ASOK15217U Transnational and Global Sociology (TGS)

Volume 2017/2018
Education

MA Theory and Methodology (MSc Curriculum 2015)

Course package (MSc 2015):

- Welfare, inequality and mobility
- Knowledge, organisation and politics
- Culture, lifestyle and everyday life

BA-Undergraduates from foreign countries (exchange students) can sign up for this course

Content

Current sociology faces the challenge of addressing the supra-national dynamics of a complex multi-scalar reality. An increasing cross-country inter-dependency within transnational and globalizing forces requires developing a supra-national analytical strategy to be integrated within nation-state sociology. The course aims to understand and discuss the different ways of thinking and doing transnational and global sociology. The course is divided in two main theoretical and analytical levels:

 

1.Introduction

 

Part I: Transnational Sociology

2. Comparative sociology and the interdependence problem.

3. Transnational flows

4. Transnational diffusion

5. Macro-regional sociology and multiple modernities

6. The sociology of EUrope

7. Summing-up seminar: examples, cases, etc.

 

Part II: Global Sociology

8. World Society/Polity/Culture

9. World Systems Analysis: geophaphy, capitalism and states

10. Complexity and Systems theory applied to global connections

11. Postcolonial sociology and global hegemonies

12. Cosmopolitan sociology

13. Summing-up seminar: examples, cases, etc.

 

14. Final summing-up seminar.

Learning Outcome

After completion students are expected to be able to:

 

1. Knowledge:

 

-master general knowledge about the features of transnational and global sociology

 

-understand the main differencees between the different approaches to transnational and global sociology

 

-reflect critically on the strenghts and weaknesses of the approaches and perspectives covered in the course.

 

2. Skills

 

-differentiate between analytical levels and domains of the supranational reality.

 

-formulate themes and questions for analysis

 

-select theories and perspectives for analytical application

 

3. Competences

 

-review and discuss different theories

 

-analyse cases and phenomena using one or various theories

 

-structure and write academic essays

 

For 7.5 ECTS the syllabus is about 600 pages.


Here are some general reference books (not obligatory):

 

Axford, B. (2013) Theories of globalization. Polity

Therborn, G. (2010) The World: A Beginner's Guide. Polity.

Urry, J. (2003) Global complexities. Polity.

 

As many texts as possible (journal articles and book chapters) will be available in Absalon.

A basic knowledge on macrosociology
The classes will consist of a combination of short lecturing, discussion of texts, group-work and debates, student presentations, working of examples and data, and if possible talks by guest lecturers.
Exam information:

Portfolio assignment (max. 10 standard/normal pages of 24.000 characters with spaces), composed of two essays.

-Part I: Essay on Transnational Sociology.

-Part II: Essay on Global Sociology.

The specific content of the two essays is to be discussed and agreed with the teacher.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Course Preparation
  • 68
  • Exam Preparation
  • 90
  • Lectures
  • 28
  • Preparation
  • 20
  • Total
  • 206
Continuous feedback during the course of the semester

In two ways:
a) in small and short group-work in many of the sessions
b) in the planned summing-up seminars at the end of each part and at the end of the course

Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Portfolio
Individual or group. A portfolio assignment is defined as a series of short assignments during the course that address one or more set questions and feedback is offered during the course. All of the assignments are submitted together for assessment at the end of the course. The portfolio assignments must be no longer than 10 pages. For group assignments, an extra 5 pages is added per additional student. Further details for this exam form can be found in the Curriculum and in the General Guide to Examinations at KUnet.
Exam registration requirements

Sociology students must be enrolled under MSc Curriculum 2015 to take this exam.

Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
No external censorship
Exam period

Submission dates and time will be available at KUnet, www.kunet.dk. Exchange students and danish full degree guest students please see the homepage of Sociology; http://www.soc.ku.dk/english/education/exams/ and http://www.soc.ku.dk/uddannelser/meritstuderende/eksamen

Re-exam

At re-exam, the form of examination is the same as ordinary exam.
If the form of examination is ”active participation” the re-examination form is always “free written take-home essay”.

Criteria for exam assesment

Please see the learning outcome.