Sociology is a broad-ranging subject that attempts to explain human behaviour, exploring the extent to which individuals’ life chances are shaped by their wealth, gender and ethnicity. Along the way students will find out some extremely interesting facts about modern Britain and the wider world; they will learn that our society is full of hidden injustices and encounter some very radical views on topical social issues.

Modules include Families and Households, Education, Global Development and Crime and Deviance.

The study of Research Methods also runs through the course.

  • Politics
  • Economics
  • History
  • Philosophy
  • English
  • Law
  • Geography
  • Psychology
  • Media Studies

Sociology is a well respected and valued subject by employers, hence Sociology graduates are highly sought after by many professions. Sociology prepares students especially well for careers in Business and Management, the Voluntary and Charitable sectors, Teaching, Social Work, The Police Force, Social Research and International Development, as well as other professions that require the ability to analyse and synthesise, to write with purpose and to argue and present a case well.

Students who have an initial interest in doing a degree in the Social Sciences may want to consider Sociology’s cognate disciplines: Criminology, International Development, Anthropology and Social Policy.

See what some of our former Sociology students have gone on to do.

In the first year students will study:

  • Families and Households
  • Education
  • Research Methods

In the second year students will study:

  • Global Development
  • Theory and Methods
  • Crime and Deviance

Course Specific Trips & Visits

Sociology students have the opportunity to take part in a variety of course related trips. In the last couple of years, these have included:

  • A visit to the Newbridge Conference on Crime and Deviance at which ex-offenders and criminal justice professionals speak about their experiences of crime.
  • A visit to the annual Women of the World Conference, where students have the chance to engage with some of the world’s leading feminist thinkers.
  • Sociology in Action Conference.

In addition to course specific experiences, students also have the opportunity to get involved in the College’s Activities Programme. The programme includes a Sociology Enrichment club.

All students need to gain an experience of the work place during their time at College and for students studying vocational courses it should ideally be linked to one of their subject areas.

A Level Sociology is assessed by three, two hour exams, all taken at the end of the second year: 

  • Paper 1: Education with Theory and Methods (33.3%)
  • Paper 2: Topics in Sociology – Families and Households and Global Development (33.3%)
  • Paper 3: Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods (33.3%)

 The exam board for Sociology A Level is AQA.

All students need to have at least five GCSEs at Grade 4 or above (and a satisfactory school reference) in order to be accepted on an A Level/BTEC Level 3 Programme. 

In addition, students should meet the following minimum GCSE requirements:  

  • Grade 5 in English Language

Students will enjoy Sociology if they have a genuine interest in finding out how society works, the causes of social problems and their potential solutions.

The course will help to develop a growing sense of social responsibility with an emphasis on how wider society and world issues influence our relationships with others.

Students should enjoy sharing ideas and interacting with others and have a high standard of written communication. They should also have the ability to both think and work independently.

How is the course assessed?

There are three exams at the end of the second year. There is no assessed coursework.

What skills and interests do you need to succeed in Sociology?

  • Good written English – you will need to write essays!
  • Good critical thinking skills
  • Good time management and organisational skills
  • A passion for learning about current affairs and social issues that impact us

How much work will you need to do outside lessons?

As a general guide you can expect to spend at least four hours per week in independent study for this course outside of lesson time. Obviously this will increase as you approach exam time.

How to Apply

Applications for entry September 2025

Please apply (from 23 September 2024) via the link on this page: www.reigate.ac.uk/apply

Please see the Admissions timetable for information about the College’s enrolment process.

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