UCL - Sociology

[PSP1123]

[30h] 3 credits

This course is taught in the 2d semester.

Teacher(s): Marc Zune

Language: French

Level: First

Aims
Main themes
Content and teaching methods
Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Aims

- To highlight the incidence of sociological factors in individual behaviours and especially in the relevant literature on legitimacy, normality etc.
- To emphasize the role of collective membership (of a culture, region, class etc.)

Main themes

- Theories and methods in sociology
- Founders : Durkheim, Marx, Weber
- Theoretical trends : structuralism, functionalism, systemic approaches, sociology of action.
- Various specific topics : individuals, power and society ; sociology of daily life

Content and teaching methods

The course considers various issues and sociological procedures relating to the sociology of action and power in society. It is designed to clarify the relationships between individuals, the social structures, the culture and the various social relations which characterize a society. The relationships between psychological procedures and adopted sociological ones are examined from a cross-disciplinary perspective.
First, the principles of sociology of action are presented, emphasizing the various means of action which individuals and groups have at their disposal to act and construct a society and identify what is at stake as a result of their actions.
Second, the various elements of social structure are identified and linked : institutions, organizations, social movements, social groups and classes, different social fields.
Third, the role and functions of culture in society and the way in which cultural systems work are examined.
Fourth, the different kinds of social relations which interlink society are analyzed.
Fifth, certain global social processes are analyzed, particularly the democratization of culture and cultural democracy and the rationalization and instrumentalization of society.
In each section, views and sociological processes relating to the individual are highlighted. The work of various authors in sociology is also introduced.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Prerequisites : none
Assessment : written examination
Support : lecture notes