Skip to main content
Home

Information for:

  • Alumni
  • Applicants
  • Current Students
  • Staff
  • Parents
  • Job Vacancies
  • Covid-19
  • Cymraeg
My country:

Main Menu

    • Study Options
      • Study Home
      • Why Study at Bangor?
      • Undergraduate Study
      • Postgraduate Taught Study
      • Postgraduate Research
      • Part-time Courses
      • January Start Courses
      • Degree Apprenticeships
      • Study Abroad
      • Work Experience
    • Study Advice
      • Apply
      • Already Applied?
      • Fees and Finances
      • Scholarships and Bursaries
      • Get Ready for University
    • Explore Bangor
      • Open Days and Visits
      • Virtual Student Experience

    Find a Course

    Order a Prospectus

    • Student Life
      • Student Life Home
      • Bangor and the Area
      • Social Life and Entertainment
      • Accommodation
      • Clubs and Societies
      • Sport
      • Virtual Student Experience
    • Your Experience at Bangor
      • Student Support
      • Skills and Employability
      • Study or Work Abroad
      • Fees and Finances

    Student Profiles

    Student Videos and Vlogs

    • Choose Bangor
      • International Home
      • Why Bangor?
      • Location
      • Accommodation
      • Student Support
      • Contact Us
    • Apply
      • Entry Requirements
      • Tuition Fees and Scholarships
      • How to Apply
      • Already Applied
      • Study Abroad
      • Exchanges

    Country Specific Information

    Join us on a Virtual Open Day

    Bangor University International College

    Covid-19 Information

    • Research
      • Research Home
      • About Our Research
      • Research in our Academic Schools
      • Research Institutes and Centres
      • Research Portal
      • Research, Innovation and Impact Office (RIIO)
      • Energy
      • Research News
    • Postgraduate Research Opportunities
      • Postgraduate Research
      • Doctoral School
    • Events and Training Opportunities
      • Researcher Development
    • The University
      • About Us
      • Our Mission
      • Strategy 2030
      • Annual Review
      • Our Location
      • Academic Schools and Colleges
      • Services and Facilities
      • Vice Chancellor’s Office
      • Working with Business
      • Working with the Community
      • Sustainability
      • Health and Wellbeing
      • Contact Us
    • Working for Us
      • Job Vacancies
    • University Management and Governance
      • Policies and Procedures
      • Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement
      • Management and Governance
    • University and the Community
      • Pontio
      • Sports Facilities
      • Conference Facilities
      • Places to Eat and Drink
      • Public Events
      • Widening Access
      • Services to Schools
    • Business Services
      • Business Services Home
    • Collaboration Hub
      • Collaboration Hub
      • Funding for Collaborative Research and Development (R&D) & Innovation
      • Business Facilities and Networks
      • Consultancy, Specialist Expertise and Knowledge
      • Commercialisation and Intellectual Property (IP)
      • Student Placements and Internships in Business & Enterprise
      • Training and Continuing Professional Development
      • Degree Apprenticeships
    • Conferencing and Business Dining
      • Conferencing Facilities
      • Business Dining
    • Contacts
      • Research, Innovation and Impact Office (RIIO)
      • Get In Touch
    • News
      • Current News
      • Research News
      • Student News
    • Events
      • Events

    • Study Options
      • Study Home
      • Why Study at Bangor?
      • Undergraduate Study
      • Postgraduate Taught Study
      • Postgraduate Research
      • Part-time Courses
      • January Start Courses
      • Degree Apprenticeships
      • Study Abroad
      • Work Experience
    • Study Advice
      • Apply
      • Already Applied?
      • Fees and Finances
      • Scholarships and Bursaries
      • Get Ready for University
    • Explore Bangor
      • Virtual Open Days and Visits
      • Virtual Student Experience

    Find a Course

    Order a Prospectus

    • Student Life
      • Student Life Home
      • Bangor and the Area
      • Social Life and Entertainment
      • Accommodation
      • Clubs and Societies
      • Sport
      • Virtual Student Experience
    • Your Experience at Bangor
      • Student Support
      • Skills and Employability
      • Study or Work Abroad
      • Fees and Finances

