Postgraduate Course: Contemporary Social Theory (PGSP11276)
Course Outline
| School | School of Social and Political Science |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course explores the social theory being produced contemporaneously. It examines the relationship between work produced as part of a theory project, and work published in leading theory journals. It also considers the tension between ¿blue skies¿ ideas and ¿reality-congruent¿ concepts and theories and how best to use theory in research (both substantive and theoretical). |
| Course description |
What is going on in contemporary social theory now? This course will explore social and sociological theory being produced contemporaneously in two key contexts. The first context involves the key writings produced as part of a theory project by such theorists as Achille Mbembe, Ashis Nandy, Andre Betaille, Boaventura de Sousa Santos, Dorothy Smith, Immanuel Wallerstein, John Urry, Mamood Mamdani, Margaret Archer, Patricia Hill Collins, Saskia Sassen, Theda Skocpol. The second context is work being published in leading theory journals and will review their contents over the recent period. The course will also consider how theory can best be used to inform different kinds of research practice.
Contemporary Social Theory is aimed at students who are interested in exploring the production of new ideas and ¿hotspots¿ in theoretical work being published now, in gaining an informed understanding of new developments in contemporary theory, in developing skills for making critical assessment of current theoretical work, in embarking on research projects that will use contemporary theory in an informed way, and who want to support their work with a clearer understanding of relevant contemporary ideas and debates.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2018/19, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 25 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 20,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
176 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
One essay between 3,000 and 4,000 words based on topics and readings from the course |
| Feedback |
Assessment topics will combine considering an extract from a theory monograph and theoretical work appearing in journals. The aim is to assess the ability of students to explore key theoretical work and critically evaluate the different contexts in which such work is produced. The course is assessed by one essay, while students are advised to submit an essay plan so that they can be provided with formative feedback. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Develop knowledge of conceptual and theoretical debates current in the social sciences
- Critically explore the limitations of existing theoretical positions
- Think critically about the application of theoretical ideas to social scientific research
- Debate issues using concepts discussed in the course
- Write accurately and critically about contemporary theoretical debates
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Reading List
Lukes, S. (2005), Power: A Radical View, Second edition. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan
Butler, J. (2004), Undoing Gender, London: Routledge
Archer, M. (2003) Structure, Agency and the Internal Conversation, Cambridge: Cambridge UP
S. Williams and G. Bendelow (1998) The Lived Body London: Routledge
C. Shilling (2012) The Body and Social Theory London: Sage
B. S. Turner (2008) The Body and Society: Explorations in Social Theory London: Sage |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Lizbeth Stanley
Tel: (0131 6)51 3139
Email: liz.stanley@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Jack Smith
Tel: (0131 6) 51 1485
Email: jsmith40@exseed.ed.ac.uk |
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