Scottish Society & Culture (S1) (U03003)

? Credit Points : 10 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : SPS-3-U03003

This course intends to give the interns an introduction to Scottish society and culture, tying in with aspects of politics and governance taught in the other courses. Scotland being an old country, with a long national history, means that many sociological features have been long in the making; Scotland being a small country, particularly in terms of population, affects the form and frequency of social interaction.
The course will progress from the larger context of the economic, social and cultural history and identity of modern Scotland and the examination of key institutions which shape Scottish life, on to social groupings and, finally, to expressions of culture and the arts, especially the literature of Scotland.
Please also refer to the Political Internship website

? Keywords : Please refer to the Political Internship website

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : This course is PART OF THE POLITICAL INTERNSHIP PROGRAMME and is ONLY available to students on the Political Internship Programme.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

School (School of Social and Political Studies), (School of Social and Political Studies, Schedule J)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 3rd year

? Delivery Period : Semester 1 (Blocks 1-2)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 5 weeks

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

Students should be familiar with the main developments in Scottish political, social and cultural history. They should be able to know about and use the available academic literature in history, sociology, politics and cultural studies to further assess the fabric of Scottish society, its social stratification, its ethnic set-up, and gender
relations, as well as the role of culture and the arts in Scottish life. They should have developed an understanding of the importance of Church and religion in Scottish society, the Scottish educational system, and the Scottish legal system. They should, in particular, be familiar with
the debates concerning 'Scottish national identity', with the importance and impact of the Scottish Enlightenment of the eighteenth century, and the Scottish Literary Renaissance of the twentieth century. The should have approached an understanding of the great writers of Scotland, from Burns, Scott and Stevenson to MacDiarmid, Gray and Kelman. They should also be aware of the contemporary arts scene. Moreover, they should be
fully introduced to the cultural policies of the Parliament, from the National Cultural Strategy to the Cultural Commission's Report and their impact on the creative industries. Customs and peculiarities of the
Scottish way of life should also be understood by the end of the course.
Please also refer to the Political Internship website.