Prof Judy Wajcman STC S203 and Prof Chetan Bhatt TW3 8.02A

This course is compulsory on the MSc in Sociology (Contemporary Social Thought). This course is available on the MSc in Culture and Society, MSc in Economy, Risk and Society , MSc in Political Sociology, MSc in Sociology and MSc in Sociology (Research). This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

The course critically explores cutting edge issues and themes in contemporary social thought. Guest lecturers include Craig Calhoun, Miriam Glucksmann, Richard Sennett and other globally renowned social theorists.

This course deals with themes such as transformations in time and space, social and cultural capital, new technologies, methods and society, cosmopolitanism and post-cosmopolitanism. Topics covered include time, space, speed and technology; money and the economy; the re-emergence of social class divisions; technofeminism/cyberfeminism; cultural capital; cosmopolitanism, and human rights.

30 hours of seminars in the MT. 30 hours of seminars in the LT.

Reading weeks: week 6 (MT) and week 6 (LT).

One formative essay (1,500 words) and one book review (750-1,000 words).

Beck, U. The Cosmopolitan Vision;  Calhoun, C, et al. Contemporary Socialogical Theory; Dodd, N. The Sociology of Money; Gane, N. The Future of Social Theory; Sennett, R. The Culture of the New Capitalism; Wajcman, J. Technofeminism, Pressed for Time.

Exam (70%, duration: 3 hours) in the main exam period.
Essay (30%, 3000 words) in the ST.

Two hard copies of the assessed essay, with submission sheets attached to each, to be handed in to the Administration Office, S116, no later than 16:30 on the first Wednesday of Summer Term. An additional copy to be uploaded to Moodle no later than 18:00 on the same day.

Attendance at all seminars and submission of all set coursework is required.