SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES - WORKING GROUP

This course offers an introduction to sociology and to sociological way(s) of thinking. It is a fundamental course of the program Science of society and Social work as it contributes to a number of key educational aims of the program.
With respect to knowledge and understanding, the course supports the acquisition of:
- knowledge and understanding of terminology and key concepts of sociological theory;
- knowledge and understanding of the main theoretical perspectives within sociology, also in relation to the other social sciences;
- knowledge and understanding of the main topics and problems that constitute the object of contemporary social sociences, froma sociological perspective;
Concerning the use of knowledge and understanding, the course develops the skills of:
- critically analyzing problems and situations with respect to fondamental dimensions of inequality, cohesion, interdependence and social interaction;
- recognizing paradigms and theoreical approaches in political/policy discourses;
- reflecting on the imporntance of one own's values and postions in social relations within the analysis of a problem or issue.

At the end of the course the students:

1. wil have knowledge and understading of
- sociological key terms and concepts.
- the main theoretical perspectives in sociology

2. will be able to:
- use an appropriate sociological terminology
- illustrate a situation, a problem, a policy proposal from a specific theoretical perspective
- recognize a theoretical perspective within a political or policy discourse.
- compare different theoretical perspectives looking at the same social, politicl or policy problem.

3. Will be able to critically analyse:
- how social, political or policy problems are being defined
- how social, political or policy problems are being faced

4. ill be able to:
- summarize in writing the content of the most important sociological concepts and theories and refer to their applications to daily life and to the analysis of social and political phenomena, as well as of professional experiences.
- summarize and present orally, in a critical and respectuful manner, one own's observations and ideas with respect to discussion topics and questioninng proposed in class.
- summarize and present orally the results of groups discussions.

5. will be able to
- consult, study and critically summarize the contents of the course bibliography:
- connect the discussion topics proposed during the course (as well as daily life experience, readings etc.) with the course conceptual contents

No specific previous knowledge required

What is society and what makes it possible? What are social inequalities and where do the come from? What is the role of conflict in social life? What kind of meaning do daily social interactions have? What is cutlure, what are social institutions? How does society change?
The course introduces the students to these and other key questions and issues that are at teh core of the sociological way of thinking, as well as to the central concepts and theoretical perspective that sociologists have developed to address those very questions.
The aim of the course is to provide the students with a terminology and a conceptual toolkit for the analysis of social life, in relation also to individual experiences.
The introductiona and discussion of the contribution of both classical and more contemporary thinkers will highlight both what it means to "think sociologically" and how varied the field of sociology is.
Theorical and conceptual discussions will go along with the analysis of relevant social phenomena within contemporary societies.

Literature of the course for all (attending and non attending students)

1) Basic text
Jedlowski P., 2009, Il mondo in questione. Introduzione alla storia del pensiero sociologico. Roma, Carocci

2) Excerpts of original texts (list will follow on Moodle)

Attending students:
- 80% - Written exam with open questions aimed at assessing knowledge and understanding as well as the ability to recognize and apply concepts and theories and to critically analyze issues and problems
- 20% - Oral presentations, written assignments, participation to discussions

Non attending students:
- 80% - Written exam with open questions aimed at assessing knowledge and understanding as well as the ability to recognize and apply concepts and theories and to critically analyze issues and problems
- 20% - Oral exam

The course consists of lectures and group meetings.
During groups meetings the teacher will propose exercices, discussion topics, questionings that are expected to be prepared at home (individually or in groups). The students will report on these during class. Attendance and active partcipation are highly recommended.

Only students regulary attending the course will be considered as "attenting students".

The course materials (course organization; literature, exercises and discussion topics, powerpoint presentations) are available on Moodle.

Students are considered to be "attending" if:
- they attended at least 80% of the lectures
- they attended at least 80% of the group meetings
- they contributed to class discussions and exercises and they handed in assignments in time.
All other students are considered "non attending"

written and oral

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Poverty and inequalities" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development