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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:
indulgentberries · 03/09/2017 09:24

*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/*

I think it depends what you combine them with - English, Sociology and another facilitating subject would be OK but English, Sociology and Media Studies not so much. My eldest got into a good uni with A level sociology but it was paired with two other strong subjects (though only one facilitating subject) and the grades were good.

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 03/09/2017 09:25

Piggywaspushed - I am an English teacher, and have taught Theatre Studies A Level too, but have always been fascinated by Film Studies. I would love to do an A Level in it myself!

Must look at courses locally...

Piggywaspushed · 03/09/2017 09:29

newcross , you would love it!

I don't have an A level in It (or A levels at all as am Scottish). I have English, French and German ! That does help in the World Cinema units...

indulgentberries · 03/09/2017 09:31

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.

You don't need to but they recommend 2 in the informed choices booklet, maybe it's changed but they did when my eldest was choosing A levels.

ErrolTheDragon · 03/09/2017 09:41

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

Yes. For STEM subjects it's usually 'including X and Y or Z' but in other fields its generally just one specific - and in some cases not even that.

Maybe if he's got a few vague ideas about what he might want to do after A levels, then checking what the entry requirements for those is (very easy to google for uni courses) would help inform his decision?

One other thought - does his college let them start 4 subjects and drop one, so they can get a feel for what its really like? Especially with two new subjects, that might be sensible if its allowed (and timetables permit). DDs school encouraged this (some of them started 5) - some then dropped a subject after a couple of weeks, more at half term and most after AS (though going forward I guess the latter may not happen and they'll decide earlier).

TooManyBigFatLies · 03/09/2017 09:46

Errol

Yes. For STEM subjects it's usually 'including X and Y or Z' but in other fields its generally just one specific - and in some cases not even that.

Lol, you've quoted me BUT changed my quote 😂 Try reading my post again and you will see I am saying the same as you (and maybe try using copy and paste in future 😆 )

ErrolTheDragon · 03/09/2017 09:48

indulgent- the informed choices book does recommend taking two 'facilitating subjects' for students who are unsure what they want to do, not because you need two to get onto most (non STEM) courses but because this keeps more doors open.

TooManyBigFatLies · 03/09/2017 09:49

Lol again.... Errol. I've just reread your post and I've just realised Ive misread it so scrap my last post. It doesn't make sense. Blush
Sorry!

motherinferior · 03/09/2017 09:53

Me? Oh, I just don't particularly rate it as a subject. Quite separately from my day job. Just saying that I don't rate it particularly, and given I work in the field you'd think I might give it some leeway. I'd have discouraged DD1 from doing it.

But then I'm an English (post) graduate so what do I know.

ErrolTheDragon · 03/09/2017 09:59

Toomany - er, yes, I was agreeing with you (it happens, you know!Grin) but just adding the (irrelevant to the OP but perhaps not to other readers) point that for STEM courses the requirements may be a bit more specific. E.g chemistry is a facilitating subject but really only if you do it without another science and/or maths.

Showandtell · 03/09/2017 10:04

I have emailed various universities and asked if they would all consider dd with two non facilitating a levels and a btec (a level equivalent). I emailed 5 and 4 said yes. Just saying!

123beanie · 03/09/2017 10:04

Just wanted to say History and Sociology are a fantastic combination. Not only in the sense that they both allow you to properly understand society today (through looking at events that have shaped the world and looking at the current issues that we should be aware of) but also through the skill set. Based on his GCSE grades, we can assume your DS is a skilled writer? These A Levels are well suited to somebody who can articulate themselves well and structure responses well. Sociology would also help him to see how different interpretations are formed through different sets of beliefs and how this can influence information (e.g Marxist perspectives.) Sociology is often viewed as an 'easy' A Level but it still requires hard work to achieve the top marks as well as being extremely content heavy. I think taking these two subjects together would be a really good decision.

TooManyBigFatLies · 03/09/2017 10:07

motherinferior

No need for the snarky response. I wasn't questioning your knowledge of the subject. The thing with subjects like Media Studies is that if a student can do well in it then it's very valuable. One of my DSs did the old style Computer Studies A level as a forth Alevel - he knew the course content wasn't great and was not helpful for him and his plan to do a Computer Science Degree but it was 'easy' A level for him and was valuable for him because it was easy for him to get a top grade,
It's the same with other subjects - lawyers say you should avoid A level law and Accountants say you should avoid A level accounting etc but if they are subjects you can get a great grade in when you might not be gaurenteed a great grade in a more academic subject then they are worth doing.

loopsdefruit · 03/09/2017 10:10

I did no facilitating subjects at A-Level, because I didn't do all that well in them/enjoy them/take them for GCSE. I did sociology, philosophy and ethics, and psychology for A-Level.

