Introduction in Sociology

obligatory courses

Blended learning

The aim of the course is to introduce students to basic sociological concepts, problems and research conceptions. The lectures are intended to prepare students for more advanced courses in sociology conducted at the Institute. Course credit is assigned on the basis of a written exam in the winter semester.

The class accompanies course lectures in Introduction to Sociology. Its aim is to introduce students to the basic concepts, problems and research conceptions of sociology in preparation for more advanced courses in sociology offered by the Institute of Sociology. The class helps students to learn the content presented at the lectures through reading and discussing relevant sources.

The goal of the lectures and classes comprising the course Introduction to Sociology is to introduce students to the basic concepts, problems and research conceptions of sociology. The course is intended to prepare students to more advanced courses in sociology offered by the Institute of Sociology. The lectures provide basic knowledge about classical and contemporary sociological theories. Participants are introduced to the leading ways of understanding and interpreting social phenomena used in sociology and to various theoretical perspectives

The lectures focus on presenting the complexity and plurality of research and theoretical perspectives in sociology. To this end, basic sociological concepts are re-constructed and the historical context of their development is discussed. An attempt is made to present the main ongoing disputes between particular theoretical approaches in the areas of analysis and interpretation of basic social phenomena, such as the state, the market, culture, etc.

The evolution of the sociological approach is shown against the background of the transformations of contemporary societies in order to illustrate the impact of non-scientific factors on the development of sociology and demonstrate how the discipline has coped with the key social problems since late 19th century. Analysis of particular social phenomena is coupled with the presentation of the areas where particular research approaches are used. Research methods preferred within particular research paradigms are also discussed.

The class accompanies course lectures in Introduction to Sociology. Its aim is to introduce students to the basic concepts, problems and research conceptions of sociology in preparation for more advanced courses in sociology offered by the Institute of Sociology. The class helps students to learn the content presented at the lectures through reading and discussing relevant sources.

The participants read texts by classical and contemporary sociologists. The central ideas and concepts as well as the historical origins of the basic analytical perspectives on particular social phenomena are presented and discussed. Participants also study the social and cultural factors affecting the development of sociology, discussing the main transformations of contemporary societies Since the end of the 19th century. The texts read for the class give an overview of major sociological literature, illustrating the evolution of sociological reflection on particular social phenomena

Giddens, Sociology

Materials provided by the teachers

Knows and understands basic sociological concepts

Has basic knowledge about social structures and selected social institutions, and their interrelations

Is aware of social differentiation and existing social inequalities, as well as their impact on the life of individuals and the functioning of social groups

Has basic knowledge about the tools and goals of social policy

Has basic knowledge about the types of social ties and the rules that govern them

Understands the social nature of relationships between individuals, social groups and social institutions

Has basic knowledge about the mechanisms of social group dynamics and interdependencies between groups and individuals

Has basic knowledge about cultural diversity of Poland and the modern world

Has basic knowledge of methods used in research on cultural diversity

Understands the specificity of sociological analysis

Has basic knowledge of major foreign, international and domestic sociological research

Has basic knowledge of the norms and rules governing social structures and institutions

Has basic knowledge about the processes forming the basis of social stability and change, and understands their nature

Is aware of the processes occurring in Polish and global society and their consequences for social attitudes and institutions

Has basic knowledge of the history of sociology as an academic discipline and its founders

Can use basic sociological terms and categories to analyze societies, particularly contemporary Polish society

Can use basic theoretical categories to describe social changes in modern societies

Can conduct a simple analysis of the consequences of the processes occurring in modern societies

Can comprehend a scientific text and identify its main theses and the author’s arguments, as well as discuss them

Credit and exam requirements:

• Full attendance (two absences allowed in a semester) reading all assigned texts and actively participating in class discussions;

• In course of each semester, participants are requires to pass two tests and write two essays on their readings;

• Term grades are awarded at the end of each semester, as a mean of the test, essay and participation grades;

• At the end of the course, in the summer semester, participants are requested to write a paper of 30,000-32,000 characters or 15-18 pages. The topic of the paper, related to the content of the course, is agreed with the course teacher at the end of the winter semester;

• The best two students in each group (who have very good grades) are exempt from the exam and receive the final grade ‘very good’.

When participating in class discussion students are expected to demonstrate the following:

• Knowledge, gained from reading the assigned texts and general erudition;

• Ability to argue for and against the positions presented in the discussion;

• Own opinion on the discussed social problems and their proposed solutions.

To pass a test the participants need to demonstrate knowledge acquired in the course as well as the ability to analyze, describe and compare social phenomena, as well as the analytical methods used to describe them.

During the semester two unexcused absences of a student are allowed. There may be no more than three consecutive absences.

In the event of an unsatisfactory grade, a student may proceed to final resit in a retake session.