Level 3 Sociology Diploma

Level 3 Sociology Diploma Course Content

Level 3 Sociology Diploma Module One – Introduction to Sociology: The Subject Matter of Sociology

Sociology is defined as the systematic study of humans and how they interact together to form a society. A variety of research studies are conducted to link how society behaves such as in education, as a family, what we eat and buy. Most of the surveys we hear about involve social scientific research so polling votes, views within family life, how we manage money, what we buy and how we shop. All of these issues are affected by human behaviour, our values and how we are affected by what we learn, from our family and mass media, an example would be an activity which compares the content of two very different newspapers.

Level 3 Sociology Diploma Module Two – Theoretical Approaches to Sociology: Culture and Identity

Research is done in Sociology to identify common trends and patterns, but also to identify anomalies, what is different and out of the ordinary. The main theorists who developed Sociology as a subject and how it developed historically over the past 200 years is examined. It is considered quite a young subject. The main theories studies are Functionalism or the smooth running of society; Social Interactionism or the impact of individuals and Marxism which looks at the disparity of society with the rich and powerful.

Level 3 Sociology Diploma Module Three -Sociology and the Family (Part 1)

Everyone is born into a family and so this institution is used as a medium of social interaction. This experience can be good or bad and change though out life, and is influenced by media images that show what a ‘perfect family’ ought to be. However, this has changed as family life has changed and the media allows us to experience how different people live in the modern world. The movement of people, ease of travel and growth of access to different media means that we can today see family life in the most remote society. Even the essence of what a family is has changed, for example two white homosexual men parenting two children from Asian and Africa.

Level 3 Sociology Diploma Module Four – Sociology and the Family (Part 2)

As already stated family life has changed and a key change within it is the role of women. Although still not equal to men, there is no longer an expectation that women must marry, have children and stay at home to look after the family. Divorce is more common and when children are involved this further changes what is considered to be a norm in family make-up. How each socialist theory fits into the perceptions of family is considered.

Level 3 Sociology Diploma Module Five – Sociology and Education (Part 1)

Laws exist to allow Education for everyone in the UK such as the Education Act 1944. Primary education is now universally available as it teaches basic academic skills for functioning in a society. Education is contentious and even when models such as those in Scandinavia have been found to work exceptionally well, there is still an never-ending amount of research about Education in the UK, which have developed many different theories about effective or problems within Education.

Level 3 Sociology Diploma Module Six – Sociology and Education (Part 2)

This module concentrates on the education of the different genders though a look at statistics from various sociological research. It is widely accepted that females are now doing better than males. This has caused many changes, though equality is still an issue in each example, such as equal pay, women earning more than men, having children later or deciding not to be in a family situation. This has caused a rise in mental illness in men or some males not knowing their role in society whilst others are much more comfortable being proactive in their children’s care and life generally.

Level 3 Sociology Diploma Module Seven – The Sociology of Religion

Religion is addressed as a whole module because it focuses on the meaning of life. Even when people are anti-religion, they have fanatical views and yet may still decide on a ‘Church wedding!’ UK is considered a Christian state, yet there is a changing diversity and make-up due to migration and immigration that affects religious choice and behaviour. Terrorism has also introduced warped visions of the role and function of religion in British and World society. The ideology of religion covers how we deal with grief, how we behave, our views on what we consider to be right and wrong, and Theodicy or the meaning of life.

Level 3 Sociology Diploma Module Eight – The Mass Media

In the last 60 years the commonality of the television set into every home in the UK, free newspaper and the internet media has increased the role of the mass media in human life and society. Values and beliefs are influenced by the media and in turn we decide what we buy e.g. the newspaper we choose to read and the television programmes we watch, what advertisements, if any, are shown within it so we effect what is considered to be popular culture. What is crucial is that questions are asked about who makes the decisions, how are we manipulated to believe certain information and if our way of life is valid (in comparison to whom), and where do we position our self in the modern media-fuelled world.

Level 3 Sociology Diploma Module Nine – Research Methodology in Sociology

In order to make valid and honest conclusions based on accurate research, concise and clear research methods and techniques must be used. These have been tried and tested and are continuously developed and need to be adapted for the process or investigation required. The discipline required and the way to carry out research using the best available methods involving questioning, quantitative, qualitative, critical analysis, findings to make an accurate conclusion will be discussed in detail. Research must be conducted fairly, honestly, should be able to be repeated and be transparent.

Level 3 Sociology Diploma Module Ten – Sociology of Health

It may appear an odd topic to include in Sociology, but health is included as it is of societal concern. Health is defined as ‘an absence of illness.’ As with most issues, the quality of the medicine we are prescribed is contentious and we see that an overuse of antibiotics has caused a resistant-Bacterium. Stress is a modern day illness and the changing nature of health and illness, its link to class, gender, mental illness and to the NHS in the UK is explored in the final module.