Бакалавриат 2019/2020

Социология

Статус: Курс по выбору (Дизайн)

Направление: 54.03.01. Дизайн

Кто читает: Департамент социологии

Где читается: Факультет креативных индустрий

Когда читается: 1-й курс, 1, 2 модуль

Формат изучения: с онлайн-курсом

Язык: английский

Кредиты: 4

Контактные часы: 32

Course Syllabus

Abstract

This course aims at familiarizing students with the field of sociology, its main categories and concepts, thus allowing for a better understanding of the social world. Apart from covering main theoretical perspectives and the basics of quantitative and qualitative research methods, it discusses the possibilities for their real-life implementations both in public and professional spheres. The blended format of the course requires a fair amount of individual work in the form of on-line lectures and home readings to be able to take part in the in-class discussions of contemporary social problems and trends. https://courses.edx.org/courses/course-v1:UTPermianBasin+SOCI101x+3T2016/course/

Learning Objectives

• The course’s main objective is to provide the students with the knowledge of the main theoretical approaches in sociology, some actual issues within the discipline, as well as the key methodological tools that are used by sociologists in empirical research.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• know key sociological concepts, theoretical approaches to the explanation of social events and actions;
• are able to use sociological theory to analyze social events and phenomena
• know the main methods of data collection and analysis, their advantages and disadvantages;
• are able to apply basic principles of sociological research and data analysis to conduct independent studies and present them to a broad audience
• know the main conceptions of culture in modern sociology
• are able to apply the sociological theories of self and society to analyzing real-life cases
• know the main theoretical approaches in the sociology of gender
• know the main conceptions in the sociology of family
• are able to analyze social inequality from the sociological perspective
• have skills of applying the sociological knowledge in the professional practice

Course Contents

• What Is Sociology?
  Subject matter, scope and concerns of sociology. Origins of sociology. Main functions of sociology: description, explanation and prediction of social phenomena. Place of sociology among the sciences. Criteria of scientific knowledge about man and society. Sociological imagination. Importance of sociology to modern society.
• Theoretical Thinking in Sociology
  Founding fathers of sociology: Auguste Comte and social physics; Karl Marx and economic determinism; Emile Durkheim and the world of social facts; Max Weber and interpretivist approach. Macro- and microsociology. Major sociological perspectives: functionalism, conflict theory and symbolic interactionism.
• Sociological Research
  Approaches to conducting empirical research in sociology. Methods of data collection: participant observation, in-depth interview, survey, experiment. Research program design. Ethical concerns.
• Culture and Society
  Concept of culture. Cultural universals. Ethnocentrism. Multiculturalism. Elements of culture: values and beliefs, norms, symbols and language. Material and non-material culture. Subculture, counterculture. Global culture. Theoretical perspectives on culture.
• Self and Society
  Socialization, primary and secondary. Role and status. Role strain. Presentation of self. Nature vs Nurture. Agents of socialization. Social interaction and social reality.
• Gender, Sex and Sexuality
  Sex and gender: biology and culture. Gender socialization and gender roles. Gender inequality. Sexual orientation. Sexual attitudes and practices.
• Marriage and Family
  Family in historical context. Marriage patterns and residency. Family and marriage in traditional and modern societies. Stages of family life. Variations in family life.
• Social Stratification
  Theories of class and stratification. Class divisions in the developed world. Social mobility. Global stratification.
• Sociology of Taste and Fashion
  Interrelation of taste and fashion. Origins and functions of fashion. Distinctions of taste and social differences. Conspicuous consumption. Class taste or a variety of tastes. National and gender differences.

Assessment Elements

• Seminar participation
• Presentation of a research project
• Quizzes

Interim Assessment

• Interim assessment (2 module)
  0.4 * Presentation of a research project + 0.2 * Quizzes + 0.4 * Seminar participation

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Giddens, A., & Sutton, P. W. (2017). Essential Concepts in Sociology (Vol. Second edition). Malden, MA: Polity. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1520273
• Sociology, Giddens, A., 2017

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Blackstone, A. (2019). Principles of Sociological Inquiry : Qualitative and Quantitative Methods. Place of publication not identified: Saylor Foundation. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsotl&AN=edsotl.OTLid0000139