93216 - Sociology of Territory (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students: - have a framework of the main concepts and interpretative paradigms of territorial sociology; - are able to apply these concepts and paradigms for understanding the emerging issues of the discipline; - are able to distinguish the steps of sociological territorial research; - can distinguish between qualitative and quantitative research tools, knowing the advantages and disadvantages; - know the characteristics of the main sources of information, both quantitative and qualitative.

Course contents

The course is organized with a part of lectures taught online on MS TEAMS (20 hours) and another taught in presence (20 hours). The number of students allowed in class is determined on the basis of class capacity and by the health and safety provisions that deal with the pandemic emergency. In case more students want to attend classes in presence than permitted by the rules, a system of shifts will be organized so to allow students to participate. Regardless of the health-related conditions and the specific organization of the course, students will be able to follow the lessons of the entire course remotely on MS TEAMS

In the first part of the course some theoretical aspects of the discipline will be considered, with attention to the role of sociology in the local planning as well the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration in the following topics: planning and participation processes, individual perceptions and symbolic value of places and environments, time policies in the city, the design and use of public spaces, interventions in risk situations. The sources of social information and their reliability will also be considered. Finally, attention will be given to some qualitative and quantitative research tools, both qualitative and quantitative.

As regards the second part, we will introduce some territorial studies from the Chicago School, as well as some recent studies that continue that approach from an ecological and/or ethnographic perspective. We will also introduce the Mario Small's done by Mario Small in Villa Victoria, a Boston neighborhood. It is particularly significant for its methodological structure, the link with the Chicago School approach, and the theoretical and empirical outputs.

Readings/Bibliography

For the part one:

A. Mela, M.C. Belloni, L. Davico, Sociologia e progettazione del territorio, Carocci, Roma, 2000 or 2006 edition.

For the part two:

M.L. Small, Villa Victoria. Povertà e capitale sociale in un quartiere di Boston, FrancoAngeli, Milano, 2011.

Further teaching material will be available during the course.

Teaching methods

Lectures and seminars.

Assessment methods

RULES FOR THE EXAM DURING THE COURSE

Students who have to take both Geography and Sociology of the Territory (12 cfu)

Midterm (October 29, 2020)

It is a written exam (60 minutes) divided into two parts: 

- Geography: 2 open questions = Total 15 points (7,5 points for each question).

- Sociology of the Territory (60 minutes): 2 open questions = Total 15 points (7,5 points for each question). 

The note is the sum of the points obtained in the two parts.

The note is valid until February 2021.

NB: Students pass the midterm exam if they get 21/30 or more, or if they get 9/15 or more in both the parts.

Final exam (December 11, 2020)

It is an oral exam with two parts: Geography (2 open questions, 15 points) and Sociology of Territory (2 open questions, 15 points).

The note is the sum of the points obtained in the two parts.

The note is valid until February 2021.

NB: Students pass the midterm exam if they get 21/30 or more, or if they get 9/15 or more in both the parts.

The final note is given by the average of the points obtained in the two parts. If the average is with a decimal, the final note will be obtained by rounding up (Example: 27,5 becomes 28).

NB: Having just one exam during the course is not possible; students are requested to have both, otherwise they will have to do the entire exam after the end of the course.

Students who have to take both Geography and Sociology of the Territory (6 cfu)

Midterm (October 29, 2020)

It is a written exam (30 minutes) with 2 open questions (15 points for each question).

The note is valid until February 2021.

Final exam (December 11, 2020)

It is an oral exam with 2-3 questions.

The finale note is the average of the points obtained in the two parts.

The final note is given by the average of the points obtained in the two parts. If the average is with a decimal, the final note will be obtained by rounding up (Example: 27,5 becomes 28).

The note is valid until February 2021.

NB: Having just one exam during the course is not possible; students are requested to have both, otherwise they will have to do the entire exam after the end of the course.

Project works for Sociology of the Territory

During the course of Sociology of the Territory, optional project works are planned. Works can focus on a text or recommended readings, or another topic relevant to the sociology of the territory, either theoretical or empirical. Groups must be composed of 3-5 students. Anyone wishing to make project works is required to decide the topic with the teacher; an abstract is requested by October 15 with the research topic, aim, methods and three bibliographic references. Students will present their work at class (15-20 minutes for each presentation). The presentation will be evaluated (from 0 to 1,5 points); these points will be added to the sum of the votes obtained in the written exams. The vote is valid until February 2021.

Project works for Geography

(NB: just for students who have to take the Geography module) During the course of Geography, optional project works are planned. Groups of 2 students will be requested to build a thematic map with the software QGIS. The work will be submitted to the teacher and evaluated (from 0 to 1.5 points). These points will be added to the sum of the notes obtained in the written exams. The note is valid until February 2021.

RULES FOR EXAMS AFTER THE END OF THE COURSE

Students who have to take both Geography and Sociology of the Territory (12 cfu)

Students who do not intend to make exams during the course, and who do not pass one or more exams, are requested to get their oral exam after the end of the course and to have both Geography and Sociology of the Territory on the same date. The exam after the end of the course consists of two parts:

Geography (2-3 open questions), and Sociology of the Territory (2-3 open questions).

The final note is given by the sum of the points obtained in the two parts. If the sum is with a decimal, the final note will be obtained by rounding up (Example: 27,5 becomes 28).

Students pass the exam if they get 21/30 or more or if they get 9/15 or more in both the parts.

Only for the exams by February 2021: students who have passed at least one of the exams during the course, can "save" that note and get just the remaining part in the exams after the course.

Students who have to take just the Sociology of the Territory module (6 cfu)

Students who do not intend to make exams during the course, and who do not pass one or more exams, are requested to get their exam after the end of the course and to have both Geography and Sociology of the Territory on the same date.

The exam will consist on an oral talk with opoen questions.

Only for the exams by February 2021: students who have passed at least one of the exams during the course, can "save" that note and get just the remaining part in the exams after the course.

Oral integration of the written exam

Students have the right to request the integration of the written exam with an oral part: however, this integration can be either improve or get worse the note.

Assessment criteria

A language appropriate to course contents and the skill to learn and link together the main course concepts will result in excellent grades. A proper language, a mnemonic content knowledge and a good skill to link the concepts will result in good grades. Inappropriate language, some training gaps but a minimum of knowledge on the course topics will result in passing grades. Lack of guidance on the course issues, inappropriate language and training gaps will result in negative grades.

Teaching tools

Use of Powerpoint  slides, use of videos, presentation of websites.

Office hours

See the website of Gabriele Manella