Degree requirements 2008–2009

Department of Sociology

Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Programmes (BA 3 years full-time, MA 2–2,5 years full-time)

Basic Studies

K.1. Introduction to Sociology (5 ECTS credits)

SOSI0014 (Books)

Aims and contents: Students become familiar with the basic concepts in Sociology, the theoretical and empirical foundations of research, as well as the purposes and possibilities of Sociology as a social science. Furthermore, students are able to perceive the birth and development of Sociology as well as its special fields and applications in society.

Course requirements: Lectures (2 ECTS credits) and literature examination (3 ECTS credits). Examination on two of the following books:

Jokinen & Saaristo: Sosiologia
Bauman: Sosiologinen ajattelu
Kantola, Koskinen & Räsänen (eds.): Sosiologisia karttalehtiä
Eriksen: Toista maata? Johdatus antropologiaan

Giddens: Sociology (the course will be carried out as exercises in a reading group replacing the examination of two books)

Completion: Lectures in period I. Literature examination can be carried out together with the lecture examination, or on the faculty’s examination day for Sociology.

K.2. Finnish Society (5 ECTS credits)

SOSI0024 (Books)

Aims and contents: After this course, students will have an understanding of the structures of the Finnish society as well the central features of the Finnish way of life and the problems caused by societal change. The focus of the studies is on:

the development of livelihood and economic life structures
welfare state
working life and its changes
family, course of life, and way of living
modernisation and globalisation
morals and values

Course requirements: Lectures (2 ECTS credits) and literature examination of two books (3 ECTS credits). The lectures can be replaced by sitting an exam on Koskinen et al.: Suomen väestö.

Heiskala & Luhtakallio (eds.): Uusi jako
Jokinen: Aikuisten arki
Jokinen & Saaristo: Suomalainen yhteiskunta (edition 1 or 2)
Karisto (ed.): Suuret ikäluokat
Saari (ed.): Historiallinen käänne

Completion: Lectures in period III, literature examination on the faculty’s examination day for Sociology.

K.3.Special fields in Sociology (6 ECTS credits)

SOSI0035 (Books 1–3)
SOSI0034 (Books 1–2)
SOSI0031 (Book 1)

Aims and contents: Students become more thoroughly acquainted with a specific field in Sociology, its research questions, basic concepts and research results – according to the students’ own interests.

Course requirements: An exam of three books has to be sat in the same examination. However, the books may be compensated by attending lectures or writing essays, in which cases the completion period is free. Lectures suitable for this course are announced on the department’s web pages as well as on the information boards. Compensations and essays must be stated on the exam registration form.

Literature:

Antikainen & Rinne & Koski: Kasvatussosiologia (equivalent of two books)
Aromaa & Laitinen: Rikollisuus ja kriminologia
Forsberg & Nätkin (eds.): Perhe murroksessa
Haila & Jokinen (eds.): Ympäristöpolitiikka
Ilmonen: Johan on markkinat
Ilmonen & Siisiäinen (eds.): Uudet ja vanhat liikkeet
Julkunen: Uuden työn paradoksit
Kaukonen & Hakkarainen (eds.): Huumeiden käyttäjä hyvinvointivaltiossa
Liljeström: Feministinen tietäminen
Pakkasvirta & Saukkonen (eds.): Nationalismit
Puuronen: Nuorisotutkimus
Sennett: Uuden kapitalismin kulttuuri
Törrönen (ed.): Valvontaa ja vastuuta

Completion: Literature examination on the faculty’s examination day for Sociology.

K.4. Research seminar (9 ECTS credits)

SOSI0047 (Books 1–2, secondary subject students)
SOSI1044 (Books 1–4, secondary subject students)

Aims and contents: During this course, students gain a versatile overview on the progress of sociological research, data, and methods. Students also get acquainted with scientific and especially sociological writing.

