| Unit name | Sociology in a Global Context |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SOCI10008 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | C/4 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24) |
| Unit director | Dr. Sealy |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
none |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
none |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
none |
| School/department | School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
The contemporary world is characterised by both interconnectedness and disconnectedness. Some people, ideas, cultures and capital move between different parts of the world with ease, speed and frequency: companies exist in multiple countries simultaneously; new technologies enable us to connect with people all around the world; environmental change creates new challenges to be faced by all. Other people, ideas, and cultures are entrenched in their own isolation, shut off from these global flows: people find comfort in local attachments, political space is increasingly fragmented, and cultural boundaries reinforced. How do academics understand these experiences, and how might they challenge some of the core assumptions of sociology? This unit examines some of the key ways in which the contemporary world is evolving and sociological understandings of these. By investigating a variety of specific social spheres, the unit considers the both the potential and limits of globalisation.
How does this unit fit into your programme of study?
The unit is an option for 1st year Sociology undergraduates and some joint programmes. The unit gives students an awareness of global trends outside of the UK and explore and critically assess the way people, ideas, and capital are connected, or not connected, with respect to specific social phenomena. On successful completion of the unit students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of global trends and international sociology, and connect theories of globalisation to concrete sociological issues happening in the world.
An overview of content
This unit covers understanding globalisation and its sometimes contradictory effects; understanding debates about sociology as a discipline in global context; understanding specific sociological topics and issues from a global perspective.
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit?
Students will be able to critically reflect on how different aspects of their lives are connected to broader global trends and debates.
Learning Outcomes
Distinct from what students will learn. Keep them direct, student-facing and concise – no more than three or four. Please see information on how to help students develop their skills. Highlight any features which prepare students for employability or other skills which students may deploy after graduation. See guidance on producing learning outcomes
The unit will be taught through:
Lectures: these outline and overview the main subject content for each week and provide detailed examples. They set the context for the essential readings and seminar discussions.
Essential readings: These cover both theoretical approaches and empirical studies which help orient students to important debates/approaches in the literature and set up discussions in seminars of key issues.
Seminars: these provide the opportunity for students to critically engage with the ideas and material of each week, to reflect on and raise questions about the readings and issues.
Recommended asynchronous resources: These provide students with the opportunity to consolidate and extend their learning, as well as expose them to a wider set of input materials (films/documentaries/presentations/reports/policy docs/news etc.)
Further readings: extensive further readings are also provided to help student find resources for extending their learning and to help with preparation for assessments.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
Weekly tasks and activities such as seminar discussions and asynchronous activities will prepare the students as they will be required to critically engage with course material, literature etc. There will also be time spent discussing the summative questions, expectations around them, ways of approaching them and so on, in line with School marking criteria.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
1000 word blog (25%) (mid-term) - ILOs 1 and 3. The blog form allows students to critically engage with some of the main conceptual points of orientation with the unit in a form that is different from the summative, and helps develop skills writing for different audiences, but which is also directly relevant to the form of the summative and so helps practice some of the important skills required and get feedback.
2000 word essay (75%) (end of term) - ILOs 2, 3 and 4. Students apply learning from the first part of the unit to a specific sociological area or issue from the second part of the unit.
When assessment does not go to plan
You will normally complete reassessments in the same formats as those outlined above. You will be required to complete a different assessment question.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SOCI10008).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
