Current Trends in Sociology I

Code:

SOCI005

Acronym:

CASOC1

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Sociology

Instance: 2024/2025 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Sociology
Course/CS Responsible:	Bachelor in Sociology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
SOCI	49	SOCI - Study Plan	2	-	6	41	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

About objectives, the aim is to promote the understanding of some of the currents and the most representative authors of the 20TH century Sociology, particularly in the USA and Germany; apply several concepts of contemporary sociological theory into concrete fields of analysis and even reflect on the sociological national production in its relations with the selected authors.  

Learning outcomes and competences

As for skills, it aims to spread the field of theories and concepts of Sociology, encouraging the development of analysis and conceptual construction skills on the part of students. Similarly, it is the domain of the historical evolution of the main problems of the discipline of Sociology, alongside the development of the capacity for reflection and critical analysis based on contemporary societies.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

Not applicable.

Program

1. Sociological changes and renewal: symbolic interactions: stages, representations and routines.
1.1. The approach of Herbert Blumer: Symbolic interaction, science and research.
1.2. The analysis of Harold S. Becker: the importance of labelling and social construction of the deviant.
2. Dilemmas, conflicts and challenges. The need for Critical Sociology.
2.1. The importance of the Frankfurt School’s Critique in assuming a critical sociology: framework and issues.
2.2. Herbert Marcuse: technology, freedom, rationality and social development.

3. German modern sociology and the importance of communication
3.1.. Jürgen Habermas: power, interests, spheres of action and theory of communicative action.
  3.2.Feminist critics

Mandatory literature

BECKER, Howard S.; Outsiders (Uma Teoria da Acção Colectiva), Zahar Ed., 1980
BECKER, Howard S.; “Career deviance”, in Stuart H. Traub e Craig B. Little, Theories of Deviance, pp. 303-310. , F.E. Peacock Publishers, Inc., 1994
BLUMER, Herbert; Principles of Sociology, Barnes&Noble Books, 1969
COHEN, Stanley; Folk Devils and Moral Panics, Basil Blackwell Ed., 1990
HABERMAS, J.; Mudança Estrutural da Esfera Pública, Edições Tempo Brasileiro, 1984
HABERMAS, J.; Théorie de l'Agir Communicationnel, vol. I e vol. II , Fayard Ed., 1987
LUHMANN, Niklas; Political theory in the welfare State, Walter de Gruyter, 1990
LUHMANN, Niklas; O poder, Univ. de Brasília, 1975
LUHMANN, Niklas; The differentiation of society, Columbia University Press, 1982
MARCUSE, Herbert; A Ideologia da Sociedade Industrial, Zahar Editores, 1982
MARCUSE, Herbert; One Dimensional Men, Beacon Press, 1964
RITZER, George; Handbook of Social Theory, Sage, 2001

Complementary Bibliography

RITZER, George; Explorations in Social Theory , Sage, 2001
RITZER, George; The Blackwell Companion to Major Social Theorists, Blackwell, 2000
ASSOUN, Paul-Laurent; A Escola de Frankfurt, Publicações D. Quixote , 1989
CORCUFF, Philippe, ; As Novas Sociologias, VRAL, 1997
DELAS, Jean-Pierre e Milly, Bruno; Histoire des Pensées Sociologiques , Éditions Sirey, 1997
GIDDENS, Anthony; Política, Sociologia e Teoria Social, Celta, 1998
ELIAS, Norbert; Teoria Simbólica, Celta Editora, 1994
HABERMAS, J.; Textos e Contextos, Instituto Piaget, 2001

Teaching methods and learning activities

Theory-practical classes combine the expository method of programme contents and involve discussions and student/lecturer interaction.
Tutorials and field work aim to explore, in groups, photographs, videos and music related to the authors to discuss and strengthen the contents addressed application of the issues to the Portuguese and European cases.

 

keywords

Social sciences > Sociology > Social changes

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Teste	60,00
Trabalho escrito	40,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	62,00
Frequência das aulas	39,00
Trabalho de investigação	61,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

The final grade results from the weighted average of the marks obtained in the assessment components proposed in this course, following the distributed assessment modality without a final exam.
Attendance is not considered as an assessment component. The minimum mark for each component will be ten marks. There will be an appeal at the appropriate time in the components in which the student fails (with less than ten marks).

Translated with DeepL.com (free version).

Calculation formula of final grade

The final classification is the weighted average of the marks achieved in the assessment components proposed in this course unit (an essay intersecting the various authors of the programme: 40%; written test: 60%)

Examinations or Special Assignments

Not applicable

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Written essay.

Classification improvement

Only for the written test and final individual work.

Observations

The course will be taught in Portuguese. Students with specific status are subject to the same type of evaluation of students enrolled in regular regime, getting only exempt from mandatory attendance and exposure of the tutorial guidance in class. These students should contact the teacher at the beginning of the semester in order to schedule delivery times of the work requested and clarifications deemed necessary.