This course is designed for those students who wish to develop their knowledge of sociology and enhance their understanding of the social transformations of contemporary societies. The course is composed of two modules. The first module has a theoretical focus as it explains the crucial tenets of some of the major contemporary social theories (e.g., functionalism, symbolic interactionism, and rational choice). The sec- ond module unpacks some of the principal debates in contemporary social theory and pays attention to several substantive issues (e.g., social control, multiculturalism, gender and sexuality, and the public sphere) that have attracted the attention of social theorists. The course instructor presents theoretical and empirical works, reviews social research methods and, through an active learning approach, encourages class discussions to stimulate students to think critically about social issues in contemporary societies.
- Teacher: Fabio Bolzonar