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Course Syllabus

Bachelor 2024/2025

Sociological Theory

Type: Elective course (Sociology and Social Informatics)
Area of studies: Sociology
Delivered by: Department of Sociology
Where: Saint-Petersburg School of Social Sciences
When: 2 year, 1, 2 module
Mode of studies: offline
Open to: students of one campus
Instructors: Daniil A. Alexandrov, Ekaterina Chernykh
Language: English
ECTS credits: 6

Course Syllabus

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Abstract

The course introduces students to two main aspects of sociological theory: theory as a special way of thinking, and social theory as a tool for solving certain sociological problems. Classes focus on two fundamental issues: How is the society possible (what is the nature of social)? How is the knowledge about the social possible? 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

Learning Objectives

  • кnow the comlexity of social systems
  • develop the ability to think critically about social issues in light of the key concepts underlying major sociological theories
Expected Learning Outcomes

Expected Learning Outcomes

  • - 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

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.
Assessment Elements

Assessment Elements

  • non-blocking Activities in class
  • non-blocking Midterm exam
  • non-blocking Final exam 2nd year
  • non-blocking Tests
  • non-blocking Activities in class
  • non-blocking Tests
  • non-blocking Hometasks
  • non-blocking Hometasks
Interim Assessment

Interim Assessment

  • 2024/2025 1st module
    Activities in class * 0.1 + Hometasks * 0.3 + Tests * 0.3 + Midterm exam* 0.3
  • 2024/2025 2nd module
    Activities in class * 0.1 + Hometasks* 0.3 + Tests* 0.3 + Final exam 2nd year* 0.2 + 2024/2025 учебный год 1 модуль * 0.1
Bibliography

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

Recommended Additional Bibliography

  • Bearman, P., & Hedström, P. (2009). The Oxford Handbook of Analytical Sociology. Oxford: OUP Oxford. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=381029
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Wright, J. D. (2015). International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences (Vol. Second edition). Amsterdam: Elsevier. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=957369

Authors

  • Ильина Мария Ивановна
  • CHERNYKH EKATERINA YUREVNA