Socio-economic Structures (20348)

 

Socio-economic Structures (20348)

Degree/Study: Publicity and Public Relations
Year: 2014/2015
Term: 1
Number of ECTS credits: 6

Number of hours of study dedication: 150
Language: Catalan and Spanish
Teaching staff: Clara Cortina and Francesco Pasetti

  

1. Presentation of the subject

One of the goals of Publicity and Public Relations is to provide tools that facilitate knowledge of the markets and the design of communication strategies.

 

This course aims to introduce students to the knowledge of the socio-economic structures and show students that consumption patterns and symbolic communication do not have a random distribution among the population and are influenced by social position and the historical heritages evolving with the transformation of societies.

 

2. Competences to be attained

  

General Skills

  

- Use of basic analytical tools to track changes and social behavior patterns of different social groups.

- Formulation specific research questions and hypotheses.

- Discussion and work in teams

- Description of statistical data on issues related to socio-economic structures.

  

Specific Skills

 

- Explanation of the symbolic and material consumption patterns of Western societies.

-Understanding and analysis of the relevant dimensions that structure contemporary societies, particularly European, and the changes they experience.

 

3. Contents

  

1. Sociological perspective

1.1. Introduction to sociology as a scientific discipline

1.2. Main paradigms theorists and authors of classical sociological theory

1.3. Methods of sociological research

 

2. Basic sociological concepts

2.1. Society, group, socialization, culture

2.2. Social interactions, deviation, order and control

 

3. Social Stratification

3.1. Social class, mobility and inequality

3.2 Socio-demographic structure

3.3. Gender issues

 

4. Social institutions

4.1. Family

4.2. Economy and Labour Market

 

5. Social Change

5.1. Local change

5.2. Global change

 

4. Assessment

  

-The final grade results of:

- 50% Seminar work

- 50% final exam (minimum grade of 4)

 

Norms:

            No copying or plagiarism accepted. 

Minimum of 85% of presence in seminar session

            Submission of the three assignments:

                        1) Essay (individual)

2) Results of data management in the lab (in two)

3) Defense of a research proposal (in a larger team)

 

Activity	Written Exam	Seminars / Lab
Value	50%	50%
Criteria	Grade of minimum 5 over 10	Grade of minimum 5 over 10
Minimum to pass (ordinary assessment)	Grade of minimum 4 over 10	Assistance 85% of the sessions and grade of minimum 4 over 10
Minimum to have right a revision	Having tried exam and seminars	Assistance of 85% of the sessions.
Activity for revision	New written exam	Extra assignment(s)
Minimum to pass (revision)	Grade of minimum 5 over 10	Grade of minimum 6 over 10

 

 

 

5. Organization of sessions

 

The sessions are organized as follows: One theory session per week (Thursdays) and one seminar session per week (Monday or Friday). There are different types of seminar sessions:

a) Reading and discussion.

b) Lab in the computer room.

c) Public defense of team work.

 

6. Bibliography and teaching resources

 

Basic bibliography

Contents 1 and 2

- Giddens, A. (1998): "Sociología". Madrid, Alianza Editorial.

- Macionis, J. and K. Plummer (2001): "Sociología", Pearson Educación.

Contents 3 and 4

- Requena, M.; Salazar, L. and Radl, J. (2013): "Estratificación social", Madrid,

UNED/McGraw Hill.

 

Other resources

Through Aula Global other resources such as complementary bibliography or links to social data will be shared with the students.