Course code

RAS6001.YK

old course code

RAS6001

Course title in Estonian

Sissejuhatus sotsioloogiasse

Course title in English

Introduction to Sociology

ECTS credits

4.0

approximate amount of contact lessons

28

Teaching semester

autumn

Assessment form

Examination

lecturer of 2019/2020  Autumn semester

Kairit Kall (inglise keel) tavaline kursus

lecturer of 2019/2020  Spring semester

lecturer not assigned

Course aims

To create an opportunity for students to get acquainted with the objectives, key terms, theories and areas of study in the field of Sociology.
The emphasis is on the “big ideas” of the discipline and the course hopes to encourage students to ask meaningful questions and connect what they learn to their everyday experience of being a citizen of a global society.
To support holistic understanding of sociology as a discipline and society as a research unit and aims to stimulate participants’ thinking on their place in the society.

Brief description of the course

This course provides an introduction to the central issues in sociology.
Topics covered include (but are not limited to):
What is Sociology?
Sociology as science
Structure and function
Social norms and values
Social roles
Social groups
Social organizations
Leadership and authority
Power
Work
Stratification
Social problems
Culture
Civil society and social movement
Social change

Independent work

Reading and acquiring the assigned literature for written exam.

Learning outcomes in the course

The student: knows the main concepts and research areas of sociology; knows the most important sociological theories; is able to distinguish the concepts and theories from each other and is able to link them to the actual phenomena and processes of society; is able to apply the sociological perspective to his/her own social situations; is able to express her/his thinking on sociological concepts both orally and in written form.

Assessment methods

Written exam

Teacher

Peeter Vihma, RASI lektor; Katrin Tiidenberg, RASI lektor

The course is a prerequisite

Study literature

Howard Becker, Ptk 1. Telling about Society ja Ptk 2. Representations of Society as Organisational Products. Raamatus Telling About Society, University of Chicago Press, 2007.
 Andrus Org, “Ferdinand de Saussure, strukturalism ja
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semiootika”, raamatust “20. Sajandi mõttevoolud”
 Howard Becker, ptk “Outsiders – Defining Deviance”, raamatust “Outsiders”, 1963
 Erving Goffman, ptk “Performances”, raamatust “Presentation of Self in Everyday Life”
 Mikko Lagerspetz, “Oligarhia raudne seadus Eesti kodanikeühiskonnas”, raamatust “Algatus, osalus ja organisatsioonid”
 Triin Roosalu, “Sissetulekute kihistumine”, Eesti Inimarengu Aruanne 2013
 Erle Rikmann, “Avamisest mõistmiseni. Kodanikeühiskonna olemus ja võimalused” raamatust “Tuntud ja tundmatu kodanikeühiskond”
 Max Weber, “Poliitika kui elukutse ja kutsumus”. Raamatus Politiika kui elukutse ja kutsumus; Teadus kui elukutse ja kutsumus, Tallinna Ülik