MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY STUDIES

Aim of the module: To offer an overview of the major concepts and methodologies of
sociology. While there is no way a single semester can expose students to the entire discipline
of sociology, this module will introduce students to key sociological theories, concepts and
methodologies. The module forms a basis for understanding how society influences human
behaviour and in turn, how human behaviour influences society. You would then need to
appreciate how those dynamics can be researched for us to come up with a Sociological
understanding of society, in a way that is different from ‘common knowledge’.

Module Objectives
The primary objectives for this course are:
● To develop an understanding of the relevance of Sociology in society be it
agricultural, industrial or post-industrial.
● To become familiar with the basic theories, concepts and methods in Sociology.
● To develop a sociological imagination and apply it to everyday life.
● To develop critical thinking skills through sociological readings, class discussions
and exams.
● To cultivate writing skills through essays.

Module Structure
Lectures
These will be held 3 hours a week. Additional slots may, however be created when need arises
and an announcement to this effect will be made. Lectures are compulsory therefore students
are advised that it is to their own advantage that they attend all lectures. Lectures are meant to
give guidelines for understanding readings and materials you will use in the course. Therefore,
one need not copy down everything said by the lecturer. What is important is that you understand
what the lecturer teaches.

Tutorials
They are absolutely compulsory. Students are either given set readings to discuss in the tutorial
or are expected to go and research on set topics and then discuss in the tutorial session.
There will be a roll call at all tutorial sessions. If you miss 2 tutorials you will get a chairperson’s
warning and further absenteeism will culminate in the student’s failure to write the final exam.

If, however, there is reason for absence, students are expected to provide evidence to the lecturer.
Alternatively, such evidence could be shown to the Chairperson.

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Essays and tests
It is expected that students submit 2 essays or write 2 tests for the whole semester on the due
dates indicated in the module outline.
These will constitute 40% of the final mark. This therefore means that they must be written with
due care and seriousness. The essays are to be written with a high degree of precision, correct
citation, be balanced and academically sound. Rumbling and waffling will neither entertain the
lecturer nor earn marks for the students. The maximum length of the essays should be 4 typed
pages. Anything beyond that will not be credited. All assignments must be submitted not later
than 12 noon of the due date.

Late submissions will be penalized at the rate of minus 10% per day.
Plagiarism is a crime upon which anyone found guilty will be accorded a zero (0%). Sources
cited should be more than five (5).

Academic Integrity
Students are responsible to the academic community for the preparation and presentation of
work representing their own individual efforts. Cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, academic
misconduct, or misuse of computing facilities will not be tolerated. Effectively you will be
required to sign an anti-plagiarism pledge in all your essays and assignments. Acceptance of
this responsibility is essential to the educational process and must be considered as an expression
of mutual trust, the foundation upon which creative scholarship rests. Students are directed to
use great honesty when preparing all written work and to acknowledge fully the source of all
ideas and language other than their own.

NB. Students should take their course work seriously as it is a prerequisite for sitting exams.
Students cannot pass the course without course work even if they pass the exam.
Lecture topics

1. Introduction
What is Sociology? Distinguishing it from other disciplines
Basic concepts used –culture, socialisation, role, status, norms, values.
The evolution of societies
Why study Sociology? - The Sociological Imagination.

2. The historical development of Sociology- factors leading to the rise of Sociology

Watch video Comte and the origins of Sociology or use link:

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3. Classical Sociology
Ideas by Durkheim on functionalism, suicide and social facts
Talcott Parsons on the central value system
Goffman, Mead, Blumer on Symbolic Interactionism
Karl Marx on the historical materialism
Max Weber on interpretive Sociology
Feminist sociology
*Emphasis will be laid on distinguishing consensus theories from conflict theories.

4. Research Methods
What is research?
Why do we conduct research?
The nature of knowledge: Ontology and Epistemology
Research philosophies- Positivism vs Phenomenology
Quantitative and Qualitative Methodology
Research Methods

5. Social stratification
What is social inequality?
Theories of class
Stratification in pre-capitalist societies –issues of gender, age, ethnicity
Stratification in modern day societies
Global stratification and world inequality
Watch video on Summary on social stratification or follow the link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEPqCe5oPRw
Recommended Texts
Albrow, M. 1970 Bureaucracy London: Pall Mall Press
Althusser, L.1969 For Marx London: Penguin
Ballantine, JH & Robert, KA. 2014. Our social world.London: Sage.
Beach J.M. “Chapter II What is Enlightenment? Contested Knowledge and the Limits of Human
Nature” in Beach J.M. What is Enlightenment? A History of Knowledge. Create Space Publishing
Platform 2012 https://books.google.co.zw/books?id=-fRnlAEACAAJ/
Bendix, R. &. Lipset, M (eds) Class, status and power {HM305 Ber}
Berg, I. 1979 Industrial Sociology McGraw-Hill: Prentice hall
Blumer, H. 1962 “Society as a symbolic interaction” in A.M. Rose (ed) Human
Behaviour and Social processes London: Routledge
Bottomore, T.B.and Rubel, M. 1963 Karl Marx: selected writings and Social
Philosophy Harmmondsworth: Penguin.
Bourdieu, P. & Passeron, J.C. 1977 Reproduction in education, society and Culture London: Sage
Chodorow, N. 1988 Psychoanalytic theory and feminism Cambridge: Polity Press
Collins, R. 1974 Conflict Sociology: Toward an exploratory science New York: Academic Press
Cotgrove, S. The science of society {HM301Cot}
Etzioni,A. 1964 Modern Organisations NJ:Prentice hall.

