Undergraduate Course: Introducing Sociology (LLLJ07007)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Course type | Standard |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 7 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Credits | 10 |
| Home subject area | Lifelong Learning (SPS) |
Other subject area | None |
| Course website |
None |
Taught in Gaelic? | No |
| Course description | This course is not available to University of Edinburgh matriculated students. This is a for-credit course offered by the Office of Lifelong Learning (OLL); only students registered with OLL should be enrolled.
Sociology looks behind surface appearances to help us understand ourselves and the societies we live in, how we both shape and are shaped by society. We will look at the many social influences on our identity and question taken for granted explanations of inequality, the family, crime, and educational achievement.
Learn to study for credit on a course with study and essay writing skills built in.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Delivery period: 2013/14 Lifelong Learning - Session 2, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Learn enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
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Web Timetable |
Web Timetable |
| Course Start Date |
13/01/2014 |
| Breakdown of Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
100 )
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| Additional Notes |
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| Breakdown of Assessment Methods (Further Info) |
Please contact the School directly for a breakdown of Assessment Methods
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| No Exam Information |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
. Explain a sociological perspective, the importance of evidence, and different theories used in sociological explanation;
. Apply sociological knowledge in explaining specific features of society;
. Compare, contrast, and critically evaluate different sociological views;
. Employ the relevant skills required for successful study in the social sciences.
They will also have developed skills for independent learning, including reading texts critically; taking notes; and planning and writing essays.
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Assessment Information
| Open Studies 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. |
Special Arrangements
| None |
Additional Information
| Academic description |
Not entered |
| Syllabus |
Course of Content
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 (1)
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. Culture and Identity (2)
5. What is a 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.
6. Why Inequality?
Different forms of inequality, different explanations of why inequality exists, the concept of ¿meritocracy¿.
7. Who Wins at School?
The focus here is on differences in ¿educational achievement¿: who achieves what at school, and why?
8. What is Crime and who are the Criminals?
Issues in identifying the extent of crime, types of crime, and who are the criminals. The causes of crime and deviance.
9. Sociological Explanation
Students will choose topics to reflect their own interests/ current events and develop and apply sociological explanations.
10. Course review and summary
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| Transferable skills |
Not entered |
| Reading list |
Course materials will be given on each topic.
Recommended
Browne, K., 2008. Sociology. 3rd ed. Cambridge: Polity.
Giddens, A., 2006. Sociology. 5th ed. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Haralambos, M.and Holborn, M., 2008. Sociology: Themes & Perspectives. 7th ed. London: Collins.
Study Skills
Northedge, A., 2005. The Good Study Guide. Milton Keynes: OUP.
Web sources
Sites will be recommended throughout the course.
Class handouts
Handouts will be provided on a weekly basis.
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| Study Abroad |
Not entered |
| Study Pattern |
Tutorial based with class discussion/debate. |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Mr James Mooney
Tel: (0131 6)50 3077
Email: |
Course secretary | Mrs Diane Mcmillan
Tel: (0131 6)50 6912
Email: |
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