Year 2009-10

  

Introduction to Sociology (21.283)

  

Qualification: Degree in Political and Administration Sciences

Term: 2^nd

Number of ECTS credits: 6 credits

Hours of student dedication: 150 hours

Teaching language: Catalan (lectures), Catalan and Spanish (seminars)

Course teachers: Jordi Guiu, Mariña Fernandez, Carlos Eric Delclós

 

1. Introduction to the course

 

The aim of this course is to introduce students to sociological thought, science and methods.

 

2. Competencies to be achieved

 

Generic:

 

- Ability to analyse and synthesise

- Oral and written communication

- Critical and self critical capacity

- Teamwork

- Ability to work alone

 

Specific:

 

- Recognise the historical dimension of social and political processes

- Identify different theories, methods and research techniques in sociology

- Use social science terminology in the study of specific cases

- Ability to think about and frame social problems within the main sociological theories

- Understand the social conditions that determine human action.

- Understand the creation and maintenance of social order.

- Understand conflict as the driving force for social change.

  

3. Contents

 

- The sociological perspective

- Main authors and theoretical approaches

- Society, culture and socialisation process

- Social norms, social order and deviation

- Social class, status and social stratification

- Differences and inequalities between men and women

- Social institutions: family, education and the mass media

- Social change

 

4. Assessment

 

There are two types of assessment, continuous and final evaluation. Each accounts for 50% of the final mark.

 

Continuous evaluation will be based on the seminars.  The reading of the required documents, participation in seminars and written assignments (where applicable) will be taken into account.

 

To pass, students must achieve an average of 5 or over for the seminars.

 

In extraordinary cases and when appropriate justification is provided, teachers may allow seminar assistance to be substituted for set, alternative work.

 

Final evaluation will consist in a 20-question multiple-answer test covering the theoretical and conceptual contents seen during the course, both in lectures and seminars.

 

To pass the course, students must pass both parts.

 

At the September re-sit, students will need to be assessed on the contents of the seminars they failed (this can be done by means of a project), and on the course exam.

 

 

5. Readings and resources

  

5.1. Basic bibliography

  

GINER, Salvador. Teoría sociológica clásica. Barcelona: Ariel, 2001.

GINER, Salvador. Sociología. Barcelona: Ariel, 2001.

GIDDENS, Anthony, Sociología, Madrid: Alianza; 2001

MACIONIS, John J., PLUMMER, Ken, Sociología, Madrid, Prentice Hall, 1999

NISBET, Robert A., La Formación del pensamiento sociológico, Buenos Aires:

Amorrortu, 1990.

RITZER, George, Teoría sociológica clásica, Madrid : McGraw-Hill, 1993.

Runciman, W.G., El animal social, Madrid: Taurus, 1999

SCHAEFER, Richard T., Introducción a la Sociología, Madrid : McGraw-Hill, 2006

 

5.2. Additional bibliography

 

GINER, Salvador, LAMO DE ESPINOSA, Emilio and TORRES, Cristóbal, Diccionario

de sociología, Madrid : Alianza Editorial, 1998.

HILLMANN, Karl-Heinz, Diccionario enciclopédico de Sociología, Barcelona: Herder,

2001.

 

5.3. Educational resources

 

Students will find, in the Aula Global (Moodle), documents and guides for following the course and reaching the learning objectives set.

 

 

6. Methodology

 

The emphasis of this course will be on student learning rather than centred on teachers transmitting knowledge through lectures. 

 

For this, classroom based activities - in lectures and in smaller seminar groups - have been organised with the aim of facilitating students' learning.

 

Lectures will cover the main defining points of the course, their main approaches and lines of thought.  They will also focus on students' learning of the main concepts and theories in sociology.

 

Teachers will be willing at all times to answer students' questions on the different topics covered and will motivate students to reflect on the problems that are set.

 

Work in small groups - seminars - will be aimed at students' learning the different contents of the course, but focusing on developing the competences set out above.  The emphasis will be on student participation and while some theoretical content will be covered, the focus will be on addressing the practical aspects of the discipline. This will be done by examining and using research examples, proposing research questions, stimulating "sociological imagination", developing an ability to analyse and criticise, etc.   

 

Finally, in both lectures and seminars, teachers will also ask students to work, either in groups or individually, following different instructions sets.  

 

 

7. Programme of activities

  

The course consists of ten weekly lecture (large group) sessions and four two-hour seminars spread throughout the term.