Society and Social Change

A.Y. 2023/2024
12
Max ECTS
80
Overall hours
SSD
SPS/07
Language
Italian
Learning objectives
The overall objectives of the course consist in learning sociology's main concepts and theoretical-interpretive paradigms applied to its most relevant fields of investigation. First, the specificity of the sociological perspective as scientific knowledge (theoretical perspectives, methods, and techniques of social research) will be clarified. Students will then become familiar with the discipline's various fields of investigation (economic and labor market sociology, politics, the territorial dimension of social phenomena, family, school and religion, the media). On a weekly basis, throughout the course, exercises will be proposed aimed at promoting the development of soft skills (e.g., teamwork, argumentative skills, and public speaking). Particularly, attention will be paid to students' ability to understand and analyse the progress of the scientific debate on issues pertaining to the topics covered during the course, as well as to appreciate and distinguish the methodological approaches (qualitative or quantitative) used by the various proposed empirical research.
Expected learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students should have understood and acquired sociology's basic vocabulary, together with the knowledge concerning its main authors and its prevailing theoretical perspectives; they should have acquired the ability to distinguish between common sense assumptions and scientific knowledge; they should have developed the necessary skills to carry out a critical review of the scientific literature; they also should have developed autonomous analytical and judgment skills with reference to the main dynamics and processes characterizing contemporary societies, being therefore capable of consciously positioning themselves within the existing academic debate.
Students should have acquired the ability to autonomously apply the acquired knowledge to the analysis of ongoing processes in contemporary societies, also from a historical-comparative point of view.
Finally, students should have become familiar with the most relevant databases produced by the main national and international bodies (Istat, Eurostat, OECD), but also with the use of ad hoc software for the creation and administration of questionnaires, in order to develop, in the future, independent paths of research and study in the field.
Single course

This course can be attended as a single course.

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Responsible
Lesson period
First trimester
Course syllabus
The course is structured into three modules.
In module 1 the professor will provide some preliminary notions aimed at clarifying the specificity of the sociological perspective as scientific knowledge (in terms of paradigms, theories, methods and techniques of social research). Subsequently, students will be introduced to sociology's main research fields, starting from the analysis of economic phenomena and labour markets. The different sociological approaches to the study of inequality and social stratification will be illustrated (with particular reference to the analysis of social classes and the phenomena of social mobility), then moving to sociology of education and the study of educational systems. Subsequently, other relevant forms of inequality and social diversity (sch as gender and sexual orientation, age, race and ethnicity) will be discussed. Next the professor will proceed to examine the main social institutions, including the study of: the family, forms of religious life, politics, bureaucratic organizations and, finally, networks. Moreover, the social role of the media will be analyzed and students will be introduced to the sociology of deviance and crime. Finally, a reflection will be proposed on the limits and perspectives of the sociological discipline as the study of national societies in the light of the growing supranational integration processes and the emergence of institutions that extend on a global scale.
In module 2 the professor will propose an in-depth historical-comparative study of social inequalities.
In module 3, the professor, supported by a teaching assistant, will propose to the course' students some exercises aimed at developing and strengthening specific soft skills. Students will engage in group work preparatory to the construction, administration and analysis of a questionnaire through the use of ad hoc software. Furthermore, students will learn to independently find and use specific sources and databases useful for the analysis of social phenomena. They will also be provided with useful tools for reconstructing the scientific debate around specific topics, also learning to support their arguments through presentations and debates during class.
More information is available on MyAriel: https://myariel.unimi.it/course/view.php?id=779
Prerequisites for admission
Society and Social Change is a first-year (first-trimester) course: consequently, there are no prerequisites other than those required for access to the bachelor degree course. However, the student must consider that a good level of general knowledge (with particular reference to current affairs and the history of the twentieth century) can be helpful for an adequate understanding of the course content.
Teaching methods
The course entails lectures supported by slides, as well as moments of discussion requiring the students' active participation. Participants will be asked to make substantial efforts to creatively apply the notions and perspectives learned in textbooks to social phenomena described in news items, essays, and quantitative data made available by teachers. Attendance is not mandatory but is strongly recommended.
Teaching Resources
For students attending the course
Ambrosini M., Sciolla L., Sociologia. Mondadori.
Slides and other materials published in MyAriel: https://myariel.unimi.it/course/view.php?id=779
Piketty T., (2021), Una breve storia dell'uguaglianza, La Nave di Teseo.

For students not attending the course

Ambrosini M., Sciolla L., Sociologia. Mondadori.
Sarti S., (2018) Evoluzione e complessità sociale (2nd edition), Torino, Utet Università.
Piketty T., (2021), Una breve storia dell'uguaglianza, La Nave di Teseo.
Assessment methods and Criteria
Students attending the course will be allowed to take partial examinations, in written form, during the delivery period of the course and of exercises. The tests include open-ended questions on the contents of the textbooks and contents illustrated in class. Non-attending students and those attending students who have not achieved sufficient results in the partial tests (or who have refused the result), will take written or oral examination tests. The tests assess the level of knowledge of the contents illustrated during the course, the competence in the use of specialized vocabulary, the quality and clarity of the exposition. Autonomy of judgment is assessed according to how much students are able to critically analyse the proposed readings and data in light of the concepts and theories discussed during class and in textbooks.
SPS/07 - GENERAL SOCIOLOGY - University credits: 12
Lessons: 80 hours
Professor: Bonizzoni Paola