During the course, students familiarize themselves with:

developing research themes and questions
compiling research plans
outlining theory as part of research
acquiring data, choosing methods and analysing
research-ethical questions
writing a scientific report, creating structure, and presenting results
acquiring research literature and refering to it
compiling a table of contents and a list of references

Course requirements:

Primary subject students

a) Sociological Research -lectures (3 ECTS credits) (compulsory)

b) Scientific Writing -lectures (2 ECTS credits)

Core readings: Anttila: Ohjeisto tieteellisen tutkielman tekoon (3. or newer edition), can be purchased from the department’s office.

c) Seminar, includes research exercises and a report based on them (4 ECTS credits).

Core readings: Anttila: Ohjeisto tieteellisen tutkielman tekoon (3. or newer edition, can be purchased from the department’s office). Additional readings:

Alkula, Pöntinen & Ylöstalo: Sosiaalitutkimuksen kvantitatiiviset menetelmät
Eskola & Suoranta: Johdatus laadulliseen tutkimukseen
Kuula: Tutkimusetiikka
Räsänen, Anttila & Melin (eds.): Tutkimus menetelmien pyörteissä.

Secondary subject students

a) Sociological Research -lectures (3 ECTS credits) (compulsory)

b) An exam of three books has to be sat in the same examination.

Kuula: Tutkimusetiikka
May: Social Research

and one of the following:

Alasuutari: Johdatus yhteiskuntatutkimukseen
Eskola & Suoranta: Johdatus laadulliseen tutkimukseen

Secondary subject students may compensate one of the books (Alasuutari or Eskola & Suoranta) by taking part in the primary subject students’ course b) Scientific Writing -lectures (2 ECTS credits), which is held in period II. See part b) for details.

Completion:

a) Lectures periods II–III

b) Lectures period III

c) Seminar periods II–IV

d) Three books’ examination (all books have to be sat in the same examination) on the faculty’s examination day for Sociology.

Intermediate Studies

K.5. Modern Sociological Theory (6 ECTS credits)

SOSI0054 (Book compensating the essay)
SOSI0056 (Book)

Aims and contents: This course provides students with knowledge of trends in modern sociological theories as well as theoretical way of thinking.

Course requirements: Series of lectures on theoretical thought (2 ECTS credits), essay (2 ECTS credits), and literature examination (2 ECTS credits).

Literature examination: Sears: A Good Book, in Theory.
In the essay, students are required to present and evaluate a theory/theories with the help of literature provided during the course. The essay must be handed in before attending the research seminar.

Secondary subject students may replace the essay by sitting an examination on one of the following books:

Alasuutari: Yhteiskuntateoria ja inhimillinen todellisuus
Craib: Modern Social Theory (2. edition)
Heiskala: Toiminta, tapa, rakenne
Räsänen, Ruonavaara & Kantola (eds.): Kiistoja ja dilemmoja
Waters: Modern Sociological Theory.

Completion: Lectures in period I, essay and literature in periods I–IV.

K.6. Qualitative Research Methods (8 ECTS credits)

SOSI0063 (Book, primary subject students)
SOSI0161 (Books, secondary subject students)

Aims and contents: After this course, students will have a general image of methods used in qualitative research. During the course they familiarize themselves with qualitative reasearch planning and the most common reasearch compositions as well as the most customary collecting and analysing methods used in qualitative research. In addition, the students get acquainted with the reliability in qualitative research and problems related to ethical questions.

Course requirements:

Primary subject students

Practise course on qualitative research methods, including a series of lectures, literature studies, and exercises. A small-scale course task also needs to be handed in by the end of the course. Literature examination on the following book (2 ECTS credits):

Silverman: Interpreting Qualitative Data (3. edition)

NOTE: Book examination can be carried out in the form of a �?home�? examination while attending the practise course.

Completion: Practise course in periods I–II, book examination on the faculty’s examination day for Sociology.

