| CODE | SOC1060 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Foundations of Sociology: Theories and Perspectives | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Sociology | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Objective: This study-unit introduces students to the key concepts and theories of classical sociologists, such as Émile Durkheim, Karl Marx, and Max Weber, as significant figures due to their contributions to social thought. This study-unit aims at making sense of the different sociological perspectives and approaches as well as build an understanding of the relationship between sociological thinking and its application in social relations, institutions and actions in the twenty-first century. Content: This study-unit explores the foundations of sociological theories by lecturing on classical sociological approaches and perspectives. First, this study-unit outlines of Sociology as a discipline in relation to historical events that inspired early sociologists. Secondly, this study-unit offers an introductory exploration into key concepts and theories mainly of Durkheim, Marx and Weber. This study-unit also refers to Neo-Marxists such as Gramsci and Dahrendorf as well as Social Action and Symbolic Interactionist theorists. Course content: - The origins of Sociology as a discipline; - Classical sociological perspectives and approaches; - The works of Emile Durkheim on social facts and division of labour; - Durkheim's work on anomie and suicide; - The development of Functionalism: The works of Talcott Parsons; - Karl Marx: Class structure, revolution and communism; - The applicability of Marxism today; - The works of Neo-Marxists: Antonio Gramsci and Ralf Dahrendorf; - Max Weber: The market situation and classes; - Social Action approaches in Sociology; - Symbolic Interactionism - The works of George Herbert Mead and Erving Goffman; - Feminist critique to classical sociology; - Classical theories and their applicability to the 21st century; - Overview lecture. Study-unit Aims Aims of this study-unit include: - Acquaint students with obtaining interdisciplinary knowledge on classical sociology. - Stimulate ways of connecting different sociological school of thoughts. - Acquaint students with the ability to understand and evaluate sociological arguments and the ability to apply sociological concepts. Learning Outcomes Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Explore the significance of classical sociological perspectives and theories in the study of sociology. - Demonstrate the applicability of classical sociological studies as foundations to contemporary studies. - Be able to distinguish and apply key concepts in classical sociological theories.. Skills (including transferable [generic] skills): By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Aquire a sociological imagination in making sense of key sociological concepts. - Demonstrate critical thinking skills through informed discussion on sociological literature on the topic. - Construct analytically solid arguments in relation to sociological thoughts in an academic essay format. - Apply classical sociological theories to a contemporary context. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Dillon, Michele, 2020, Introduction to Sociological Theory: Theorists, Concepts, and their Applicability to the Twenty-First Century, Wiley- Blackwell. Supplementary Readings: - Ritzer, George. and Stepnisky, Jeffrey, 2017, Sociological Theory, Tenth Edition, Sage Publications. - Carsten Bagge Laustsen, Lars Thorup Larsen, Mathias Wullum Nielsen, Tine Ravn, Mads P. Sørensen, 2017, Social Theory: A Texbook, Routledge. - Students will be given supplementary readings including articles from the journal Classical Sociology (Sage). |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||
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| LECTURER/S | Valerie Visanich |
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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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