SOC 3301W is also offered in Fall 2024
SOC 3301W is also offered in Spring 2023
Fall 2024 | SOC 3301W Section 001: Politics and Society (32287)
- Instructor(s)
- Class Component:
- Lecture
- Credits:
- 3 Credits
- Grading Basis:
- A-F or Audit
- Instructor Consent:
- No Special Consent Required
- Instruction Mode:
- In Person
- Class Attributes:
- UMNTC Liberal Education Requirement
- Times and Locations:
- Regular Academic Session09/03/2024 - 12/11/2024Mon, Wed 02:30PM - 03:45PMUMTC, West BankBlegen Hall 235
- Enrollment Status:
- Open (34 of 60 seats filled)
- Also Offered:
- Course Catalog Description:
- Political sociology is concerned with the social bases of power and the social consequences of the organization of power, especially how power operates in relationship to various forms of inequality and different institutions. We will explore political socialization, electoral politics and voting, social movements, the media and framing, and politics of inequality, poverty, and welfare. prereq: 1001 recommended; soc majors/minors must register A-F
- Class Notes:
- Click this link for more detailed course information: http://classinfo.umn.edu/?koksa002+SOC3301W+Fall2024
- Class Description:
- This course familiarizes students with political sociology, a subfield of sociology that focuses on the interaction between the state and society. We will explore how political sociologists analyze the concept of "power" across its political, economic, and cultural dimensions, and examine how power shapes social inequalities based on race, class, gender, and nationality. Throughout the semester, we will cover a range of topics including the forces driving social and political change, the mediating roles of political institutions such as parties and elections, and the influence of civil society and social movements in challenging existing relations of power. We will also explore the multifaceted aspects of political culture, both on collective and individual levels, and unpack a spectrum of political ideologies, from nationalism to populism, using a sociological lens. In addition to introducing students to key scholarly debates surrounding political institutions, the course will cover the dynamics of political change, such as democratization and democratic backsliding, and analyze how identities based on class, gender, race, ethnicity, and nationality influence political attitudes. We will engage with theoretical literature on these topics, supplemented by their practical illustrations drawn from case studies in specific national contexts. While we will have a primary focus on U.S. politics and society, we will maintain a global outlook by incorporating research from other countries and exploring how historical and cultural factors shape global struggles for democracy and political rights.
- Who Should Take This Class?:
- Open to all Sociology majors and minors, the course welcomes all students with introductory backgrounds in social sciences, humanities, and related fields, who are interested in critically examining their political beliefs and attitudes, as well as those of others, and developing a comparative understanding of the underlying social forces shaping contemporary politics in the U.S. and beyond.
- Learning Objectives:
- By the end of the course, students will learn about some of the key concepts and debates in political sociology, acquire a solid foundation in different perspectives on the operation of political power across various political institutions in modern societies, and develop a creative toolkit for interpreting and analyzing socio-political phenomena using sociological theory and data.This is a writing-intensive course, aiming to advance the students' ability to write clearly and persuasively. Writing assignments will comprise a significant portion of the coursework and contribute substantially to the final grade. The students will be required to complete an individual writing project, which will be divided and assigned throughout the semester to allow for feedback and revision.
- Grading:
- Attendance and participation: 20 pointsWeekly reading responses and writing assignments: 25 pointsWriting project (multiple drafts): 55 points
- Class Format:
- Class time will be divided between short introductory lectures, group discussions, and individual free-writing sessions. Regular attendance and active participation are required. Students will be expected to complete the assigned readings for each session prior to the class and participate thoughtfully and respectfully in discussions.
- Workload:
- Students will need to complete an average of 40-50 pages of reading and write approximately 1 page per week.
- Textbooks:
- https://bookstores.umn.edu/course-lookup/32287/1249
- Instructor Supplied Information Last Updated:
- 3 April 2024
ClassInfo Links - Fall 2024 Sociology Classes
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- http://classinfo.umn.edu/?subject=SOC&catalog_nbr=3301W&term=1249
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