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Sociology

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved
Course Description Version:6.00
Study Course Accepted:02.02.2024 12:25:53
Study Course Information
Course Code:SUPK_099LQF level:Level 6
Credit Points:2.00ECTS:3.00
Branch of Science:Sociology; Theory and History of SociologyTarget Audience:Medical Services
Study Course Supervisor
Course Supervisor:Ritma Rungule
Study Course Implementer
Structural Unit:Faculty of Social Sciences
The Head of Structural Unit:
Contacts:Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szfatrsu[pnkts]lv
Study Course Planning
Full-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)12Lecture Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Lectures24
Classes (count)4Class Length (academic hours)2Total Contact Hours of Classes8
Total Contact Hours32
Study course description
Preliminary Knowledge:
Basic knowledge of social sciences.
Objective:
To introduce students to the most important theoretical formulations and basic concepts of sociology as a science, to develop an understanding of the structure of society, the regularities of its development, the basic principles of analysis of society and its processes, thus enhancing students’ competence in understanding social processes and increasing their ability to interpret the interaction of the individual and society. The social knowledge acquired during the course is nowadays considered an essential part of the professional culture of every specialist, enabling them to navigate problematic situations and take reasoned decisions, taking into account socio-economic processes.
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.TopicType of ImplementationNumberVenue
1Introductory lecture on the nature, necessity, structure and organisation of the study course. Sociology as a science of society, its development in the world and in Latvia. Structure and functions of sociology. Sociological thinking, dominant theoretical trends and main theoretical approaches. The subject of sociology and the main research topics. Socio-demographic characteristics of Latvian society, current socio-demographic problems.Lectures1.00auditorium
Classes1.00auditorium
2Societal development, basic types of societal development. Social changes. The dominant types of social changes: transformations, modernisation, reforms, revolutions and crises. Characteristic features of modern society and era. Globalisation. Social changes and different generations.Lectures1.00auditorium
3Social changes and sustainable development of Latvia.Classes1.00auditorium
4Societal sustainability and social problems. Dimensions of sustainability. Quality of life. Subjective well-being of individuals.Lectures1.00auditorium
5The individual and society. Culture and cultural diversity as a reality of contemporary society. Human life cycle and identity. Socialisation as internalisation of social norms. Deviance as a deviation from social norms. Social control and its role in society. A sociological interpretation of the body.Lectures2.00auditorium
6Social structure and social interaction. Social statuses and roles. Analysis of the individual set of social statuses and roles. The formal organisation of society. Social groups and organisations.Lectures1.00auditorium
7Social inequality and social stratification. Social exclusion and poverty. Racial and ethnic inequality. Gender inequality. Age inequality. Regional inequality. Social stratification systems and social mobility. Tools to reduce social inequality in society. Individual capacity.Lectures2.00auditorium
8Manifestations and spread of discrimination in Latvian society.Classes1.00auditorium
9Social institutions as a way of structuring society and organising social life. The basic needs of society as a social whole. Family and marriage as social institutions. Religion as one of the oldest social institutions. Education as a social institution. Basic essence of the social institution of economics. Mass media as a social institution. The essence of the social institute of medicine. Politics as a social institution.Lectures2.00auditorium
10Scientific research of society. The specifics of research of society. Social and sociological research: topics, meaning, applications. Main methodological approaches to sociological research. Insights into sociological research methods. Study quality indicators.Lectures2.00auditorium
11Discussion on socially relevant issues and the specificities of social analysis.Classes1.00auditorium
Assessment
Unaided Work:
Abstracts/presentations in line with the seminar tasks. Group work - preparing, presenting and discussing seminar topics.
Assessment Criteria:
Learning the subject matter will be evaluated as follows: 1. Attendance and responsible participation in classes - 20%; 2. Abstracts/presentations in line with the seminar objectives - 40% 3. Exam test - 40% The exam tests understanding of the basic concepts of sociology, the main theories, the development of society and the changing trends of the main social institutions.
Final Examination (Full-Time):Exam
Final Examination (Part-Time):
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:After successful fulfilment of the requirements of the study course students will have mastered knowledge, which will allow: 1. To correctly use basic sociological concepts and terms, taking into account the substance of the concepts; 2. To describe the formation of a social structure and identify its main elements and the interrelationships between them; 3. To explain the process of social changes and the conditions for sustainable development of society from a sociological perspective; 4. To outline the importance of the socialisation process in the lives of individuals and describe the main agents of socialisation; 5. To describe the causes and types of deviance and to characterise the main mechanisms of social control and their role in society; 6. To outline the nature and importance of the concepts of social status and roles in order to explain the place of individuals in the social hierarchy; 7. To name and explain the types of social inequalities in society and describe the main instruments for reducing social inequalities and their role; 8. To explain the nature of social institutions as a way of organising social life and name the most important social institutions in modern society; 9. To be on top of the dominant research methods used in sociology and the specificities of social research.
Skills:As a result of completing the study course, students will: 1. Know how to apply sociological concepts and terms in context; 2. Know how to evaluate social processes and political documents from a sociological perspective; 3. Know how to apply the basic principles of sociological analysis to the analysis of societal processes.
Competencies:As a result of completing the study course, students will be able to apply sociological knowledge in research and occupational therapy. As a result of completing the study course, students will develop social competence, which will be expressed as the ability to conceptually understand society and its processes and to make a reasoned analysis of social processes.
Bibliography
No.Reference
Required Reading
1Giddens, A., Sutton, P.W. Sociology. Cambridge: Polity, 2021.
2Paula L., Korpa V. Socioloģija. LLU SZF Socioloģijas katedra, 2010. (akceptējams izdevums)
3Socioloģija Latvijā, zin. red. T.Tisenkopfs, LU Akadēmiskais apgāds, 2010. (akceptējams izdevums)
4Ievads pētniecībā: stratēģijas, dizaini, metodes : pētījums / sastādītāja Kristīne Mārtinsone ; zinātniskās redaktores: Kristīne Mārtinsone, Anita Pipere. Rīga: RaKa, 2011. 284 lpp. (akceptējams izdevums)
5Introduction to Sociology. (2013) OpenStax College Rice University.
Additional Reading
1Bezdarba un sociālās atstumtības iemesli un ilgums. Rīga: FSI, BICEPS, SPI, 2007.
2Dzīves kvalitāte Latvijā, zin.red. Bela B., Tisenkopfs T., Zinātne, 2006.
3Haralambos, M., Holborn, M. Sociology: Themes and Perspectives. Collins Educational, 2013.
4Latvijas ģimenes paaudzēs. LU FSI, 2018
5Sabiedrības novecošana: sociālā aizsardzība, nevienlīdzība un darba tirgus riski. LU FSI, 2012
6Tautas attīstības pārskati. Pieejams: https://www.lu.lv/zinatne/zinatniskas-publikacijas/tautas-a…
Other Information Sources
1Sociālās atstumtības riskam pakļautās iedzīvotāju grupas Latvijā. Labklājības ministrija. Situācijas raksturojums
2Sociālā iekļaušana. Attīstības plānošanas dokumenti un tiesību akti.
3Nevienlīdzības novēršana -- labklājības modeļa nepārtrauktais izaicinājums. Pieejams: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zb0tJEF-wfc
4Dzīves kvalitāte Eiropā: Subjektīvā labklājība. http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained/index…
5Dzīve – attīstība - labbūtība Latvijas laukos. (2012) Rakstu krājums. Sast. Cimdiņa, Agnese, Raubiško, Ieva. Rīga: Apgāds Zinātne, 264 lpp.