Introducing Social Science (Credit Plus) (10 credit points)

Pre-requisites for enrolment

No previous knowledge required.

Content of Course

1. Introduction: Giddens on Sociology. Global Warming Statistics.

2. Distributing Goods: Industry and the Environment. Brown Reading I.

3. Distributing Bads: Global Markets, Risk and Fair Trade. Brown Reading II.

4. Poverty & Social Unrest. Birth Weight Statistics.

5.The Welfare State: Social Policy and Family Life. Bevin Reading.

6. What is Politics? Power and Democracy. Lukes Reading.

7. Social Obligation I: Sophocles & Socrates.

8. Social Obligation II: Locke & Rousseau.

9. Science & Society: The Authority of Knowledge. Smith Reading.

10. Course summary and Revision.

11. Discrete sessions will be offered in essay writing skills, note-taking, effective reading, time-management, working with others and problem solving.

Teaching method(s)

Teaching will be via tutorial, based on discussion of readings circulated in advance to students.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• Explain the role of the social sciences, and the specific contributions of the component disciplines;

• Explain the problem of defining and measuring poverty, and evaluate different approaches to poverty and government policy;

• Define the concepts of politics and power;

• Explain the notions of political obligation and obedience to state laws and exemplify instances of justifiable law breaking; and

• Discuss the issue of ‘scientific method’ in studying people (in social science).

Sources

Core Readings

Essential:

• Haralambos, M.and Holborn, M., 2008. Sociology: Themes & Perspectives. 7th ed. London: Collins.

• Plato, Crito, Copyright Free eBook.

• Sophocles, Antigone, Copyright Free eBook.

Recommended:

• Giddens, A., 2006. Sociology. 5th ed. Cambridge: Polity Press

• Hinchliffe, S. and Woodward, K., 2004. The Social & the Natural: Uncertainty, Risk, Change. London: Routledge.

• Northedge, A., 2005. The Good Study Guide. Milton Keynes: Open University Press.

Web Sources

http://www.polity.co.uk/giddens5

Polity Press’ online resources for Giddens’ Sociology

Class Handouts

Handouts will be provided each week, covering lecture summaries and some of the required readings (in extract form).

Assessments

10 credit courses have one assessment. Normally, the assessment is a 2000 word essay, worth 100% of the total mark, submitted by week 12. To pass, students must achieve a minimum of 40%. There are a small number of exceptions to this model which are identified in the Studying for Credit Guide.

Studying for Credit

If you choose to study for credit you will need to allocate significant time outwith classes for coursework and assessment preparation. Credit points gained from this course can count towards the Certificate of Higher Education.

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.