SOC755 General sociology

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2012
Extent and Intensity
1/1. 10 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Benjamin Jeremiah Vail, Ph.D., M.Sc. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Ing. Radim Marada, Ph.D.
Division of Sociology – Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Ing. Soňa Enenkelová
Supplier department: Division of Sociology – Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Tue 10:00–11:40 U36
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/20, only registered: 0/20, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
This course introduces students to the wide range of social theory that has developed over time in the discipline of Sociology, providing exposure to classical, modern, and contemporary theories. The first half of the course surveys the development of sociological thought, while the second half of the semester features in-depth study of three books representative of important themes in the field that continue to shape sociological thinking today. This literature is featured on the required reading list for the final state exam for students to earn the Masters degree in Sociology.

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

- Recall and relate sociological theories and approaches that have developed over time
- Identify and explain major contemporary and historical sociological theories and their relations to individual lifestyle and social history
- Interpret the significance of sociological issues in their daily lives
- Demonstrate their knowledge of sociological theory and contemporary social issues
- Be prepared to pass the State Exam to fulfill requirements to earn the MA degree
Syllabus
  • The course is based on weekly seminar meetings in which the required reading is presented and discussed. The weekly topics for the semester include:
  • 1. Introduction to Sociology and Social Theory
  • 2. Marx & Weber
  • 3. Durkheim & Simmel
  • 4. Structural Functionalism
  • 5. Critical Theory
  • 6. Interactionism, Rational Choice, and Feminist Theories
  • 7. Micro-Macro, Structure-Agency Integration
  • 8. Modernity and Postmodernity
  • 9. Risk Society, by Ulrich Beck
  • 10. Being Human, by Margaret Archer
  • 11. Liquid Modernity, by Zygmunt Bauman
  • 12. Review and Conclusion
Literature
    required literature
  • GIDDENS, Anthony. Introduction to sociology / Anthony Giddens ... [et al.]. 8th ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 2012, xxiii, 633. ISBN 9780393912135. info
  • RITZER, George. Sociological theory. 8th ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2012, 1 sv. ISBN 9780071315371. info
  • ARCHER, Margaret Scotford. Being human : the problem of agency. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2000, x, 323. ISBN 0521795648. URL info
  • BAUMAN, Zygmunt. Liquid modernity. 1st pub. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2000, vi, 228. ISBN 0745624103. info
  • BECK, Ulrich. Risk society : towards a new modernity. London: SAGE Publications, 1992, 260 s. ISBN 080398345X. info
Teaching methods
The method of teaching focuses on weekly lectures.
Assessment methods
Students are expected to attend every seminar meeting and participate actively in class. There is one mid-term exam covering information presented in class and the required readings up to that point; a comprehensive final exam at the end of the semester tests all information presented during the semester. Students receive a final letter grade (A-F) for the semester based on the following components:

40% – Mid-term exam
60% – Final exam
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Information on course enrolment limitations: For Masters students from any dpt in FSS and for Graduate Program in Sociology (English) students and for exchange students.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2005, Spring 2006, Autumn 2006, Spring 2007, Autumn 2007, Spring 2008, Autumn 2008, Spring 2009, Autumn 2009, Spring 2010, Autumn 2010, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2013, Autumn 2014, Autumn 2015, Autumn 2016, Autumn 2017, Autumn 2018, Autumn 2019.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2012, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2012/SOC755