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This course engages with a range of classical and contemporary social theories dealing with the complexity of the social and everyday life. Even though social theories aim to provide a general interpretation of the social forces that have shaped the modern, contemporary world; we use them every day in informal ways. This course focuses on how social theorists have set out to make sense of the world. Students will be introduced to a selection of theorists and perspectives in an approachable manner and use material that is relevant to our contemporary social world. This course is compulsory for the Sociology major.
Soci 201 Social theory for contemporary life is a required course in the Sociology Major. The theme of this course is “what is society?” The course introduces you to a selection of sociological theorists and their attempts to answer – or not answer- this question. The material spans three centuries (that’s how long sociology has been around!). This course focuses on how social theorists have set out to make sense of the world. Students will be introduced to a selection of theorists and perspectives in an approachable manner and use material that is relevant to our contemporary social world. Soci 201 and Sociology’s “four pillars”. Four pillars underpin and synthesis all the teaching in the sociology curriculum. They are pillar one: Theory and Investigation; pillar two: Bodies, technologies and identities; pillar three: Time and Place; pillar four: Controversies and Control. In achieving competency in the four identified areas, a firm grounding in the key domains of sociology will be achieved by graduating students.Social Theory for Contemporary life comes under pillar one, theory and investigation. Learning the fundamentals of sociological theory is essential to the discipline and central to any degree in sociology and social science in general. In providing an overview of the development of social theory across three centuries it also contributes to pillar three, Time and Place. In terms of Sociology’s Graduate profile, it directly connects to learning outcome 1: developing skills in critical enquiry & 2 developing skills in analysis. It more generally meets other teaching objectives 3: developing research skills and 6: developing skills in writing and scholarship. Soci 201 therefore makes a core contribution the graduate profile Graduate Profile
By the end of the course, students will be able to:Negotiate between the different arguments proposed by social theorists.Engage in reflexive thinking about theorizing and the discipline of sociology.Understand the relevance of contemporary social theory for substantive problems of social and political analysis.Possess an understanding of the historical development of social theory, from the 19th century to the 21st century.
15 points of 100 level SOCI with B grade or better; or 30 points of 100 level SOCI; or students without 100 level SOCI but with a B average or better in 60 points in related subjects may enter the course with the approval of the Head of Department.
SOCI301, SOCI393 (2013).
Ruth McManus
Seidman, Steven; Contested knowledge : social theory today ; 4th ed; Blackwell Pub, 2008.
Domestic fee $732.00
International fee $2,975.00
* 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 .