Secondary subject students

Secondary subject students can perform the study period either according to the primary subject students’ requirements or through literature examination. All three books are to be sat in the same examination and have to be chosen from the following list:

Alasuutari: Laadullinen tutkimus (3. edition)
Jokinen, Juhila & Suoninen: Diskurssianalyysin aakkoset
Warren & Karner: Discovering Qualitative Methods: Field research, interviews, and analysis.
Plummer: Documents of Life 2

Completion: Book examination on the faculty’s examination day for Sociology.

K.7. Quantitative Research Methods (8 ECTS credits)

SOSI0073 (Book, primary subject students)
SOSI0080 (Books, secondary subject students)

Aims and contents: During this course, students familiarize themselves with typical methods used in collecting and analysing research data and learn to collect survey-data and analyse it. Regarding analysing methods, the focus is on analysing cross-tabulations; however, an overview is also laid upon multivariate statistics.

Course requirements:

Primary subject students

Practise course consisting of lectures and practises. Book examination on Alkula, Pöntinen & Ylöstalo: Sosiaalitutkimuksen kvantitatiiviset menetelmät (2 ECTS credits). It is recommended to complete the exam before attending the practise course. However, the examination must be sat during the practise course at the latest. It is also recommended that the basic course on statistics is completed before attending the practise course, but these can also be carried out simultaneously.

Completion: Practise course in periods III–VI, book examination on the faculty’s examination day for Sociology.

Secondary subject students

Secondary subject students may choose primary subject students’ practise course and book examination, or they can perform the course through a more extensive book examination. All books need to be sat in the same examination:

Sapsford & Jupp (eds.): Data Collection and Analysis (4 ECTS credits) and

either

Neuman: Basics of Social Research (4 ECTS credits)

or the following two books:

Alkula, Pöntinen & Ylöstalo: Sosiaalitutkimuksen kvantitatiiviset menetelmät (2 ECTS credits)
Toivonen: Empiirinen sosiaalitutkimus (pages 1–118) (2 ECTS credits)

Completion: Book examination on the faculty’s examination day for Sociology.

K.8. Research Seminar in Sociology (10 ECTS credits)

SOSI0081 (Research Seminar, primary subject students)
SOSI0083 (Books, secondary subject students)

Aims and contents: During this course, the students acquire personal experience on carrying out a sociological empirical study and on its various phases and get further acquainted with a spesific problematics in Sociology. Furthermore, students’ capabilities for seeking information is enhanced.

Course requirements:

Primary subject students

Practice course including short-haul tuition and reserch work in groups. A small-scale study will be performed in groups during the course including starting from research problems onto writing a research report. Research seminar study is also the course’s final written task.

Completion: Practise course in periods I–II, II–III, or III–IV.

Secondary subject students

Secondary subject students may choose primary subject students’ practise course or replace it with a practice study (6 ECTS credits) and a book examination (4 ECTS credits). The instructions for writing the secondary subject students’ practice study are found online at: http://www.soc.utu.fi/sosiologia/.

Examination of two books:

Gilbert (ed.): Researching Social Life (2 ECTS credits)
Räsänen, Anttila & Melin (eds.): Tutkimus menetelmien pyörteissä (2 ECTS credits)
Becker: Tricks of the Trade (2 ECTS credits)

Completion: Practise study can be handed in during periods I–IV. Book examination on the faculty’s examination day for Sociology.

K.9. Special Fields in Sociology (8 ECTS credits)

SOSI0096 (Journals and the books on special fields)
SOSI0091 (Journals)
SOSI0099 (Special fields books 1 and 2)
SOSI0097 (Special fields book 1)
SOSI0094 (Journals and the books 1 and 2 on special fields)

Aims and contents: Students get acquainted with current sociological research and familiarize themselves in particular with a certain special field in Sociology according to their own interests.

Course requirements:

The course consists of mandatory and optional sections. Mandatory examinations are: a) Sosiologia-journals and b) one book in English. Optional are: two books in English, which the students may compensate with e.g. lectures or essays.

An exam of both Sosiologia-journals and the books has to be sat in the same examination. NOTE! Compensating lectures and essays must be completed before attending the examination for journals and books. These performances must also be mentioned in the examination registration form.

