The course provides students with a knowledge of the fundamentals of sociology that is necessary for the course of study undertaken and useful for interpreting the major collective challenges of the times in which we live with greater awareness. Through the course, students will learn the fundamental concepts of sociological analysis and learn to use them not only to better understand the experiences of everyday life, from family life to intimate and friendship relationships, but also to interpret phenomena of general relevance to contemporary social life, from youth unemployment to the growth of inequality, from the rise of so-called 'populisms' to the relevance of digital media. By expanding their sociological imagination, students on the course will learn to problematise what is taken for granted or considered natural by common sense, acquiring the ability to think and think about themselves sociologically.

The course introduces and deals with the fundamental concepts and categories of sociological analysis, and is divided into four main subject areas:
1. The elements of society: culture, social structure, roles, socialisation, social interaction, organisations, deviance and social control, community and urban life. 
2. Inequalities: social stratifications and classes, ethnicity, gender, age. 
3. The main institutions: family, education, religion, economy and society, political system
4. Society and change: population dynamics, collective behaviour and social movements. social and cultural change.  
The detailed course programme (syllabus) will be provided at the beginning of the lessons and will be available on the Moodle blended.uniurb.it platform.

At the end of the course, students acquire:

Knowledge and understanding skills: an understanding of the distinction between sociological knowledge and common sense knowledge

Applied knowledge and understanding: knowledge and understanding of the concepts covered in the course and the essential vocabulary of sociology. The ability to outline a general framework of the discipline, with particular reference to the fundamental concepts of sociological analysis, in order to be able to continue in the course of study

Autonomy of judgement: ability to discern between sociological knowledge and common sense knowledge. 

Communication skills: ability to read and interpret the main elements of society, inequalities, major institutions and processes of social change.  The ability to interpret events of everyday life, news events and personal experiences from a sociological perspective

Ability to learn: ability to find the necessary sources for the development of sociological knowledge, ability to independently interpret issues related to different social contexts. 

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Teaching

Lectures and active learning activities (classroom discussions) 

Innovative teaching methods

Attendance

Attendance of at least 3/4 of the lesson hours

Course books

Sociologia generale. Temi, concetti, strumenti. di David Croteau, William Hoynes Editore: McGraw-Hill Education

To choose one of the following narrative book:  

1)  Margaret Mazzantini, Mare al mattino, Einaudi, 2011

2)  Julie Otsuka, Venivamo tutte per mare, Bollati Boringhieri, 2011

3)  Mariapia Veladiano, Adesso che sei qui, Ugo Guanda Editore, 2021

4)  Valeria Perrella, Almarina, Einaudi, 2019

5)  Viola Ardone, Oliva Denaro, Einaudi, 2021

6)  Delphine De Vigne, Le gratitudini, Einaudi, 2019

7)  Michela Murgia, Accabadora, Einaudi, 2009

8)  Paola Mastracola, Facebook in the rain, 2012

9)  Geppi Cucciari, Meglio un uomo oggi, Mondadori, 2009

10)   Michele Gianni, Rantologia, Ventura, 2020

11) Hideo Azuma, Il Diario della Mia Scomparsa, JPop, 2024.

12) Janek Gorczyca, Storia di mia vita, Sellerio, 2024

13) Daniele Mencarelli, la casa degli sguardi, Mondadori, 2020.

It will also be possible to choose an english book or audio book (for DSA) for students who request them. 

Assessment

The expected learning outcomes will be evaluated through a written test which includes three open questions. The time available to answer the questions is 2 hours. The evaluation criteria are: the level of mastery of the knowledge and application of the different sociological concepts, the degree of articulation of the answer. Each response is evaluated on the basis of a scale of values/judgments relating to the criteria mentioned above. The mark of the written test is expressed in thirtieths and is the arithmetic mean of the marks attributed to the single answers.

The questions on the textbook are taken from the list of self-assessment questions at the end of each chapter. 

The question on the narrative text will ask you to briefly present the contents of the text and highlight the sociological elements and themes present.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Course books

Sociologia generale. Temi, concetti, strumenti. di David Croteau, William Hoynes Editore: McGraw-Hill Education

 Giulia Garofalo Geymonat, Vendere e comprare sesso, l Mulino, Farsi un'idea, 2014

To choose one narrative book among the following: 

1)  Margaret Mazzantini, Mare al mattino, Einaudi, 2011

2)  Julie Otsuka, Venivamo tutte per mare, Bollati Boringhieri, 2011

3)  Mariapia Veladiano, Adesso che sei qui, Ugo Guanda Editore, 2021

4)  Valeria Perrella, Almarina, Einaudi, 2019

5)  Viola Ardone, Oliva Denaro, Einaudi, 2021

6)  Delphine De Vigne, Le gratitudini, Einaudi, 2019

7)  Michela Murgia, Accabadora, Einaudi, 2009

8)  Paola Mastracola, Facebook in the rain, 2012

9)  Geppi Cucciari, Meglio un uomo oggi, Mondadori, 2009

10)   Michele Gianni, Rantologia, Ventura, 2020

11) Hideo Azuma, Il Diario della Mia Scomparsa, JPop, 2024.

12) Janek Gorczyca, Storia di mia vita, Sellerio, 2024

13) Daniele Mencarelli, la casa degli sguardi, Mondadori, 2020.

It will also be possible to choose english text book and narrative audio book (for DSA) for students who request them. 

Assessment

The expected learning outcomes will be evaluated through a written test which includes four open questions. The time available to answer the questions is 2.5 hours. The evaluation criteria are: the level of mastery of the knowledge and application of the different sociological concepts, the degree of articulation of the answer. Each response is evaluated on the basis of a scale of values/judgments relating to the criteria mentioned above. The mark of the written test is expressed in thirtieths and is the arithmetic mean of the marks attributed to the single answers.

The questions on the textbook are taken from the list of self-assessment questions at the end of each chapter. 

The question on the text 'selling and buying sex' will ask to present and discuss a paragraph in the text. 

The question on the narrative text will ask you to briefly present the contents of the text and highlight the sociological elements and themes present.

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.