General provisions

This course is part of the Master's program in Sociology. It can also be given as an independent course.

Entry requirements

A Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) within the social sciences including at least 30 credits in sociology.

Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6. This requirement can be met either by achieving the required score on an internationally recognised test, or by previous upper secondary or university studies in some countries. Detailed instructions on how to provide evidence of your English proficiency are available at universityadmissions.se.

Learning outcomes

Upon completing the course, students are expected to show:

• advanced knowledge of classical and modern sociological theories concerning uncertainty and order
• advanced knowledge of how theories and theoretical traditions addressing uncertainty and order have developed and changed
• an advanced understanding of the use of theories in sociological research
• a developed ability to independently and critically account for and apply theoretical concepts and perspectives
• good oral and written skills in communicating sociological theoretical thinking.

Content

The course provides deeper familiarity with, and enhanced knowledge of, classical and contemporary sociological theories that problematize the determinants of social action - with an emphasis on forms of economic action - and thematise the impact of embedding social contexts that both constrain social action and make it possible, for instance by reducing uncertainty. The course deals with both classic and contemporary theoretical perspectives on these types of questions, and concretizes them by drawing on conceptual and empirical research in economic sociology, organisational sociology and sociology of work, exploring how the design, pursuit and outcome of purposeful social action is affected by contextual parameters such as local orders, institutional arrangements or systems of meaning.

Instruction

The teaching consists of lectures, seminars and independent study. Active participation in seminars is always required. Absence from compulsory components can only partially be compensated by written assignments. Students who fail to meet the attendance requirements will be referred to the next occasion the course is offered.

Assessment

The assessment is based on written assignments as well as on active participation during seminars.

Grading system: Fail (U), pass (G), pass with distinction (VG)

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.

Uppsala University takes academic fraud and plagiarism seriously and takes action against students suspected of involvement in fraud and / or plagiarism. Disciplinary measures consist in formal warnings and suspension from study for specified time periods.