Lectures on special fields suitable for this course are announced in the curriculum. Instructions for writing essays are found at the address: http://www.soc.utu.fi/sosiologia/html/.

a ) Sosiologia-journals (2 ECTS credits); journal issues need to be stated in the examination registration form. Only articles need to be read.

b) Three books on special fields (6 ECTS credits)

Ahlbeck-Rehn & Oinas (eds.): Kvinnor, kropp och hälsa
Becker: Outsiders
Casey: Work, Self and Society after Industrialism
Dunlap ym. (ed.): Sociological Theory and the Environment (4 op; equivalent of two books)
Edensor: National Identity, Popular Culture and Everyday Life
Hunt: Governing Morals
McCrone: The Sociology of Nationalism
Putnam ym.: Making Democracy Work
Rojek: Leisure and Culture
Savage: Class Analysis and Social Transformation
Savage, Warde & Ward: Urban Sociology, Capitalism and Modernity
Spector & Kitsuse: Constructing Social Problems
Sulkunen ym. (ed.): Broken Spirits
Warde: Consumption, Food and Taste
Young: The Exclusive Society
Zolberg: Constructing a Sociology of the Arts

Completion: Journal and book examination all together on the faculty’s examination day for Sociology.

K.10. Research Seminar and the Bachelor’s Degree (10 ECTS credits)

SOSI0104 (Maturity Exam for Bachelor’s degree)

Aims and contents: Students learn to apply skills and knowledge acquired in previous studies by writing a thesis on a specific sociological research question.

Course requirements:

Primary subject students (10 ECTS credits)

a) Active participation in the seminar that supports the making of the thesis. Seminar includes: writing and presenting one’s own thesis, commenting other participants’ work as well as active involvement in the general discussion. Participation in the seminar is evaluated as pass/fail.

b) Thesis of approximately 20–30 pages is written with the aid of feedback given in the seminar and by the teacher; yet, the work should be carried out independently. Thesis is evaluated on the scale of 0 to 5. Seminar teacher acts as the instructor as well as the reviewer for the thesis.

c) 8–12 pages long practise essay on the subject matter of the thesis. Practise essay is a scientific text where source books and and references need to be applied. The essay may be handed in after the compulsory course on Finnish language has been completed. Practise essay is firstly handed to the Finnish language teacher for evaluation. After this, if the language is approved, the seminar teacher avaluates the contents of the essay. In case the essay is declined due to deficiencies in either language or subject matter, in needs to be re-written partly or in some cases entirely. Before handing in the thesis, the practise essay needs to be passed.

d) Maturity examination written on the faculty’s examination day for Sociology. The exam is evaluated first by the Finnish teacher, then the professor. It is possible to enrol for the maturity exam only after you have handed in the thesis.

Note! (10 ECTS credits) are registered after the entire course has been completed and the thesis has been approved.

Primary subject students who have completed the proseminar (A.3.) do not need to take the a) seminar again. Instead, they will write their thesis independently supervised by the professor. In addition to the thesis, these students will complete the course according to sections c) and d).

Secondary subject students (7 ECTS credits)

Secondary subject students may complete the course according to section a). However, the seminar work is not as extensive as with primary subject students but a shorter seminar work covering a chosen subject matter. Thus, students do not refine their work into a thesis nor write a practise essays or take part in a maturity examination, since they do not pursue a specific degree in Sociology. Participation and working in the seminar is evaluated as pass/fail.

Completion: Seminar in periods I–II, II–III, or III–IV.

Advanced Studies

M.1. Research Seminar for Master’s Degree (12 ECTS credits)

Aims and contents: Students present and act as opponents to each others’ written tasks related to the pro gradu -thesis. During the seminar, students apply sociological theories and methods in their own theses. First, the students formulate a research scheme, which is then discussed in the planning period’s seminar, where scientific argumentation and performing is also practised. The Master’s Seminar has two stages:

a) Planning period (4 ECTS credits), where preliminary research schemes are discussed. At this stage, the students improve their previous skills in acquiring information. When signing in for the course, a one-page subject or research plan must be enclosed.

b) Seminar (8 ECTS credits), where the progress of the thesis/research, questions related to theory, methods, and data as well as research results are discussed.

