RSO-58306 Advanced Social Theory
Code last year: (CPT-55306)
Course
Credits 6.00
| Teaching method | Contact hours |
| Individual Paper | |
| Tutorial | 42 |
| Independent study |
| Course coordinator(s) | dr. ir. CEP Jansen |
| Lecturer(s) | dr. ir. CEP Jansen |
| dr. AJAM Schuurman | |
| prof. dr. ir. G Spaargaren | |
| dr. ir. JP Jongerden | |
| dr. S Kloppenburg | |
| Examiner(s) | dr. ir. CEP Jansen |
Language of instruction:
English
Assumed knowledge on:
RSO-10306 Sociology and ENP-22803 Theories and Themes: Sociology or equivalent courses; Social Science Bachelor; in case of doubt contact the course coordinator
Contents:
This course enables students to select an inspiring theoretical framework for social scientific research. The course consists of lectures and discussion groups on influential approaches and issues in social scientific theorizing. This is an advanced course, typically for highly motivated students who are not afraid for theoretical abstraction and close reading and intensive discussions of key texts in contemporary social theory. The course focusses on original texts from key authors (examples are Bourdieu, Collins, Foucault, Habermas, etc.), which help you to build a strong foundation in social theory. This advanced course is part of the WASS graduate programme aimed at students in the MSc programmes MME, MID, MDR and MCH.
Learning outcomes:
After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- distinguish and contrast the main arguments in key texts of important approaches in contemporary social scientific theory;
- distinguish and contrast the core themes of important approaches and debates in contemporary social scientific theory;
- assess the differences and similarities between these approaches;
- appraise a particular social scientific work to these approaches and debates;
- assess the opportunities and limitations of these approaches for doing research;
- use concepts and theories of at least two of these approaches to compose research questions for social scientific research.
Activities:
Intensive discussion groups in which students and teachers actively review and discuss key texts in social theory. Students write an assignment in which they show their ability to view a specific social scientific problem from different theoretical perspectives. Furthermore, students read texts, participate in discussions and present reviews of the key texts and defend their essay.
Examination:
- individual essay (60%);
- presentation and defence (30%);
- active preparation as expressed in submitted questions and comments (10%).
The first two component require a minimum of 5.5 to pass.
Literature:
C. Calhoun; [et al]. (eds), (2012). Contemporary sociological theory, Malden: Wiley-Blackwell. Selected additional readings (to be copied from master copies by the students).