Expand+SOC10020 Introduction to Sociology
Academic Year 2021/2022

This module serves as an introduction into the foundational theories, methods and perspectives in sociology as a discipline. These include the idea of society and the individual, citizens...

Hide-SOC10020 Introduction to Sociology
Academic Year 2021/2022

This module serves as an introduction into the foundational theories, methods and perspectives in sociology as a discipline. These include the idea of society and the individual, citizenship, inequality, and plurality. A sociological perspective allows us to understand the intersection of social structure and agency, and to analyze the social forces that surround us. This module will support students as they develop their sociological imaginations, learning to think deeply and critically about the social world. It will root students in the “scientific study of society,” as they learn to interrogate the social world around them.

This module is organized around key themes and areas of sociological study, through which students learn about both the theories and methods of social research. We will begin with the historical origins of sociology as a discipline, its theoretical traditions, and the methodological tools employed by sociologists. We will explore and analyze social organization, institutions, stratification, and inequality. We will learn about how we, as individuals and communities, at once shape and are shaped by the social worlds in which we live.

Learning Outcomes:

- Develop a sociological imagination by acknowledging the intersection between personal biographies and broader historical and structural trends.

- Examine social processes from different perspectives and with a critical eye.

- Gain familiarity with major sociological theories and apply them to the analysis of real-world issues.

- Develop sociological questions and use the methods of sociology to address them.

Indicative Module Content:
This module is organized around key themes and areas of sociological study, through which students learn about both the theories and methods of social research. We will begin with the historical origins of sociology as a discipline, its theoretical traditions, and the methodological tools employed by sociologists. We will explore and analyze social organization, institutions, stratification, and inequality. We will learn about how we, as individuals and communities, at once shape and are shaped by the social worlds in which we live.