Academic Departments - Sociology

There is hardly a news item or topical issue that is not encompassed by Sociology, a subject which was introduced at St. David's in response to requests from the students. It has become a popular subject at AS and at A2.

Sociology is the science of the workings of society, and of how that society impinges on the lives of the individuals who form a community.

Studying Sociology offers students the opportunity to develop the rigorous skill of evaluation and of applying both quantitative and qualitative research methods to real-life issues such as policies on crime, education, health, welfare and poverty.

The course gives students a thorough introduction to the main approaches in Sociology. At AS we find out about the process of socialisation, by which the individual learns their identity, including aspects of gender, class, ethnicity and nationality, and the norms and values of their society. The two options studied are The Family, looking at changing patterns of family life, and Youth Culture, which explores the development of a distinct culture of values and influence among young people today.

At A2, society's systems of power and control are investigated by learning about theories related to the prevalence and prevention of crime. We take a more detailed look at how research techniques are applied to the problems in society, including how this research informs Government policy. The synoptic paper, Social Inequality and Difference, explores the whole range of topics to cast light on the divisions in our society and their social effects.

The aim is to encourage students to develop their powers of expression through dialogue and discussion, in addition to obtaining good grades.

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