Blom, R. et al (eds.) (2003) The Information Society Reader (Routledge)

Cohen, R. and Kennedy, P. (2007, 2nd edition) Global Sociology (Palgrave Macmillan) [and companion website at www.palgrave.com)

Hughes, J. et al (2003) Understanding Classical Sociology, Sage

Kumar, K. (2005, 2nd edition) From Post-Industrial to Post-Modern Society (Blackwell)

Swingewood, A. (2000, 3rd edition) A Short History of Sociological Thought (Palgrave Macmillan)

The module will examine 'classical' perspectives on societal change and compare and contrast these with more recent attempts to characterise 'transitions' in terms, for example, of post-industrialism, the knowledge/information society theories, post-fordism and postmodernism. This will be set within a critical analysis of ideas about social identity and social divisions in relation to globalisation. In particular, it will involve an analysis of major social divisions and identities such as social class, gender and ethnicity and how these operate at a global and inter-societal level in the 21st Century. Particular attention will be given when examining large scale processes of social change to factors such as technological transformation, the relationship between production and consumption, the changing structure and organisation of western and non-western societies, and the shifting boundaries between the state, the economy and civil society.

Whole group lectures, supported by seminars/workshops. Seminars will support students' learning through encouraging students to engage with the major themes and ideas introduced in lectures and through promoting the further development of subject and other key skills. In addition, seminars will support and guide students in the use of independent study time in order to prepare for workshops, and in order to fulfil assessment requirements. Directed study schemes form an explicit part of the independent learning strategy, requiring students to work on particular materials, issues and concepts. Students are also encouraged to seek individual tutorial guidance to support their learning and/or to prepare for assessment as required.

Key Information Set:

20% scheduled learning and teaching activities comprising:
Lectures
Seminars
Formative assessments

80% guided independent learning activities comprising:
Guided reading and research
Personal tutorials
Preparation for scheduled sessions
Completion of assessment tasks
Exam practice and revision

• The library

• PCs with standard suite of University software providing access to e-mail, the internet, word processing, etc.

• Lecture rooms with access for disabled students, and suitable for group work

• The Blackboard virtual learning environment

1. DEMONSTRATE A CRITICAL AWARENESS OF SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN CLASSICAL AND CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL THEORY.
Analysis

2. DEMONSTRATE A DETAILED KNOWLEDGE AND CRITICAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE EMPIRICAL APPLICATION OF SOCIAL THEORY TO PROCESSES OF SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION.
Application
Knowledge & Understanding

3. ANALYSE AND CRITIQUE THE NOTION OF MODERNITY AS UNDERSTOOD WITHIN CLASSICAL AND CONTEMPORARY SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY
Analysis
Knowledge & Understanding

4. CRITICALLY ANALYSE AND EVALUATE A RANGE OF THEORIES CONCERNING THE SOCIAL TRANSITION TO POSTMODERN/INDUSTRIAL/FORDIST SOCIETY
Analysis

5. COMPARE AND CONTRAST DIFFERENT PATTERNS AND PATHWAYS OF SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION HISTORICALLY AND CROSS-CULTURALLY.
Analysis

6. DEMONSTRATE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONCEPT OF GLOBALISATION AS AN APPROACH WHICH INCLUDES THE BOTH THE WESTERN AND NON-WESTERN WORLDS
Knowledge & Understanding

7. APPLY THE ABOVE THEORIES OF SOCIAL CHANGE AND GLOBALISATION TO THE ANALYSIS OF DIFFERENT FORMS OF SOCIAL IDENTITY OR DIFFERENTIATION, E.G. CLASS, NATIONALITY, GENDER AND ETHNICITY.
Application
Analysis

Essay weighted at 100% (2,500 words) assessing all Learning Outcomes.

The module will examine 'classical' perspectives on societal change and compare and contrast these with more recent attempts to characterise 'transitions' in terms, for example, of post-industrialism, the knowledge/information society theories, post-fordism and postmodernism. This will be set within a critical analysis of ideas about social identity and social divisions in relation to globalisation. In particular, it will involve an analysis of major social divisions and identities such as social class, gender and ethnicity and how these operate at a global and inter-societal level in the 21st Century. Particular attention will be given when examining large scale processes of social change to factors such as technological transformation, the relationship between production and consumption, the changing structure and organisation of western and non-western societies, and the shifting boundaries between the state, the economy and civil society.