Sociology Course (Level 3 Diploma)

A distance learning course is the ideal way to gain a Sociology diploma.

Whether you're looking to go on to further education, improve your job prospects or expand your knowledge, distance learning Level 3 Sociology Diploma is a flexible and convenient course, which allows you to comprehensively prepare for a Sociology exam or career through home study.

What's more, because the distance learning course is a fully comprehensive course, no prior knowledge is required.

Sociology is about developing a critical understanding of society, and through this understanding providing a basis for highlighting and explaining social problems such as ill health, poverty and crime.

Sociology is the study of human societies. It is usually classed as one of the social sciences (along with subjects like psychology) and was established as a subject in the late 18th century (through the work of people like the French writer Auguste Comte).

However, the subject has only really gained acceptance as an academic subject in the 20th century through the work of writers such as Emile Durkheim, Max Weber and Talcott Parsons (names that will be visited throughout this course).

One name that you may have heard of - Karl Marx (the founder of modern Communism) - has probably done more to stimulate people’s interest in the subject than anyone else, even though he lived and wrote (1818-1884) in a period before sociology became fully established as an academic discipline.

Sociology, therefore, has a reasonably long history of development, (150-200 years) although in Britain it has only been in the last 30-40 years that sociology as an examined subject in the education system has achieved a level of prominence equivalent to, or above, most of the other subjects it is possible to study. At present, approximately 40,000 students sit an A-level sociology exam, making it one of the most popular A-levels in our society.

HOME STUDY SUPPORT

You will be provided with comprehensive materials designed to provide you with everything required to complete your course of study. You will have your own personal tutor helping you with your course work and with any questions you may have. Plus you can contact our Student Advisors by email or phone for all the practical advice you may need – so we really are with you 100%.

What's more, you'll have access to the online student portal, where you can interact with other students, browse our resource library and manage your account.

COURSE ASSESSMENT

When you have completed the programme, your tutor needs to verify that you have worked through all parts of any Workbooks, Activities and Exercises successfully.

Upon verification of the activities, exercises and assignments, a nationally recognised certificate will be awarded by NCFE as confirmation that your written work has met all of the learning outcomes and assessment criteria for the programme.

COURSE DURATION

We recommended you spend approximately 200 hours of your time studying for the course name. The pace of study is completely up to you. To give an example, if you dedicate 4 hours a week to the course it would take you a year to complete but if you could spare 8 hours a week you could complete it in six months.

Get started today, and you can earn your Level 3 NCFE Diploma in Sociology in as little as six months, or take up to a year, if you prefer – the choice is yours.

HOME STUDY COURSE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

The good news is that no prior learning knowledge or experience is essential to take this course. This course is openly available to anyone wishing to learn more about Sociology and would like to take part in a highly rewarding home study course. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to expand their knowledge and study further, so we try to keep our entry requirements to a minimum.

You have the freedom to start the course at any time and continue your studies at your own pace for a period of up to 12 months from initial registration with full tutor support.

The NCFE Level 3 Sociology course is divided into ten comprehensive units:

Sociology is the study of the social world. It involves studying human beings and their patterns of behaviour. In order to do this, we focus on the way people form relationships and how these relationships, considered in their totality, are represented by the concept of a “society”. In this respect, the focus of the sociologist’s attention is group behaviour. That is, the effect that the groups people join or are born into (family, work, education and so forth) have upon people’s social behaviour.

• Unit 1: An Introduction to Sociology – key ideas and concepts
• Unit 2: Sociological theory and perspectives
• Unit 3: The Family
• Unit 4: Social stratification, class and social mobility
• Unit 5: Mass media
• Unit 6: Looking at Crime and Deviance
• Unit 7: The Sociology of Health and Illness
• Unit 8: Sociology and Religion
• Unit 9: Gender, culture and identity
• Unit 10: Social Science Research Methods

No prior knowledge or experience is required.