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An introduction to the major themes in contemporary sociology in a way that is relevant to New Zealand culture and society.
Soci 111 introduces you to the discipline of Sociology. Sociology explores people and society. It examines our social institutions; our families, the state, and social relationships like gender and ethnicity, to help make sense of how we both experience and interpret our rapidly changing world. As you can see from the lecture schedule, sociological interest in life is wide ranging. In Exploring Society the topics covered include: gender, sexuality, sport, food, families, animals, health, death, moral panic, consumerism, and everyday technologies like mobile phones and facebook. There are many sociologies. In this course, you will be introduced to a version that is concerned with understanding and explaining the different types of social relationships that constitute diverse social worlds, ranging from music and food to the welfare state and death. Sociologists use a variety of methods to gather information and analyse anything from major world events to seemingly mundane everyday practices. As you attend lectures and workshops in Soci 111 you will hopefully begin to grasp some of the excitement of this process of analysis. You will be involved as both participants and contributors in analysing some of the major trends and events of our time. You will be asked to make use of and extend the basic sociological method – asking questions – about taken-for-granted social worlds, activities and events. In the process, you will be introduced to critical ways of thinking, and we will encourage you to develop sociological imaginations. Such imaginations will allow you to make connections between personal experiences, and the social and historical contexts within which such experiences are produced. They will hopefully provoke you to raise questions that enable you to critically reflect on both the connections, and how you make sense of them. Whether you intend continuing in sociology or not, we hope you will find the course to be rewarding.
As a result of doing this course we hope that you will gain a greater appreciation of sociology as a discipline; that you will develop a good understanding of the scope and potential of the sociological endeavour; and that you will begin to lay a foundation of research, reading, reflection and writing skills that will stand you in good stead for involvement in further courses whether within the School of Social and Political Science or not.There are many sociologies. In this course, you are introduced to a version that focuses on understanding and explaining the different types of social relationships, activities and meanings that constitute our lives, ranging from sexuality, sport, work, death and religion. Sociologists use a variety of methods to gather information and analyse anything from major world events to seemingly mundane everyday practices. As you attend lectures and tutorials in Soci 111 you will begin to engage in sociological analysis. You will be involved as both participants and contributors in analysing some of the major trends and events of our time. You will be introduced to key sociological ideas and will use them to explore relationships, meanings, activities, events and taken-for-granted assumptions about social life. In the process, you will be introduced to critical ways of thinking, and develop your ‘sociological imagination’. This entails making connections between personal experiences and the social and historical contexts within which such experiences are produced. The course will enable you to reflect on these connections, and how you make sense of them. We hope you will find it intellectually challenging and personally rewarding.By the end of this course, you will: be able to appreciate Sociology as a disciplinehave a good understanding of the scope and potential of the sociological endeavourhave developed reading, writing and reflection skills that will stand you in good stead for involvement in further coursesbe able to think about issues that concern you from a sociological perspectivedemonstrate a familiarity with main topics in the discipline ( e.g. gender, crime, class etc)
For further information see Language, Social and Political Sciences Head of Department
Library portalLearn Course Reader Assignment Sheet Cover Plagiarism Statement Referencing for Sociology Using EndNote for referencing Writing guides for Sociology
Essay boxes are located on the ground floor of the Geography - Psychology building (car park entrance)
Domestic fee $619.00
International fee $2,688.00
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
For further information see Language, Social and Political Sciences .