Checking date: 09/05/2018


Course: 2018/2019

Foundations of Sociology
(12871)
International Foundation Program in Social Sciences and Humanities (Plan: 367 - Estudio: 84)


Coordinating teacher: SANCHEZ DOMINGUEZ, MARIA ISABEL

Department assigned to the subject:

Type: Compulsory
ECTS Credits: 3.0 ECTS

Course:
Semester:




Objectives
BASIC COMPETENCES CB1 Be able to show that they possess and comprehend facts and contents in an area of study which, based on a previous general secondary school level, have been extended to those included in advanced textbooks and in some aspects proceed from the most advanced studies in this area. CB2 ¿Be able to show that they have learned how to apply their knowledge professionally to their future jobs or tasks and that they possess the competences needed to develop and defend arguments and solve problems in that area of study. CB3- Be able to show that they are capable of collecting and interpreting the relevant data (normally within their area of study) needed for formulating judgments which require critical thought on social, scientific and ethical topics of relevance. CB4- Be able to show that they are able to transmit information, ideas, problems and solutions both to specialized and non-specialized publics. CB5- Be able to show that they have developed the learning skills required to perform further studies with a high degree of self-dependence. GENERAL COMPETENCES CG1- Understand social, economic and political realities from a comparative perspective. CG2- Be able to approximate and analyze the intrinsic values contained in equal opportunities, multi-cultural society, political ideological and cultural pluralism, human rights, and the international community. CG3- Know quantitative and qualitative research techniques and possess the ability to choose which is most adequate to apply in the field of Social Sciences. CG4- Be able to manage information: identify, organize and analyze relevant information critically and systematically within the context of international relations. CG6- Be able to apply scientific method to the economic, social and political questions of a global society; be able to formulate problems in this context, identify a possible explication or solution, and a method to contrast them by sensibly interpreting the data. OVERLAPPING COMPETENCES CT1- Acquire the capacity to communicate knowledge in oral and written form, both to specialized and to non-specialized publics. CT2- Acquire the capacity to establish good interpersonal communication and to work both in interdisciplinary and international teams. CT3- Acquire the capacity to organize and plan workloads, taking correct decisions based on the available information, collecting and interpreting relevant data in order to provide assessments in that area of study. CT4- Develop the motivation and capacity to perform independent continuous learning for life, with an endowment to adapt to change and new situations. SPECIFIC COMPETENCES CE1- Be familiar with the principal sociological theories. Be capable of analyzing and comparing contemporary societies. CE2- Be familiar with and understand the processes of social, cultural, economic and political change in society. CE6- Understand the socio-political impact of religions and cultures in historical perspective. CE7- Understand the main dynamics which generate inequality and its consequences, and comprehend the principles on which equal opportunity policies are based. CE9- Be familiar with and comprehend the relevance of technological change for economic and social development. CE10- Be able to discern the differentiating elements in international problems in accordance to the development stages of a country. CE11- Be able to critically relate present and past events and processes. CE12- Be able to formulate and solve basic economic, social, political problems in an international context. CE16- Be able to carry out case studies and apply comparative method to analyze institutions, processes and policies in different countries. LEARNING OUTCOMES (1) Provide a comprehensive introduction to sociology as a social science subject; this includes the contribution of key authors and an understanding of the main perspectives and themes in sociological research (a selection): gender, international migrations and criminology (2) Consider ways in which theoretical and conceptual knowledge can be applied to the study of social phenomena. (3) Develop analytical skills to develop critical thinking and the development of arguments based on the reality of the world that surrounds us.
Description of contents: programme
Introduction to sociology: origins, evolution and current characteristics. Research methods in social sciences. Inequality and social stratification: the nature of social inequalities and stratification; the main sources of social inequality: social class, gender and ethnicity; the prevalence and persistence of global inequality and poverty. Gender and Sexuality: sex vs gender; gender and inequality; gender and socialization; gender and social stratification; Feminism. International Migration: main concepts that are used in the study of international migrations, as well as the motivations of immigrants and the implications that such movement has for the world. Criminology: Main explanatory frameworks of crime, social and global patterns of crime; the growth of global crime; the changing nature of social control.
Assessment System
Basic Bibliography
  • John J. Macionis y Ken Plummer. Sociology. Pearson. 2012

The course syllabus may change due academic events or other reasons.