Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
Sociology
Course Code
SUPK_099
Branch of Science
Sociology and social work; Theory and History of Sociology
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Medical Services
LQF
Level 6
Study Type And Form
Full-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Ritma Rungule
Structure Unit Manager
Ieva Puzo
Structural Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences
Contacts
Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf@rsu.lv
About Study Course
Objective
To introduce students to the most important theoretical formulations and basic concepts of sociology as a science, to develop an understanding of the structure of society, the regularities of its development, the basic principles of analysis of society and its processes, thus enhancing students’ competence in understanding social processes and increasing their ability to interpret the interaction of the individual and society. The social knowledge acquired during the course is nowadays considered an essential part of the professional culture of every specialist, enabling them to navigate problematic situations and take reasoned decisions, taking into account socio-economic processes.
Preliminary Knowledge
Basic knowledge of social sciences.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.After successful fulfilment of the requirements of the study course students will have mastered knowledge, which will allow: 1. To correctly use basic sociological concepts and terms, taking into account the substance of the concepts; 2. To describe the formation of a social structure and identify its main elements and the interrelationships between them; 3. To explain the process of social changes and the conditions for sustainable development of society from a sociological perspective; 4. To outline the importance of the socialisation process in the lives of individuals and describe the main agents of socialisation; 5. To describe the causes and types of deviance and to characterise the main mechanisms of social control and their role in society; 6. To outline the nature and importance of the concepts of social status and roles in order to explain the place of individuals in the social hierarchy; 7. To name and explain the types of social inequalities in society and describe the main instruments for reducing social inequalities and their role; 8. To explain the nature of social institutions as a way of organising social life and name the most important social institutions in modern society; 9. To be on top of the dominant research methods used in sociology and the specificities of social research.
Skills
1.As a result of completing the study course, students will: 1. Know how to apply sociological concepts and terms in context; 2. Know how to evaluate social processes and political documents from a sociological perspective; 3. Know how to apply the basic principles of sociological analysis to the analysis of societal processes.
Competences
1.As a result of completing the study course, students will be able to apply sociological knowledge in research and occupational therapy. As a result of completing the study course, students will develop social competence, which will be expressed as the ability to conceptually understand society and its processes and to make a reasoned analysis of social processes.
Assessment
Individual work
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Title
|
% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Individual work |
-
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-
|
|
Abstracts/presentations in line with the seminar tasks.
Group work - preparing, presenting and discussing seminar topics.
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||
Examination
|
Title
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% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Examination |
-
|
-
|
|
Learning the subject matter will be evaluated as follows:
1. Attendance and responsible participation in classes - 20%;
2. Abstracts/presentations in line with the seminar objectives - 40%
3. Exam test - 40%
The exam tests understanding of the basic concepts of sociology, the main theories, the development of society and the changing trends of the main social institutions.
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Study Course Theme Plan
FULL-TIME
Part 1
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
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Topics
|
Introductory lecture on the nature, necessity, structure and organisation of the study course. Sociology as a science of society, its development in the world and in Latvia. Structure and functions of sociology. Sociological thinking, dominant theoretical trends and main theoretical approaches. The subject of sociology and the main research topics.
Socio-demographic characteristics of Latvian society, current socio-demographic problems.
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-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Introductory lecture on the nature, necessity, structure and organisation of the study course. Sociology as a science of society, its development in the world and in Latvia. Structure and functions of sociology. Sociological thinking, dominant theoretical trends and main theoretical approaches. The subject of sociology and the main research topics.
Socio-demographic characteristics of Latvian society, current socio-demographic problems.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
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Societal development, basic types of societal development. Social changes. The dominant types of social changes: transformations, modernisation, reforms, revolutions and crises. Characteristic features of modern society and era. Globalisation.
Social changes and different generations.
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-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
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Topics
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Social changes and sustainable development of Latvia.
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-
Lecture
|
Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
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Topics
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Societal sustainability and social problems. Dimensions of sustainability. Quality of life. Subjective well-being of individuals.
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
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Topics
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The individual and society. Culture and cultural diversity as a reality of contemporary society. Human life cycle and identity. Socialisation as internalisation of social norms. Deviance as a deviation from social norms. Social control and its role in society. A sociological interpretation of the body.
