Classical and Modern Sociological Theory
The course will provide insight into key contributions in classical and modern sociological theory. Sociology's early classics and founders, such as Marx, Weber and Durkheim, were concerned with what characterizes modern society, and their questions and answers founded sociology. The classical perspectives are central to understanding modern society. The classics asked questions like: What distinguishes pre-modern from modern societies? What is the place of the individual in modern society? What maintains and what creates change in modern societies? What social conflicts are prominent? What challenges are modern societies facing?
Furthermore, the students will be introduced to the most important contemporary sociological approaches. What questions do sociological theory make use of? What challenges do modern societies face today and how does modern sociological theory analyze these challenges?
The students will learn about how individuals, social structures and the relationship between social action and social order are portraryed in different sociological perspectives. The students learn to use different sociological approaches and concepts in discussing current social questions. The course covers a number of sociological topics that are central to modern sociological theory, such as social interaction and self-identity, class and social inequality, integration, gender, ethnicity, power and legitimacy, the consumer society, urbanization, and globalization.
Knowledge
- Knowledge of classical and modern sociological theory with emphasis on theories' basic positions and basic concepts.
- Understanding of how different sociological perspectives, theories and concepts contribute to different explanations regarding the relationship between individual and society.
- Knowledge of key theoretical contributions attempting to integrate and connect theories of micro and macro, actor and structure.
- Understanding of how recent sociological theories contribute to different explanations regarding the relationship between the individual and the modern and postmodern society.
- Knowledge of sociological theory that emphasises action and interaction, role and identity, modernity, postmodernity, globalization, inequality.
Skills
- Be able to use classical and contemporary sociological concepts, models and theories to analyze societal relationships
- Be able to utilize classical and recent sociological theories to analyze and understand modern societies
- Be able to discuss similarites and differences between, and strengths and weaknesses of, sociological theories
General competence:
- Have developed an understanding of the disciplin's foundation and perspectives
- Have developed a sociological and academic identity
- Have developed a respect and an understanding of scientific reasoning
- Developed the analytical ability to use general concepts and theories to analyze relationships between individuals and societies
- Developed the ability to problematize and criticize academic knowledge in an independent manner
Overlap refers to a similarity between courses with the same content. Therefore, you will receive the following reduction in credits if you have taken the courses listed below:
SOS1012 - Social science perspective - 10 credits
SOS2010 - Modern contemporary diagnostics - 10 credits