    Student Profiles

    Student Videos and Vlogs

    • Choose Bangor
      • International Home
      • Why Bangor?
      • Location
      • Student Support
      • Contact Us
    • Apply
      • Entry Requirements
      • Tuition Fees and Scholarships
      • How to Apply
      • Already Applied
      • Study Abroad
      • Exchanges

    Country Specific Information

    Join us on a Virtual Open Day

    Bangor University International College

    Covid-19 Information

    • Research
      • Research Home
      • About Our Research
      • Research in our Academic Schools
      • Research Institutes and Centres
      • Research Portal
      • Research, Innovation and Impact Office (RIIO)
      • Energy
      • Research News
    • Postgraduate Research Opportunities
      • Postgraduate Research
      • Doctoral School
    • Events and Training Opportunities
      • Researcher Development
    • The University
      • About Us
      • Our Mission
      • Strategy 2030
      • Annual Review
      • Our Location
      • Academic Schools and Colleges
      • Services and Facilities
      • Vice Chancellor’s Office
      • Working with Business
      • Working with the Community
      • Sustainability
      • Health and Wellbeing
      • Contact Us
    • Working for Us
      • Job Vacancies
    • University Management and Governance
      • Policies and Procedures
      • Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement
      • Management and Governance
    • University and the Community
      • Pontio
      • Sports Facilities
      • Conference Facilities
      • Places to Eat and Drink
      • Public Events
      • Widening Access
      • Services to Schools
    • Business Services
      • Business Services Home
    • Collaboration Hub
      • Collaboration Hub
      • Funding for Collaborative Research and Development (R&D) & Innovation
      • Business Facilities and Networks
      • Consultancy, Specialist Expertise and Knowledge
      • Commercialisation and Intellectual Property (IP)
      • Student Placements and Internships in Business & Enterprise
      • Training and Continuing Professional Development
      • Degree Apprenticeships
    • Conferencing and Business Dining
      • Conferencing Facilities
      • Business Dining
    • Contacts
      • Research, Innovation and Impact Office (RIIO)
      • Get In Touch
    • News
      • Current News
      • Research News
      • Student News
    • Events
      • Events

Information for:

  • Alumni
  • Applicants
  • Current Students
  • Staff
  • Parents
  • Job Vacancies
  • Covid-19
My country:

Search

Close

Breadcrumb

  • Cymraeg

Share this page:
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Apply Now

Find out how to apply

Open Days

More information

Order a Course Guide

Order Now

Request Information

Get in touch

Chat to our staff and students

Connect through Unibuddy

Module SXS-3003:
Theorizing Society & Politics Today

Module Facts

Run by School of History, Law and Social Sciences

20.000 Credits or 10.000 ECTS Credits

Semester 1

Organiser: Dr Marcel Stoetzler

Overall aims and purpose

  1. To develop the ability to use the vocabulary of contemporary social and political theory in appropriate ways.
  2. To cultivate comparative awareness of how a range of contemporary social and political theorists conceptualize 'structure' and 'agency'.
  3. To explain the influence of trends in social and political philosophy (including Critical Theory, feminism and postmodernism) on recent sociological theory.
  4. To demonstrate how social context influences social and political thinking.

Course content

This module explores the origins, nature and significance of social and political theories and concepts developed in the 20th century. It examines the strengths and weaknesses of such approaches as Critical Theory (such as Adorno, Horkheimer, Marcuse), post-structuralism (such as Foucault, Bauman, Lyotard), and feminist 'standpoint' and 'intersectionality' theory. It considers a range of theories which seek to address knowledge, power and subordination in terms of gender divisions and differences of class, race and/or sexuality. The module seeks to ask questions about the relationship between social and political theory, social action, movements, modernity, capitalism, social change, research and everyday life. The module aims to encourage students to reflect on their own position as participants in social and political interaction.

