Prof Chetan Bhatt STC.S107 and Dr Monika Krause STC.S114

This course is compulsory on the BSc in Sociology. This course is available on the BSc in International Relations, BSc in Politics and International Relations and BSc in Social Policy and Sociology. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit and to General Course students.

The course aims to introduce students to sociological theory by examining the work and ideas of normally eight key thinkers in social thought. For each thinker, the course will provide an overview of their contribution to the discipline of sociology, examine in detail one or more of their important texts, and also consider how their analysis could be applied to contemporary social issues.

10 hours of lectures and 9 hours of classes in the MT. 10 hours of lectures and 10 hours of classes in the LT.

Reading weeks: week 6 MT and week 6 LT.

Four 2,000 word formative essays or their equivalent (two in MT; two in LT), for feedback from class teachers.

A detailed reading list will be available at the first lecture, but for general preparatory reading, students might wish to consult the following: D Lee & H Newby, The Problem of Sociology; Z Bauman, Thinking Sociologically; S Bruce, Sociology: A Very Short Introduction.

Exam (100%, duration: 3 hours) in the main exam period.

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