Structure of the Curriculum

Introduction to Social Theory (M)

Course PDF
Introduction to Social Theory (M)
COURSE OUTLINE
GENERAL
SCHOOLSchool of Economics and Political Science
DEPARTMENTSociology
Level of StudyUndergraduate
COURSE CODE431002
COURSE TITLEIntroduction to Social Theory (M)
Independent Teaching Activities Weekly Teaching Hours CREDIT UNITS
Lectures - Exercises 3 6
TOTAL 3 6
Course TypeGeneral Background
Prerequisite CoursesNo
Teaching and Examination LanguageGreek
THE COURSE IS OFFERED TO ERASMUS STUDENTSNo
Course Webpage (URL)https://eclass.uoa.gr/courses/SOC132/
(2) LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
Knowledge

  • They describe the main currents and theoretical traditions of social theory from the 19th to the 20th century.
  • They recognize the central concepts and problematics of social theory (class, ideology, power, social change, identity, gender).
  • They understand the work and contribution of classical and contemporary social thought theorists within their historical and social context.

Skills

  • They apply basic theoretical frameworks to the analysis of social phenomena and social problems.
  • They use conceptual tools of social theory in oral and written analyses.
  • They compare different theoretical approaches in terms of their assumptions, methods, and interpretive limits.

Skills

  • They form well-founded judgments on social phenomena, taking into account social, historical, and cultural parameters.
  • They develop critical thinking towards dominant interpretations of social reality.
  • They communicate theoretical arguments clearly and with scientific documentation to diverse audiences.

General Capabilities

Upon completion of the course, students will have developed the following general competencies:

  1. Search, analysis, and synthesis of information, using theoretical and scientific sources.
  2. Critical and reflective thinking, both at a theoretical and social level.
  3. Ability to learn autonomously and manage knowledge.
  4. Ability to communicate orally and in writing in an academic setting.
  5. Group work and participation in collaborative discussions and analyses.
  6. Respect for diversity and awareness of issues related to social inequalities, gender, and cultural alterity.
  7. Responsibility and academic integrity, particularly with regard to the use of sources and the substantiation of arguments.
(3) COURSE CONTENT

The course “Introduction to Social Theory” aims to provide a comprehensive and systematic overview of the major theoretical currents and interpretive approaches that shaped social thought from the 19th through the 20th centuries. It focuses on the work of the classical founders of social theory, such as Karl Marx, Émile Durkheim, and Max Weber, highlighting their central questions, key concepts, and different methodological perspectives for understanding social reality.
The course examines the evolution of social theory through contemporary and later theoretical approaches, such as the Critical Theory of the Frankfurt School (Horkheimer, Adorno), phenomenology and ethnomethodology (Schütz, Garfinkel), structuralism (Lévi-Strauss), structural functionalism (Parsons), as well as post-structuralist approaches to power and knowledge in the work of Michel Foucault, and to social practice, fields, and habitus in the work of Pierre Bourdieu. Through the study of these theoretical traditions, different ways of understanding social order, social action, and social structures are highlighted.
In this context, the key thematic and conceptual areas that constitute the constellation of interests in the social sciences are mapped out, such as the economy and labor, urbanization and modernity, alienation, mass society, anomie, citizenship, and social and political revolutions. Particular attention is given to how social phenomena are conceptualized and interpreted historically and theoretically.
Finally, the course delves into pivotal concepts such as class, ideology, the cultural and social construction of reality, social change, as well as issues of identity and gender. Through the critical approach to these theories, the course aims to develop the analytical and critical thinking of male and female students and to create a solid theoretical background for the further study and understanding of contemporary social reality.

(4) TEACHING & LEARNING METHODS – EVALUATION
DELIVERY METHODFace to face
Information and Communication Technologies

Use of the e-class platform to support teaching and communication with students. For each lecture/thematic unit, a distinct folder is created in which educational material is uploaded, such as primary theoretical texts, secondary commentaries, audiovisual material (videos, documentaries), as well as supplementary resources to support study and discussion.

Activity Semester Workload
Lectures 39
Exercises 0
Presentations-Speeches 30
Private study 81
Course Summary 150
Student Evaluation
Process Description Evaluation

Written exam at the end of the semester.
The assessment is based on questions from selected topics in the course material and on essay questions from the corresponding chapters, with the aim of evaluating students’ understanding of key concepts, the critical analysis of theoretical approaches, and the ability to synthesize and develop well-reasoned arguments.

(5) RECOMMENDED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Suggested Bibliography

  • Jones, Pip, Bradbury, Liz, and Shaun Le Boutillier. 2017. Introduction to Social Theory. Athens: Plethron.
  • Ritzer, George & Jeffrey Stepnisky. 2020. Contemporary Sociological Theory. Athens: Kritiki.
  • Maragoudakis, Manousos. 2021. Genealogies of Sociology: The Texts That Shaped Sociological Thought from Machiavelli to Parsons. Athens: Propompos.

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