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Secondary education

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Original poster

Do A level History, Sociology and Media studies make a good combination?

79 replies

DiscoDiva70 · 02/09/2017 09:01

My ds has chosen these courses for sixth form and is due to start College next week.
He did well in his GCSE's, including a grade 7 in English Lit and Lang, and an A in History. (He will have to resist maths)

Ds isn't really sure what he'd like to do in the future, and I'm unsure if Sociology compliments History or if they're too similar maybe?

I did suggest that he may want to consider choosing English A level instead of Sociology but, at the moment, these (and Media studies are the only courses he wants to do )

Because he hasn't done Media/Sociology, am I assuming rightly (with good studying) that he'll be ok in these subjects given his GCSE results in English and History?

And what routes can he go down in the future with these subjects?
I appreciate any advice!

OP posts:
Original poster
DiscoDiva70 · 02/09/2017 19:43

..

OP posts:
noitsnotteatimeyet · 02/09/2017 22:28

With English and History he'd have two 'facilitating' subjects and keep many more options open.

Personally (ex-journalist) if avoid media studies like the plague and I wouldn't be wildly keen on sociology either but as long as he had two other solidify academic subjects, either one would be ok, but not together

KatnissMellark · 02/09/2017 22:31

I would say sociology and media studies, whilst interesting are generally viewed as weaker subjects. If he has done well at GCSE I'd encourage him towards more traditional 'academic' subjects.

BungledUpInTwo · 02/09/2017 23:14

I might reconsider Media Studies. Two problems:

  1. It's bloody hard -- to get an A you have to combine theory, written skills, analysis, creativity AND technical skills
  2. It has the reputation of being easy, so some universities / employers will look on it less favourably.

English lit, Politics, Philosophy, Theatre Studies, Art, French, Geography all better options.

NewIdeasToday · 02/09/2017 23:16

Sociology and media studies are definitely seen as weak options.

russellgroup.ac.uk/for-students/school-and-college-in-the-uk/subject-choices-at-school-and-college/

annandale · 02/09/2017 23:18

If he's not sure then English would seem like one to continue. Has he considered a modern language at A-level? History workso a lot better with a language.

BackforGood · 02/09/2017 23:32

Another one he might enjoy is RS - which is really Philosophy and Ethics at A-level. If he's done well in English and History is sounds like his kind of subject, and is considered 'more academic' than media studies.

Piggywaspushed · 03/09/2017 07:18

English teacher here : I see the age old issue of people deciding media studies is worthless and, therefore, steering students to English Lit. I teach lots of students whose parents/ society at large told them to do English because it is 'useful' or a 'proper subject'.

It certainly is highly regarded but students who didn't really want to do it tend to find it boring. They have to be willing readers . And the step up from GCSE in terms of what they read and how (no more reading bits in class and having teacher read aloud to you!) is to much for some. Please do not let him take English unless he likes reading! if he does, then, fine : it's great.

I also taught comms, much derided and thought it was a fabulous subject and I teach film studies, which is definitely academic and less practical than media. I love them as much as English and wish people would stop putting them down.

A Level media will give him a range of skills and challenges and work out many parts of his brain : I think it's a great complement to history. it also broadens horizons and encourages students to consider such things as gender representation. There is, however, a significant overlap between media and sociology ,rather than history,and that would be a bigger concern.

The MN massive always come out in force when you ask questions like this with their 'facilitating subjects' ! This really only makes a difference to some universities and some subjects within universities! I have never had a student turned down form their university of choice for having film A level. In any case, history is a facilitating subject, so he'll be fine. What are his IT skills like ? Does he read papers and the news? Is he actually interested in TV (rather than just a passive consumer?). Media requires quite advanced IT skills to excel.

Note of caution : he may be suffering form 'new subject-itis' though. Some children take shiny new subjects , based on v little research or knowledge and find they are not for them. has he looked at specs and sample exam papers online?

Piggywaspushed · 03/09/2017 07:21

Bungled : Theatre Studies is also 'bloody hard' (in fact, all A levels are!) and has a notoriously low success rate at top grades, because of its demands.

It is also often viewed with exactly the same educational snobbery as Media.

I assume if OP's DS liked drama, he would already have considered that one! Ditto Art!

