Society and Social Change
A.Y. 2024/2025
Learning objectives
The overall objectives of the course consist in learning sociology's main concepts and theoretical-interpretive paradigms applied to its most relevant fields of investigation. First, the specificity of the sociological perspective as scientific knowledge (theoretical perspectives, methods, and techniques of social research) will be clarified. Students will then become familiar with the discipline's various fields of investigation (economic and labor market sociology, politics, the territorial dimension of social phenomena, family, school and religion, the media). On a weekly basis, throughout the course, exercises will be proposed aimed at promoting the development of soft skills (e.g., teamwork, argumentative skills, and public speaking). Particularly, attention will be paid to students' ability to understand and analyse the progress of the scientific debate on issues pertaining to the topics covered during the course, as well as to appreciate and distinguish the methodological approaches (qualitative or quantitative) used by the various proposed empirical research.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students should have understood and acquired sociology's basic vocabulary, together with the knowledge concerning its main authors and its prevailing theoretical perspectives; they should have acquired the ability to distinguish between common sense assumptions and scientific knowledge; they should have developed the necessary skills to carry out a critical review of the scientific literature; they also should have developed autonomous analytical and judgment skills with reference to the main dynamics and processes characterizing contemporary societies, being therefore capable of consciously positioning themselves within the existing academic debate.
Students should have acquired the ability to autonomously apply the acquired knowledge to the analysis of ongoing processes in contemporary societies, also from a historical-comparative point of view.
Finally, students should have become familiar with the most relevant databases produced by the main national and international bodies (Istat, Eurostat, OECD), but also with the use of ad hoc software for the creation and administration of questionnaires, in order to develop, in the future, independent paths of research and study in the field.
Students should have acquired the ability to autonomously apply the acquired knowledge to the analysis of ongoing processes in contemporary societies, also from a historical-comparative point of view.
Finally, students should have become familiar with the most relevant databases produced by the main national and international bodies (Istat, Eurostat, OECD), but also with the use of ad hoc software for the creation and administration of questionnaires, in order to develop, in the future, independent paths of research and study in the field.
Lesson period: Second trimester
Assessment methods: Esame
Assessment result: voto verbalizzato in trentesimi
Single course
This course can be attended as a single course.
Course syllabus and organization
Single session
Responsible
Lesson period
Second trimester
Course syllabus
The course is structured into three modules.
In Module 1, the instructor will provide preliminary notions aimed at clarifying the specificity of the sociological perspective as scientific knowledge (including paradigms, theories, methods, and techniques of social research). Students will be introduced to major fields of sociological inquiry, starting with economic sociology and labor market analysis. Various sociological approaches to the study of inequality and social stratification will be discussed, focusing on the analysis of social classes/strata and social mobility phenomena. This will be followed by sociology of education and the study of educational systems. Relevant forms of inequality and social diversity (gender and sexual orientation, age, race and ethnicity) will also be addressed. The course will then cover the study of major social institutions, including family, religious life, politics, bureaucratic organizations, and networks. The role of media in society will be analyzed, and students will be introduced to sociology of deviance and crime. Finally, reflections on the limits and perspectives of sociological discipline as the study of national societies will be considered in light of increasing processes of supranational integration and the emergence of institutions on a global scale.
In Module 2, the instructor will delve into a comparative historical analysis of a topic of particular relevance covered during the course.
In Module 3, with support from a tutor, the instructor will guide students through exercises aimed at developing and strengthening specific cross-cutting competencies. Students will engage in group work to prepare for the construction, administration, and analysis of a questionnaire using specialized software. They will also learn to independently locate and utilize specific sources and databases for the analysis of social phenomena. Tools will be provided to reconstruct scientific debates on specific topics, and students will learn to support their arguments through presentations and classroom debates.
Further details will be made available in the weeks leading up to the course on the MyAriel platform.
