Course Title : Introduction to Sociology
Code		Course Type	Regular Semester	Lecture (hours/week)	Seminar (hours/week)	Lab (hours/week)	Credits	ECTS
SOC 101-1		C	1	3	0	0	3.00	4
Lecturer and Office Hours
Teaching Assistant and Office Hours
Language				Albanian
Course Level
Description		The course program of "Introduction to Sociology" contains a set of concepts, knowledge and values, logically linked with each other to better interpret phenomena, processes and development trends of the society based on sociological analysis. Main key concepts that will be explored in the program context are: stage process of structures and class movements, association, deviation, the gender gap, economic stratification, family, race, ethnicity, country, religion etc. The student will become familiar with various research methods, including: sociological experiment, survey interviews, sociological observation, etc.. The scientific study should analyze the cultural context paying particular attention to symbols, norms, the material, subcultures, counterculture, ethnocentrism, cultural relativity, association etc.
Objectives		1. To provide students with intellectual ability to analyze phenomena, processes the most important developments of society 2. To gain basic knowledge of quantitative and qualitative research. 3. Cultivate skills in order to be involved in practical solving of various social problems dealing with the individual, with certain social groups or the whole society; 4. To increase awareness and commitment to respect the values, cultural and legal norms as an indispensable condition for coexistence in contemporary society and pledges for their promotion.
Course Outline
Week	Topics
1	Chapter 1: Sociology: Problems and Perspectives • What is Sociology? • Theoretical Framework • Sociological Imagination - Understanding sociological perspectives analysis and their integration into daily life experiences and contemporary social issues. - Explanation of the three major theoretical perspectives in sociology. - Definition of sociological imagination and how we apply it in social problems
2	Chapter 2: Culture and Society • Culture concept • Race • Cultural Identity kulturor and etnocetrism • Pre-modern types of society • Societies in modernity - Differentiation between elements of culture such as language, values, norms of behavior, sanctions etc. Chapter 3: Association and periods of life • Theories of child development • Socialization factors • Course of life, death and the continuity of generations • Association and individual freedom -Discussion about of universal culture examples based in terms of expansion and innovation -Examination and analysis of questions about prejudice, stereotype, and multicultural controversy
3	Quiz I Chapter 5: Conformity and Deviance • What is deviance? • Norms and sanctions • Law, crimes and punishments • Organized crimes Chapter 6: Gender • Socialization by Gender • Violence • Sexual Orientations
4	Chapter 7: Stratification and Class Structure • Social stratification systems • Classes in western cultures • Social mobility • Poverty and inequality
5	Quiz II Chapter 8: Ethnicity and Race • Ethnic groups, minorities and races in pluralist society • Antagonism, predjudice and ethnic discrimination Chapter 9: Groups and Organizations • Forms of association • Bureaucracy • Supervision and discipline in organization
6	Chapter 10 : Politics, government, and state • State characteristics • Political parties and elections in western societies • Politics in international arena Chapter 13: Education communication and media • Early development of writing, literacy, and education • Education and inequality • Higher education • Education in the 3rd world countries • Mass communication
7	Quiz III Chapter 14: Religion • The definition of religion • Diversity of religions • Religion theories
8	Midterm Exam
9	Chapter 15: Work and the Economic Life • Division of work, Fordism and Post-Fordism • Corporations and government • Trade unions and non-industrial conflict • Unemployment, women's work and the informal economy *The documentary `Inside Job` by Charles Ferguson
10	Chapter 21: Research in Sociology, Study Methods • Scientific Methods - Defining and identifying the essential steps in the scientific method - Distinguishing between validity and reliability as well as the difference between quantitative and qualitative research.
11	Chapter 21: Research in Sociology, Study Methods • Code of Ethics general application - Discussion of key models used in social research. - Discussion about the role of technology in sociological research. - Explaining the importance of ethics in sociological research.
12	Quiz IV Chapter 16: Globalization of the Social Life • Theoretical perspectives • International economic integration • Global environment`s threads • Media globalization
13	Chapter 17: Modern Urbanization • Traits of Modern Urbanization • Traditional City • Urbanization theory
14	Chapter 22: The Development of Sociological Theory • Theoretical framework: Auguste Comte, Emilie Durkheim, Karl Marks, Max Weber
15	Chapter 22: The Development of Sociological Theory • Functionalism, Structuralism, Symbolic Interactionism • Theoretical Dilemma
16	Final Exam
Prerequisites
Textbook
Other References
Laboratory Work
Computer Usage
Other
Learning Outcomes and Competences
1	The student must have understood the complexity of social reality through the guidance of scientific literature
2	To have perfection operating modes and methods of implementation empirical ideological
3	Be able to interpret texts in sociological context
Course Evaluation Methods
In-term studies						Quantity	Percentage
Midterms						1	35
Quizzes						2	20
Projects						0	0
Term Projects						0	0
Laboratory						0	0
Attendance						0	0
Contribution of in-term studies to overall grade							55
Contribution of final examination to overall grade							45
Total							100
ECTS (Allocated Based on Student) Workload
Activities					Quantity	Duration (hours)	Total Workload (hours)
Course Duration (Including the exam week : 16 x Total course hours)					16	3	48
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice)					14	2	28
Assignments					0	2	0
Midterms					1	0	0
Final examination					1	15	15
Other					1	10	10
Total Work Load							101
Total Work Load / 25 (hours)							4.04
ECTS							4

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