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Introduction to Sociology
Study Course Description
Course Description Statuss:Approved
Course Description Version:8.00
Study Course Accepted:02.02.2024 12:26:17
| Study Course Information | |||||||||
| Course Code: | KSK_103 | LQF level: | Level 6 | ||||||
| Credit Points: | 2.00 | ECTS: | 3.00 | ||||||
| Branch of Science: | Sociology; Theory and History of Sociology | Target Audience: | Communication Science | ||||||
| Study Course Supervisor | |||||||||
| Course Supervisor: | Ieva Pakse | ||||||||
| Study Course Implementer | |||||||||
| Structural Unit: | Faculty of Social Sciences | ||||||||
| The Head of Structural Unit: | |||||||||
| Contacts: | Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf rsu[pnkts]lv | ||||||||
| Study Course Planning | |||||||||
| Full-Time - Semester No.1 | |||||||||
| Lectures (count) | 8 | Lecture Length (academic hours) | 2 | Total Contact Hours of Lectures | 16 | ||||
| Classes (count) | 4 | Class Length (academic hours) | 2 | Total Contact Hours of Classes | 8 | ||||
| Total Contact Hours | 24 | ||||||||
| Study course description | |||||||||
| Preliminary Knowledge: | None. | ||||||||
| Objective: | To develop students’ understanding of the essence of sociology, basic concepts of sociology, and social processes in society. | ||||||||
| Topic Layout (Full-Time) | |||||||||
| No. | Topic | Type of Implementation | Number | Venue | |||||
| 1 | Introduction. Sociology as a social science. Historical development of sociology. General theories of sociology. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 2 | Development of society, social changes, globalization. Modern society as a post-industrial, information and risk society. Impact of globalization and individualization processes on society. Social movements. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 3 | The main problems of youth socialization | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 4 | Culture and society. Cultural diversity as a reality of modern society. Values and norms. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 5 | Socialization: Process, Agents, Theories. Deviance and social control. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 6 | Social interaction. Social structure, status, roles, identity. Social groups and organizations. Social institutes. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 7 | Social inequality. Social stratification. Social mobility. Social exclusion and poverty. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 8 | Latvian society: sociodemographic characteristics. Population statistics and what do they tell us? | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 9 | Social institutes, their description in sociological theories. | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 10 | Social institutes in Latvia | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 11 | A sociological study. Quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis methods | Lectures | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| 12 | Development and discussion of the research project. | Classes | 1.00 | auditorium | |||||
| Assessment | |||||||||
| Unaided Work: | Studying required readings, preparation for seminars, practical assignments, tests, homework, report preparation. In order to evaluate the quality of the study course as a whole, the student must fill out the study course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal. | ||||||||
| Assessment Criteria: | Seminars / practical assignments and tests – 20%, homework – 10%, report – 20%, exam – 50%. | ||||||||
| Final Examination (Full-Time): | Exam (Written) | ||||||||
| Final Examination (Part-Time): | |||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | |||||||||
| Knowledge: | Students are able to define the basic concepts of sociology and sociological perspectives, are able to substantiate their different view on society, to discuss the essence of social institutions and their interconnectedness. | ||||||||
| Skills: | Students are able to choose and apply in practice an appropriate sociological perspective and critically evaluate and analyse social processes. | ||||||||
| Competencies: | Students orientate themselves in social processes and social reality, understand the influence of various social factors and culture on the lives of individuals, understand the diversity of contemporary social reality. | ||||||||
| Bibliography | |||||||||
| No. | Reference | ||||||||
| Required Reading | |||||||||
| 1 | Andersen M., Howard F. Taylor. (2001). Sociology. The essentials. Australia, Canada: Wadsworth. | ||||||||
| 2 | Calhoun C., Leight D., Keller S. (1997). Sociology. N.Y.: McGraw-Hill, Inc. | ||||||||
| 3 | Giddens A. (1997). Sociology. Polity Press. | ||||||||
| 4 | Laķis P. (2002). Socioloģija. Ievads socioloģijā. Lekciju kurss. Rīga: Zvaigzne ABC. | ||||||||
| 5 | Paula L., Korpa V. Socioloģija. Mācību līdzeklis. Jelgava: LLU SZF Socioloģijas katedra. | ||||||||
| Additional Reading | |||||||||
| 1 | Introduction to Sociology. Wikibooks. https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Introduction_to_Sociology | ||||||||
| 2 | Macionis, J. Sociology. 14 th ed. Pearson. 2012. | ||||||||
| 3 | Tisenkopfs T. (galv. red.) (2008). Socioloģijai Latvijā – 40. LU Raksti. 736. sējums. Socioloģija. | ||||||||
| 4 | Volkovs V. (2007). Socioloģijas teorijas. Daugavpils Universitātes Akadēmiskais apgāds "Saule". | ||||||||
| Other Information Sources | |||||||||
| 1 | Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology Online. | ||||||||
| 2 | International Sociological Association Website. | ||||||||
