• Home
• Study
• Study Information
• Modules
• Module Information

Contemporary Society: Themes and Perspectives

Module description

This module complements the  first year modules (such as SOC1018, SOC1020, SOC1028 and SOC1035) in that it concentrates primarily on the subject matter of sociology. It encourages you to develop a critical understanding of the rise and transformation of modern societies from the 18th century to the present day, with a particular focus on the last three decades. The module attempts to provide answers to the following questions: What makes a society modern? What are the characteristics of contemporary societies? What are some of the key political, economic, social and cultural issues in the Western world today?

No prior knowledge of sociological perspectives is necessary. This module is suitable for both specialist and non-specialist students and its interdisciplinary outlook will appeal to students in social sciences and humanities.  

Module aims - intentions of the module

At a general level, the module aims to inspire a genuine engagement with topical research and scholarship by introducing students to sociological ways of seeing and explaining the modern world, its phenomena and dynamics. In doing so, it aims to instil professional values and ethical standards by helping students develop a critical understanding of various theoretical and/or methodological approaches to sociology and encouraging them to apply these in their observation, analysis and interpretation of contemporary society. 

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. demonstrate knowledge of the subject matter of sociology, together with an analytical understanding of the subject, which takes into account different sociological perspectives;
• 2. demonstrate competence in describing and applying a variety of methods of social investigation, including ethnographic and survey methods, questionnaire and interview design;

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. relate a body of knowledge to a specific context within the field of sociology;
• 4. think clearly and argue logically about contemporary societies;
• 5. express sociological ideas both in writing and verbally;

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 6. undertake independent study;
• 7. select appropriately from a range of suggested material and present key arguments clearly; and
• 8. demonstrate the capacity to reflect on the perspectives and life situations of social minorities and to question taken for granted majority views.

Syllabus plan

Whilst the precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover all or some of the following topics:

• Political Economy
• Cultural Change
• Political Transformation
• Globalisation
• Nation-states
• Class
• Gender and Ethnicity
• Media

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Castells, M. 1998. The Information Age: Economy, Society and Culture, Oxford: Blackwell.
Crompton, R. 1993. Class and Stratification: an introduction to current debates. London: Polity.
Mann, M. 1993. 'National States in Europe and Other Developing Countries', Daedalus, 122 (3): 115-40.
Welsman, J. 2007 Underclass: A History of the Excluded Since 1880, London: Hambledon Continuum
Ritzer, G. 1996. The McDonaldization of Society. London: Sage.
Skeggs, B. 1997 Formations of class and gender: becoming respectable. London: SAGE Publications.

Course materials will be provided on ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

Key words search

Sociology,  Contemporary Society