Module
Title: SOCS
111 Introduction to Sociology
Credit
Value: 12
General
Objectives:
This course
introduces concepts, theories and methods used by sociologists to explain how
society works. A wide variety of issues will be explored: the foundations of
sociology, the foundation of society, social inequality, social institutions
and social change. The course explains how the invigorating point of view
brings the world to life in a new and constructive way. It explains the
scientific, interpretive, and critical orientations of the discipline and
illustrates research strategies with well known examples of sociological work.
The course provides students with the background to understand the ideas of
important thinkers-including Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx, Max Weber, etc. since
demography is an important aspect for study of sociology the basics of
demography will also be explored in this module. The main concepts, ideas and
theories of demography will be explored in this module.
Learning
Outcomes:
By the end of the
course, students will be able to:
- Develop
sociological imagination and link individual experiences with societal
relationships
- Look at the
social reality from a sociological point of view
- Explore the
discipline’s key issues, debates and controversies
- Analyze and
write a critical review on journal article.
- Critically
assess the strengths and weaknesses of each theoretical perspective.
- Learn the
limitations of extrapolating from their own experience and will be able to
articulate how the life experience of others may differ from their own.
- Know how race,
class, and/or gender intersect with other social categories to create a
variety of life experiences and influence the life chances of individuals.
- Articulate the
sources of social conflict and describe the relations of power in modern
society.
- Relate the
concepts and theories to their personal lives and be active learners
- Understand and
explain key concepts in demography such as mortality, fertility, sex
composition, sex and age structure, and literacy levels of a population
Learning
and teaching approach used:
Three lectures weekly
of 1 hour duration and two tutorials weekly of 1 hour duration. Students are
expected to have studied the prescribed readings and to address specific
questions for the tutorials. Tutorial participation will count toward the
tutorial participation component of the grade.
Students are
responsible for all material presented in lectures and tutorials, as well as
all required readings. If you cannot attend, you should make arrangements to
get notes from others in the class or tutorial. Learning techniques such as
group discussions, group work, and oral presentations will be used in the
course to enhance class participation. Videos and documentary films will be
used as per the requirement.
Assessment:
Continuous
Assessment: 40%
Class
Test (2): 10%
Assignment: 10%
Journal
review: 10%
Class participation: 5%
End of Session
Assessment: 60%
Presentation:
10%
Final
Exam: 50%
Subject
Matter:
- An introductory
course is expected to introduce students to the foundational knowledge of
a discipline. This course is no exception, and provides an introduction to
sociology as a discipline, perspective, and application. Particular
attention is devoted to those sociological concepts, theories, and methods
that advance a scientific study of social reality within societies that
are increasingly diverse, changing, and interconnected. The following
areas will be covered under this module;
- The foundations
of sociology: The sociological perspective ; Sociological investigation
- The foundations
of society: Culture, Society, Socialization, Social interaction in
everyday life, Groups and organizations, Deviance
- Social
inequality: Social stratification, Global stratification, Gender
stratification, Race and ethnicity, Aging and elderly
- Social
institutions: The economy and work, Family, Religion, Education, Health
and medicine
- Social change:
Population, urbanization, and the environment, Collective behaviour and
social movements, Social change, traditional, modern and post-modern
societies
- Some basic
demographics concepts and components of population change- (A) Fertility,
(B) Mortality, (C) Morbidity, (D) Migration, (E) Urbanization
- Fertility
levels, trends and differentials-proximate determinants and differentials
in fertility-biological, social and economic factors.
- Population
theories of fertility-Malthusian theory, Neo-Malthusian and Demographic
Transition theory.
- Sex and age
structure/ composition in the country; determinants of sex composition,
age structures of population in the country, changes in the age structure;
determinants of age structure; social and economic consequences of
age-structures of populations.
- World
populations, its size, growth and distribution by continents, regions and
developed and developing countries.
Textbook
Knuttila, K. M.
(2005). Introducing Sociology: A Critical Approach. 3rd Ed. Canada:
Oxford University Press.
Reading
list
Macionis, J. J. (2008).
Sociology. 12th Ed Pearson International Edition
U.N. 1973. The
Determinants and Consequences of Population Trends, Vol. 1. Populations
Studies No. 50, New York
Bogue, Donald, 1969. Principles
of Demography. New York, John Wiley & Sons.
Date: August, 2008.
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