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Midlands State University
Faculty of Social Sciences
Department Of Human Resource Management
Module Outline: Principles of Sociology (HRM 115)
Lecturer: Ms. C. Hungwe Office G4
Consultation Hours: Fridays 10-12.
Aim of the module: To present an integrated understanding of the discipline of
Sociology and how this contributes to our appreciation of institutions that exist in modern
societies. The module forms a basis for understanding how culture affects the behaviour
of individuals in different institutions and organisations.
Module Structure
Lectures
These will be held 3 times a week. Additional slots may, however be created when need
arises and an announcement to this effect will be made. Lectures are compulsory
therefore students are advised that it is to their own advantage that they attend all
lectures.
Lectures are meant to give guidelines for understanding readings and materials you will
use in the course. Therefore, one need not copy down everything said by the lecturer.
What is important is that you understand what the lecturer teaches.
Tutorials
They are absolutely compulsory. Students are either given set readings to discuss in the
tutorial or are expected to go and research on set topics and then discuss in the tutorial
session.
There will be a roll call at all tutorial sessions. If you miss 2 tutorials you will get a
chairperson’s warning and further absenteeism will culminate in the student’s failure to
write the final exam.
If however, there is reason for absence, students are expected to provide evidence to the
lecturer. Alternatively such evidence could be shown to the Chairperson.
Essays and tests
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It is expected that students submit 2 essays or write 2 tests for the whole semester on the
due dates indicated in the module outline.
These will constitute 40% of the final mark. This therefore means that they must be
written with due care and seriousness. The essays are to be written with a high degree of
precision, correct citation, be balanced and academically sound. Rumbling and waffling
will neither entertain the lecturer nor earn marks for the students. The maximum length of
the essays should be 7 typed pages. Anything beyond that will not be credited.
All assignments must be submitted not later than 12 noon of the due date in the
lecturer’s office.
Late submissions will be penalized at the rate of minus 10% per day.
Plagiarism is a crime upon which anyone found guilty will be accorded a zero (0%).
Sources cited should be more than five (5) books.
Lecture topics
1. Introduction
What is Sociology? Distinguishing it from other disciplines.
Basic concepts used –culture, socialization, role, status, norms, values.
The evolution of societies.
2. The historical development of Sociology- factors leading to the rise of Sociology.
The enlightenment thinkers (b) The industrial revolution (c) Urbanization
The spread of socialism (e) The influence of Auguste Comte and his positive science.
3. Classical Sociology
Ideas by Durkheim on social facts
Talcott Parsons on the central value system
Goffman, Mead, Blumer on Symbolic Interactionism
Karl Marx on the historical materialism.
Max Weber on interpretive Sociology
*Emphasis will be laid on distinguishing consensus theories from conflict theories.
4. Social stratification
What is social inequality?
Theories of class
Stratification in pre-capitalist societies –issues of gender, age, ethnicity
Stratification in modern day societies
Global stratification and world inequality
5 What is work?
(a) Origins of the Human relations school
Marx on alienation
Weber and rationalization
Durkheim and anomie
Taylor and the Scientific management theory
Braverman and the deskilling thesis.
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6. Sociology of Gender
Theories of gender inequality, (b) gender oppression (c) gender in organizations
(d) The gender debate in Zimbabwe
7. Power and Organizations
Elitist theories of organizations – by Robert Michels, Gaetano Mosca, Vilfredo Pareto.
Weber on bureaucracy and rationalization
Marxist and Maoist views on organizations.
8. Deviance and crime
What is deviance? (b) Theories of deviance (c) what is crime (d) female crime
(e) Deviance in organizations
9. Sociology of Education
The creation of dirty jobs
Theories of education
Functions of education –education and stratification etc.
10. Theories of development
The dependency theories
World system theories
Modernization theories
11. Social movements and Collective Behaviour
Theories on crowds, masses, group behaviour
Theories on social movements
12. Sociology of health and illnesses
Theories- Functionalist, Marxist and Interactionist approaches
13. Sociology of religion
Various religious movements and cults.
Theories on religion
14 Methodological issues in Sociology
Scientific methods use by sociologists for data collection and analysis
Recommended Texts
Albrow, M. 1970 Bureaucracy London: Pall Mall Press
Althusser, L.1969 For Marx London: Penguin
Bendix, R. &. Lipset, M (eds) Class, status and power {305 Ber}
Berg, I. 1979 Industrial Sociology McGraw-Hill: Prentice hall
Bloom & Ottong Changing Africa {301Blo}
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Blumer, H. 1962 “Society as a symbolic interaction” in A.M. Rose (ed) Human
Behaviour and Social processes London: Routledge
Bottomore, T.B. & Rubel, M. 1963 Karl Marx: selected writings and Social Philosophy
Harmmondsworth:Penguin
Bourdieu, P. & Passeron, J.C. 1977 Reproduction in education, society and Culture
London: Sage
Chodorow, N. 1988 Psychoanalytic theory and feminism Cambridge: Polity press
Collins, R. 1974 Conflict Sociology; Toward an exploratory science New York:
Academic Press
Cotgrove, S. The science of society {301Cot}
Durkeim, E. 1952 Suicide: A study in Sociology London:Routledge and Kegan Paul
Etzioni,A. 1964 Modern Organisations NJ:Prentice hall
Fox, A. 1971 A sociology of work in industry
Giddens, A. Emile Durkheim selected writings {301 Gid}
Giddens, A. 1993 Sociology London: Polity Press
Gerth & Mills From Max Weber {302 Ger}
Goffman, E. 1969 The presentation of Self in Everyday Life Harmondsworth: Penguin
Haralambos, M. &Holborn, M. 2004 6th ed Sociology- themes and perspective London:
HaperCollins HM51HAR
Hurd, G. Human societies –An introduction to sociology {301Hur}
Lefebvre, H. The sociology of Marx
Lenski, G. & Lenski, J.1982 Human societies 4th edition New York:McGraw Hill.
{301Len}
Lombrosso, C. 1911 Crime: its causes and Remedies Boston, Mass:Little, Brown
Macionis, J.J. & Plummer, K.2005 Sociology A global introduction 3rd edition Prentice
Hall London HM51MAC
Mann, M. 1986 Gender and Stratification Oxford: Blackwell
Mies, M. 1986 Patriarchy and Accumulation on a world scale London: Zed Books
Michels, R.1967 Political Parties New York: Free Press
Meena, R. (eds.) Gender in Southern Africa
Moyo. J. N. The politics of administration – understanding bureaucracy in Africa Harare:
SAPES class number JF1501MOY
Parker, S. R. et al 1986 The Sociology of industry George Allen and Unwin
Pfohl, S. Images of deviance and social control
Schaefer, R.T. 2006. Sociology matters. London: Routledge
Schafer, R.T. 2008. Sociology: A Brief introduction London: Routledge
Saunders, P. 1990 Social class and Stratification London: Routledge
Stark, R. 1992 Sociology
Somjee, A. H. 1991 Development theory: Critiques and Explorations London: Macmillan
Watson, T. J. 1987 Sociology work and industry second edition London: Tavistock
Weber, M. 1976 The protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism London: Allen and
Unwin
Worsley, P. 1970 The new introducing sociology London: Penguin
Zeitlin, I.M. 1990 Ideology and the development of sociological theory 4th edition New
Jersey: Prentice -Hall.
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