Download Introduction to Sociology University of Haifa School of Public Health

‫הפקולטה למדעי הרווחה והבריאות‬
‫בית הספר לבריאות הציבור‬
Faculty of Social Welfare & Health Sciences
School of Public Health
‫الكلية للرفاه االجتماعي ولعلوم الصحة‬
Introduction to Sociology
University of Haifa
School of Public Health
Sharon R. Sznitman, Ph.D.
104‫א‬42364.682
Room XX
Wednesdays: 10.00-12.00
Course description:
Sociology complements the other social sciences by providing a unique set of lenses for seeing and understanding
social life. This way of seeing the world is called the “sociological imagination”. This course provides students with
an introduction to the "sociological imagination". Diverse and important contributions of sociology to the
understanding of complex social issues will be presented and discussed. Students will gain an understanding of the
relationship between large social institutions and their personal lives as well as a sociological understanding of more
"micro" level interactions between people. Emphasis will be placed on theory, sociological research methods, and
basic sociological concepts that help us understand everyday experiences. Examples of concepts that will be
discussed are gender, race, culture, structure, ritual, class, and community. We will explore each of these concepts and
examine how they enable us to understand social life and human behavior. We will explore diverse questions such as
why people shake hands? Why are some people poor? Why do people smoke? Why do people do good? Why do
nations fight? How will the internet change society?
The objectives of this course are for the students to:
1. Develop and applying the sociological imagination
2. Develop an understanding of the social factors that influence everyday life.
3. Develop an understanding for sociological theories, methods and concepts.
4. Develop critical thinking
Structure of the course:
The course is structured around lectures, group discussions, essay and exams. There are also required readings for
each lecture.
Course evaluation:
 1 multiple choice tests, counting 30% of your grade
 In class exercises, 10% of your grade
 Participation in class discussion, counting 10% of your grade
 Student project: Socioautobiography, counting 50% of your grade
Phone: 972-4-8288675 : '‫טל‬
972-4-8288597
50913 Mount Carmel, Haifa | 50913 ‫ חיפה‬,‫הר הכרמל‬
E-mail: [email protected] : ‫דוא"ל‬
[email protected]
Fax: 972-4-8288637 :‫פקס‬
‫הפקולטה למדעי הרווחה והבריאות‬
‫בית הספר לבריאות הציבור‬
Faculty of Social Welfare & Health Sciences
School of Public Health
‫الكلية للرفاه االجتماعي ولعلوم الصحة‬
LECTURE SCHEDULE
Lecture 1:
24.10.2012: Introduction to course
Core themes:
 Structure of the course
 Your course work
 What is sociology and how is it connected to everyday life?
 Introduction to some core concepts in sociology
Lecture 2:
31.10.2012: sociological inquiry
Core themes:
 What kind of questions do sociologists ask?
 Social construction of reality
Reading:
1. The Riddles of Humans Society (1999), Kanagy, C.L., and Kraybill, D. B., Thousand Oaks: Pine Forge Press,
Chapter 1
Lecture 3:
7.11.2012: The four steps of social analysis
Core themes:
 Reflection
 Observation
 Description
 Comparison
Reading:
1. The Riddles of Humans Society (1999), Kanagy, C.L., and Kraybill, D. B., Thousand Oaks: Pine Forge Press,
Chapter 2
Lecture 4:
14.11.2012: The concepts of sociology
Core themes:
 Topics, concepts and units
Reading:
1. The Riddles of Humans Society (1999), Kanagy, C.L., and Kraybill, D. B., Thousand Oaks: Pine Forge Press,
Chapter 3
Phone: 972-4-8288675 : '‫טל‬
972-4-8288597
50913 Mount Carmel, Haifa | 50913 ‫ חיפה‬,‫הר הכרמל‬
E-mail: [email protected] : ‫דוא"ל‬
[email protected]
Fax: 972-4-8288637 :‫פקס‬
‫הפקולטה למדעי הרווחה והבריאות‬
‫בית הספר לבריאות הציבור‬
Faculty of Social Welfare & Health Sciences
School of Public Health
‫الكلية للرفاه االجتماعي ولعلوم الصحة‬
Lecture 5:
21.11.2012: The methods of sociology
Core themes:

