Sociology with imagination 3700-AL-SW-qDP

The course is a theoretical and methodological introduction to sociology with an outline of the main research trends. The aim is to engage students in an independent and critical quest for knowledge and in building skills needed to analyse structures and processes in contemporary society. The course will involve mixed teaching methods: a classic seminar with elements of workshops supplemented with work within the e-learning platform (e-learning platform work will precede the actual classes, the aim being to focus the students’ interests and encourage them to work in a systematic way).
The source materials will be classical sociological texts as well as films, press articles and research reports.
The course comprises 10 thematic blocks, 4 of which are predetermined by the teacher:
1. As an introduction: what does sociology study? The basic notions of sociology and an explanation why they cannot be fully defined.
2. A little theory: the “theoretical oversupply” in sociology and how to deal with it.
3. A little methodology: how and why research is conducted in sociology and who needs it.
4. A little empirical knowledge: examples of classical sociological studies, from Durkheim to the present.

The other 6 thematic blocks will be chosen together with the students. During the course we may focus on the sociological approach to socialization, identity, family and sexuality, religion, politics and the state, globalization, culture, group processes, social politics, problems of race and ethnicity, gender, sports etc. Students will also be able to propose their own topics.