Sociology

2024/2025

Academic Year

ENG

Instruction in English

4

ECTS credits

Delivered at:

Department of Political Science and International Affairs

Course type:

Compulsory course

When:

1 year, 4 module

Instructor

Epanova, Yulia

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The discipline aims to introduce students to the basics of sociology. During the course, students will gain an understanding of the specifics of sociological understanding of society, of basic social phenomena and processes, as well as of key sociological theories

Learning Objectives

• The purpose of the discipline of Sociology is to introduce students to the basics of classical and modern approaches in sociology, traditional and modern styles of sociological thinking and their conceptual apparatus.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• uses sociological theories for the analysis of social phenomena and processes
• develops academic reading, writing, and presentation skills
• knows the basic classical theories and paradigms of sociological thinking
• knows the basics of the sociological approach to understanding reality
• plans and implements teamwork

Course Contents

• Introduction to Sociology
• Theoretical and methodological bases of Sociology as a scientific discipline
• Social Structure and Inequality
• Social institutions
• Theorising contemporary society.

Assessment Elements

• In-class Participation
  IN-CLASS PARTICIPATION includes attending lectures and working in seminars. Attendance at lectures will be included in the overall percentage of attendance Working in seminars involves completing the lecturer's assignments during classes, reading texts at home, and completing assignments for seminars at home. Be ready to:  read and discuss literature  analyze videos, cases  conduct mini-research and present the results  make PowerPoint presentations
• Project
  This task is held in the form of presentations of final group projects. The task of a group project is to apply the knowledge and optics learned in the course to an analysis of a social phenomenon (situation) from the news agenda. Students must form mini-groups of 4-5 people. Each group chooses a phenomenon or situation which is being discussed in society today. Your task will be to choose 2 theoretical frameworks from sociology which you think are applicable to the analysis of this situation and interpret this phenomenon/situation using these frameworks. The following components should be included in the presentation: 1. The description of the phenomenon/situation 2. The media agenda that is shaped around this phenomenon 3. The theoretical frameworks of the research, from sociology which you think are applicable to the analysis of this situation/ 3. Rationale why this theoretical framework is applicable 4. Analysis, results and conclusions.
• Final exam
  The final control will be in the form of a test consisting of single choice, multiple choice and open-ended questions. The maximum number of points is 30. The examination has a time limit. The time to complete the test is 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Interim Assessment

• 2024/2025 4th module
  0.3 * Project + 0.4 * Final exam + 0.3 * In-class Participation

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Macionis, J. J. (2012). Sociology : a global introduction. Turkey, Europe: Pearson Prentice Hall. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.5C1FB862
• Sociology, Giddens, A., 2017

Recommended Additional 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

Authors

• EPANOVA YULIYA VALENTINOVNA