Skip to Main Content

Sociology

  • Interested in people’s behaviour in Britain and the world?
  • Question how things work in the social world around us?

The study of Sociology provides you with alternative ways of looking at society and examines how people interact as individuals and in differing social groups within Britain and the world. Sociology helps develop a keen understanding of how society works, giving you a better knowledge and the means for changing and improving it.

Students will gain a detailed understanding of contemporary social issues and changing aspects of social life, with a particular emphasis on sociological theories/research methods in relation to the topic areas of Education, the Family, Beliefs held by people and Crime and Deviance.

Qualifications & Assessments

Exam Board AQA
Level Level 3
Qualification A Level
Assessment Method 100% Examination
Entry Requirements Entry Requirements

There are three units in total

  • Education with Theory and Methods
  • Topics in Sociology: Families and Households and Beliefs in Society
  • Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods

The course comprises a varied range of teaching and learning methods; these include teacher led activities, group work, use of IT, student presentations and also draw on a range of current media, including webcasts, podcasts, twitter, online journals, film and radio.

The study of sociology at A level enables students to have a deeper understanding of how key institutions in society operate and what effect they have on groups. This can be on an individual level but mostly at a social level affecting government policies, family size, marital relationships, crime rates, religious rates, gang subcultures and people’s belief systems.

Those that have studied sociology have found it useful when combined with other social science subjects and feel that it has contributed towards their having a more empathetic understanding of the social issues of today.

This subject can be studied singularly at university or, more popularly, combined with another subject. Applicants for apprenticeships will also find it useful for a better social understanding. Traditionally, students intending to pursue careers in social work, teaching, police work, law, local and national government, journalism, nursing, midwifery, social research, youth work, business and any occupation that involves working closely with people from different social groups will benefit from sociological study.

Enrichment activities include visits to student conferences, educational centres, university open days and external speakers.

Related Courses

Skip Courses

Psychology

The Psychology course is an investigation into mind and behaviour. The course assumes no prior knowledge of the subject and will appeal to anyone who is interested in understanding and[...]

Photograph of a Psychology student studying

Criminology

This course is an investigation into crime, criminality and the criminal justice system. The course assumes no prior knowledge of the subject and will appeal to anyone who is interested[...]

Photograph of students taking notes in a classroom.

Uniformed Protective Services BTEC

BTEC Uniformed Protective Services is a relatively new subject at Aquinas College which offers a wide ranging curriculum touching on areas of practical leadership and teamwork activities, Sociology, Police related[...]

Photograph of a Uniformed Protective Services student

Politics

The Politics course also allows students to study the fundamental ideologies that have influenced most political thought over the past 250 years; Liberalism, Conservatism, Socialism and Nationalism.

Photograph of a student reading a politics book.

Health and Social Care BTEC

BTEC Health and Social Care is the equivalent in size to one A Level over two years. There are 4 units in total. 2 of these are assessed by exams[...]

Photograph of a student working on her Health and Social care assignment.

Related Courses

Skip Courses

Criminology

This course is an investigation into crime, criminality and the criminal justice system. The course assumes no prior knowledge of the subject and will appeal to anyone who is interested[...]

Photograph of students taking notes in a classroom.

Health and Social Care BTEC

BTEC Health and Social Care is the equivalent in size to one A Level over two years. There are 4 units in total. 2 of these are assessed by exams[...]

Photograph of a student working on her Health and Social care assignment.

Politics

The Politics course also allows students to study the fundamental ideologies that have influenced most political thought over the past 250 years; Liberalism, Conservatism, Socialism and Nationalism.

Photograph of a student reading a politics book.

Psychology

The Psychology course is an investigation into mind and behaviour. The course assumes no prior knowledge of the subject and will appeal to anyone who is interested in understanding and[...]

Photograph of a Psychology student studying

Uniformed Protective Services BTEC

BTEC Uniformed Protective Services is a relatively new subject at Aquinas College which offers a wide ranging curriculum touching on areas of practical leadership and teamwork activities, Sociology, Police related[...]

Photograph of a Uniformed Protective Services student
News & Blog

Latest From Aquinas

For the first time we celebrated our annual sports presentation in the canteen at college. This was a great afternoon celebrating the sporting successes of our teams, individual athletes, Upper Sixth classes and pathways department. We had a brilliant turnout and a great afternoon.

Photograph of students receiving their awards

It was a privilege to welcome guest speaker and first-generation Holocaust survivor Tomi Komoly from the Northern Holocaust Education Group to College this week to talk about his experiences as a young child growing up in 1940s Budapest. Tomi spoke about the rise in fascism in Hungary, which culminated in an alliance with the Nazis.

Guest speaker Tomi Komoly talks about his experience of the Holocaust.

Completed by first-year A-Level Photography students at Aquinas College, this exhibition invites you to explore the rich and evolving heritage of Stockport. Created in collaboration with Stockroom, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council, and Stockport Heritage Trust, the project reflects on the town’s past, present, and future through a photographic lens.

Photograph collage of old and new in Stockport town centre.

A level Drama students visited the Bolton Octagon in April to watch a solid production of John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men”. The play was directed by Sarah Brigham and the story centres on a pair of friends who find work at a ranch in the Great Depression-era US south. This production was potentially very […]

Photograph of the Of Mice and Men production at the Octagon Theatre. Credit: Pamala Raith