Assessment Criteria

threshold

To pass the module students must have achieved the expected outcomes at a basic level. They will be able to identify the main contributors to contemporary sociological theory and offer a basic description of their theories in context. They will show an adequate awareness of recent trends and the main similarities and contrasts between them. They will show some understanding of how theories may be applied to selected contemporary social issues.

good

Good students will be able to identify the main contributors to contemporary sociological theory, summarise their theories and explain their origins. They will show a good awareness of recent trends and the main similarities and contrasts between them. They will show a good understanding and reflexive awareness of how theories may be applied to contemporary social issues.

excellent

Excellent students will be able to demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge and a developed understanding of contemporary sociological theory, its social context and relationship to other social theories. They will display mature reflexive awareness and critical judgement in the application of recent theories to a range of contemporary issues.

Learning outcomes

  1. To provide an account of key ideas and arguments in contemporary social and political thought.

  2. To show a critical appreciation of the nature and antecedents of current approaches to social and political theories.

  3. To compare, contrast and evaluate different perspectives and points of view.

  4. To assess the viability of competing theories for explaining social and political questions.

Assessment Methods

Type Name Description Weight
Individual or small Group Presentation 10.00
Essay 70.00
Essay outline, plan and annotated bibliography 10.00
several online quizzes referring to main readings 10.00

Teaching and Learning Strategy

Hours
Private study 178
Seminar

The module is delivered via a weekly two-hour session consisting of a mixture of lecture and seminar elements. The lecture topics are based on presentations of key authors and themes grouped to reflect key developments and controversies in contemporary social and political theory. The seminar elements are designed to cultivate skills in reading theory and communicating theoretical ideas. The formats include close textual interpretation, debate, and discussion of set topics related to the lectures. Seminars will include presentations by students and tasks designed to assist in the preparation of assignments. Regular independent reading of difficult texts and independent study supported by Blackboard is an important aspect of the learning experience. This will be complemented by individual tutorial support for assessment work.

22

Transferable skills

  • Literacy - Proficiency in reading and writing through a variety of media
  • Computer Literacy - Proficiency in using a varied range of computer software
  • Self-Management - Able to work unsupervised in an efficient, punctual and structured manner. To examine the outcomes of tasks and events, and judge levels of quality and importance
  • Exploring - Able to investigate, research and consider alternatives
  • Information retrieval - Able to access different and multiple sources of information
  • Inter-personal - Able to question, actively listen, examine given answers and interact sentistevely with others
  • Critical analysis & Problem Solving - Able to deconstruct and analyse problems or complex situations. To find solutions to problems through analyses and exploration of all possibilities using appropriate methods, rescources and creativity.
  • Presentation - Able to clearly present information and explanations to an audience. Through the written or oral mode of communication accurately and concisely.
  • Teamwork - Able to constructively cooperate with others on a common task, and/or be part of a day-to-day working team
  • Argument - Able to put forward, debate and justify an opinion or a course of action, with an individual or in a wider group setting
  • Self-awareness & Reflectivity - Having an awareness of your own strengths, weaknesses, aims and objectives. Able to regularly review, evaluate and reflect upon the performance of yourself and others

Subject specific skills

  • Capacity to identify and describe the causes and consequences of social order and change in specific contexts.
  • Ability to formulate and investigate sociologically informed questions.
  • the ability to formulate and investigate sociologically informed questions
  • competence in using major theoretical perspectives and concepts in sociology, and their application to social life
  • the capacity to analyse, assess and communicate empirical sociological information
  • the ability to identify a range of qualitative and quantitative research strategies and methods
  • the ability to undertake and present scholarly work
  • the ability to understand the ethical implications of sociological enquiry
  • the ability to recognise the relevance of sociological knowledge to social, public and civic policy.

