University of the West of England
MODULE SPECIFICATION
(Revised November 2002)
Code: UPSNMB-30-2 Title: Beliefs and Society Version: 4
Level: 2 UWE credit rating: 30 ECTS credit rating: 15
Module type: Standard
Owning Faculty: Social Sciences and Humanities Field: Sociology
Valid from: September 2008 Discontinued from:
Contributes towards: Awards up to BA/BSC (Hons)
Pre-requisites: None
Co-requisites:
Excluded combinations: UNS009S3 Beliefs in Society
Learning outcomes:
By the end of the module students should be able to:
- demonstrate a detailed understanding of the major sociological contributions to beliefs and cultures (components A and B).
- be able to analyse the social functions of a range of belief systems in a variety of social contexts (components A and B).
- be able to reflect critically on the range and diversity of belief systems(components A and B).
Syllabus outline:
Sociological contributions to beliefs and cultures: Durkheim; Marx; Freud; Weber; Simmel; Mannheim
Relativism and reflexivity in studying beliefs and cultures.
Sociologies of sexuality: the natural and the social.
The sociology of the civilising process
Sociologies of religion.
Ideologies: fascism and nazism.
Sociologies of literature.
Sociologies of popular culture.
Sociologies of the self.
Sociologies of consumption.
Sociologies of language: gender, race and language.
Power and representation: witchcraft; madness.
Teaching and learning methods:
A combination of lectures and seminars
Indicative sources:
BAUMAN Z 1991 Modernity and Ambivalence. Cambridge, Polity Press
CAMERON D 1994 Verbal Hygiene. London, Routledge
DOUGLAS M 1966 Purity and Danger. London, Routledge
EWEN S 1988 All Consuming Images. New York, Basic Books.
FISH S 1980 Is There a Text in this Class. London, Harvard Univ Press
FLETCHER J 1997 Violence and Civilisation: an introduction to the works of Norbert Elias.Cambridge, Polity Press.
MENNELL S 1985 All Manners of Food. Oxford, Blackwell.
PURKISS D 1996 The Witch in History London, Routledge
SCULL A 1984 Museums of Madness. Harmondsworth, Penguin
Assessment
Weighting between components A and B (standard modules only) A: 50% B: 50%
ATTEMPT 1
First Assessment Opportunity
Component A
Description of each element Element weighting
1. Examination (2 hours) 50%
Component B
Description of each element Element weighting
1. Review 25%
2. Essay (2,000 words) 25%
Second Assessment Opportunity (further attendance at taught classes is not required)
Component A
Description of each element Element weighting
1. Examination ( 2 hours) 50%
Component B
Description of each element Element weighting
1. Essay (3,000 words) 50%
SECOND (OR SUBSEQUENT) ATTEMPT: Attendance at taught classes is not required.
Specification confirmed by …………………………………………………Date ……………………………
(Associate Dean/Programme Director)