Surveys

Focus groups

Participant observation
Reading:
1. The Riddles of Humans Society (1999), Kanagy, C.L., and Kraybill, D. B., Thousand Oaks: Pine Forge Press,
Chapter 4
Lecture 6:
28.11.2012: Foundational concepts in sociology: CULTURE
Core themes:

Values, norms

Social control

Changes in culture

Socialization
Reading:
1. The Riddles of Humans Society (1999), Kanagy, C.L., and Kraybill, D. B., Thousand Oaks: Pine Forge Press,
Chapter 5
Lecture 7:
5.12.2012: Foundational concepts in sociology: STRUCTURE
Core themes:

Position, perspectives and power

Stratification

Class

Race

Gender
Reading:
1. The Riddles of Humans Society (1999), Kanagy, C.L., and Kraybill, D. B., Thousand Oaks: Pine Forge Press,
Chapter 6
Phone: 972-4-8288675 : '‫טל‬
972-4-8288597
50913 Mount Carmel, Haifa | 50913 ‫ חיפה‬,‫הר הכרמל‬
E-mail: [email protected] : ‫דוא"ל‬
[email protected]
Fax: 972-4-8288637 :‫פקס‬
‫הפקולטה למדעי הרווחה והבריאות‬
‫בית הספר לבריאות הציבור‬
Faculty of Social Welfare & Health Sciences
School of Public Health
‫الكلية للرفاه االجتماعي ولعلوم الصحة‬
Lecture 8
12.12.2012: Foundational concepts in sociology: RITUAL
Core themes:
 Definition of ritual
 Four components of rituals
 Types of rituals
 Changing public rituals
Reading:
1. The Riddles of Humans Society (1999), Kanagy, C.L., and Kraybill, D. B., Thousand Oaks: Pine Forge Press,
Chapter 7
Lecture 9:
19.12.2012 Case studies of social inquiries:
MICRO INQUERIES
 Why do people smoke?
 Why do people do good
MACRO INQUERIES
 Why do nations fight?
 How will internet change the society?
Readings:
1. The Riddles of Humans Society (1999), Kanagy, C.L., and Kraybill, D. B., Thousand Oaks: Pine Forge Press,
Chapter 8 and 9
Lecture 10
26.12.2012 Individual freedom or social constraints: insights from sociology
Readings:
1. The Riddles of Humans Society (1999), Kanagy, C.L., and Kraybill, D. B., Thousand Oaks: Pine Forge Press,
Chapter 10
Lecture 11:
02.01.2013
Student presentation and student evaluation of socio-autobiographies
Lecture 12:
09.01.2013
Student presentation and student evaluation of socio-autobiographies
Phone: 972-4-8288675 : '‫טל‬
972-4-8288597
50913 Mount Carmel, Haifa | 50913 ‫ חיפה‬,‫הר הכרמל‬
E-mail: [email protected] : ‫דוא"ל‬
[email protected]
Fax: 972-4-8288637 :‫פקס‬
‫הפקולטה למדעי הרווחה והבריאות‬
‫בית הספר לבריאות הציבור‬
Faculty of Social Welfare & Health Sciences
School of Public Health
‫الكلية للرفاه االجتماعي ولعلوم الصحة‬
Lecture 13:
16.01.2013
Student presentation and student evaluation of socio-autobiographies
Lecture 14:
23.01.2013
Student presentation and student evaluation of socio-autobiographies
Phone: 972-4-8288675 : '‫טל‬
972-4-8288597
50913 Mount Carmel, Haifa | 50913 ‫ חיפה‬,‫הר הכרמל‬
E-mail: [email protected] : ‫דוא"ל‬
[email protected]
Fax: 972-4-8288637 :‫פקס‬