Summary

Sociology is a social science. It attempts to understand the world around us and our place within it by looking at society as a whole and theorising about people’s collective behaviour. It examines social structures, practices and relationships to make sense of the world. Sociology is split into a number of competing perspectives and much of sociological inquiry is about utilising theories and arguments to understand particular issues. Key themes in sociology include: inequality, power, social action, community, social divisions, culture and identity.

In this course you will study:

How will I know how I am doing?

There will be two written exams at the end of the year. Each exam is 1 hour and 45 minutes.

What do I need to join?

To enrol on the GCSE+ programme, applicants are expected to have a minimum grade profile of 2/3 in all subjects. Applicants will need to bring a marked piece of work to the interview. Entry tests in maths and English (and science if applying to a science subject) are required. The tests are usually held during the taster day.

How will I learn?

This GCSE course is based at our Filton campus, located in South Gloucestershire which is easily accessible from the city of Bristol by train (Bristol Parkway / Bristol Abbey Wood) and bus.

Work Experience

You will be required to do a minimum of 36 hours of work experience. This is typically done in a week during term time. The aim of work experience is to provide learners with life experience in writing an exciting CV, to help them discover what full-time employment is like and to help them begin to think of potential career paths.

What can I do next?

Students who study GCSE Sociology typically go on to study this at A Level. Sociology requires similar abilities to that of English Language and Psychology, for that reason students go on to study subject combinations such as these at A Levels. Sociology teaches you how and why society works, it is useful in learning how to manage human interaction and teaches you many interpersonal concepts.