Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description



CODE SOC1001

 
TITLE Understanding Sociology

 
UM LEVEL 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL Not Applicable

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Sociology

 
DESCRIPTION Content

The central idea of the study-unit is that contemporary societies are undergoing rapid and dramatic processes of change. The process of globalisation in all spheres of life, rapid technological changes, new patterns of work and leisure, the reform of institutions, changes in communities and identities are all transforming the world we live in. After an outline of key processes in the development of society, this unit examines the transformation of work, changes in gender and domestic life, and changes in education.

Learning outcomes and objectives

Students will receive a thorough introduction to sociological ways of thinking and perspectives together with an opportunity to sample different fields within the discipline. The study-unit will focus on the development of sociology as a separate discipline and its relation to other disciplines. It seeks to demonstrate that sociology is a discipline that offers a critical analysis of human societies through the construction of social, as opposed to naturalistic and individualistic, explanations

Reading List

- Wright Mills, C. (1959) Sociological Imagination. Penguin.
- Berger, P. (1963) An Invitation to Sociology. Harmondsworth: Penguin.
- Giddens, A. (1986) Sociology. A Brief but Critical Introduction, London: Macmillan.
- Jones, P. (1993) Studying Society. Sociological Theories and Research Practices. London: Collins Educational.
- Ritzer, G. (1996) Sociological Theory, Fourth Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill International.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Examination (2 Hours) Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S Marvin Formosa

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.


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