2008 undergraduate programmes and modules

Undergraduate sociology modules are taken in a degree programme context: each programme prescribes which modules can be taken for that specific programme. For more information on how programmes are structured and what the module options for programmes are, see the website for prospective students. To follow are informal descriptions of the undergraduate modules at the department of sociology. For more technical aspects like the subject codes and credit values of specific modules, see the calendar of the Faculty of Arts.

114 - Introduction to sociology
This module introduces the student to sociology as field of study. Students are given new ways of looking at and thinking about supposedly taken for granted aspects of society by introducing them to the sociological perspective. Students get ample of opportunities to exercise the 'sociological imagination'. As far as content is concerned, the particular characteristics of human social patterns with an emphasis on culture, society and social interaction are explored. Socialisation, social stratification, gender and demography are other key themes in this module. Our students come from diverse study fields such as the social sciences, sport science and health sciences. In this respect, our lecturers make an concerted effort to bring interdisciplinary insights to the classrooms. Apart from a specific content focus, emphasis is also placed on skills development in this module, i.e. academic writing skills and study methods.

142 - Social institutions
Did you know that men in Sooth Africa are legally allowed to marry more than one wife? And that the majority of families in South Africa do not consist of two parents and their children? Do you think that South Africa's public education system is deteriorating at such a rate that you would one day have to send your children to a private school to give them any chance at all in life? Does it also seem to you as if the church pews are becoming increasingly empty, and have you asked yourself why this is the case? Issues such as these are discussed in the first year module, Sociology 142, which investigates three social institutions, the family, education and religion, from all angles. They are discussed in terms of the advantages they have for society (e.g. religion ensures that people adhere to the "rules", or norms and values, of their society), as well as in terms of their negative impact on particular groups in society (e.g. feminists' argument that marriage is disadvantageous to women as it perpetuates their subordinate position in society).

Social institutions are not static, but do change continually. Therefore it is also the aim of Sociology 142 to offer a student insight into trends within these institutions, such as the increase in families with a woman as the only parent, the exponential growth of information technology in schools, or the heightened interest in "alternative religions", to mention only a few. The focus of the module as a whole is placed on the challenges these changes pose to societies such as South Africa and, by implication, to sociologists.

152 - Social change
The basic sociological assumption is that we are not mere products of our society, but that human behaviour is shaped by society and social circumstances. Most of the time we are not aware of the external influences posed by society. To some extend, most sociology modules focus on social change in general. In this module social change as concept is studied in-depth and then applied within selected themes. The focus of the module is then on the impact of social change on the broader societal level (a macro focus), with the debate on how global changes impact on the South African society. After stuying the 'bigger picture', only then do we focus on the impact and meaning of such changes on the level of daily social interaction (micro focus). This process makes it possible to systematically illustrate the basic sociological assumption referred to above.

At first the module introduces students to a theoretical framework for measuring and studying social change. The role of innovations, conflict, capitalism and the actions of leaders as 'agents of social change' are investigated. In this context, the first theme to be discussed is the global impact of the Internet as the most influential single agent for social change in today's Information Age on a global level and also how it has become a mechanism for change itself. On a micro level issues like social isolation, the emergence of virtual communities and 'images of body, mind and self' as a result of Internet mediated communication, are discussed. Students get the opportunity to participate in a virtual community of choice as applied section of this module. The second discussion theme revolves around understanding how HIV/AIDS has changed the social landscape on the global, national and social interaction levels. At a micro level, specific emphasis is placed on gender issues (including a masculinity focus) and youth issues that emerged as a result of the HIV/AIDS debate. This module is academically challenging and demands a high input from students. Many opportunities for participation and self-exploration are provided for.

162 - Social anthropological perspectives on society and culture
In this introductory course the student meets social anthropology as a field of study. The questions which are posed include the following: what is the scope of the discipline? how do social anthropologists do their field research? and: what is the aim of social anthropological work? Central concepts in the discipline, such as culture, ethnocentrism, racism, etc. are discussed. Furthermore, the course provides introductory and comparative perspectives on kinship, politics, economics, ritual and belief. Where possible, the theoretical material in this course is exemplified with cases from different contexts (rural and urban, international and South African).

212 - Poverty and development
The origin and meaning of 'development'; the causes of poverty and under-development; Macro strategies for development; Development initiatives in South Africa today.

222 - Crime, deviance and social control
Crime and deviance as social constructions. Sociological interpretations, eg. crime in South Africa, inter-personal violence, addiction. Social control of crime and deviance. Reaction of offenders. Victims of deviance and/or crime.

