Logo UAB
2021/2022

General Sociology

Code: 104771 ECTS Credits: 6
Degree Type Year Semester
2503868 Communication in Organisations FB 2 2
The proposed teaching and assessment methodology that appear in the guide may be subject to changes as a result of the restrictions to face-to-face class attendance imposed by the health authorities.

Contact

Name:
Sonia Parella Rubio
Email:
Sonia.Parella@uab.cat

Use of Languages

Principal working language:
catalan (cat)
Some groups entirely in English:
No
Some groups entirely in Catalan:
No
Some groups entirely in Spanish:
No

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites to take the course.

Objectives and Contextualisation

The objectives of the course are:

1) To offer an introduction to the sociological perspective, to its main topics of analysis and to the ideas and concepts of the classic authors

2) Analyse the main characteristics of the contemporary social structure, the trends of change and the main factors of inequality within the framework of the globalization process

3) Addressing contemporary social movements in the context of globalization and providing the necessary theoretical and conceptual framework

 

Competences

  • Display thorough knowledge of the contemporary world in its social, economic, political and cultural dimensions.
  • Students must be capable of applying their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and they should have building arguments and problem resolution skills within their area of study.
  • Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
  • Students must be capable of communicating information, ideas, problems and solutions to both specialised and non-specialised audiences.
  • Students must have and understand knowledge of an area of study built on the basis of general secondary education, and while it relies on some advanced textbooks it also includes some aspects coming from the forefront of its field of study.
  • Work in compliance with professional codes of conduct.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyse and describe the basic precepts of contemporary social structure and dynamics.
  2. Develop critical thinking skills and generate original ideas on the current social context.
  3. Distinguish and interpret the specific logic of the various contemporary social movements.
  4. Include scientific standpoints that differ from one's own in the analysis of social actors and movements.
  5. Interpret and discuss documents on the main theories of sociology.
  6. Interpret the characteristics of the knowledge society and the role played in it by the different social actors and movements.
  7. Plan and conduct academic studies in the field of sociology.
  8. Present a summary of the studies made, orally and in writing.
  9. Value the characteristics of the persons, groups or institutions that are actors of social change for reasons of ideology, race, gender, etc.

Content

Part I.The sociological perspective

The perspective and the sociological imagination. Social structure and inequality. The process of socialization. Social institutions. Personal and collective identities. Power, domination and social order. Hegemony and counter-hegemony. Social change. The birth of sociology and modernity. The classic authors: Marx, Durkheim, Weber, Simmel, Freud.

Part II. Globalization and Social Structure

Social classes. Gender, sexuality and family. Racism, ethnicity, migration. Intersectionality and social reproduction. Neoliberalism. The process of globalization. States, international institutions and multinational firms. Globalization and global sociology.

Part III.Contemporary social movements

The concept of social movement. Basic concepts. Movements and social change. Revolutions. Time, space and social movements. The role of new technologies. The crises of 2008 and 2020 and the social movements of our time: the Arab spring, the 15M and the protests against austerity in southern Europe, Occupy, Black Lives Matters, the new feminist movement and the movement against climate change ...

 

Methodology

The course will be based on master classes and class discussion of readings.

Attendance and participation in class discussions is an important aspect of the mechanics of the course.

The calendar will be available on the first day of class. Students will find all information on the Virtual Campus: the description of the activities, teaching materials, and any necessary information for the proper follow-up of the subject. In case of a change of teaching modality for health reasons, teachers will make readjustments in the schedule and methodologies.

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Activities

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Master classes 21.5 0.86 1, 2, 4, 5, 3, 6, 9
Type: Supervised      
Seminars and discussion 21.5 0.86 1, 2, 8, 4, 5, 3, 6, 9
Type: Autonomous      
External student work 105 4.2 1, 2, 8, 4, 5, 3, 6, 7, 9

Assessment

The proposed teaching methodology and evaluation activities may undergo some modifications depending on the health authorities' attendance restrictions.

a)Exam

The qualification criteria of the exam will be based on the understanding of the key theoretical concepts studied.

b)Coursework

Detailed information on the group coursework to be done by students will be provided at the beginning of the course. 

c)Participation

Participation of students in class discussions and debates on compulsory readings.

d)Revaluation

Students will be entitled to the revaluation of the subject. They should present a minimum of activities that equals two-thirds of the total grading. To have access to revaluation, the previous grades should be 3'5.

e)Plagiarism

The student who performs any irregularity (copy, plagiarism, identity theft...) will be qualified with 0 in this assignment or exam. In case there are several irregularities, the final grade of the subject will be 0.

Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Coursework 40% 0 0 1, 2, 8, 4, 5, 3, 6, 7, 9
Exam 50% 2 0.08 1, 4, 5, 3, 6, 9
Participation 10% 0 0 1, 2, 8, 4, 5, 3, 6, 9

Bibliography

Compulsory readings

At the beginning of the course, a dossier of compulsory readings will be available on the virtual campus.

 

General Bibliography

Aguilar, Salvador. 2001. Ordre i desordre, Barcelona: Hacer

Bottomore, Tom y Nisbet, Robert (eds.). 1988. Historia del análisis sociológico. Buenos Aires: Amorrortu

Castells, Manuel. 1997-8. La era de la información 3 vols Madrid: Alianza

Crompton, Rosemary. 1994. Clase y estratificación. Madrid: Tecnos.

Giddens, Anthony. 2009. Sociología (6a edició), Madrid: Alianza

Kerbo, Harold R. 1998. Estratificación social y desigualdad, Madrid: McGraw Hill

Martínez García José S. 2013. Estructura social y desigualdad en España, Madrid:Catarata.

Neveu, Erik. 2009. Sociología de los movimientos sociales. Barcelona: Hacer.

Sztompka, Piotr. 1993. Sociología del cambio social. Madrid: Alianza.

Tilly, Charles. 2009. Los movimientos sociales. Barcelona: Crítica.

Software

No applicable