| Unit name | Contemporary Identities and Inequalities |
|---|---|
| Unit code | SOCIM0015 |
| Credit points | 20 |
| Level of study | M/7 |
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12) |
| Unit director | Dr. Yamashita |
| Open unit status | Not open |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
None |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
None` |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
None |
| School/department | School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies |
| Faculty | Faculty of Social Sciences and Law |
Why is this unit important?
This unit will introduce students to general sociological frameworks for thinking about the nature of social identities and inequalities in both a UK and international context. It will cover central theoretical approaches for conceptualising and analysing social identities and inequalities (such as class, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and religious identities) and the intersectional relationships between them, as well as considering how social stratification contributes to the formation of recognisable social identities. In order to explore how various inequalities manifest themselves, change and interrelate in different societal contexts, specific empirical topics will be addressed (for example, employment, social exclusion, poverty, and education).
How does this unit fit into your programme of study
This unit is core to the MSc Contemporary Identities Pathway and will be essential for that postgraduate taught degree programme. It will also be useful for students on other Sociology pathways who are interested in the construction of identities and the production/reproduction of inequalities and their intersectional relationships. Whilst the unit will not neglect theoretical engagement, it will primarily focus on a critical understanding of contemporary social inequalities and identities by applying key theories and concepts. This unit will be useful for students who wish to advance sociological and critical understanding of inequalities and identities.
An overview of content
This unit will introduce students to key sociological frameworks for understanding social identities and inequalities, in both UK and international contexts. It will cover central theoretical approaches for conceptualising social identities and inequalities and the relationships between them, as well as considering how intersectionality contributes to their formation
How will students, personally, be different as a result of the unit
The principal aim of the unit is to equip you to critically examine intersectional relations between inequalities and identities in the current socioeconomic contexts. The unit will, therefore, develop your interest in and knowledge of social identities (class, gender, ethnicity, religious identity, sexuality) and key sociological approaches to inequalities (intersectionality, social exclusion, poverty, capability).
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the unit, you will be able to:
The unit is taught through a mixture of online bitesize lectures, structured learning activities, in-person seminars and optional online interactive activities using tools such as padlet, discussion boards and metimeter. This wide range of activities will provide students with multiple opportunities to engage with key concepts, issues and theories relevant to the study of contemporary inequalities and identities. The learning activities will also ensure students can meet the unit’s learning outcomes and effectively engage with the formative and summative assessments.
Tasks which help you learn and prepare you for summative tasks (formative):
1500 word formative essay (optional)
The feedback on the essay will be provided in writing with an emphasis on how to develop the knowledge and skills that need to be demonstrated in the summative assessment. There will be an optional seminar presentation. This will allow the presenter to go deeper into a particular reading and relate this reading to the topic of that week. Oral feedback will be given in person which will help you develop transferable presentation skills as well as ways to construct an argument.
Tasks which count towards your unit mark (summative):
3000 word essay (100%) [ILO 1-4]
When assessment does not go to plan:
You will normally complete the reassessment in the same formats as outlined above. Students are expected to select a different essay question from the original list.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. SOCIM0015).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the University Workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The assessment methods listed in this unit specification are designed to enable students to demonstrate the named learning outcomes (LOs). Where a disability prevents a student from undertaking a specific method of assessment, schools will make reasonable adjustments to support a student to demonstrate the LO by an alternative method or with additional resources.
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. For appropriate assessments, if you have self-certificated your absence, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (for assessments at the end of TB1 and TB2 this is usually in the next re-assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any exceptional circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
