Overview

The simplest definition of Sociology is the ‘science of society’. Sociology is the study of human social life and social relationships. Sociologists want to investigate and explain the social world and our behaviour in it. This involves examining how people live together in society and how they interact with each other in small groups, communities and larger organisations. Sociologists try and understand not only the ways in which society influences us in our daily lives but also the ways in which we shape society. In Britain, people tend to think of themselves as unique individuals who make their own free choices about most aspects of their lives. For example, teenagers make choices about their friends, their clothes and music they listen to. People also choose whether to marry and what career to pursue. Sociologists are interested in the ways our choices may be constrained (or limited) by factors such as our social class background, gender and ethnicity. They are also interested in the ways that our choices may be enabled (or helped) by such factors.

The course will allow pupils to learn new skills including the use of evidence to support arguments, how to investigate facts, and critical thinking. It is relevant to the society you live in and so you are bound to enjoy learning about topics that are relevant to your everyday life; plus it also opens the door to a fantastic range of further study (including A Level Sociology and other Humanities subjects) and careers (such as law, journalism, policing, social work and teaching).

Topics covered

Assessments

Paper 1: The Sociology of Families and Education Written exam: 1 hour and 45 minutes

Marked out of 100

50% of GCSE

Paper 2: The Sociology of Crime and Deviance and Social Stratification Written exam: 1 hour and 45 minutes

Marked out of 100

50% of GCSE

Each paper is split into Section A and Section B. Each section has two multiple choices questions followed by a range of short and extended response questions. All questions are compulsory.

FAQs

I haven’t studied Sociology before – is this a problem? 

Absolutely not. You have studied geography, history and PSRE as part of your humanities program of study at KS3 and this is the perfect preparation for GCSE sociology.

What other subjects go well with sociology?

Sociology is a very broad subject. As such, all subjects interlink with sociology in some way. The most important thing is that you are interested in the factors (such as your gender, ethnicity and social class) that have shaped – and continue to shape - your life and those around you. 

Can I study sociology and psychology together? Aren’t they too similar?

Many students do study both subject together at GCSE and especially at A Level. Sociologists study the social influences on human life and focus on group behaviour. Psychologists also study human behaviour but they focus on individuals rather than groups. 

I have heard that sociology is an easy subject? 

Whilst I would suggest that GCSE sociology is an ‘accessible’ subject as you will have some experience of the social problems and sociological issues that we study (for example, we all have experience of education and living in households – good preparation for the education and families topics), sociology is a rigorous subject with content and skills that must be mastered by the end of the course.     

Do I need to take an interest in current affairs? 

You will be expected to take an interest in current news stories – for instance keeping updated by watching the news. If you are not interested in the world around you – particularly human society – and do not have an enquiring mind, sociology might not be the subject for you

What makes a good sociology student?

You need to be open minded. Some things that you ‘know’ are not always accurate. You will need to be able to analyse the information given to you and make decisions about its accuracy. You will need to be able to view society from many different perspectives (for instance Marxist and feminist)  and accept that different people see the same concept in different ways – even if you do not agree with them.

What can I do with a qualification in GCSE sociology? 

After securing a good grade in GCSE sociology you will have the option to continue with the subject at A Level. The most obvious higher education pathway would be to study a degree in sociology but due to the diversity of the subject you are able to choose a vast array of courses, such as: psychology, media studies, criminology, history, geography, social work, English, law, politics and journalism. 

What careers might a qualification in sociology lead to?

Students who have studied sociology will have a better understanding of why people think or act in the way that they do, making them ideal for any jobs that involve interacting with members of the public (important in most careers in some way), such as teaching, social work, counselling or policing. The critical thinking, analytical and communication skills students develop will also help those interested in a career in law, business or journalism. 

Where can I find out more about this qualification? 

If you have any queries you can see Mr Jenkins.