People and Society

Course Description

People and Society is a National Qualification course at Level 3 and 4 that helps you understand the world around you and the people in it. You’ll learn how to investigate questions, compare ideas, and make decisions about real-life issues like citizenship, diversity, technology, and change. The course is hands-on and flexible—you can research topics that interest you, work in groups, and use ICT.

Popular Topics You Might Explore

Crime and the Law
Learn how laws are made, why they matter, and what happens when people break them.
Migration
Discover why people move to new countries and how this affects communities.
Discrimination
Explore issues like racism, sexism, and how society works to promote equality.
Enslavement and Human Trafficking
Understand the history of enslavement and modern challenges around human rights.
Citizenship
Find out what it means to be a responsible citizen and why voting matters.
Diversity and Culture
Look at different traditions and how multicultural societies work.
Environment and Sustainability
Learn about climate change and what we can do to protect the planet.
Rights and Responsibilities
Explore human rights and the responsibilities we all share in society.
Power and Decision-Making
Understand who makes decisions in society and how power is used.

What will be different in S3?

You will study National 3 People and Society. There are three compulsory units :

Investigating Skills
Comparing & Contrasting
Making Decisions

These will be covered through the following topics

Geography: In your Geography topic you will learn about the causes, impacts and ways to manage climate change
History: In your History topic you will learn about Mary Queen of Scots and the impacts hse had on the history of Scotland
Modern Studies: In your Modern Studies topic you will learn about Social Issues, such as Inequality and Crime. You will identify the causes and impacts of issues. You will compare differences between rich and poor.

What will be different in S4?

You will study National 4 People and Society. There are four compulsory units :

Investigating Skills
Comparing & Contrasting
Making Decisions
Added Value Unit (independent research project).

Career Progression

This course is a great way to build skills for life and prepare for future studies or careers in areas like law, social sciences, and helping professions such as social work, policing, heritage or advising.