The Sociological Imagination

Sociology as a discipline focuses on the relations that connect individuals, groups and institutions within societies. This module introduces you to the sociological 'cast of mind' and explores the specific contribution of sociology to understanding the past, present and possible future of modern societies. The module is divided into two parts: 'sociological thinking' and 'sociology in action'. The module begins by introducing you to the theories of Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim and Max Weber. We will examine how these thinkers analyse work, power and politics, as well as how they each seek to explain and remedy the social and psychological burdens placed on individuals by living in modern societies. The second part of the module introduces you to the ways in which sociologists combine theory and research to make sense of contemporary social life. In particular it will focus on how detailed, systematic observation and analysis of the everyday allows us to explore key questions such as the relationship between individuals and groups, inequality and conflict, and the causes and consequences of social change. These defining questions for the sociological imagination will be approached through sustained discussion of a central feature of society - gender difference.

Political Ideologies and Social Controversies

This module offers a grounding in major political ideologies and key political concepts that will form the foundation for future study in practical and theoretical aspects of social science. The module introduces students to the study of various political ideologies and helps them develop appropriate knowledge and understanding of key features of political ideas and behaviour. Through study of the core elements of ideologies students will have the opportunity to engage in basic comparative study and some degree of historical analysis. You can then utilise this understanding of key political ideologies in order to explore different political environments. In pursuit of this aim the module will reflect on forms of classical political thought and locate these in contemporary political settings.

Comparing Social Lives

This module introduces you to the value of a comparative perspective in sociological study. By drawing on historical, anthropological and cross-cultural studies, the module explores the material basis and socially-constructed nature of social institutions, practices and belief systems. In particular, the module aims to draw attention to the potential ethnocentricity of a perspective based on 'western' thinking. Students will draw from a range of subjects including; kinship and marriage, children and childhoods, health beliefs, settled and travelling cultures and ways of thinking about time, to investigate how and why different societies are organised in particular ways at certain times and in certain places. The module will focus on the similarities and differences found across societies and begin to explore the impact of processes of globalisation on these. It will encourage you to reflect on their own autobiographies to place themselves in a local, national and global context.

Researching Social Issues

This module introduces you the range of research instruments available to social scientists. The module explains the value of empirical research as a means to understand social issues. It does this through sustained consideration of one such issue: the policing of ethnic minorities. The module shows how police-minority relations can be analysed using a variety of methods including observation, experiment, quantitative surveys, official statistics, qualitative interviewing, ethnography, archive research, case studies and life histories. Via discussion of these approaches, you come to understand the potential contribution and limitations of each method, the practical issues around effective data gathering, sensitivity to cultural difference, and the ethical and political dimensions of the research process. Throughout the module emphasis is placed on giving you skills and knowledge that will enable you to locate, use and evaluate research findings appropriately.

Sociology of Globalisation

Media and Crime