theories of the nature and distribution of power and political participation. Students will consider the role of political parties, pressure and interest groups and new social movements as well as the role of mass media.

Module 4: Crime and Deviance; Stratification and Differentiation; Theory and Methods

This module also has two options and one required component. The first optional component is Crime and Deviance, which focuses on a variety of theories of crime, deviance and social control as well as the globalisation of crime in contemporary society and the distribution of crime among various social groups. The second option looks at the theories that explain the multiple social layers that exist within society and how they are defined as well as the inequalities between them in terms of opportunity. The required portion of this module is an in-depth study of sociological theory and methods, including mathematical, scientific and ethical components of research.

Assessment Each module in this course is assessed by an exam. In the first module, it is a one-hour written paper which consists of one question on any of three topics. Modules two and four are assessed through a two-hour written exam which consists of one choice question and one mandatory question. Module three is assessed by a one-and-a-half-hour exam in which students will choose to write a response on one of four topics. Progression Students completing AS Level can progress on to A2 Level, and from A2 Level in to Higher Education or Employment.
Entry Requirement
For a 3 AS Level programme you will need a minimum of 5 GCSEs at A*-C including English and Maths
For a 4 AS Level programme you will need a minimum of 6 GCSEs at A*-C including English and Maths
To progress to A2 Level a minimum of grade D at AS Level is required.
Entry is subject to a successful interview. If you have been out of education for some time you may wish to consider the Access to Higher Education programme as an alternative to A Levels