Description
Ever wondered how we developed into the society we are today? How the way you see yourself determines the way people identify you? Whether men or women are more likely to commit a crime?
Studying International A Level Sociology offers insights into social and cultural issues. It helps you develop a multi-perspective and critical approach to understanding issues around culture, identity, religion, crime, families and social power. More than once during the course vou’re bound to ask yourself the question, “why has society developed like this? With poverty, ignorance, crime and injustice.”
The Sociology course will allow you to develop a range of skills including:
- the use of evidence to support your arguments
- how to investigate facts and use deduction
- critical thinking
- making reasoned arguments
- developing opinions and new ideas on societal issues
- the ability to analyse and better understand societal issues.
Progression
Sociology is a great choice of subject for people who want a career in social work, nursing or medicine. But the subject is also useful in a number of other careers, like marketing, advertising, PR, journalism, law or teaching.
There’s no limit to the other subjects that you can take alongside sociology. There’s such breadth to the subject that it will complement just about anything. Students who study sociology often also study English Language and Psychology. But students, who want a career in any of the caring services, or in marketing or business, will find an understanding of sociology useful.
Cambridge Specification
Awarding Body: Cambridge
Course Code: 9699
Exams: June and November (March in India only)
Study Hours: 300 – 360 hours
Cambridge International Examinations (CIE)
This International A’ Level Sociology Course with Cambridge offers students the opportunity not only to explore the processes that are shaping current trends, but also to develop an understanding of the complexity and diversity of human societies and their continuities with the past.
The study of sociology stimulates awareness of contemporary social, cultural and political issues, and focuses on the importance of examining these issues in a rigorous, reasoned and analytical way.
How will I benefit from the International A Level Sociology Cambridge course?
The aims of this course are to enable learners to develop:
- knowledge and understanding of sociological terms, theories, methods and research findings
- an awareness of the range and limitations of sociological theory and the ability to compare and contrast different theoretical perspectives
- an appreciation and understanding of individual, social and cultural diversity, and of continuity and change in social life
- an understanding of sociological research methods, including issues concerned with the planning, implementation and evaluation of research enquiry and the collection, analysis and interpretation of data
- improved skills of communication, interpretation, analysis and evaluation
- skills for further study.
Key Concepts
The key concepts for Cambridge International AS & A Level Sociology are:
Inequality and opportunity
Inequality has a major influence on people’s opportunities and life choices. Sociologists study the different forms of inequality (age, ethnicity, gender, class), seeking to understand why inequality exists and how it affects different sections of society.
Power, control and resistance
Power is important in understanding how order and control are achieved in society. There are many different theories about who holds power and how power is used to shape human behaviour. Sociologists are also interested in the ways people oppose and resist the exercise of power.
Social change and development
Understanding how societies have changed and developed helps sociologists to make sense of the way people live today. The change from traditional society to modern industrial society is particularly important. The terms ‘modernity’ and ‘post-modernity’ are used to reflect on this transition and on contemporary issues, such as how societies are affected by globalisation and the digital revolution in technology.
Socialisation, culture and identity
Sociologists believe that people learn how they are expected to behave through socialisation. The norms and values learned through socialisation may vary between cultures, impacting on social identity. The study of different social identities is central to contemporary sociology.
Structure and human agency
A central debate in sociology concerns the relationship between the individual and society: is behaviour shaped by wider social forces or is the social world shaped by the actions of individuals? Structural theories focus on how people’s behaviour is constrained by social systems and institutions. Action theories emphasise how individuals establish meaning through social interaction and how this impacts on the behaviour of social groups and institutions.
Cambridge Sociology Content Overview
YEAR 1 – IAS
Candidates for Cambridge International AS Level Sociology study the following topics:
Socialisation and the creation of social identity
- The process of learning and socialisation
- Social control, conformity and resistance
- Social identity and change
Methods of research
- Types of data, methods and research design
- Approaches to sociological research
- Research issues
Theories of the family and social change
- Perspectives on the role of the family
- Diversity and social change
Family roles and changing relationships
- Gender equality and experiences of family life
- Diversity and social change
YEAR 2 – IA2
A Level Sociology study the AS Level topics and the following topics:
Education and society
- Theories about the role of education
- Education and social mobility
- Influences on the curriculum
Education and inequality
- Intelligence and educational attainment
- Social class and educational attainment
- Ethnicity and educational attainment
- Gender and educational attainment
Globalisation
Key debates, concepts and perspectives
- Perspectives on globalisation
- Globalisation and identity
- Globalisation, power and politics
Contemporary issues
- Globalisation, poverty and inequalities
- Globalisation and migration
- Globalisation and crime
Media
Ownership and control of the media
- Traditional media and the new media
- Theories of the media and influences on media content
- The impact of the new media
Media representation and effects
- Media representations of class, gender, ethnicity, and age groups
- Different models of media effects
- The impact of the media on behaviour
Religion
Religion and social order
- Religion and society
- Religion and social order
- Religion as a source of social change
The influence of religion
- The secularisation debate
- Gender, feminism and religion
- Religion and post-modernity
Cambridge Assessment
There are three routes learners can take when completing exams for the Sociology course with Cambridge
- AS Level Qualification only – Learners take all AS exam papers (Paper 1 & Paper 2) in one exam sitting.
- Full A Level over 2 years – At the end of year 1, learners take all AS exam papers (Paper 1 & Paper 2) in one exam sitting. In a separate exam sitting at the end of year 2, learners then take all A2 papers (Paper 3 & Paper 4). If learners achieve a pass in all four papers, they will be awarded their Full A Level in Sociology.
- Full A Level – Learners take all papers for AS and A2 in one sitting (Paper 1, Paper 2, Paper 3 & Paper 4).
Exam Papers
Paper 1: Socialisation, identity and methods of research
Written Examination: 1 hour 30 minutes
Availability: June and November (March in India)
Assessment Overview: Candidates answer four questions.
Section A: three compulsory questions
Section B: one essay from a choice of two
60 marks
Paper 2: The Family
Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Availability: June and November (March In India)
Assessment overview: Candidates answer four questions.
Section A: three compulsory questions
Section B: one essay from a choice of two
60 marks
Paper 3: Education
Written examination: 1 hour 15 minutes
Availability: June and November (March in India)
Assessment overview: Candidates answer four compulsory questions. Question 4 is an essay.
50 marks
Paper 4: Globalisation, Media and Religion
Practical examination: 1 hour 45 minutes
Availability: June and November (March in India)
Assessment overview: Candidates answer two essay questions. Section A: Globalisation Section B: Media Section C: Religion
Each section has two essay questions. Candidates select one question from two different sections.
70 marks
