Course Information
The Sociology A level course includes six modules in total: two at AS level and a further four at A level.
At AS level, you will study the relationships between culture, families and wealth, as well as education, health and methods for investigating sociology.
You will build on these topics at A level by studying people’s beliefs about society, as well as crime and social deviance. Additionally, you will learn more advanced sociological methods and theories, and have the opportunity to study optional topics such as global development and the media.
Throughout the course, you will learn to critically investigate and challenge assumptions about society. You will also operate the tools and methods sociologists use, including statistical analysis, questionnaires, interviews and observation.
Your tutor will support your progress as you complete the modules, tracking your understanding of the core concepts through tutor-marked assignments as well as providing valuable feedback.
Introductory Module
- What is Sociology?
- Introduction to Research Methods
Module One: Culture, Families and Wealth
- Culture and Identity
- Families and Households
- Wealth and Poverty
- Welfare and Work
Module Two: Education, Health and Sociological Methods
- Education
- Health
- Sociological Methods
Module Three: Beliefs in Society
- Ideology, Science and Religion
- Social Change and Religion
- Religious Organisations
- Different Social Groups and Religious Belief
- Religion in a Contemporary World
Module Four: Other Optional Topics
- Global Development
- The Media
- Stratification and Differentiation
Module Five: Crime and Deviance
- Crime, Deviance and Social Order
- The Social Distribution of Crime
- Crime in Contemporary Society
Module Six: Sociological Methods and Theories
- Sociological Methods
- Further Sociological Theories
Look at society more objectively. Apply now!
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Examining board and exams
The Sociology A level course has been written to prepare you for the AQA exam board’s Sociology A level qualification, with the following specification codes:
- AS – 7191
- A2 – 7192
The course is assessed by two 90-minute exams at AS level and three two-hour exams at A level.
What can I do with a Sociology A level?
Sociologists are valuable sources of knowledge and expertise. They can research in think tanks, helping to formulate policy ideas for the future and predicting their long-term effects. They may be fundraisers and advocates for charities. They may also work in the community as social or youth workers, with the police, or helping to rehabilitate offenders.
Sociology-related jobs often revolve around people and communities, but the subject has practical applications in many fields. For example, a knowledge of sociology is invaluable in town planning, architecture and the built environment. Sociological data is also used by advertisers and marketers to determine the best times and channels to launch a new campaign.
If you want to continue studying Sociology in Higher Education, it makes a great companion subject to disciplines such as History, Politics and International Relations, as well as Criminology and Psychology. A Sociology BA is also a very useful foundation for a Graduate Diploma in Law and subsequent legal career – from criminal prosecutors to family solicitors.
Organisations employing people with a Sociology qualification include:
- Police forces and probation services
- Think tanks and policy institutes
- Law firms
- Town planners and architects
- Newspapers and publishers
- Marketing and advertising firms
- Local government
- Charities
Online Course? Paper-based? Somewhere in between? It’s your choice!
All of our Sociology A level students receive:
- Traditional printed learning materials
- Access to our online resources with on-the-go access to all your regular lessons
- Unmatched support by a fully-qualified teacher online and by phone
How much does it cost?
Our Sociology A level course fee is £475 with a £95 deposit, payable in eight instalments of £47.50.
You will receive support from a fully-qualified tutor holding either a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) or a degree in education. This support includes:
- Marking all assignments for the course
- Written answers to specific study problems
- Tutor contact by telephone and email
When you begin this course, you will agree an examination date or dates with your Student Adviser. Your support period lasts up to this examination date.
Meet Our Tutors
Most of my 38 year career has been spent teaching Sociology at GCSE and A level, as well as A level Media Studies. I was also a Principal Examiner for a major exam board, leading examining teams and writing Sociology A level exam papers and mark-schemes. I continue to mark A level Sociology for three awarding bodies. In addition to these roles, I have over 15 years’ experience co-writing many leading Sociology textbooks as well as others of my own.
I want to assure you of my patience and approachability. I am happy to be contacted with any queries or concerns you may have, however small, and I promise to respond promptly and comprehensively.
Prerequisites
Normally, you are required to have at least four good GCSEs to begin the Sociology A level, although this does not need to include Sociology GCSE.
If you believe you have other relevant qualifications or experience which would allow you to start a Sociology A level course, please contact one of our student advisers on 0800 975 75 75.
Books
FAQs
Why should I choose Oxford Home Schooling?
- Oxford Home Schooling is a long-established educational trust that prides itself on
- treating every student as an individual
- customer service
- course quality.
- We’re rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot by students who have studied with us.
- We provide online and printed resources so you can study your way – other providers do not give you that choice.
- We make it easy for you to home-educate your children with our flexible schedule, tutor support, and interest-free payment plan.
- Every year we help hundreds of children who have left mainstream education obtain the qualifications they need to progress and achieve their goals.
- Oxford Home Schooling is part of a not-for-profit trust so you can be sure that your course fees are spent on either your child’s tuition or on improving our courses.
When can I enrol?
You can enrol any time you like, the earlier the better. The important thing to think about is when you wish to sit your exam and to give yourself plenty of time to work through your materials and revise successfully. Our cut-off dates for enrolment can be found here.
Once you have enrolled, you will get access to your course online immediately and your printed course materials will arrive a few days later.
Can I complete the Sociology A level exam in one year?
Our cut-off for enrolling on an A level Sociology course for the following summer examination series is mid-October each year. So, yes, you can. However, remember that you will still need to fit around 700 hours of study time into your schedule before the examination. The earlier you enrol, the less study you must do each week!
Can I just enrol on the AS level Sociology course?
Yes, you can. The fee to enrol on the Sociology AS course is just £300. If you decide to upgrade to a full A Level later on then you may do so for an additional fee of £250.
The results from your AS Level exam cannot be carried forward to your A level and you will need to take the full A level exams which test the full spectrum of topics from the AS and A level specification.
When will I sit my exam?
The Sociology A level papers may be sat in the Summer examination series. The Summer series typically runs from mid-May to late June.
There is no autumn examination sitting.
How and when do I book an exam?
The final date for booking summer exams with the exam board without incurring late entry fees is the 21st of February. You should book your place at an exam centre well in advance of this date. Start looking once the autumn term begins.
All the information you need to book an exam centre can be found in our Exams Hub. Here you will find
- detailed instructions
- entry codes needed to book exams
- our map of examination centres where our students have sat in recent years.
Tutors & Exams offers discounts to Oxford Home Schooling students and has nine current exam venues across the UK: Belfast, Birmingham, Bolton, Coventry, Doncaster, High Wycombe, Romford, St Neots, Taunton and Wimbledon.
Pearson Edexcel also publishes a list of exam centres that accept private candidates. This won’t cover every available centre, so if there’s nothing shown in your area, we recommend contacting local schools and colleges directly.
Does it make sense to study both Sociology and Psychology A levels?
Yes, there is a lot to be said for combining these two A level subjects which offer complementary accounts of human experience. A large number of university joint honours courses combine the two subjects and, depending on your career choice, it may be valuable to have studied both these subjects to this level.
Is it necessary to have studied Sociology at GCSE level before taking this course?
No. This course assumes no prior knowledge of the subject and tackles all topics from first principles. But nearly all the topics covered in a Sociology GCSE course are relevant to the A level and it would give you a big head-start if you have already gained a good grade in the GCSE.
Look at society more objectively. Apply now!
Need more information? Enquire Now!
