Introduction to Sociology and Social Research
This course will provide an overview of sociology and social research.
Where does our sense of self and identity come from and how are differences between people in society produced and reproduced? How are they shaped by the society we live in?
Key information
| Subject | Sociology |
| Course teachers | Dr Gisli Vogler and Dr Vangelis Chiotis |
| Credit level | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
| Credits | 20 SCQF (Find out more about studying for credit here) |
| Eligibility |
Our credit-bearing courses are only available to applicants aged 18 years or over. Applicants should have at least 1 year of undergraduate study experience. |
| Language requirements |
Applicants should meet the minimum English language requirements in order to fully benefit from, and engage with, Summer School courses. Your English language ability must be equivalent to, or above, 6.5 IELTS overall with 5.5 in each component. |
| Device requirements | Course materials will be delivered via the University of Edinburgh's Virtual Learning Environment. To access these materials, you will require a suitable device, such as a laptop or tablet. |
| Teaching location | Holyrood Campus |
| Dates | 01 July - 25 July 2024 |
| Length | 4 weeks |
| Contact hours | 57 |
| Course fee | £3795 |
| Application deadline | 20 May 2024 (17:00 - BST) |
Dr Gisli Vogler is a Teaching Fellow at the Centre for Open Learning. He holds a PhD from the School of Social and Political Science at the University of Edinburgh. In his PhD thesis, he drew on contemporary sociological debates on social conditioning. He has taught sociology and social theory courses at all levels of undergraduate study and contributed academic publications to debates on emotions, power, complicity, and disability rights and activism.
Dr Vangelis Chiotis is a Teaching Fellow at the Centre for Open Learning. He has been working as lecturer and teaching assistant in higher education since 2010, teaching economics and politics. His research interests include moral philosophy, applied and normative ethics, theories of justice and philosophy of economics. Dr Chiotis holds a PhD in Politics, Economics and Philosophy from the University of York, an MA in Political Economy from the University of Essex and a BSc in Economics from the University of Piraeus, Greece.
This course introduces you to key sociological theories and research and uses these insights to a) discuss contemporary issues such as systemic racism, sexuality, populism, and climate change, and b) familiarise yourself with core research methods, such as discourse analysis and ethnography, and the principles of research design in the social sciences. Throughout, you will have the opportunity to engage with a range of sociological research in and from different parts of the world.
The course is divided into two parts. The first part addresses different dimensions of the social self and the embeddedness of the self in social worlds. We will look at how people shape and are shaped by class, social institutions such as marriage and the family, and how even nature is shaped by the interrelationship between the self and social worlds. The second part focuses more closely on the processes involved in the production of identities and difference. We will look at racialisation, patriarchy, and populism, but also at the processes through which minorities have contested hierarchies based on identity and difference. At different intervals, the course introduces core social research methods, e.g. ethnography, and you will have the opportunity to practice research techniques in groups.
The course is intended to gradually build up a richer understanding of the different dimensions to, and the relationship between, key social processes and concepts, such as racialisation and nationalism, class and gender. Sessions will combine elements of lectures with tutorial-style discussion and group work. Activities, such as analysis- and writing-exercises, will help develop your abilities in critical reflection and argumentation, while different discussion formats will be used to develop skills in working constructively with others and oral presenting of ideas.
Week 1 - Week 3
- Monday - Friday (10:00-13:00)
Week 4
- Monday - Thursday (10:00-13:00)
The course will be assessed through a 2500-word essay. In preparation of the essay, students will be encouraged to submit an essay plan of up to 750 words on which feedback will be provided.
On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate an understanding of key sociological concepts in relation to the social self and the social world, and the social construction of identities and difference.
2. Apply such concepts in analysing contemporary social issues such as educational inequality, homophobia, institutional racism, and populist nationalism
3. Critically compare the theoretical frameworks and research findings of different social scientific studies.
4. Examine the relationship between methods, evidence, and argument in reports of sociological research.
5. Construct arguments deploying evidence from sociological research and theory.
The course fee does not include accommodation during your study. Please see our Accommodation section for more information.
To ensure your experience at the University of Edinburgh's Summer School is memorable, we encourage students to embrace the city and its culture and take part in the variety of social activities available.
Ready to apply?
For full details including information on fees, visas and a link to the application form please visit our 'Apply Now' page.