What is “society”? What does its structure look like and how does it work? How does it change? Why does it change? How do are individuals and society intertwined? This course provides students with the tools to answer these questions. Modern societies have experienced dramatic social changes with the emergence of individualism, new class structures, the development of urban life or changing relationships between individuals and their natural environments. Sociology provides an understanding of these changes by studying human interactions and forms of social organization. In this course, students will be introduced to major sociological thinkers, concepts, and approaches. Finally, this Academic Travel course will take students to Austria, and Vienna more specifically. Vienna presents itself as a sociologically very intriguing city to approach with a sociological gaze.
The course teaches students to approach the basis of sociology and sociological method and its possible practical applications. In doing so, it will encourage students to read academic material and develop their ability to analyze both texts and images; collect information and apply knowledge to the sociological field, on campus and during travel; strengthen their ability to work in groups; and finally learn how to use a variety of qualitative and quantitative research methods.
- Teacher: Giorgio Ennas