Download Access 2017-18 SOCIOLOGY (e)

Access 2017-18
SOCIOLOGY (e)
Thursdays 6.30 p.m. – 8.30 p.m.
(Please note: this information is provisional and could be subject to change. )
Course Outline
“The sociological imagination enables us to grasp history and biography and the
relations between the two within society. That is its task and its promise”
C.W. Mills ‘The Sociological Imagination’ (1959) Oxford University Press
Sociology is a way of seeing. It offers a vantage point from which to look at different
aspects of social life; equality, education, the media, health, employment, crime, art and
culture. These issues and many more have provided sociologists with their material for
study and analysis.
This 23-week course provides an introduction to the craft of sociology, enabling
understanding and explanation of the world and our situation in it. How does society
shape people’s behaviour, beliefs and sense of identity? These and other questions will
be explored throughout the course. The historical development of the discipline,
sociological theories and theorists, ethics and research methods will be examined
alongside some of the topics listed above.
The course is designed to prepare you for future sociological study at university, to
become familiar with essay writing and presentation work. However, even if you decide
not to take your sociology further, the development of a sociological imagination will be
beneficial towards thinking creatively within your chosen area of academic study.
Our recommended text for the course is: ‘Sociology’ by James Fulcher and John Scott:
Oxford University Press. Though a recent 3rd edition has just been published, we
encourage you to use earlier editions (bought from second-hand bookshops) as they
will be cheaper. For some introductory summer reading we suggest you have a look at:
“Thinking Sociologically” by Zygmunt Bauman and Tim May;1990, 2001; Blackwell
Publishing or “Sociology” by Nicholas Abercrombie, 2004, Polity press. However our
key text which provides the point of departure for our course is:
‘The Sociological Imagination’ by C. Wright Mills: Oxford University Press (2000).
This is available from on-line and high street book stores. Please don’t be alarmed if
you find parts of this book challenging. We will explore it further in our seminars!
Extracts from the book, such as Chapter 1: “The Promise” are available on-line. You will
be able to get all of the books listed above from the University Library once you have
matriculated as an access student.