Department of Social & Policy Sciences, Unit Catalogue 2007/08 |
SP10044 Sociology of inequalities |
| Credits: 6 |
| Level: Certificate |
| Semester: 2 |
| Assessment: EX 100% |
| Requisites: |
| Before taking this unit you must take SP10043 |
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Aims:
The aims of the unit are to:
i Provide students with a basic understanding of the changing nature of modern society. ii. Provide students with a basic understanding of the different ways that sociologists have sought to make sense of the changes evident in modern society. iii. Provide evidence of and theories explaining the key aspects of 'difference' and 'inequalities' within modern British society. iv. Encourage students to think critically about the key issues that arise from such evidence and theories. v. Provide an introduction to understanding the main modes of social regulation and control within modern societies. Learning Outcomes: By the end of the unit the students will be better equipped to: * Distinguish between the key ways in which sociologists characterise modern societies. * Identify dominant forms of inequalities within modern British society. * Reflect critically upon explanations for inequalities and difference. * Recognise and critically reflect upon different forms of social regulation and control. Skills: Intellectual skills: Knowledge of the fundamental concepts of sociology relevant to the student becoming an effective practitioner. 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. Knowledge of issues of human needs and social welfare - poverty, inequality, exclusion, diversity and differences. Knowledge of theories of welfare state development. Knowledge of the main sources of data about social welfare and a critical approach to their use. Knowledge of the fundamental concepts and theoretical basis of sociology Knowledge of issues of human needs and social welfare - poverty, inequality, exclusion, diversity and differences. Knowledge of social processes (e.g. poverty, unemployment, poor health) that impinge on service users, and which contribute to social differences and experience of exclusion. Transferable/Key skills: to develop: 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. Revision and Examination skills. Understanding of how to apply knowledge and concepts from across various social sciences disciplines. Content: The unit will address the following questions: 1. Do industrial societies display common trends, even superseding industrialism? 2. What are the main modes of social regulation and social control in changing societies? Theories and evidence of post-industrialism, convergence, managerialism, ethnic and gender forms of social stratification in relation to social control and citizenship. |