03857 - General Sociology

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, the student:

 

Course contents

The course offers an introduction to the key concepts, theories, and tools of the discipline, with the aim of developing the ability to critically interpret social reality. After a general overview of what sociology is, what it is for, and how it has developed, the course addresses a series of key topics: social change and globalization; social stratification and inequality; ethnic relations and migration phenomena; social interaction in everyday life; urban life; education; work and poverty; religion; media; politics and social movements; deviance and crime.
Particular attention will later be devoted to the sociology of education work: the social meaning of education will be clarified, and the transformations of educational professions will be analyzed.
The final part will take a more methodological approach, addressing topics such as research design, method selection, and the pros and cons of the main investigative techniques.
Overall, the course aims to help students understand how social structures influence life opportunities, behaviors, and identities, providing useful tools for social work.

Readings/Bibliography

Recommended readings for the course will be:
1.The slides of the course;
2. Anthony Giddens and Philip Sutton, Fondamenti di Sociologia, Il Mulino, 2022 (sixth edition), excluding chapters III, VIII, IX;
(these chapters will be required readings for the second-semester course "Sociology of the Family and Gender")
3. Articles and short essays that will be made available in full text on the course’s Virtual Platform.

International students may, upon request, use the following as their study program instead:
GIDDENS, Anthony; SUTTON, Philip W. Essential Concepts in Sociology, John Wiley & Sons, 2021 (all chapters).

Teaching methods

The course is held in person and uses the Virtual Platform for sharing materials. The lectures will be interactive, and class participation will be actively encouraged. No distinction is made between attending and non-attending students.

Assessment methods

The exam is the same for the entire course (covering both Professor Ghigi's and Professor Tuorto's modules) and consists of a mandatory multiple-choice test with 16 questions, as well as two optional open-ended questions, with a total duration of 60 minutes. Passing the test (achieving at least 18/30) is a prerequisite for the evaluation of the open-ended responses. Both the multiple-choice test and the open-ended questions cover the entire syllabus, there are no partial or midterm exams.

On the Virtual Platform, the following materials will be uploaded:
– a sample exam paper;
– a permission letter for employers;
– the lecture slides;
– additional materials, divided into required and optional (articles, video or website links, suggestions for further reading, etc.);
– shared spaces (Forum);
– the course bulletin board for instructors' announcements.


International students who make a prior request (by emailing both teachers two days before the exam date) may take the exam in English (see above syllabus) and complete a written assignment consisting of four open-ended questions in English, to be answered in English, French, or Spanish, according to their preference.

Teaching tools

Slides, videos, websites, Virtuale Platform.

Students with DSA or disabilities: it is recommended that they contact the responsible University office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students) as soon as possible. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, considering the teaching objectives.

Office hours

See the website of Rossella Ghigi

See the website of Dario Tuorto