Mass Media and Culture Studies

Sociology

Sociology is the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behaviour. Sociologists investigate the structure of groups, organisations, and societies, and how people interact within these contexts. A qualification in Sociology can provide a wide range of context and motivation in creating art and content, however, it can also be utilised as a basis for careers in: local and central government; systems of justice and peace keeping; social and market research; charitable, counselling and voluntary organisations; public relations, journalism and communications; and media and marketing.

Key Stage 4
Sociology GCSE

Specification: AQA GCSE Sociology
Specification Code: 8192 QAN (603/0798/5)

About:

Sociology is the study of people and communities and how they are structured. We look at different institutions in society that serve us such as education, the legal system, family units, and the mass media. We learn about different critical perspectives and philosophies including fuctionalism, marxism, feminism, post modernity and more.

Assessment:

Paper 1: The sociology of families and education

  • The sociology of crime and deviance

  • The sociology of social stratification

  • Relevant areas of social theory and methodology

    Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes

    100 marks

    50% of GCSE

Paper 2: The sociology of crime and deviance and social stratification

  • The sociology of families

  • The sociology of education

  • Relevant areas of social theory and methodology

    Written exam: 1 hour 45 minutes

    100 marks

    50% of GCSE

Key Stage 5
UAL Creative Media Production Level 3

Specification: AQA A Level Sociology 
Specification Code: 7191 7192 (601/3995/X; 601/3994/8)

About:

Sociology is a fascinating subject for anyone who is interested in why people, communities and social groups function in the ways that they do. It is about understanding the world around us, the opportunities, systems and injustices in the world, and how to change these. It is an academic subject that requires a 5 or above in English and Maths, and leads really well into career paths including market research, government and politics, media business and management, education, health, welfare and the caring professions. It goes very well with subjects like Media Studies, A Level Drama, Film Studies, Maths, English Literature and A Level Art.

Careers and Industry Connections:

Our teacher on this course is a fellow of the RSA (The Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce). We also have partnerships with social scientists at the University of Hertfordshire.

Sociology can open up careers in the social sciences and could include job roles such as social researcher, market research analyst, marketing executive, social worker, paralegal, community health worker, public relations specialist, diversity manager. It can also support careers in advertising and market research and with the civil service, the Police, and local and national government.

Assessment:

  • Unit 1: Education

    • Functionalist Perspectives

    • Marxist and Neo-Marxist Perspectives

    • Feminist Perspectives

    • Perspectives of the 'New Right'

    • Postmodernity

    • In School Factors and Structures

    • The Winners and Losers of the Education System

    • State Intervention and Government Policies

  • Unit 1: Research Methods In Context

    • Quantitative and Qualitative Research Methods

    • Representativeness

    • Practical Considerations When Conducting Research

    • Ethics

    • Positivism and Interpretivism

    • Validity

    • Interpreting Data

    • Surveys, Questionnaires, Observations and Experiments

  • Unit 2: Families and Households

    • The relationship of the family to the social structure and social change, with particular reference to the economy and to state policies.

    • Changing patterns of marriage, cohabitation, separation, divorce, childbearing and the life course, including the sociology of personal life, and the diversity of contemporary family and household structures.

    • Gender roles, domestic labour and power relationships within the family in contemporary society.

    • The nature of childhood, and changes in the status of children in the family and society.

    • Demographic trends in the United Kingdom since 1900: birth rates, death rates, family size, life expectancy, ageing population, and migration and globalisation.

  • Unit 3: Crime and Deviants

    • Crime, deviance, social order and social control.

    • The social distribution of crime and deviance by ethnicity, gender and social class, including recent patterns and trends in crime.

    • Globalisation and crime in contemporary society; the media and crime; green crime; human rights and state crimes.

    • Crime control, surveillance, prevention and punishment, victims, and the role of the criminal justice system and other agencies.

  • Unit 4: Mass Media

    • Ownership and Control

    • Traditional Media and New Media

    • Globalisation

    • Hegenomy and Pluralism

    • Representation (Race, Gender, Disability and the Working Class)

    • News Construction and Sourcing Truth