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SP10043: The foundations of sociology

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2014/5
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Social & Policy Sciences
Further information on credits Credits: 6
Further information on unit levels Level: Certificate (FHEQ level 4)
Further information on teaching periods Period: Semester 1
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: CW 100%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Assessment Group N: Coursework (CW 100%)
  • Assessment Group S: Coursework (Social Work) (CW 100% - Qualifying Mark: 40)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: SP10043 Coursework - Re-assessment only (non Social Work) (where allowed by programme regulations)
SP10043 Coursework - Re-assessment only (Social Work) (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites:
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:
This unit introduces students to the nature of sociology as an intellectual, academic and vocational practice; the main analytical features of its approach and its relationship to other disciplines, discourses and socio-cultural developments. The unit aims to:
* explain the distinctive intellectual nature of sociology and its main uses;
* identify the relationship of sociology to both socio-historical change and other modes of popular and intellectual analysis and belief;
* provide an understanding of the nature of 'society' as an object of study;
* help students begin to recognise the meaning and utility of key theoretical terms and ideas on which the study of societies is based.

Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the unit, you should be able to understand the general scope and significance of sociology as an academic and applied discipline; the basic principles underlying its mode of analysis; and the origins and interactions between key socio-cultural change and the study of society a distinct object of intellectual and academic analysis. These will include historical processes forming capitalist industrial and modern societies and the major sociological approaches to the fundamental issues brought about such changes. and their historical contexts.

Skills:
Intellectual Skills
* Knowledge of what sociology is and what sociologists do
* Knowledge of how this differs from 'common sense'
* Knowledge of different definitions of 'society'
* Knowledge of key debates around industrialisation, Enlightenment and modernity
* Knowledge of the theoretical basis of sociological perspectives
* Knowledge of historical and contemporary perspective of sociology
* Knowledge of the relationship between Sociology and other cognate disciplines
Transferable/Key

Skills:

* To think creatively and analytically.
* To communicate an argument.
* To evaluate others' arguments and research.
* To critically evaluate and assess research and evidence as well as a variety of other information.
* To gather information, data, research and literature from a number of different sources (i.e. library, web-based, archives etc.).
* To synthesise information from a number of sources in order to gain a coherent understanding.
* Essay research, preparation and writing skills
* Understanding of how to apply knowledge and concepts from across various social sciences disciplines
* Study and Learning skills (note taking, avoiding plagiarism, using the library, gathering and using information, constructing a bibliography, referencing)

Content:
Teaching and learning on this course falls into two parts:
1. sociological perspectives and principles: 'sociological imagination' an outline of different notions of 'society'. The first part covers questions such as: 'what is sociology?'; 'what do sociologists do?'; 'why and how do sociologists practice their subject?'; 'how does sociology relate to common sense and science?'. It also introduces students to the language and concepts used to analyse 'society'.
The second part introduces key aspects in the history, change and types of societies: critical and comparative approaches; what is society?; history and types of society; the Enlightenment/industrial revolution; from here to modernity.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

SP10043 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Social & Policy Sciences
  • UHSP-AFB14 : BSc(Hons) Applied Social Studies (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AFB16 : BSc(Hons) Social Policy (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AKB16 : BSc(Hons) Social Policy with Year long work placement (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AFB05 : BSc(Hons) Social Sciences (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AKB05 : BSc(Hons) Social Sciences with Year long work placement (Year 1)

SP10043 is a Designated Essential Unit on the following programmes:

Department of Social & Policy Sciences
  • UHSP-AFB15 : BSc(Hons) Social Work and Applied Social Studies (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AFB04 : BSc(Hons) Sociology (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AKB04 : BSc(Hons) Sociology with Year long work placement (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AFB10 : BSc(Hons) Sociology and Social Policy (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AKB10 : BSc(Hons) Sociology and Social Policy with Year long work placement (Year 1)

SP10043 is Optional on the following programmes:

Programmes in Natural Sciences
  • UXXX-AFB01 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences (Year 1)
  • UXXX-AAB02 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences with Study year abroad (Year 1)
  • UXXX-AKB02 : BSc(Hons) Natural Sciences with Year long work placement (Year 1)
Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
  • UHPL-AYB13 : BA(Hons) French and Politics with Year Abroad (Year 1)
  • UHPL-AYB12 : BA(Hons) German and Politics with Year Abroad (Year 1)
  • UHPL-AYB16 : BA(Hons) Italian ab inito and Politics with Year Abroad (Year 1)
  • UHPL-AYB14 : BA(Hons) Italian and Politics with Year Abroad (Year 1)
  • UHPL-AFB30 : BSc(Hons) Politics and International Relations (Year 1)
  • UHPL-AAB30 : BSc(Hons) Politics and International Relations with Study year abroad (Year 1)
  • UHPL-AKB30 : BSc(Hons) Politics and International Relations with Year long work placement (Year 1)
  • UHPL-AFB10 : BSc(Hons) Politics with Economics (Year 1)
  • UHPL-AAB10 : BSc(Hons) Politics with Economics with Study year abroad (Year 1)
  • UHPL-AKB10 : BSc(Hons) Politics with Economics with Year long work placement (Year 1)
  • UHPL-AYB15 : BA(Hons) Russian ab inito and Politics with Year Abroad (Year 1)
  • UHPL-AYB17 : BA(Hons) Spanish and Politics with Year Abroad (Year 1)
Department of Psychology
Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2014/15 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2015/16 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2014/15.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.