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Giddens, A. Emile Durkheim selected writings {HM301 Gid}
Giddens, A. 1993 Sociology London: Polity Press
Goffman, E. 1969 The presentation of Self in Everyday Life Harmondsworth: Penguin
Haralambos, M. &Holborn, M. 2004 6thed Sociology- themes and perspective London:
HarperCollins HM51HAR
Hurd, G. Human societies –An introduction to sociology {HM301Hur}
Lenski, G. &Lenski, J.1982 Human societies 4th edition New York:McGraw Hill.
{HM301Len}
Lindsey, LL. 2015. Gender roles: A sociological perspective. London: Routledge. HQ 1075.
Lombrosso, C. 1911 Crime: its causes and Remedies Boston, Mass:Little, Brown Macionis, J.J.
& Plummer, K.2005 Sociology A global introduction 3rd edition London: Prentice Hall
HM51MAC
Mann, M. 1986 Gender and Stratification Oxford: Blackwell
Matthewman, S., West-Newman, and Curtis, B. 2013. Being sociological, London: Palgrave.
HM585BEI.
Michels, R.1967 Political Parties New York: Free Press
Meena, R. (eds.) Gender in Southern Africa Harare: SAPES
Moyo, J. N. The politics of administration – understanding bureaucracy in Africa Harare: SAPES
(JF1501MOY)
Parker, S. R. et al 1986 The Sociology of industry George Allen and Unwin Pfohl, S.
Images of deviance and social control.
Ritzer, G. 2015. Introduction to sociology
Schaefer, R.T.2006. Sociology matters. London: Routledge
Schaefer, R.T. 2008. Sociology: A Brief introduction London: Routledge
Saunders, P. 1990 Social class and Stratification London: Routledge
Stark, R. 1992 Sociology.
Thompson, ME &Armato, M. 2012. Investigating gender: developing a feminist sociological
imagination, Cambridge: Polity press. HQ1075THO.
Watson, T. J. 1987 Sociology work and industry second edition London: Tavistock
Worsley, P. 1970 The new introducing sociology London: Penguin
Zeitlin, I.M. 1990 Ideology and the development of sociological theory 4th edition New Jersey:
Prentice -Hall.
Group Assignment
1. How do Durkheim’s ideas on order and social facts help Sociologists to understand human
behaviour and society? (20 marks)
2. Outline the reasons why the development of society must be based on Reason and Rationality
and not on beliefs in supernatural powers and events which we cannot control or predict (20
marks)
Individual Assignments [Due Date To Be Advised]
1. Outline the key differences between macro and micro sociological theories. (20 marks)
2. Describe the Karl Marx’ concepts of Historical Materialism, exploitation, and class conflict
and show how they can help Sociologists in understanding Zimbabwean society. (20 marks)

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The assignment will be marked out of 100 but Continuous Assessment constitutes 40% of your final
mark with the remaining 60% of the final mark coming from the three-hour written exam at the
end of this quarter. Papers must be printed using Times New Roman Font size12 at 1 and ½ spacing,
handed in during class on the days they are due. If you are not able to submit essays on indicated due
date and time, you will be excused if you notify the Lecturer or Departmental Chairperson’s office
on time through a written letter. Avoid verbal reports when filing such a notification.
Failure to submit assignments/attend tests/exams without appropriately notifying the
Lecturer/Department of Community Studies will result in you scoring a zero on the missed
assignment/exam and no alternative test/exam will be set for you afterwards.
Plagiarism
The Midlands State University expects students to maintain high standards of integrity and honesty
in their academic work. Plagiarism (using other people’s words and work without acknowledging the
source thus pretending they are yours), copying colleagues’ work (even with their approval) and
submitting it as your own work is academic fraud and a serious academic offence. The individual
essay must be individually researched and written. Evidence of plagiarism will be penalized.
Expectations on the part of the student
Reading the recommended texts and attending lectures are the bare minimum. If you elect not to
attend any lecture it is your duty to find out what was done in class and catch up. Use this outline to
keep track of the content and to be guided on what to focus on. Most of the recommended texts listed
in the outline are available in the library and some will be shared digitally through your Class
Representative. It is your duty to seek the Rep and access any material shared for you through them

Tutorial Questions
1. Why do we study Sociology? (20 marks)
2. Sociology cannot be considered as a science because its subject matter is complex.
Discuss this assertion. (20 marks)
3. Outline the basic ideas of Marxism. (20 marks)
4. Distinguish between qualitative and quantitative research Methodology. (20 marks)
5. Discuss the intellectual, political and economic factors that led to the rise of the discipline
of sociology clearly highlighting how those factors influenced sociological theory and
methodology. (20 marks)
6. Explain the basic ideas of functionalism. (20 marks)
7. Outline Talcott Parson’s systems theory. (20 marks)
8. Discuss the assertion that Sociology helps us to make the familiar strange and the strange
familiar. (20 marks)
9. Critique the feminist theory. (20 marks)
10. Critique Emille Durkheim’s contribution to sociological theory. (20 marks)

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