Sociology

This course develops tools for analyzing the effect of social networks, the way that culture constrains and enables economic outcomes, and the effect that systems of power have the reproduction of economic inequalities. These tools are the foundation on which economic sociology seeks to explain, criticize, influence, and predict economic action. The first part of the course establishes three primary intellectual camps or “theories” of economic action: power, culture, and rational action. The second part of the course applies these theoretical approaches to address a series of contemporary economic questions and concerns.

This course discusses patterns and processes of social inequality, the main theories on their determinants, and forms of human action to increase equality. The course discusses modern and classic concepts of class and status, as well as the process of status attainment. The roles of family, gender, education, partner choice, and social mobility are scrutinized. Classic, as well as state-of-the-art articles, are read.

This course introduces and critically examines various understandings of the social categories of race, class, gender, and sexuality. Instead of assuming these categories to be biological, ahistorical and/or static, theories of social constructionism are used to analyze these categories as relational and contingent - depending on the historical, political, cultural, economic and national contexts. Finally, the class explores ways in which these categories intersect to shape experiences of inequalities in South Africa and outside both historically and in the present.

This course is an introduction to the skills and principles involved when working with people, in a voluntary or paid capacity. It is a requirement that students have work experience to draw upon. The focus of this course is on the practical work experiences that the students bring and the tutorial discussion analyzing those experiences. During the tutorials students are encouraged to engage in reflection upon their own and others work experience. Skill development takes place through participation in group learning, based around presentations and discussion. 

This course offers an overview of emerging social issues in contemporary China, focusing on changes after 1949 and how China’s transition from a command economy to a market economy has brought fundamental and rapid changes in its social structure and social relationships among members of different subgroups in society. Topics include sociological perspectives such as changes and new challenges in Chinese families, gender roles, demographic structure and distribution, social safety net, and environment. The course combines lectures, academic readings, films, sources from the mass media, and discussions.

This course systematically examines the social, cultural, and pragmatic factors of language in context. Having a grasp of how these factors interact in a given language and in intercultural communication is crucial to the development of mutual understanding in the global world. The course explores the concepts of language, ideology, power, and identity on a micro-interactional (family, workplace, educational, legal settings) as well as macro-interactional level (language in the public sphere, in politics and the media). Seeing that the course participants are global citizens themselves, their viewpoints, experiences and opinions are crucial to developing an understanding of communication in the globalized world. Aside from being introduced to theoretical concepts, ideas and state-of-the-art studies in the field, one of the main aims of this course is for its participants to be able to discuss and analyze language from a sociolinguistic perspective. The course discusses topics including the intricate links between language and society; the concepts related to language change and variation, politeness, and impoliteness across cultures, and language ideologies; issues concerning the sociolinguistics of globalization and intercultural communication; the role of language in various spheres of everyday life (politics, media, health and education, economy); how cultural context affects the use and the (mis)interpretation of language; communication strategies that come into play in intercultural interactions in today’s globalized world; and conduct their own preliminary analysis of linguistic landscapes in their surroundings and apply the concepts presented in class with understanding the complexity of everyday language use.