Introduction to Sociology
This course explores the fundamental principles, theories, and concepts of sociology, providing a deeper understanding of the intricate dynamics that shape our social world. This course covers the basic theories of how we as individuals are shaped by the society we live in. We will cover Functionalist, Marxist, Feminist, and political theories which explore how the main institutions in society such as education, family, and the media, seek to provide equality among it’s members, with mixed success. This course will provide you with many transferable skills such as critical thinking, analysis, and evaluation which will be useful for study at university level.
Key Information
COURSE SYLLABUS
TEACHER PROFILE
| Department | Social Science |
| Course Length | 10 weeks |
| Live Lessons | One 45-minute lesson per week |
| Homework | Approximately half an hour a week |
| Examination | None |
| Entry Requirements | None |
Course Syllabus
| Lesson 1 | What is society? |
| Lesson 2 | Functionalist theories of society |
| Lesson 3 | Marxist theories of society |
| Lesson 4 | Feminist theories of society |
| Lesson 5 | New right (political) theories of society |
| Lesson 6 | Key focus: education |
| Lesson 7 | Key focus: the family |
| Lesson 8 | Key focus: crime and deviance |
| Lesson 9 | Key focus: beliefs |
| Lesson 10 | How can we use sociological knowledge to improve society? |
Teacher Profile
Ms Fitzsimons has taught Psychology and Sociology for over fifteen years, most recently teaching at Harrow School Online. She has worked as a Head of Psychology at Chelsea Academy and as an Examiner for Psychology for the OCR and Edexcel exam boards. She also has experience educating students on a one-to one basis who could not attend school due to behavioural, medical, or special educational needs. Ms Fitzsimons has authored the Psychology self-study courses for Highgrove Online School. She holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Sociology and a PGCE from the Institute of Education in London in Social Science.