Overview

In this topic students will acquire foundational knowledge of Sociology's intellectual roots and a conceptual toolkit to critically analyze the enduring problems of modern social life. Key thinkers explored include Marx, Durkheim, Weber, Freud, Simmel, Goffman, Bourdieu, and Foucault, and an appreciation of how each contributes to a richer understanding … For more content click the Read More button below. By considering calls to ‘de-colonize’ sociology and the practice of academic theorizing, students will also situate classical social theory in contemporary debates.

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Tuition pattern

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Aims

This topic aims to:

  • Introduce classical sociological perspectives on life and their continuing relevance in the contemporary era
  • Examine the social processes through which modern societies and contemporary culture is produced, reproduced and transformed
  • Provide opportunities for the further development of skills such as written and verbal communication

Learning outcomes

On completion of this topic you will be expected to be able to:
1.
Compare a range of classical sociological perspectives
2.
Analyze contemporary social issues using classical sociological theory
3.
Investigate how classical sociological theory would inform empirical social research design

Assessments

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Requisites information

Pre-requisites:
Anti-requisites:

Assumed knowledge

First year sociology topic knowledge, or first year knowledge gained from humanities or social science topics