Intermediate 2

You usually take these courses if you:

• have finished Standard Grade General level; or
• want to take an alternative to Standard Grade Credit level; or
• want to take up a new subject at school or college.

Generally, three national units (blocks of work that usually take 40 hours to finish) plus 40 hours flexible time make up these courses. 
 

Sociology: Intermediate 2

Why Sociology?

Sociology is the study of the development, structure and function of human society. The purpose of this course is to provide an introduction to the sociological approach to understanding and explaining human social behaviour. You will learn about the basic principles which affect Sociology and the different ways in which evidence is collected and analysed in sociological research. The course also covers two of the key concepts of Sociology, namely socialisation and stratification.

Entry to the Course

This is at the discretion of the school/college but you would normally be expected to have attained one of the following

• Standard Grade at General level in a social science subject
• Intermediate 1 Sociology unit/s
• Standard Grade English at General level or Intermediate 1 Communication units or course.

Course Details

The course consists of three 40 hour units plus 40 hours flexible time.

Socialisation

In this unit you will learn about the relative nature of social norms, values and roles and the six main agents of socialisation:

• Work
• The Family
• Mass Media
• Education
• Religion
• Peer Groups.

You will consider the ways in which the main agents of socialisation interact, and how they impact on individuals and the culture of a society.

Social Stratification: An Introduction

This unit explores the variety of ways in which individuals may be classified into different social groups using socially constructed criteria. This is done through a study of three of the following five categories of social stratification:

• Social class
• Gender
• Race and Ethnicity
• Age
• Disability.

It also looks at the sociological significance of social stratification - the unequal ways in which groups can be formed and the effect this may have on individuals' or social groups' life chances focusing on the effects in terms of inequality and opportunities for social mobility.

Studying Human Society: The Sociological Approach

The aims of this unit are to provide a basic introduction to sociology, to develop a basic knowledge of the research methods and techniques used by sociologists and to understand the advantages and disadvantages of these different methods.

The unit provides:

an introduction to the main sociological theories - and examines how these theories relate to aspects of modern society
an explanation of the differences between common sense and sociological explanations of human behaviour
an introduction to primary and secondary research methods
an introduction to the main research methods used by sociologists, including questionnaires, interviews, surveys, case studies, use of official statistics and written evidence.

Core Skills

• Int.2  (SCQF 5) Problem Solving (Critical Thinking)

Assessment

The course is assessed by a combination of internal assessment by your teacher/lecturer and an external examination, set and marked by the SQA.
 

Progression

Successful completion of this course may lead to:

Higher in

• Sociology

 
Education and Training (NC/VQ); Employment in

• Arts, Social Sciences & Religion
• Social, Caring & Advisory Services