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SP12002: The making of modern society

[Page last updated: 09 August 2024]

Academic Year: 2024/25
Owning Department/School: Department of Social & Policy Sciences
Credits: 10 [equivalent to 20 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 200
Level: Certificate (FHEQ level 4)
Period:
Academic Year
Assessment Summary: CWPF 60%, CWSI 40%
Assessment Detail:
  • Portfolio 1 (CWPF 30%)
  • Portfolio 2 (CWPF 30%)
  • Critical reading exercise 1 (CWSI 20% - Qualifying Mark: 40)
  • Critical reading exercise 2 (CWSI 20% - Qualifying Mark: 40)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites:
Learning Outcomes: By the end of the unit students will be able to: 1. Distinguish and describe the historical processes leading to the emergence of capitalist modern societies in Europe. 2. Identify and appraise the relationship between the evolution of sociology, social institutions and dynamics of social change 3. Characterise and critique the main assumptions and concepts in key classical (European) sociological theories 4. Compare and contrast the key sociological questions and answers in each theory, evaluating their respective strengths and limitations. 5. Describe and apply sociological concepts and theories to contemporary social issues and problems.


Synopsis: Explore the fundamental principles of sociological analysis, and trace the emergence of sociology in the 19th century in the context of industrialisation, colonialism, nationalism and social revolution in Europe. You'll discover how sociology has developed as a way of making sense of key defining features of capitalist modern society, including the formation of social class, new forms of social oppression (gender and race), democratisation of the state and the emergence of the public space.

Content: Explore the fundamental principles of sociological analysis. You'll discover how sociology has developed as a way of making sense of modern society, including the emergence of key social inequalities.

Course availability:

SP12002 is a Must Pass Unit on the following courses:

Department of Social & Policy Sciences
  • UHSP-AFB33 : BSc(Hons) Social Work and Applied Social Studies (Year 1)

SP12002 is Compulsory on the following courses:

Department of Social & Policy Sciences
  • UHSP-AFB34 : BSc(Hons) Applied Social Studies (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AFB32 : BSc(Hons) Social Policy (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AKB32 : BSc(Hons) Social Policy with professional placement (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AFB37 : BSc(Hons) Social Sciences (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AKB37 : BSc(Hons) Social Sciences with professional placement (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AFB35 : BSc(Hons) Sociology (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AFB36 : BSc(Hons) Sociology and Social Policy (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AKB36 : BSc(Hons) Sociology and Social Policy with professional placement (Year 1)
  • UHSP-AKB35 : BSc(Hons) Sociology with professional placement (Year 1)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2024/25 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2025/26 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2024/25.
  • Courses and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.