I am currently in my final year of American Studies at a reasonable (not RG) university.

What we recommend to prospective students is that they weigh up what they might need, with what they are interested in/good at. If they want to do a healthcare course, then a science is helpful, if they want to do English then English is ofc helpful etc...

If they feel that they're going to struggle with a specific A-Level then a strong A-Level pass in another subject is better than a fail in that, and not all universities are gonna ask for a science A-Level for healthcare for example.

Media studies can be useful if you know you want to do something related at uni, or as a general A-Level if you think you'll do well. But it isn't the most useful in developing generalised skills.

Sociology can be super useful, because the theories are going to be things you come across in many essay subjects and essay writing is useful, as is understanding research methods. It's hugely dependent on the teaching at A-Level though, much like a lot of subjects, as it can be 'enough to pass the exam' without being super in-depth or challenging.

There are lots of degrees that won't require a specific subject, and even lots of avenues to higher education (access courses etc, foundation years etc...) should your DS change his mind about what he wants to do in future. If that's what he wants to do, then they're not horrible subjects and him being excited about them will likely lead to him doing better in the courses/exams.

motherinferior · 03/09/2017 10:12

I wasn't being snarky, actually.

boxesoffrogs · 03/09/2017 10:17

Just to echo what both 123beanie and loopsdefruit said... I teach both subjects at A-level and the skills required/developed are pretty much the same, and there is an overlap in a lot of the content so they really complement each other.

annandale · 03/09/2017 10:20

It didnt seem snarky to me either.

If there is an MN view on these things, is it worth considering that there may be a reason for that?

The reason I suggested English was yes, because it is viewed as a more academic subject but also because the boy got his highest mark in it. It wasn't a random idea. If he doesn't know what he wants to do then of course the less specific subjects are going to look like a better bet.

Showandtell · 03/09/2017 10:26

If there is an MN view on these things, is it worth considering that there may be a reason for that?

There may be reasons, but time and time again I find the mumsnet obsession with A* at A level and facilitating subjects and dcs getting Bs at GCSE not being academic enough to cope with A level is just not held up by anything I encounter in RL.

BitOutOfPractice · 03/09/2017 10:31

The only concern about that combination is that he'll be starting two "new" subjects (unless he did sociology or media at gcse) and he doesn't know if he likes them or has an aptitude for them.

Wish him all the very best with his studies. It's an exciting but stressful time

boxesoffrogs · 03/09/2017 10:36

I think unfortunately as has been pointed out, there is quite a popular (if I may say, outdated) view that Sociology is a 'soft' subject. As such, students who pick it at A-level for that reason tend to drop it pretty darn quick when they realise quite what is involved.

As I said I teach both History and Sociology, and actually when it comes to research and independent learning, plus being able to sustain a well explained, comparative, evidenced and evaluative argument in essay form under extremely strict time conditions as required by the exam, I think Sociology is the more demanding subject, and I think that universities are realising this more and more (as an example, to get onto the same Sociology course that I did at a top 10 RG uni, far longer ago than I care to remember, the entry requirements are now AAB).

Original poster
DiscoDiva70 · 03/09/2017 10:40

Thankyou every one for all your advice! I didn't expect so many responses! I've skim read everything as I'm off to work soon so I'll read through properly later.

Just to add, ds has said that if he does take English he would go for English Language as he's not so keen on the Literature side. I've read elsewhere that English Language is often considered not as 'respected' as Literature so I'm still confused! Although I believe the most important thing is for him to go for a subject he'll enjoy, which will hopefully give him the best chance of securing a good grade.

OP posts:
BitOutOfPractice · 03/09/2017 10:51

Has he studied media and/or sociology before?

Showandtell · 03/09/2017 10:53

Hardly anyone does media or sociology (or law or psychology or film for that matter) at gcse. I don't think that matters.

Original poster
DiscoDiva70 · 03/09/2017 10:54

BitOutOfPractice

No he hasn't, he was only given a 'taster' lesson in Sociology at the College and says he's read up about it and wants to go for it.

OP posts:
Showandtell · 03/09/2017 10:55

Dd didn't do sports gcse. She's doing A level PE. The specifications are online.