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Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
The individual and society. Culture and cultural diversity as a reality of contemporary society. Human life cycle and identity. Socialisation as internalisation of social norms. Deviance as a deviation from social norms. Social control and its role in society. A sociological interpretation of the body.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
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Topics
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Social structure and social interaction. Social statuses and roles. Analysis of the individual set of social statuses and roles. The formal organisation of society. Social groups and organisations.
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
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Topics
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Social inequality and social stratification. Social exclusion and poverty. Racial and ethnic inequality. Gender inequality. Age inequality. Regional inequality. Social stratification systems and social mobility. Tools to reduce social inequality in society. Individual capacity.
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-
Lecture
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Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Social inequality and social stratification. Social exclusion and poverty. Racial and ethnic inequality. Gender inequality. Age inequality. Regional inequality. Social stratification systems and social mobility. Tools to reduce social inequality in society. Individual capacity.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
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Manifestations and spread of discrimination in Latvian society.
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-
Lecture
|
Modality
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Location
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Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
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On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
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Topics
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Social institutions as a way of structuring society and organising social life. The basic needs of society as a social whole. Family and marriage as social institutions. Religion as one of the oldest social institutions. Education as a social institution. Basic essence of the social institution of economics. Mass media as a social institution. The essence of the social institute of medicine. Politics as a social institution.
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-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Social institutions as a way of structuring society and organising social life. The basic needs of society as a social whole. Family and marriage as social institutions. Religion as one of the oldest social institutions. Education as a social institution. Basic essence of the social institution of economics. Mass media as a social institution. The essence of the social institute of medicine. Politics as a social institution.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
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Scientific research of society. The specifics of research of society. Social and sociological research: topics, meaning, applications. Main methodological approaches to sociological research. Insights into sociological research methods. Study quality indicators.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Scientific research of society. The specifics of research of society. Social and sociological research: topics, meaning, applications. Main methodological approaches to sociological research. Insights into sociological research methods. Study quality indicators.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
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Topics
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Discussion on socially relevant issues and the specificities of social analysis.
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Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
32 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
Giddens, A., Sutton, P.W. Sociology. Cambridge: Polity, 2021.
2.
Paula L., Korpa V. Socioloģija. LLU SZF Socioloģijas katedra, 2010. (akceptējams izdevums)
3.
Socioloģija Latvijā, zin. red. T.Tisenkopfs, LU Akadēmiskais apgāds, 2010. (akceptējams izdevums)
4.
Ievads pētniecībā: stratēģijas, dizaini, metodes : pētījums / sastādītāja Kristīne Mārtinsone ; zinātniskās redaktores: Kristīne Mārtinsone, Anita Pipere. Rīga: RaKa, 2011. 284 lpp. (akceptējams izdevums)
5.
Introduction to Sociology. (2013) OpenStax College Rice University.
Additional Reading
1.
Bezdarba un sociālās atstumtības iemesli un ilgums. Rīga: FSI, BICEPS, SPI, 2007.
2.
Dzīves kvalitāte Latvijā, zin.red. Bela B., Tisenkopfs T., Zinātne, 2006.
3.
Haralambos, M., Holborn, M. Sociology: Themes and Perspectives. Collins Educational, 2013.
4.
Latvijas ģimenes paaudzēs. LU FSI, 2018
5.
Sabiedrības novecošana: sociālā aizsardzība, nevienlīdzība un darba tirgus riski. LU FSI, 2012
6.
Tautas attīstības pārskati. Pieejams: https://www.lu.lv/zinatne/zinatniskas-publikacijas/tautas-attistibas-parskati/
Other Information Sources
1.
Sociālās atstumtības riskam pakļautās iedzīvotāju grupas Latvijā. Labklājības ministrija. Situācijas raksturojums
2.
Sociālā iekļaušana. Attīstības plānošanas dokumenti un tiesību akti.
3.
Nevienlīdzības novēršana -- labklājības modeļa nepārtrauktais izaicinājums. Pieejams: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zb0tJEF-wfc
4.
Dzīves kvalitāte Eiropā: Subjektīvā labklājība. http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/statistics_explained/index.php/Quality_of_life_indicators
5.
Dzīve – attīstība - labbūtība Latvijas laukos. (2012) Rakstu krājums. Sast. Cimdiņa, Agnese, Raubiško, Ieva. Rīga: Apgāds Zinātne, 264 lpp.