The course aims to give students tools to understand and master the backgroung knowledge that constitute the theoretical and methodological heritage of sociological knowledge, in this way offering explications to the great questions of our present.

Course topics:

1. Introduction. Sociology in the global world. What is sociology? The historical and social context of sociology. From modern to post-modern society. The challenges and hopes of sociology.

2. Theoretical perspectives. Foundations of sociological thought. The different theories of sociology. The common ground of sociology: culture, structure and power.

3. Sociology as an empirical science: social research. The process of social research. Scientific theory and method. The main methodological approaches. Social research in practice. Spatio-temporal coordinates of social research.

4. Culture, institutions and social processes. Defining culture. Elements of culture. Culture, ideology and power. Cultural diversity. The sociology of religion. Religion in the global context.

5. Power, social action and structures. Understanding social structure. Interaction at the microsociological level. Social structure at the mesosociological level. Social structure at the macrosociological level. How structures change: social action. Power. Understanding the different forms of power. Power in everyday life. Power and social relations. The economic, political and cultural uses of power. Power and politics.

6. Social interactions, groups and socialization processes. Culture and social interaction. Formalizing structure: groups and organizations. Power in groups and organizations. Socialization and the agents of socialization. Socialization, power and the social self.

7. Migration and ethnicity. Migration movements. The role of culture: inventing ethnicity and race. Social structure and power in racial and ethnic groups. Culture, social structure and power: explaining ethnic and racial inequality. Multiculturalism and interculturalism.

8. Gender and sexuality. Biology and culture: sex and gender. Culture, socialization and gender. Culture, power and gender inequalities. Sexuality. Countering inequalities based on gender and sexual identity.

9. Stratification and inequality in the age of globalization. Structural inequality: systems of stratification. Stratification systems of pre-modern orgin. Systems of inequality in modernity: social classes. Stickiness and fluidity of class structures. The welfare state. Class structure in contemporary societies. Power and global inequalities. Explain global inequalities.

10. Media and consumer society. A sociological approach to the study of media. The structure of the media. The explosive growth of the media. Power and the media. The impact of technology on society. Consumerist culture.

11. Deviance. Defining deviance. The role of deviance in social structures. Explaining deviance. Culture and deviance. Power and deviance. Social control and deviance.

12. Social change, globalization and social movements. The nature of structural and cultural change. Globalization as social change. A particular kind of supranational integration: the European Union and the process of Europeanization. The power of social movements.

No one.

It is expected that students will acquire:
1. knowledge and understanding: mastery of basic knowledge about the general sociology, with particular reference to its constituent elements (problems and methods) in relation with other social sciences.
The students will attain these basic knowledge: by participating in lessons and through the analytical study of the texts proposed by the teacher and discussed in the classroom.
2. Applying knowledge and understanding: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the concepts and theories provided by the course; developing new insights, both from a theoretical and empirical point of view.
To be achieved through classroom discussions, interacting with the teacher, reading texts.
3. Making judgements: critical reflection on themes, topics, texts presented.
This capability will mature in the interaction in the classroom, with the teacher and with fellow students, in reading essays, articles, scientific papers.
4. Communication skills: the ability to communicate their knowledge in a clear and correct manner.
Outcomes to be achieved by discussions in the classroom, interacting actively during lectures, workshops, seminars, asking and answering questions, and also through written contributions.  
5. Learning Skills: methods of analysis of the problems, independent judgment. Skills to be acquired primarily discussing with other students and with the teacher the themes of the course. Knowledge of the study materials will offer a greater capacity for further learning. The teacher in the course will encourage the acquisition of such skills, which will be evaluated during the exam.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

Frontal lessons. contextual study, in all the parts shown, of the course texts and materials provided by the teacher. Explanation of the best use of the work materials uploaded by the teacher in the Moodle platform.

Attendance

No one.

Course books

- D. Croteau, Sociologia generale. Teorie, metodo, concetti, McGraw Hill, Milano 2022.

Assessment

The expected learning outcomes will be evaluated throug a written test that includes three open questions. The time available to answer the questions is 1 hour and 30 minutes.
The evaluation criteria are: the level of mastery of knowledge, the degree of articulation of the answer, and the acquisition of cultural foundations suitable for developing critical evaluation skills. 
Each of the criteria is evaluated on the basis of a four-level value/judgement scale. Particular weight is assigned to the first two criteria.
The grade for the written test is expressed in thirtieths.

Disabilità e DSA

Le studentesse e gli studenti che hanno registrato la certificazione di disabilità o la certificazione di DSA presso l'Ufficio Inclusione e diritto allo studio, possono chiedere di utilizzare le mappe concettuali (per parole chiave) durante la prova di esame.

A tal fine, è necessario inviare le mappe, due settimane prima dell’appello di esame, alla o al docente del corso, che ne verificherà la coerenza con le indicazioni delle linee guida di ateneo e potrà chiederne la modifica.

Teaching

Individual study of the course program in all its part.

Attendance

Not required.

Course books

- D. Croteau, Sociologia generale. Teorie, metodo, concetti, McGraw Hill, Milano 2022.

Assessment

The expected learning outcomes will be evaluated throug a written test that includes three open questions. The time available to answer the questions is 1 hour and 30 minutes.
The evaluation criteria are: the level of mastery of knowledge, the degree of articulation of the answer, and the acquisition of cultural foundations suitable for developing critical evaluation skills. 
Each of the criteria is evaluated on the basis of a four-level value/judgement scale. Particular weight is assigned to the first two criteria.
The grade for the written test is expressed in thirtieths.

Disabilità e DSA

Le studentesse e gli studenti che hanno registrato la certificazione di disabilità o la certificazione di DSA presso l'Ufficio Inclusione e diritto allo studio, possono chiedere di utilizzare le mappe concettuali (per parole chiave) durante la prova di esame.

A tal fine, è necessario inviare le mappe, due settimane prima dell’appello di esame, alla o al docente del corso, che ne verificherà la coerenza con le indicazioni delle linee guida di ateneo e potrà chiederne la modifica.

Through the Moodle platform  will be made available to students materials to allow them to put in context the social and legal changes that will be covered in the course. 
The teaching material made available by the lecturer can be found, together with other supporting activities, inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it 
The teaching material and specific communications from the lecturer can be found, together with other supporting activities, inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.i