Department of Social & Policy Sciences, Unit Catalogue 2011/12 |
|
 Credits:
| 6 |
| Level:
| Certificate (FHEQ level 4) |
| Period: |
Semester 1 |
| Assessment:
| CW 100% |
| Supplementary Assessment: | SP10043 Coursework - Re-assessment only (non Social Work) (where allowed by programme regulations) |
| Supplementary Assessment: | SP10043 Coursework - Re-assessment only (Social Work) (where allowed by programme regulations) |
| Requisites:
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| 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. |
| Programme availability: |
SP10043 is a Designated Essential Unit on the following programmes:Department of Social & Policy Sciences
SP10043 is Compulsory on the following programmes:Department of Social & Policy Sciences
SP10043 is Optional on the following programmes:Department of Politics, Languages and International Studies
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