00905 - Sociology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students know the main theoretical and methodological sociological tools and should be able to identify different approaches to analysing individual and group behaviour.

Course contents

The course will address:

– the main stages in the history of sociological thought and its epistemological framework;
– key concepts (core themes) of general sociology, with particular reference to structure, culture and power;
– processes of socialization and identity construction;
– inequality and social stratification;
– contemporary social transformations;
– understanding and application of the sociological perspective.

All required contents are included in the manual indicated in the bibliography.
The order of lectures does not follow the sequence of the book chapters. 

The first lecture is fundamental and introduces the structure of the course, the adopted texts, and the assessment methods

Specific topics from the manual:

Part I The sociological perspective Chapter 1 Introduction. Sociology in the global world

Chapter 2 Theoretical perspectives

Chapter 3 Sociology as an empirical science: social research

Part II The main categories of sociological analysis

Chapter 4 Culture, cultural institutions and processes

Chapter 5 Power, social action and structures

Chapter 6 Social interactions, groups and processes of socialization

Part III Identity, differences and inequalities

Chapter 7 Migration and ethnicity

Chapter 8 Gender and sexuality

Chapter 9 Stratification and inequalities in the age of globalization

Part IV Social institutions and processes

Chapter 10 Media and consumption

Chapter 11 Deviance

Readings/Bibliography

• Croteau D., Hoynes W., Sociologia generale. Temi, concetti, strumenti, McGraw-Hill, 2022 (Chapters 1–11). III ed

  Additional materials may be provided during the course and will be available on Virtuale.

  For Erasmus students, the examination programme must be agreed in advance with the instructor  (francesca.guarino3@unibo.it)

Teaching methods

The course is taught in Italian.

The course combines frontal teaching with an interactive and learning-by-doing approach, including group activities, video screenings and focused discussions.

Lectures are supported by Prezi presentations and audiovisual materials.

The course includes the use of contemporary cultural products (films, TV series and other audiovisual materials) as tools for sociological analysis. These materials do not constitute additional content, but serve as applied devices for understanding and elaborating the theoretical concepts addressed in the course.

Core materials used during the lectures (Prezi links) will be made available at the end of each thematic unit.

Lecture notes and slides do not constitute substitute study materials for the purposes of the exam.

Assessment methods

The exam is normally written and held in presence.

The structure of the written exam is:

– multiple-choice questions on the main manual;
– short-answer questions (authors/concepts);
– one open question requiring analytical connections between theoretical concepts.

The written exam is held in Italian.

DSA/disability, Erasmus students, partial examinationsOral examinations are available only in specific and documented cases (DSA/disability, Erasmus students, partial examinations) and must be agreed in advance with the instructor.

Erasmus students**

Erasmus students normally take an oral examination.

The examination programme must be agreed in advance with the instructor.

The oral exam may be taken in English, French or Italian.

 

Teaching tools

PC, video, Prezi as a visual support to illustrate the topic of the lessons, powerpoint of the lessons, group activities and interaction in order to discuss some specific topic with sociological tools, articles reading.

 

Office hours

See the website of Francesca Guarino