The University of Hong Kong Introduction to sociology
Offer semester
1st semester
Lecture time
Wednesday 10:30am - 12:20pm
Lecture venue
CPD-LG.01
Course description
This course introduces students to the nature of sociological inquiry and the fundamental concepts used in sociological analysis. The course will focus on key concepts and theoretical frameworks used in the analysis of cultures, social structures, social processes and social change. Topics include social class and inequality, gender, race, culture and media, among others.
Course learning outcomes
- Reflect critically on core sociological theories and concepts as part of the basis to build a life-long capacity in critical thinking
- Apply sociological perspectives and concepts in analyzing your everyday lives and critically evaluating current social issues
- Acquire the skills to examine issues of social life from a variety of perspectives and to propagate the findings to fellow learners and the larger community
Assessment
| Tasks | Weighting |
|---|---|
| Tutorial participation | 10% |
| Tutorial presentation | 15% |
| Reflection memo | 10% |
| Term essay | 25% |
| Final examination | 40% |
Required reading
Dalton Conley, You May Ask Yourself: An Introduction to Thinking Like a Sociologist, Core 7th edition (2021). W.W. Norton & Company.
C. Wright Mills, The Sociological Imagination. Oxford University Press.
Peter L. Berger, Invitation to Sociology: A Humanistic Perspective. Pelican Press.
Recommended reading
Anthony Giddens et al., Introduction to Sociology, Seagull 12th edition (2020). W.W. Norton & Company.
Patricia A. Adler and Peter Adler, Sociological Odyssey: Contemporary Readings in Introductory Sociology, 4th edition (2012). Wadsworth Cengage Learning.