Sociology is the study of society and looks at how everyday experiences shape our lives.  In particular, we will study patterns of behaviour within social groups and the impact of class, gender, ethnicity and age on social relationships.  The focus of the course will be the UK, but references will be made to other cultures as well.

You will be involved in many different activities including:

• debates and discussions on various issues
• independent research and presenting your findings or designing a poster
• watching documentaries and answering questions on topical issues
• examining studies performed by social researchers to draw out strengths and weaknesses in their approach

In the second year of the course, you will take external exams that assess content covered in the first and second year.  These exams will determine your A level grade.

Unit 1 - Socialisation, culture and identity - written examination worth 30% of the A level.

Unit 2 - Researching and understanding social inequality - written examination worth 35% of the A level.

Unit 3 - Debates in contemporary society (globalisation and the digital world and the sociology of Education) - written examination worth 35% of the A level.

• Sociology Review - Available in the LRC and within the department - activities embedded within booklets, students encouraged to utilise articles within essays;
• Sociology E-mentor/Mentor programme - 2nd Year students who are working above target grade supporting 1st year students via email and in workshops;
• A range of workshops and revision sessions - focusing on pushing to work above T25 grade;
• Meaningful extension work set in all lessons - current focus for department Learner Walks;
• Opportunity to become a student representative - to represent class mates and the cohort giving feedback to the department. Student reps come up with and implement different ideas each year, for example running a film club and writing their own Sociology newsletter; 
• Peer marking activities - students engaging with higher level analysis and evaluation skills;
• Differentiated group work within lessons - focusing on essay/exam practice;
• Research tasks - additional research about current affairs that contextualise topics being covered within lessons;
• Extra reading within the library to push higher learners - recommended texts are references in our student handbook;
• Other tasks to push yourself further are referenced on our study planner and these include links to podcasts, TED talks and documentaries to supplement students learning;
• Additional booklet being created - exam questions and plans to complete;
• Consolidation/revision posters on topics and sociological studies covered - again prizes/commendations for most informative accounts etc;
• Sociology specific UCAS drop in sessions;
• Information about prestigious destinations provided to students when making UCAS decisions/applications;
• Upcoming - university lectures from popular student destinations focusing on reading beyond the course and also levelling up skills to ensure they are university ready.

Any subject combination is possible, but the skills developed compliment other subjects in humanities and social sciences such as psychology, philosophy, criminology, history, government and politics, English and law, as well as economics, media and film studies.

Many of our sociology students go on to take degrees in sociology or a related field such as anthropology, criminology or education.  Sociology is also considered good preparation and an acceptable entrance qualification for other courses at degree level.

Common career pathways taken by sociology graduates include journalism, law, PR, marketing, social research, politics, charity (NGO), development work, teaching, social work and nursing.

It is also a useful subject for those not wishing to go to university and wanting to follow careers such as the police, armed forces, civil service and working with children or the elderly.

You can find the prep work for this course at prepwork.farnborough.ac.uk.