Sociology

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Dr J Rasanayagam

Pre-requisites

Co-requisites

All other component courses of the M.Res. in Social Anthropology, Ethnology and Cultural History, barring SL5507 Approaches to Analysis.

Notes

Overview

The course comprises a programme of readings that will be devised in advance through consultation between student and supervisor, in light of the student’s intended research interests.

Structure

Personal supervision, averaging 2 hours per week throughout all teaching weeks of one half-session.

Assessment

One essay of 3,000 words

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

TBC

Pre-requisites

Normally, at least, a 2(i) degree in sociology, a social science discipline, a cognate discipline, or equivalent.

Overview

The course aims to give students an understanding of what constitutes core ways of conceptualising ‘globalization’ and ‘globality’. It considers the main theoretical paradigms for understanding these phenomena, covering ideas from sociology, international relations, political science, political economy, anthropology and other related fields. It reviews the major ways in which the social, cultural, political and economic dimensions of global affairs can be understood and related to each other. It also considers both the empirical history of globalization and globality, and how micro-level and macro-level phenomena can be understood and related to each other in light of concerns with global social change. The course in addition reviews the history of theories of globalization and globality, locating them in their historical and geographical contexts. Attempts to develop multi- and trans-disciplinary accounts of global affairs are also reviewed and interrogated.

Structure

1 one-hour lecture and 1 two-hour seminar per week

Assessment

100% continuous assessment

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr Debra Gimlin and Dr Marta Trzebiatowska

Pre-requisites

Normally, an Honours degree in social sciences or other acceptable fields (at a 2:1 standard or higher) from a recognised university.

Overview

- The body in feminist and sociological writings
- Approaches to embodies selfhood
- The body beautiful
- Consuming bodies
- The body and religion
- Objectified bodies
- Bodies in global culture
- Queer bodies
- The failed body
- Body narratives

Structure

One 3-hour seminar per week.

Assessment

One 3,000 word essay (40%) and one 4,000 word essay (60%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Chris Kollmeyer

Pre-requisites

Normally a 2(i) degree in sociology, a social science discipline, a cognate discipline, or equivalent.

Overview

The course aims to give students an understanding of the main debates and controversies as to the key substantive dimensions of globalization. It considers the economic, political, social and cultural aspects of globalization processes, investigating how each aspect may be conceptualised and investigated. Drawing on contributions from a range of disciplines, including sociology, international relations, anthropology and political science, it encompasses the theoretical and methodological issues thrown up by scholarly and other debates on these areas. In particular, it presents a range of empirical data related to the areas under consideration and considers how these data may be used for understanding globalization processes. The course also considers the various ways in which different aspects of globalization may be conceived of as relating to and affecting each other. Substantive themes covered include global capitalism, the global division of labour, global governance, the role of the nation-state, trans-societal social connections, and global cultural homogenisation and heterogenisation.

Structure

3 hours per week.

Assessment

100% Continuous Assessment

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Tony Glendinning

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in programme year 5 or above

Overview

The course covers quantitative approaches to sociological research (including design, sampling, administration, instruments and measures; formulation of hypotheses and operationalisation of concepts; and, access to secondary survey data sources). Quantitative approaches are illustrated by means of existing studies, using large-scale survey data sources, including cross-sectional, longitudinal and comparative data and statistical sources. The course covers the use of advanced statistical techniques for the analysis of sociological data (for example, multivariate techniques for categorical data). Analysis is undertaken by means of the statistical package SPSS for Windows. Assessment is by means of a research report, based on the analysis of a secondary data source, typically accessed by means of the ESRC Data Archive. It will normally be possible to link the course material closely to the student's research interests.

Structure

One three-hour seminar/workshop per week (to be arranged); total duration of 12 weeks (totalling 36 contact hours)

Assessment

100% continuous assessment

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Claire Wallace

Pre-requisites

Students are required to have a good first degree in social sciences or cognate discipline, usually a 2(i), or equivalent experience.

Overview

This course will consider the ways in which European societies have been shaped and changed, including factors such as migration, European social policiies, citizenship, work and family. It will critically assess key theories and concepts in looking at Europe, such as ideas of modernisation, social cohesion, identity and whether or not Europe can be studied as a series of types of scocieties or as one society. Participants will be encouraged to think about relevant contemporary issues such as population decline and xenophobia. It will look at some of the main social divisions and social relationships in Europe using a range of contemporary sources.

Structure

1 lecture and one tutorial per week.

Assessment

100% in-course assessment

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr Marysia Zalewski

Pre-requisites

Available only to students in programme year 5 or above.

Overview

- Close readings of classical and contemporary theories of the body (e.g. biological, feminist, queer, race)
- Comparison of classics and contemporary theories and analysis of the differences between theoretical approaches
- Moving theory 'to' practice in the local environment
- Working with theory to analyze varied forms of cultural body production (e.g. through films, museum exhibits, popular culture, advertising, the street)

Structure

3 hours per week.

Assessment

One 3,500 word essay (40%); one 4,000 word project (60%).

Credit Points

30

Course Coordinator

Dr Marysia Zalewski

Pre-requisites

N/A

Overview

- Theorising gender/sex 1
- Theorising of gender/sex 2
- Gender matters in the global political economy
- Human rights: sexual violence (Bosnia, Rwanda, Darfur)
- Human rights: trafficking
- Masculinity and militarisation 1
- Democarcy and citizenship 1
- Multiculturalism and feminism
- Course review

Structure

3 hour lecture/seminar per week for 12 weeks.

Assessment

Ahort paper (10%), essay (40%), project (50%).

Credit Points

60

Course Coordinator

Dr Marysia Zalewski

Pre-requisites

120 credits from the SO5013 and SO5516, research methods and one elective module.

Overview

Students who meet the necessary requirements will be allowed to proceed to the dissertation. Students will work with their supervisor to choose their research topic and work on the research design (broadly conceived) and research methodology and/or theoretical framework. Students will embark on independent research and periodically meet with their supervisor to discuss work in progress.

Structure

Assessment

Successful completion of 15,000 word dissertation.

Credit Points

60

Course Coordinator

Chris Kollmeyer

Pre-requisites

120 credits in the necessary courses in the MSc programme

Notes

Overview

Students who meet the necessary requirements proceed to the dissertation. Students select a topic in consultation with the degree convenor that explores in depth some aspect of the sociological dimensions of globalization. The dissertation is designed to allow students to extend an interest in some aspect of the degree and to have experience in formulating, designing and conducting their own social science research investigation. Students complete a 10-12 thousand-word dissertation under supervision.

Structure

Independent research under supervision

Assessment

10-12 thousand word dissertation worth 100%

Credit Points

60

Course Coordinator

Claire Wallace

Pre-requisites

120 credits in the necessary courses in the MSc programme

Notes

Overview

Students who meet the necessary requirements proceed to the dissertation. Students select a topic in consultation with the degree convenor that explores in depth some aspect of sociology. The dissertation is designed to allow students to extend an interest in some aspect of the degree and to have experience in formulating, designing and conducting their own social science research investigation. The dissertation can also be library-based on conceptual and theoretical issues. Students complete a 10-12 thousand-word dissertation under supervision.

Structure

Independent research under supervision

Assessment

10-12 thousand word dissertation worth 100%