The course targets students with a basic knowledge of sociological theory and aims at providing a comprehensive and in-depth knowledge of theoretical approaches, analytical tools and methods for the analysis of social change. Social change, understood as a change in the deep structure of social systems, is the mark of our contemporaneity and the course proposes to provide students with the skills to be able to observe the rapid changes taking place and to be able to prepare solid interpretative frameworks that allow at the same time to define explanatory hypotheses of the transformation mechanisms and to accompany the definition of scenarios for their prefiguration and strategies for their accompaniment. The course therefore balances the theoretical component with the applicative and methodological one in an alternation of lectures and workshop activities aimed at consolidating in participants the ability to describe, analyse and imagine social change. Two areas of application of both analytical tools and methods are proposed to participants: migration and technological innovation. Both of these areas are widely recognised in the literature as two of the main drivers of social change and emerge as particularly topical in the context of the multiple and interacting dynamics of transition (ecological, digital and social) that characterise contemporary European society.

The course is structured into two theoretical-practical modules in which the theoretical and methodological tools acquired in the theoretical part will be applied to specific areas of research and inquiry (migration and technological innovation) and a final exercise to the setting of which the last week of the course will be devoted

Module 1 - Understanding social change

Thoery:
- construction of a conceptual glossary to clarify or at least share in the context of the training the meaning of some basic terms of the discourse on social change (e.g., transfromation , social change and evolution, drivers and determinants, megatrends ... )
- an overview of sociological theories of social change
Practice: migration effect and driver of social change.
  
Module 2 - Tools for thinking about change

Theory: two approaches to analyzing and representing pathways of social change and mutation are introduced
- the Theory of Change with particular reference to the consideration of public policy as change
- the exploration of possible futures: theoretical premises and foresight methods  
Practice: technological innovation and digital transition 

Basics of Sociological Theory are highly recommended 

- Applied knowledge and understanding: The course aims to introduce students to the main conceptual tools and methods of the sociology of social change with particular attention to the implications on the sustainability of the contemporary socio-economic model. The course is designed in such a way as to combine a solid theoretical preparation with the possibility of acquiring the practice of sociological territorial analysis through in-depth thematic studies and exercises.     

- Autonomy of judgement: students are expected to develop the ability to critically analyse the phenomena discussed in class through the integrated use of the conceptual tools presented in class. The ability to connect the different concepts in order to compose an effective analytical framework is indeed crucial for the reading of complex territorial phenomena     

- Communication skills: students will be required to train their written and oral exposition skills through the opportunities for structured discussion in the classroom and in the preparation and presentation of the final paper. 

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

Attendance

At least 3/4 lectures

Course books

A) For students attending and opting for the preparation of the final paper
slides and materials uploaded on on Moodle during the course

B) For students attending who decide not to prepare the final paper:

- Boudon R. (1984) Il posto del disordine. Critica delle teorie del mutamento sociale, Il Mulino

- Chapter 1 - La logica di distribuzione della ricchezza e del rischio e Part III - Modernizzazione riflessiva: la generalizzazione della scienza de della politica in Beck U. (2000) La società del rischio. Verso una nuova modernità, Carocci

- Slides and materials uploaded by the professor on Moodle during the course

Assessment

A) For attending students who opt to prepare the final paper: 
Presentation and discussion of the final paper.
Students will be required to illustrate the work making use of the analytical tools acquired during the course, and the lecturer reserves the right to check knowledge of the materials shared on Moodle .

B) For attending students who decide not to prepare the final paper:

Assessment of the proper learning and understanding of readings (text and materials shared on Moodle) and assessment of the ability to argument and create links among concepts. 

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Course books

- Boudon R. (1984) Il posto del disordine. Critica delle teorie del mutamento sociale, Il Mulino

- Beck U. (2000) La società del rischio. Verso una nuova modernità, Carocci

- Slides and materials uploaded by the professor on Moodle during the course

Assessment

Assessment of the proper learning and understanding of readings (text and materials shared on Moodle) and assessment of the ability to argument and create links among concepts.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.