Course requirements: Active participation in three two-period-long seminars. Students may begin the planning period either during the first period in fall and spring terms, whereas the actual seminar can be attended at the beginning of any period.

Completion:

a) Planning period in periods I–II or III–IV.

b) Seminar periods I–IV (commencement free; if the students wish to join the seminar in the beginning of period II or period IV, they should contact one of the seminar teachers).

M.2. Social Research (10 ECTS credits)

SOSI1021 (Social Research, Readings 1–3 in Special Fields and Readings 1–2)
SOSI1022 (Social Research, Readings 1–3 in Special Fields)
SOSI1023 (Social Research, Readings 1 in Special Fields)
SOSI1024 (Social Research, Readings 2 in Special Fields)

SOSI1025 (Social Research, Readings 3 in Special Fields)
SOSI1026 (Social Research, Readings 1–2 in Special Fields)
SOSI1126 (Social Research, Readings 1–2 in General Sociology)
SOSI1127 (Social Research, Readings 1 in General Sociology)
SOSI1128 (Social Research, Readings 2 in General Sociology)

Aims and contents: After this course, students will a have a view on society structures and functions and are able to deepen their understanding on society’s fields. Students familiarize themselves with a trend in social research or analysis and a special research field related to it.

Course requirements: Examination. Book examination can be completed in two parts, so that section a) forms its own part as does section b).

a) Three books (6 ECTS credits) from a special field in social research after consulting the teacher.

Books can be compensated by attending lectures and/or writing essays. It is recommended that the students consult the teacher on these as well. It is also possible to attend an examination on scientific journals, such as Acta Sociologica, Sociology, and Annual Review of Sociology after consulting the teacher.

b) Two books (4 ECTS credits)

Alexander: The Meanings of Social Life: A Cultural Sociology
Campbell: The Myth of Social Action
Castells: The Rise of the Network Society
Bourdieu: Distinction. Social Critique of Judgement of Taste
Giddens: Modernity and Self-Identity
Goldthorpe: On Sociology. Numbers, Narratives and the Integration of Research and Theory
Latour: Reassembling the Social. An Introduction to Actor-Network-Theory
Pryke, Rose & Whatmore: Using Social Theory. Thinking through Research
Wright (toim): Approaches to Class Analysis

Completion: Book examination on the faculty’s examination day for Sociology.

M.3. History and Classics of Sociology (8 ECTS credits)

SOSI1031 (History and Classics of Sociology)
SOSI1032 (History and Classics of Sociology), Readings 1 and 2 in History)
SOSI1131 (History and Classics of Sociology), Readings 1 and 2 in Classics)

Aims and contents: Students familiarize themselves with Sociology’s general development, the history of Finnish Sociology and the original works of most renowned classics.

Course requirements: Examination on four books.

a) Two books on Finnish Sociology history (4 ECTS credits)

Alapuro, Alestalo & Haavio-Mannila (eds.): Suomalaisen sosiologian historia
Andersson, Anttila & Rantanen (eds.): Kahden muusan palveluksessa
Callinicos: Social Theory. A Historical Introduction
Kandal: The Woman Question in Classical Sociological Theory
Ritzer & Goodman: Classical Sociological Theory
Swingewood: A Short History of Sociological Thought. (3. edition)

b) Two books on classics (4 ECTS credits)

Durkheim: Itsemurha
Durkheim: Sosiaalisesta työnjaosta
Durkheim: Uskontoelämän alkeismuodot
Marx: Pääoma I (equivalent of two books)
Simmel: Pieni sosiologia ja Muodin filosofia
Simmel: Suurkaupunki ja moderni elämä
Simmel: The Philosophy of Money
Veblen: Joutilas luokka
Weber: Maailmanuskonnot ja moderni länsimainen rationaalisuus and either Protestanttinen etiikka ja kapitalismin henki or Kaupunki.

