Alternative Societies (Spr) (L4090B)

30 credits, Level 6

Spring teaching

Socologists have often analysed and criticised the world. The aim of this module is to look at alternative societies that their assessments and criticisms imply. We will look at alternative societies such as communist and other kinds of non-capitalist and non-market societies; libertarian and decentralised societies; and communes and alternative types of living. The module will cover areas such as alternative education, alternative economies and co-ops, participatory types of political organisation, non-patriarchal society, non-racist society, alternative societies for developing countries, green and sustainable societies, societies without work, society without borders, media, technology and alternative societies, and the politics of transition to alternatives. We will look at the role of sociology as critical, utopian and normative.

Contact hours and workload

This module is approximately 300 hours of work. This breaks down into about 33 hours of contact time and about 267 hours of independent study. The University may make minor variations to the contact hours for operational reasons, including timetabling requirements.

We regularly review our modules to incorporate student feedback, staff expertise, as well as the latest research and teaching methodology. We’re planning to run these modules in the academic year 2023/24. However, there may be changes to these modules in response to feedback, staff availability, student demand or updates to our curriculum. We’ll make sure to let you know of any material changes to modules at the earliest opportunity.

Courses

This module is offered on the following courses:

• Criminology and Sociology BA
• History and Sociology BA
• International Relations and Sociology BA
• Philosophy and Sociology BA
• Politics and Sociology BA
• Sociology BA
• Sociology and International Development BA
• Sociology with a Language BA