Pre- and Co-requisite Modules

Pre-requisites:

  • SXS-2035: Classical Social Theory

Courses including this module

Compulsory in courses:

  • X315: BA Childhood and Youth Studies and Sociology year 3 (BA/CYSS)
  • LL13: BA Sociology/Economics year 3 (BA/ECS)
  • LL2B: BA Sociology & Economics (4 yr with Incorporated Foundation) year 3 (BA/ECS1)
  • LQ3J: BA English Lang. & Sociology year 3 (BA/ELSOC)
  • LP33: BA Media Studies and Sociology year 3 (BA/MSSOC)
  • CL83: BA Sociology/Psychology year 3 (BA/PS)
  • L300: BA Sociology year 3 (BA/S)
  • L31B: BA Sociology (4 year with Incorporated Foundation) year 3 (BA/S1)
  • LM40: BA Sociology & Criminology & Crim Just with International Ex year 4 (BA/SCJIE)
  • LM39: BA Sociology and Criminology & Criminal Justice year 3 (BA/SCR)
  • 3L3Q: BA Sociology and English Literature year 3 (BA/SEL)
  • L30F: BA Sociology [with Foundation Year] year 3 (BA/SF)
  • LV31: BA Sociology/History year 3 (BA/SH)
  • 8Y70: BA Sociology (with International Experience) year 4 (BA/SIE)
  • LQ31: BA Sociology/Linguistics year 3 (BA/SL)
  • LL34: BA Sociology and Social Policy year 3 (BA/SOCSP)
  • L30P: BA Sociology with Placement Year year 4 (BA/SOP)
  • LVH2: BA Welsh History/Sociology year 3 (BA/WHS)
  • LQ35: BA Cymraeg and Sociology year 3 (BA/WS)

Optional in courses:

  • X317: BA Childhood and Youth Studies and Social Policy year 3 (BA/CYSP)
  • V100: BA History year 3 (BA/H)
  • V10F: BA History [with Foundation Year] year 3 (BA/HF)
  • 8B03: BA History (with International Experience) year 4 (BA/HIE)
  • V10P: BA History with Placement Year year 4 (BA/HP)
  • V140: BA Modern & Contemporary History year 3 (BA/MCH)
  • V130: BA Mediaeval and Early Modern His year 3 (BA/MEMH)
  • VV15: BA Medieval & Early Modern History with International Exp year 4 (BA/MEMHIE)
  • L200: BA Politics year 3 (BA/POL)
  • L202: BA Politics and Economics year 3 (BA/POLEC)
  • L20F: BA Politics [with Foundation Year] year 3 (BA/POLF)
  • L201: BA Politics with Placement Year year 3 (BA/POLP)
  • L41B: BA Social Policy (4 year with Incorporated Foundation) year 3 (BA/SOCP1)
  • L402: BA Social Policy year 3 (BA/SOCPOL)
  • L40F: BA Social Policy [with Foundation Year] year 3 (BA/SOCPOLF)
  • LL14: BA Social Policy/Economics year 3 (BA/SPEC)
  • LL1B: BA Social Policy & Economics (4yr with Incorp Foundation) year 3 (BA/SPEC1)
  • LL15: BA Social Policy and Economics with International Experience year 4 (BA/SPECIE)
  • LV41: BA Social Policy/History year 3 (BA/SPH)
  • CL84: BA Social Policy/Psychology year 3 (BA/SPP)
  • CL85: BA Social Policy & Psychology with International Experience year 3 (BA/SPPIE)
  • M108: LLB Law with Social Policy (International Experience) year 4 (LLB/LIF)
  • M1L4: LLB Law with Social Policy year 3 (LLB/LSP)
  • M1LB: LLB Law with Social Policy (4 yr with Incorp Foundation) year 3 (LLB/LSP1)
  • V102: MArts History with International Experience year 3 (MARTS/HIE)
  • V101: MArts History year 3 (MARTS/HIST)
  • L403: MSocSci Social Policy year 3 (MSOCSCI/SP)

Home

Study

  • Undergraduate Study
Home

Follow Us

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn

Bangor University

Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DG, UK

+44 (0)1248 351151

Contact Us

Visit Us

Maps & Directions

Policy

  • Legal Compliance
  • Modern Slavery Act 2015 Statement
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy and Cookies
  • Welsh Language Policy
Map

Bangor University is a Registered Charity: No. 1141565

© 2020 Bangor University