242 - Sociology of communication
Theoretical perspectives on communication The mass media in a changed global culture Inter-personal communication Handling of selected communication problems such as cultural diversity, language and power, television and violence, control over the media, communication and development

252 - Industrial sociology
The module introduces students to central concepts, themes and debates within the field of industrial sociology and applied to South Africa. The development of industrial sociology and definition of work. Sociological perspectives on work and industry. Management control, labour processes and organisation of production Industrial conflict, trade unions and mechanisms of conflict resolution. Worker participation and democratisation of the work place. Work organisations: perspectives and themes. Selected problems, eg. gender and the work place.

262 - Social-anthropological perspectives on South Africa
The first focus area of this module is the anthropology of the 'other' by making use of classical Southern African monographs and structuralist approaches to inform debates. Another focus is the deconstruction of the 'other' with emphasis on the political economic approaches in Southern Africa. A third focus is on constructing diversity by considering the post-modern trend in Southern African studies.

Third year studies must make a choice between Sociology and Social Anthropology as a major. See the calender entries in this regard.

SOCIOLOGY THIRD YEAR MODULES

314 - Sociological theory
Yearbook description: Social contexts of thought; Historical development of sociological thought; Selected theoretical perspectives such as functionalism, critical sociology, Marxism, symbolic interactionism, feminism, post modernism.

324 - Political sociology
Yearbook description: Basic understanding of ideas in political sociology such as civil society and the state, sovereignty and citizenship, nation and ethnic group, cultural diversity, the global context of political occurrences, transition of South African society, the new South African Constitution

334 - Social anthropology: culture, power and identity
Central in this module is the attempt to understand the use of cultural symbolism for group formation in political processes. In the local political arena the processes of nation building and ethnicity are substantial issues in this regard. Internationally, the attempts at assimilation, pluralism and multiculturalism represent further examples of the handling of group differences in varying political contexts. In addition, the module looks at the relationship between identity politics, global inequality and human rights, as well as the way in which diversity is being handled in civil society.

344 - Sociology of work and economic innovation
This course focuses on an extremely important challenge facing the South African economy, the need for more and constant innovation. The latter is a core requirement of all firms-regardless of whether they are in agriculture or manufacturing- that want to complete in today's international markets. Students are introduced to a number of sociological theories of innovation, e.g. Regulation and Social Network theory. Within these theoretical contexts key concepts like Global Commodity Chains, Industrial Upgrading, post-Fordism, and Industrial Clusters are discussed. These theoretical and conceptual tools are applied to a selected industry of the South African economy. Inthis way students get a tangible idea of the challenges facing that particular industry and what has to be done in order to meet the challenge.

354 - Community development (service learning module)
Theoretical perspectives of community development; the structure and functioning of communities; community participation and empowerment; role players in the process of community development (communities, the state and non-governmental organisations); training in community development; managing and evaluation of development projects. Students complete 30 hours practicum over a period of six weeks for this module.

364 - Social research
This module introduces students to the practice of social research. Not only will the knowledge acquired in this module enable students to improve their evaluation of public information, but it will also enable them to collect and analyse their own data. These skills will also be of much value in their future careers.

SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY THIRD YEAR MODULES

314 - Theories and debates in social anthropology
Historical overview of the main theoretical approaches in Social Anthropology since the 19th century. Key debates in the subject.

324 - Culture, power and identity
Nation-building and ethnicity. Assimilation, pluralism, multiculturalism in comparative perspective. Global inequalities and human rights. Difference and diversity in civil society.-

344 - Reading and doing: ethnography
Analysis of selected ethnographical work (South African and from elsewhere) demonstrating the variety in approaches to the writing of ethnography. Fieldwork and participant observation as established traditions. A small-scale fieldwork and writing project.

354 - The anthropology of development
The critical deconstruction of development as discourse and intervention, with attention to unintended consequences and power relations.

334 - Methodology of social science research
As metascience this modules involves a reflection on the nature and progression of research in the social sciences in general, in order to serve as a foundation for subject specific applications. The aim with the module is therefore to introduce students to the epistemological and methodological debates in the social sciences. The focus is on key concepts in social sciences research such as truth, objectivity, validity, deduction, induction, theory, hypothesis, etc. The objective is also to provide students with a coherent conceptual framework with which to make sense of key social science distinctions in order to gain more insight into social sciences research.

364 - Introduction to science and technology studies
This metascience module aims to provide students with an introduction to the inter-disciplinary terrain of science and technology studies. Students are introduced to the works of influential thinkers in the field, such as Merton, Kuhn, Bloor, Latour and Knorr-Cetina. Within the ambit of the sociology of scientific knowledge, attention is devoted specifically to the social construction of scientific realities, the social study of scientific controversies and the public understanding of science. A focus on South African case studies is maintained throughout the module.