General Sociology

Bachelor 2021/2022

Category 'Best Course for Broadening Horizons and Diversity of Knowledge and Skills'

Category 'Best Course for New Knowledge and Skills'

Type: Compulsory course (Sociology and Social Informatics)

Area of studies: Sociology

Delivered by: Department of Sociology

Where: Saint-Petersburg School of Social Sciences

When: 1 year, 1-4 module

Mode of studies: offline

Open to: students of one campus

Instructors: Maria Safonova, Nadezhda Sokolova

Language: English

ECTS credits: 12

Contact hours: 176

Full Syllabus Ask Question

Abstract

Genaral sociology is introductory course. It is organized as discussion of important social issues (inequality, poverty, migration, urban space, religion etc.) with theoretical lenses provided by social theory. The course is divided into four big blocks: (1) social inequality, (2) social institutions, (3) social processes and (4) theoretical perspectives. The logic of the course and its structure are defined by the variety of answers for the questions about the conditions of formation, maintaining and reconfiguration/ destruction of the samples of social organization, and about the possible ways to analyze these processes suggested by sociology. We start from the very basic elements of explanation of social action and then proceed to understanding the nature of causal explanations in social science.

Learning Objectives

understand the complexity of social systems and gain ability of critical thinking on social issues in light of the key concepts underlying major sociological theories

Expected Learning Outcomes

Ability to use sociological theory for development of sociological research design, be able to differentiate social actions and social behavior, explain social actions through social mechanisms, understand the link between micro-actions and macro-outcomes, generate simple middle-range theories, develop academic skills in reading, writing, and presentation.

Course Contents

Introduction. Social Facts.
Poverty.
City and Inequality.
Urban Institutions and Inequality
Migration, ethnicity, inequality.
Education and Inequality.
Social stratification. Class and status.
Social stratification. Forms of capital.
Social stratification. Reputational approach.
Inequality and Social Mobility.
Elites.
Inequality and gender.
Inequality and consumption.
Family and marriage.
State and political institutions.
Total and disciplinary institutions.
Medical institutions and health.
School systems.
Religion.
Universities and higher education.
Art and cultural production.
Cultural industries and fashion.
Mass Media.
Socialization.
Civilization.
Transformations of sexuality.
Revolutions and social movements.
Urbanization.
Migration and integration.
Structural functionalism.
Symbolic interactionism.
Ethnomethodology.
Social networks.
Conflict theory.
Social capital.
Group.
Organization.
Social action.
Institution.
Status.
Role.
Norms.
Values.
Identity.
Trust.

Assessment Elements

Project paper grade
Project paper grade is 0,08 of 1-2 module grade and 0,15 of 3-4 module grade
Final exam 1st year (4 module)
Exam is organized as written test with open-ended questions.
Intermediary written exam (2nd module)
Students are expected to sit up an intermediary written exam (2nd module) with open questions on the topics covered by the course
Classroom discussion
Classroom discussion grade is 0,08 of 1-2 module grade and 0,1 of 3-4module grade
Test grade
Test grade is 0,4 of 1-2 module grade and 0,5 of 3-4 module grade. Individual knowledge is assessed through regular tests with open questions. Students are expected to sit up 3 tests in 1-2 modules & 3 tests in 3-4 modules.
Collective presentation grade
Collective presentation grade is 0,2 of 1-2 module grade & 0,25 of 3-4 module grade. To successfully participate in seminars students are expected to present group project during a class (10-12 minutes presentation).

Interim Assessment

2021/2022 2nd module
0.12 * Project paper grade + 0.08 * Intermediary written exam (2nd module) + 0.4 * Classroom discussion + 0.2 * Collective presentation grade + 0.2 * Test grade
2021/2022 4th module
0.4 * Final exam 1st year (4 module) + 0.4 * 2021/2022 2nd module + 0.2 * Project paper grade

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Abrutyn, S. (2016). Handbook of Contemporary Sociological Theory. Switzerland: Springer. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1251393
Rousseau, N. (2014). Society Explained : An Introduction to Sociology. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=752270
Segre, S. (2014). Contemporary Sociological Thinkers and Theories. Farnham, Surrey: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=797017

Recommended Additional Bibliography

Dillon, M. (2014). Introduction to Sociological Theory : Theorists, Concepts, and Their Applicability to the Twenty-First Century (Vol. Second edition). Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=667235
Manzo, G. (2014). Analytical Sociology : Actions and Networks. Hoboken: Wiley. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=714658
Sloman, S. A. (2005). Causal Models : How People Think About the World and Its Alternatives. Oxford: Oxford University Press, USA. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=552942

Authors

SAFONOVA MARIYA ANDREEVNA
SOKOLOVA NADEZHDA ALEKSANDROVNA

Course Syllabus