The course may be completed in two parts by sitting an examination on the history section separately from the classics. Books may be replaced with essays related to the history of Sociology and its classics.

Completion: Book examination on the faculty’s examination day for Sociology.

M.4.Sociological Research Methods (10 ECTS credits)

SOSI1045 (Sociological Research Methods, Readings 1)
SOSI1046(Sociological Research Methods, Readings 2)
SOSI1049 (Sociological Research Methods, Readings 1–2)
SOSI1141 (Sociological Research Methods, Readings 1–3)

Aims and contents: students deepen their understanding on sociological research methods or a field of methods according to their own interests either by attending courses available or by sitting book examinations. Research methods should be selected so that the students can utilize them in the pro gradu -thesis.

Course requirements: Students attend at least one course on research methods that includes practises (3–8 ECTS credits) and in addition complete studies either through essays or book examinations. In addition to courses provided by the department for Sociology, students may utilize research method courses offered in other departments or universities, assuming that these courses are negotiated on beforehand. All books need to be consulted with the responsible teacher. Students are recommended to choose their books so that they might also benefit from them when writing their pro gradu -thesis. The following list of books is merely directive:

Bergström & Boréus (eds.): Textens mening och makt
Fairclough: Analysing Discourse
Heaton: Reworking Qualitative Data
Kvale: InterViews
Madison: Critical Ethnography
Maxwell: Qualitative Research Design
Nummenmaa: Käyttäytymistieteiden tilastolliset menetelmät (pages 1–263)
Seale: Researching Society and Culture (2. edition)
Silverman: Qualitative Research. Theory, Method and Practice (2. edition)
Tabachnick & Fidel: Using Multivariate Statistics. (pages 1–390) (4. edition)
Wood & Kroger: Doing Discourse Analysis

Completion: Courses on sociological research methods in periods I–IV; book examination on the faculty’s examination day for Sociology.

M.5. Work Practise (10 ECTS credits)

Aims and contents: Students work in positions equivalent to their education during 12 weeks, during which they will receive work practise guidance.

Course requirements: Outbound and inbound seminars are held approximately once a month. Those who have completed the work practise course will schedule a meeting with the instructor on the time of their presentation at least a week before the seminar. Seminar has to be attend at least two times (altogether 4 times) before commencing work practise. A report on the work practise and a seminar presentation need to be presented in the seminar after the work practise. More information on work practise is found on the department’s website.

Completion: free

M.6. Essay (Master’s Degree) (3 ECTS credits)

Aims and contents: Essay prepares for the completion of master’s thesis; thus, it should be completed at a stage where it is most useful. Master’s degree essay is a scientific text where source books and references are used. After this, if the language is approved, the seminar teacher avaluates the contents of the essay. In case the essay is declined due to deficiencies in either language or subject matter, in needs to be re-written partly or on some cases entirely. Before handing in the thesis, the practise essay needs to be passed.

More detailed instructions for writing and handing in the essay is given in the study guide.

M.7. Master’s Thesis and Maturity Examination (40 ECTS credits)

SOSI1071 (Master’s Thesis and Maturity Examination)

Pro gradu or laudatur -thesis (40 ECTS credits). The subject of the thesis is approved by the professor of the seminar teacher. Students can write the thesis in either Finnish, Swedish, or English – or in special cases in some other language. More detailed instructions on the maturity examination is found in the beginning of the study guide. Maturity examination is revised by the seminar teacher. More information on the thesis is found on the department’s website.

M.8. Other Studies (27 ECTS credits)

SOSI1081 (Other Studies)

Other studies can consist of, for example, optional studies in the main subject, secondary subject studies, studies on methods, and study entities (e.g. teacher’s pedagogical studies).

17.02.2009 10:18 Jukka Vuorinen