Course 2015-2016 a.y.

Classes: 31 (II sem.)

Instructors:
Class 31: IAN ROSS MACMILLAN

The course provides the students with an introduction to the discipline of sociology. The first part of the course focuses on the macro-contexts of life and includes issues of social structure and culture and their relation to social organization. Specific topics covered include family and kinship structures, work, organizations, markets, norms, laws, and social regulation. The second part of the course emphasizes meso- and micro-aspects and examines sociological research on self and personality, marriage and family, social mobility, education, work, health and well-being, cities and urbanization. The third aspect of the course considers the issue of globalization and its impact on identity, personal relationships, culture, and economics. Throughout the course, we draw upon two core themes. First, how does the nature of social organization and social life shape who one is and the immediate circumstances of social life? Second, how do the interconnections of social and historical context, human development and agency influence life chances?

First Part:

• World Population and its Implications.
• Social Action.
• Social Structures.
• Capitals and Capitalization.
• Social Networks.

Second Part:

• Education.
• Economics, Economic Action and Markets.
• Stratification and Social Mobility.
• Families and Fertility.
• Migration.
• Health, Disability and Mortality.
• World System and Globalizaiton.