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Sociology looks behind surface appearances to help us understand ourselves and the societies we live in, how we both create and are shaped by society. This course will look at key social influences on our identity and question taken-for-granted explanations of inequality, the family, crime, and educational achievement.
None.
The following topics will be discussed:
1. The Sociological Perspective. Is human behaviour natural or cultural? The influence of society and culture in shaping human behaviour and what is ‘natural’.
2. Sociological Theory. Are humans created or creators? How free are we? Contrasting theories; how society works; the relation between the individual and society; are we puppets or free agents?
3. Culture and Identity. The impact of culture (and subcultures) on social and personal identity: social class; power; gender/sexuality; ethnicity; nationality and globalisation; disability; age; leisure; consumerism.
4. The Family. What is the ‘family’? What is its ‘core’? Who belongs to it? What does it do? How has it changed? The diversity of family types and roles.
5. Inequality. Different forms of inequality, different explanations of why inequality exists, the concept of ‘meritocracy’.
6. Education. The focus here is on differences in ‘educational achievement’: who achieves what at school, and why?
7. Crime. Issues in identifying the extent of crime, types of crime, and who are the criminals. The causes of crime and deviance.
8. Sociological Explanation. Students will choose topics to reflect their own interests/current events and develop and apply sociological explanations.
Classes will involve a mixture of lecture-based teaching and tutorial discussion.
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
Explain the sociological perspective and show awareness of the importance of evidence;
Demonstrate an understanding of different theories used in sociological explanation;
Apply sociological knowledge to explain specific features of society and social problems;
Compare, contrast, and critically evaluate different views of social phenomena;
Convey ideas in a well-structured and coherent form.
Essential:
Browne, K. 2011. An Introduction to Sociology. 4th ed. Cambridge: Polity.
Giddens, A., and Sutton, W., 2012. Sociology. 7th ed. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Haralambos, M., and Holborn, M. 2008. Sociology: Themes & Perspectives. 7th ed. London: Collins.
Recommended:
Bruce, S. 1999. Sociology: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Cohen, S. 2011. Folk Devils and Moral Panics: The Creation of the Mods and Rockers. 3rd ed. London: Routledge.
Wilkinson, R.G., and Pickett, K. 2010. The Spirit Level: Why Equality is Better for Everyone. London: Penguin.
Woodward, K., ed. 2004. Questioning Identity: Gender, Class, Ethnicity. London: Routledge/OU.
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.
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.
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.
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.