00905 - Sociology (O-Z)

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course, the student: - possesses a basic knowledge of Sociology: its origins, its main paradigms and theories, its methods of analysis, and its objects of study; - possesses tools for analyzing and understanding contemporary social phenomena, such as globalization, which are also functional for reading and understanding specific social contexts.

Course contents

The course aims to equip students with the tools necessary to critically examine the functioning of the societies in which we live. It seeks to provide the most reliable and up-to-date knowledge available in the field to help address these inquiries. In this context, the course views sociology as a discipline focused on studying social phenomena to describe and explain them without any normative intent.

As a result, the course is both empirical and theoretical in nature. On one hand, it emphasizes the value of empirically based knowledge—contrasting it with purely ideological beliefs—in enhancing our understanding and interpretation of reality. On the other hand, it is focused on how to develop scientific explanations for the observed phenomena.

Readings/Bibliography

Institutional Part:

• Van Tubergen, Frank. Introduction to Sociology. London; New York: Routledge, 2020.

 

Monographic part

(Only Attending students: one item in the list)

• Abramitzky, Ran, and Leah Boustan. Streets of Gold. America’s Untold Story of Immigrant Success. New York: Public Affairs, 2022.
• Biolcati, Ferruccio, Giancarlo Rovati, and Paolo Segatti, eds. Come Cambiano Gli Italiani. Valori E Atteggiamenti Dagli Anni Ottanta a Oggi Bologna: Il Mulino, 2020.
• Colombo, Asher. La Solitudine Di Chi Resta. La Morte Ai Tempi Del Contagio. Bologna: Il Mulino, 2021.
• Colombo, Asher, ed. Morire All’italiana. Pratiche, Riti, Credenze Bologna: Il Mulino, 2022.
• Dalla Zuanna, Gianpiero, and Daniele Vignoli. Piacere E Fedeltà. I Millennials Italiani E Il Sesso. Bologna: Il Mulino, 2021.
• Deng, Grazia Ting. Chinese Espresso. Contested Race & Convivial Space in Contemporary Italy. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2024.
• Inglehart, Ronald C. Cultural Evolution. People’s Motivations Are Changing, and Reshaping the World. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2018.
• Inglehart, Ronald C. Religion’s Sudden Decline: What’s Causing it, and What Comes Next. Oxford University Press, USA, 2021.
• Inglehart, Ronald - Norris, Pippa, Cultural Backlash. Trump, Brexit, and Autoritarian Populism; Cambridge UP, 2019
• Livi Bacci, Massimo. In Cammino. Breve Storia Delle Migrazioni. Bologna: Il Mulino, 2010.
• Marzano, Marco. Potere E Società. Bologna: Il lMulino, 2024.
• Putnam, Robert. Comunità Contro Individualismo. Una Parabola Americana. Bologna: Il Mulino, 2023.
• Ricolfi, Luca. La Società Signorile Di Massa. La nave di Teseo, 2019.
• Twenge, Jean M. Generations. The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Genx, Boomers, and Silents - and What They Mean for the Future. New York: Atria Books, 2023.

 

Teaching methods

The course has a traditional, lecture-based structure.

Students are encouraged to intervene with questions, concerns or observations during the course of the lecture.

The traditional lectures of the course may be combined with one or more seminars on topics and with speakers that will be indicated during the course.

Assessment methods

Attending students:

For attending students, the examination is conducted in two separate tests: the midterm and the final test.

The midterm will be held in the week of the semester break. The exam will cover the syllabus taken up to the class prior to the exam.

The final examination will be held in approximately the second or third week of December, with date, time and classroom to be announced. This test will only cover the program done from the midterm forward.

Both tests will involve multiple-choice and open-ended questions. Modalities will be indicated at the beginning of the course.

Date, time and classroom of both tests will be announced at the beginning of the course. These tests take place on a single date. Other dates outside of those indicated are not scheduled. Students who will not be present for one or both tests will have to take the exam as non-attending students.


Non-attending students:

The test consists of a single test with closed multiple-choice and open-ended questions on all chapters of all examination texts.

Teaching tools

The course involves the use of the Virtual Learning Environment Platform (virtual.unibo.it). All students are required to register, consult the platform periodically and take into account the directions contained therein. All materials necessary to follow the course will be uploaded to this platform, in particular:


- The detailed syllabus of the course lectures. Students are required to read the syllabus carefully before the start of the course and use it as a constant reference tool. The syllabus will be made available to coincide with the start of the course.


- Slides (The slides will contain only and exclusively additional materials shown in class, typically graphs and tables. They will not include either book content or lecture notes)


- Texts or websites for further study and which will be discussed in class and evaluated in the exam.


- Other materials, if any




Any written communications or requests to the teacher will be considered only and exclusively if sent from the institutional mailbox (xxx@studio.unibo.it ) to the teacher's institutional mailbox. Mails sent from personal boxes will not be considered and will not be answered.


However, the lecturer will not respond to emails containing questions whose answers are already in this document or in the F.A.Q. on the lecturer's website.

Office hours

See the website of Asher Daniel Colombo