Introduction to Social Sciences

Code:

LPSI111

Acronym:

ICS

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Social and Human Sciences

Instance: 2025/2026 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Psychology
Course/CS Responsible:	First degree in Psychology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
LPSIC	204	Official Curricular Structure	1	-	3	27	81

Teaching language

Portuguese
Obs.: Português

Objectives

To provide a general view on the antecedents and forerunners of Social Sciences.
To introduce students to the evolutionary perspective on social behavior.

Learning outcomes and competences

At the end of the Unit, the students should be able to:

Working method

Presencial

Program

Module 1: What are the Social Sciences?

• Definition and scope of Social Sciences.
• Comparison between Social Sciences and Natural Sciences.
• Interdisciplinarity between Social Sciences and Psychology.

Module 2: History of Social Sciences and Key Thinkers

• Philosophical roots (Antiquity – 18th century).
• The foundation of Social Sciences in the 19th century.
• Expansion and new perspectives in the 20th century.

Module 3: The Evolution of Records and Statistics in Social Sciences

Module 4: Culture, Society, and Identity

• The concept of culture: values, norms, and symbols.
• Socialisation processes and identity formation.
• Social stratification and inequalities.
• Globalisation and cultural changes.

Module 5: Social Institutions and Human Behaviour

• Family, School, and Work: their influence on human development and key social integration contexts.
• Religion and Politics: impact on the construction of values and beliefs.
• Media and Social Networks: new dynamics of socialisation.

Module 6: Psychology and Society

• Social Psychology: group influence on individual behaviour.
• The concept of norms and deviance.
• Prejudice, discrimination, and stereotypes.
• Social movements and social change.

Module 7: Methods in Social Sciences and Knowledge Production

• Quantitative vs. qualitative methods.
• How are theories constructed in Social Sciences?
• Societal challenges as research demands.
• The role of Social Sciences in addressing contemporary issues.

Mandatory literature

Bottomore Tom; História da análise sociológica
Morin Edgar; O^paradigma perdido. ISBN: 972-1-01721-3
Durkheim , Émile; Le suicide : étude de sociologie. ISBN: 2-13-045663-4
Marx , Karl; Capital . Manifesto of the communist party. ISBN: 0-85229-531-6
Moscovici , Serge; The invention of society : psychological explanations for social phenomena. ISBN: 0-7456-1839-1
Giddens , Anthony; Capitalism and modern social theory : an analysis of the writings of Marx, Durkhein and Max Weber. ISBN: 0-521-08293-5
Giddens , Anthony; Conformity and deviance

Complementary Bibliography

Durkheim Émile; A^divisão do trabalho social
Delas, J.-P. & Milly, B. ; Histoire des pensées sociologiques, Dalloz, 1997
Mendras, H. & Etienne, J.; Les grands auteurs de la sociologie ; Tocqueville, Marx, Durkheim, Weber, Hatier, 1996
Foucault Michel; As^palavras e as coisas. ISBN: 972-44-0531-1
Dunbar Robin; Grooming, gossip and the evolution of language. ISBN: 0-571-17397-7

Teaching methods and learning activities

Expositive, using audio and video media, and interactive critical reflection.

keywords

Social sciences > Psychological sciences
Social sciences

Evaluation Type

Evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	100,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	54,00
Frequência das aulas	27,00
Total:	81,00

Eligibility for exams

Attendance to classes not required.

Calculation formula of final grade

- Final exam.

Examinations or Special Assignments

Not applicable.

Internship work/project

Not applicable.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

As previewed in the evaluation regulations of the faculty. 

Classification improvement

The improvement of the final grade may be made only once until the second call of the school year subsequent to the one when the student was approved and in which there is an examination previewed for the discipline.

The final grade is the highest among the one obtained initially and the one that results from the effectuated improvement of the grade.