Sociology 2105-EPE-L-D2SOCI

The course will cover the following topics:
1. Sociology: Theoretical inspirations, empirical applications
Theory and empirical research in sociology.
2. Culture, society, community
Values, norms and beliefs; ethnocentrism and relativism; cultural diffusion.
3. Groups, networks, organization
Types of groups and their roles, networks, leadership, bureaucracy.
4. Socialization
Institutions and processes of socialization.
5. Crime, deviance, control
Defining crime and deviance, institutions and functions of control.
6. Social inequalities and social stratification
Systems of stratification, mobility.
7. Global inequalities
Countries' classifications, World Systems Approach, global stratification, poverty.
8. Race and ethnicity
Intergroup relations, discrimination, minorities.
9. Gender, sexuality
Functions of family, socialization into gender roles, gender inequality
10. Government and politics, power and authority
Forms of governmen, nation state and citizenship, breakdown of power
11. Work and the economy
Types of societies, capitalism vs socialism, social integration, alienation, rationalization
12. Family
Definitions of family, family transformations
13. Religion
Religion as a social institution, secularization
Throughout the course students will be presented with classic sociological theories, their modern applications, as well as empirical data illustrating discussed processes.

Type of course

obligatory courses

Prerequisites (description)

Students need basic understanding of empirical data, with the emphasis on quantitative data, and basic knowledge of political and economic systems.

Course coordinators

Term 2024L:

Olga Lavrinenko

Term 2025L:

Natalia Garner

Mode

General:

Classroom

Term 2026L:

Remote learning

Term 2024L:

Remote learning

Term 2025L:

Remote learning

Learning outcomes

K_W02, K_W06, K_U01, K_K02, K_K03

Assessment criteria

Written exam (test)

Practical placement

N/A

Bibliography

Key reading:

1. Introduction. Sociology: Theoretical inspirations
Giddens et al., Chs. 1-2

Individual and society
2. Culture: symbols, ideas, values and norms
Giddens et al., Ch. 3.
3. Socialization
Giddens et al., Ch. 4
4. Groups, networks and organization
Giddens et al., Chs. 5-6
5. Deviance, crime and control
Giddens et al., Ch. 7

Stratification
6. Social stratification
Giddens et al., Ch. 8
7. Global inequalities
Giddens et al., Ch. 9
8. Race and ethnicity
Giddens et al., Ch. 11
9. Gender and sexualities
Giddens et al., Ch. 10

Social institutions
10. Government
Giddens et al., Ch. 13
11. Work and economy
Giddens et al., Ch. 14
12. Families
Giddens et al., Ch. 15
13. Religion
Giddens et al., Ch. 17

Supplementary readings:
Van Tubergen, F. (2020). Introduction to sociology. Routledge.
Jacobs, R. N., & Townsley, E. R. (2020). Living Sociologically: Concepts and Connections. Oxford University Press.

Term 2024L:

Key readings:
Anthony Giddens, Sociology, Cambridge: Polity Press 2009.
John J. Macionis, Sociology, Upper Saddle River, NJ : Pearson-Prentice Hall 2005.
1. Introduction
Giddens, Chs. 1-4; Macionis, Chs. 1-2
2. Culture
Macionis, Ch. 3
3. Groups, networks, organization
Giddens, Ch. 5, 16; Macionis, Chs. 6-7
4. Social stratification
Giddens, Ch. 9; Macionis, Ch. 10-11
5. Global inequalities
Giddens, Ch. 11; Macionis, Ch. 12
6. Race and ethnicity
Giddens, Ch. 13; Macionis, Ch. 14
7. Gender, sexuality and family
Giddens, Ch. 7, 12; Macionis, Ch. 13, 18
8. Government and politics
Giddens, Ch. 20; Macionis, Ch. 17
9. Work and the economy
Giddens, Ch. 18; Macionis, Ch. 16
10. Religion
Giddens, Ch. 14; Macionis, Ch. 19

Additional readings:
- Jacobs, R. N., & Townsley, E. R. (2020). Living Sociologically: Concepts and Connections. Oxford University Press.
- Robin Cohen, Paul Kennedy, Global Sociology, Palgrave Macmillan 2007.
- Bill McSweeney, Security, Identity and Interests. A Sociology of International Relations, Cambridge University Press 2004
- Max Weber, The three types of legitimate rule, “Berkeley Publications in Society and Institutions” 1958, vol. 4, No. 1.
- Charles Tilly, The Politics of Collective Violence, Cambridge University Press 2003

Term 2025L:

Term 2026L:

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 2105-EPE-L-D2SOCI in USOSweb