Sociologists ask questions about the behaviour of individuals and groups in society. So if you are interested in people or if you want to understand what is happening in the world, you should find it enjoyable and thought-provoking. You will investigate issues affecting your life such as racism, crime and deviance, youth cultures, gender and class inequalities, family life and global development. We try to understand how society operates and why problems sometimes arise. You will not be told what to think, nor is it just a lot of facts to be learnt by heart. We encourage you to question things people take for granted and help you work out your own ideas.
Heard about Anthropology or World Development? Whilst these subjects have been discontinued by the Government, Sociology is an excellent alternative, which tackles many of the issues raised in those disciplines in both Year 1 and 2, including gender, identity, equality, human rights, boundaries, globalisation and development.
Year 1
- Culture and identity
- Education
- Research methods
Year 2
- Global sociology
- Crime and deviance
- Sociological theory.
Danielle Boniface
Studied at Varndean College: Sociology, English Language, Applied Law, (2013-2015)
Progression: Applied Psychology & Criminology, University of Brighton (graduated with a 2.1)
Danielle now works for Lewes District and Eastbourne Borough Council as a Benefits Caseworker. She plans to stay in this position for a few years and then apply to train to be a probation officer.
Danielle says: "I can't thank Varndean enough for all the support they gave me. All the staff were so supportive and I knew they had my best interests at heart. They were truly invested in their students being the best they could be. For any prospective student, I recommend choosing subjects you love and talking to the staff if you’re unsure what to pick. Law BTEC was a brand new course when I started and I sat down with staff and they really understood what I wanted. Don't just choose a college that your friends are attending, choose the one that makes you feel comfortable as you'll spend so much of your time there. I would recommend Varndean, they made me feel at home and fully supported. Massive thank you to Varndean for taking me in when I thought I had nowhere to go. Special shout out to Lee Gray, who teaches Sociology and Jo, who teaches Law; I couldn't have got to where I am today without their support!"