The course provides the fundamentals on the history of sociology and its institutionalization as a legitimate scientific discipline. A first aim is to make the students able to understand the emergence of sociology as a social fact, paying attention to the historical circumstances, the fundamental questions and the political economic and cultural forces that triggered the development of the discipline of sociology. A second aim is to equip the students with an adequate knowledge of the authors, themes and interpretive traditions of classical sociology, both in Europe and North America, making them aware of the twofold nature, theoretical and empirical, of classical sociology.

The first part of the course presents a sociological analysis of the origins of sociology, answering the question on how society becomes an object of scientific inquire starting from a specific historical period and not before. The second part of the course discusses major classical sociologists and their thought, paying attention to the historical context against which their theoretical reflections and empirical researches took shape. The third part covers the historical landscape of sociology between the two world wars in Europe and America and the formation of the main theoretical paradigms after World War II: functionalism, conflictualism and interactionism.

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

Knowledge and ability to understand: know the historical, social and cultural foundations of the birth of the discipline; Illustrate the main lines of interpretation of the classical sociologists with regard to the fundamental problems of sociology and the object and method of the discipline

Knowledge and critical comprehension skills: recognize the connection between the thought of the classical sociologists and the socio-historical context in which it emerged; on the basis of the contribution of the classics, distinguish the main orientations that sociology adopts with regard to different social problems

Autonomy of judgment: apply the sociological gaze and interpretive keys gained from the study of the history of sociology to both the major transformations of contemporary society and the experiences of everyday life.

- Communication skills: be able to use disciplinary scientific language to explain the thought of classical authors in relation to the theoretical and empirical problems to which it has been applied from time to time

- Ability to learn: to use the knowledge acquired to pursue the course of study and address both the study of the contemporary theoretical development of sociology and the specific sociological disciplines

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 (brainstorming and concept maps)

Innovative teaching methods

Attendance

Attendance of at least 3/4 of the class hours

The attending mode will be valid no later than the winter special session (January-February 2026) of the freequency year 2024-2025.

Course books

Please contact the professor for details.

Assessment

Oral examination based on the following criteria: relevance of responses to the content of the program and level of response articulation.

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

Please contact the professor for details.

Assessment

Oral examination based on the following criteria: relevance of responses to the content of the program and level of response articulation.

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.