In Module 1, the instructor will provide preliminary notions aimed at clarifying the specificity of the sociological perspective as scientific knowledge (including paradigms, theories, methods, and techniques of social research). Students will be introduced to major fields of sociological inquiry, starting with economic sociology and labor market analysis. Various sociological approaches to the study of inequality and social stratification will be discussed, focusing on the analysis of social classes/strata and social mobility phenomena. This will be followed by sociology of education and the study of educational systems. Relevant forms of inequality and social diversity (gender and sexual orientation, age, race and ethnicity) will also be addressed. The course will then cover the study of major social institutions, including family, religious life, politics, bureaucratic organizations, and networks. The role of media in society will be analyzed, and students will be introduced to sociology of deviance and crime. Finally, reflections on the limits and perspectives of sociological discipline as the study of national societies will be considered in light of increasing processes of supranational integration and the emergence of institutions on a global scale.
In Module 2, the instructor will delve into a comparative historical analysis of a topic of particular relevance covered during the course.
In Module 3, with support from a tutor, the instructor will guide students through exercises aimed at developing and strengthening specific cross-cutting competencies. Students will engage in group work to prepare for the construction, administration, and analysis of a questionnaire using specialized software. They will also learn to independently locate and utilize specific sources and databases for the analysis of social phenomena. Tools will be provided to reconstruct scientific debates on specific topics, and students will learn to support their arguments through presentations and classroom debates.
Further details will be made available in the weeks leading up to the course on the MyAriel platform.
Prerequisites for admission
As this is a first-year (first trimester) course, there are no prerequisites other than those required for admission to the degree program. However, a solid understanding of general knowledge, especially in current events and 20th-century history, can be beneficial for effectively contextualizing the course content.
Teaching methods
The course includes both lectures supported by slides and moments of active participation from students. Participants will be encouraged to creatively apply the concepts and perspectives learned from the textbooks to social phenomena described in news articles, in-depth essays, and quantitative data provided by the instructor. Attendance is not mandatory but is highly recommended.
Teaching Resources
For students attending the course:
Anthony Giddens, Philip W. Sutton, Fondamenti di sociologia (2022, sesta edizione), Il Mulino
Piketty T., (2021), Una breve storia dell'uguaglianza, La Nave di Teseo.
Slides and other materials for attending students available on the MyAriel platform.
For students non attending the course:
Anthony Giddens, Philip W. Sutton, Fondamenti di sociologia (2022, sesta edizione), Il Mulino
Piketty T., (2021), Una breve storia dell'uguaglianza, La Nave di Teseo.
Anthony Giddens, Philip W. Sutton, Fondamenti di sociologia (2022, sesta edizione), Il Mulino
Piketty T., (2021), Una breve storia dell'uguaglianza, La Nave di Teseo.
Slides and other materials for attending students available on the MyAriel platform.
For students non attending the course:
Anthony Giddens, Philip W. Sutton, Fondamenti di sociologia (2022, sesta edizione), Il Mulino
Piketty T., (2021), Una breve storia dell'uguaglianza, La Nave di Teseo.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Attending students can take partial written exams and participate in a series of exercises during the course. These exams consist of open-ended questions on the content covered in textbooks and lectures. For non-attending students and those who did not pass the partial exams (or declined their results), written and oral exams are available.
These assessments evaluate the students' understanding of the course content, their proficiency in using specialized vocabulary, and the clarity and depth of their responses. The students' ability to critically analyze readings and data, applying the concepts and theories discussed in class and/or in the textbooks, will also be assessed to gauge their independent judgment.
These assessments evaluate the students' understanding of the course content, their proficiency in using specialized vocabulary, and the clarity and depth of their responses. The students' ability to critically analyze readings and data, applying the concepts and theories discussed in class and/or in the textbooks, will also be assessed to gauge their independent judgment.
SPS/07 - GENERAL SOCIOLOGY - University credits: 12
Lessons: 80 hours
Professor:
Bonizzoni Paola
Shifts:
Turno
Professor:
Bonizzoni PaolaProfessor(s)