PotteringAlong · 03/09/2017 07:22

Ditch the media studies.

Piggywaspushed · 03/09/2017 07:26

OP's DS wants to do Media Studies!

It is sociology and history as a combo she is asking about.

I do wish people would stop coming on these threads with their agendas, thereby perpetuating the subject snobbery.

Showandtell · 03/09/2017 08:10

I could have told you what the answers would be before I opened this thread Hmm

Yes they are a good combination and would work well together in terms of studying. He has one facilitating subject which is fine. If he has failed maths he may not be looking at Russell group unis so the two facilitating subjects isn't so important. What's important is that he enjoys the subjects and works hard.

Not all mumsnet children are aiming for 3 As and Russell group

BungledUpInTwo · 03/09/2017 08:17

PiggyWasPushed 100% agreement on students picking English Lit when they don't really want to. If you don't love reading and analysis then you'll hate Eng Lit.

TheFallenMadonna · 03/09/2017 08:35

The Russell group does not define facilitating subjects as "stronger", in any sort of value judgement. They are the A levels most likely to be a course requirement. It says so in that link, very clearly.

TheFallenMadonna · 03/09/2017 08:36

You don't need 2+ facilitating subjects at A level to go to a Russell group university. I think people need to actually read the Informed Choices booklet.

TooManyBigFatLies · 03/09/2017 08:41

PiggyWasPushed. sums it up perfectly.

There is so much crap advice about Alevel choices about. It's annoying!

motherinferior · 03/09/2017 08:43

I would be very wary of media studies.

I am a journalist, by the way. I also do some lecturing in journalism.

Showandtell · 03/09/2017 08:48

I have a good friend who's daughter has just got into Falmouth to do journalism. She did media studies, photography and film a level.

Showandtell · 03/09/2017 08:49

All A levels are hard. Do what you enjoy.

Showandtell · 03/09/2017 08:51

Piggywaspushed film studies looks like a fascinating a level. I wanted dd to do it Grinpurely for me

TheFairyCaravan · 03/09/2017 08:54

DS2 did Sociology at A level alongside sciences because he wanted (and did) to go on to do nursing. He got an A*. He really enjoyed it. He was good at History and English, whether they helped or not I don't know.

DS1 did Alevel EnglishLit/Lang. He's a huge reader but to be completely honest there were a lot of occasions when he regretted taking it. The class started off full at the beginning of Yr12 and it dwindled away slowly until there was about a dozen left at the end of Yr13. It's not a subject you can go into halfheartedly.

Piggywaspushed · 03/09/2017 09:03

English class sizes can also be very large, which does leave some in the wake of the most able.

Obviously, the offered expertise of journalists here does matter - but there are lots of different routes to journalism. Once upon a time, having a degree at all was sneered at by some journalists! And certainly a journalism degree. Things change.

However, no one claims Media is a route to journalism : it is simply a fascinating and motivating A Level. OP's DS doesn't know what he wants to do. Likewise, you don't need a Level sociology to do a sociology degree, but plenty have it.

On another note, I think boys doing subjects like sociology is a great thing. Too often, those subjects about 'people' are viewed as 'soft' , precisely because so many girls do them. Our attitudes to difficulty and worth are still highly engendered, sadly.

Piggywaspushed · 03/09/2017 09:05

show, film is great!!

It has just been 'reformed' and is getting a bit snooty and intellectual but that might be good for it!

Despite what it may say on their website, I have heard tell from a range of sources that Cambridge love film A Level and are in the midst of creating a film degree!

TheFairyCaravan · 03/09/2017 09:07

On another note, I think boys doing subjects like sociology is a great thing. Too often, those subjects about 'people' are viewed as 'soft' , precisely because so many girls do them. Our attitudes to difficulty and worth are still highly engendered, sadly.

I agree. DS2 was the only boy in his Sociology class.

TooManyBigFatLies · 03/09/2017 09:20

motherinferior

There are lots of A levels where the course content aren't that relevant if you want to go on and pursue a career or further education in that subject. Is that the reason you are warning the OP to be wary of Media Studies or is it because you think it's not going to count as an A level when the OPs DC comes to apply for Uni.

The vast majority of entry requirements will specify things such as three grade Xs. at A level including X or Y