Sociology of Class andStratification

Code:

SOCI047

Acronym:

SCSE

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	53	SOCI - Study Plan	2	-	6	41	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

To understand the main theoretical axes that structure the curricular unit, documenting the different notions of stratification, social class and social mobility, as well as the work instruments related with these notions. To apply the key concepts acquired in the course to the analysis of social phenomena in contemporary societies, giving special attention, when analytically necessary, to the Portuguese case.

 

 

Learning outcomes and competences

To develop the capacity of reflection and critical analysis about contemporary societies using the framework of the sociology of social classes and social mobility; to develop the capacity of portraying sociologically the phenomena of social division and social stratification; to develop a critical capacity for research, selection and analysis of information.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Structures of class, of social stratification and command.

2. The marxist perspective on social classes.

3. The weberian perspective about the distribution of economic, social and political powers.

4. The durkheimian heritage and the analysis on social classes by Maurice Halbwachs.

5. The functionalist perspective about stratification and social mobility.

6. Command and authority in elitist theory.

7. The perspective of Pierre Bourdieu and the reformulation of sociological research about social classes and social reproduction.

8. An interpretative synthesis about the relevance of the authors studied in the course for the development of research on social classes in Portugal.

Mandatory literature

Bourdieu, Pierre; A Distinção , Edições 70, 2010
Crompton, Rosemary; Clase y Estratificación. Una Introducción a los Debates Actuales , Editorial Tecnos, 1994
Grusky, David B. (ed.); Social Stratification. Class, Race and Gender in Sociological Perspective, Westview Press, 2001
Halbwachs, Maurice; Les classes sociales, PUF, 2008
Laurin-Frenete, N. ; Las Teorias Funcionalistas de las Classes Sociales- Sociologia e Ideologia Burguesa, Siglo XXI de Espanã, 1976
Marx, Karl ; Manuscritos Económico-Filosóficos, Edições 70, 1993
Scott, John; Stratification & Power, Polity Press, 1996
Weber, Max; Economia y Sociedad, Fondo de Cultura Economica, 1944

Complementary Bibliography

João Ferreira de Almeida; Classes sociais nos campos. ISBN: 972-774-028-6
António Firmino da Costa; Sociedade de bairro. ISBN: 972-774-025-1
Virgílio Borges Pereira; Classes e culturas de classe das famílias portuguesas. ISBN: 972-36-0706-9
José Madureira Pinto; Estruturas sociais e práticas simbólico-ideológicas nos campos. ISBN: 972-36-0502-3

Teaching methods and learning activities

Teaching methodologies are structured in the frame of lectures with theoretical and practical goals, with a main focus on the conceptual work about social classes produced by the authors whose work is studied. These lectures also provide the possibility of illustrating the main perspectives of the authors, with the help of a reading program of classic texts. This strategy is sustained by a set of detailed reading instructions that guide students’ work. Lectures are complemented with tutorial work; tutorial sessions are dedicated to the scrutiny of texts and of the theoretical and methodological strategies that inform them. Besides the work developed in the classroom, the Sigarra platform is used as a space for the dissemination of research materials and communication with students.

keywords

Social sciences
Social sciences > Sociology

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	70,00
Trabalho escrito	30,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	89,00
Frequência das aulas	39,00
Trabalho de investigação	34,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

1. Type of assessment Distributed assessment with final exam plus the assignments required in the tutorials, attendance and participation. 2.Assessment components According to the Assessment Regulations applicable to 1st cycle courses of FLUP, attendance is a pre-requirement of assessment. Students will meet this requirement if they do not miss more than 25% of estimated theory-practical classes and tutorials, except for the cases established in the law (Article of the Assessment Regulations applicable to the 1st Cycle courses – “Attendance and Eligibility for exams”). Final written exam, with an oral if necessary. Work developed and presented in tutorials. Assignments/reports to be done within /as a result of tutorials. - Eligibility for exams To pass the subject, students must i) attend 75% of theory-practical classes and tutorials (cf. Article 9 of the Assessment Regulations applicable to the 1st Cycle courses– “Attendance and Eligibility for exams”) and ii) presentation of all assessment elements and passing each element – written exam and assignment presented in tutorials.

Calculation formula of final grade

Final exam: 70%. Activities developed in tutorials: 30%.

For the evaluation during the special period of evaluations, all the components of evaluation will be considered: final exam. There is no possibility of being evaluated again for participation in class (class attendance and work developed at the tutorial sessions).

Examinations or Special Assignments

Not applicable

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

Students with special status, namely those covered by the status of Association Manager, Student Athlete, Student Firefighter, Military Student, National Team Athlete, High-Performance Sports Practitioner or Student Worker" (Art. 14, point 1) must contact the teachers to set special deadlines. They have the right to be evaluated in the special evaluation period.

Classification improvement

Students may ask to improve their grades. The improvement of grades applies to one component: final exam. The formula for calculating the final classification is kept. The new exam will count for 70% of the final classification; the other 30% will use the results of the activities of the tutorial sessions. 

Observations

The teaching language is Portuguese. Students under special status are subject to the same assessment as students enrolled in the normal regime. They are, however, exempted from mandatory attendance and to present the tutorial assignments in class. Students in this situation must contact the lecturers at the beginning of the semester in order to Schedule deadlines for submitting assignments required and to clarify any doubt.