Sociology
‘Neither the life of an individual nor the history of a society can be understood without understanding both.’
C. Wright Mills
What is Sociology?
Studying Sociology is an enjoyable and illuminating experience. In a broad sense, Sociology is the systematic study of human social groups. Perhaps the main contribution of AS/A2 Level Sociology is that it can help people to understand their own lives better i.e. it helps us understand our place in the social world. It does this by explaining the relationships between personal experience and ‘external’ events, between self and society.
Thus, the loss of a job or the closure of a local school may be viewed as a personal problem to the individual with little thought being given to the reason(s) why such things occur.
Sociology can help to explain such experience by exploring who is responsible for it, or whether what has happened is part of a wider social trend in unemployment or cuts in the education budget. By doing this we make sense of our own lives.
How sociologists investigate the social world is a major part of the A Level specification. Students will be given opportunities to draw on their own experiences of life and to offer explanations for the activities people get involved in.
Sociology in St. Patrick's Grammar School
Staff
Mrs R McGuigan
Ms M Murphy
Ms L Doran
Sociology is taught at A Level in St Patrick's Grammar. The WJEC specification is used currently. To support the teaching and learning that takes place in the classroom throughout the academic year, Sociology students have opportunities to partake in educational trips. Students also have opportunities to work with other schools through the Shared Education Programme.
Teaching and Learning Aims
Sociology is a discipline where students learn and understand the value of critical contemporary thinking.
Sociology encourages pupils to:
- acquire knowledge and a critical understanding of contemporary social processes and social changes
- appreciate the significance of theoretical and conceptual issues in sociological debate
- understand and evaluate sociological methodology and a range of research methods through active involvement in the research process
- develop skills that enable individuals to focus on their personal identity, roles and responsibilities within society
- develop a lifelong interest in social issues
Careers in Sociology
An A Level in Sociology can lead to University studies and a career in any of a wide variety of careers, such as social welfare, healthcare, politics and the media.
Many students with a GCE Sociology qualification go on to undertake further study and have successful careers in a range of disciplines such as:
- Law
- Drama
- Teaching
- Nursing
- Occupational Therapy
- Media
- Market Research
- Public Relations
- Speech Therapy
- Criminal Justice
- Social Work
