Comparative sociology (COS) subjects examine not just contemporary industrial societies but all the very varied ways in which human beings have organised their lives together, now and in the past. They are crosscultural and historical, focusing on processes of social development and comparing the ways of life found in societies of all kinds: modern and premodern, agrarian and industrial, capitalist and socialist, Eastern and Western. Interdisciplinary perspectives are encouraged, and debates in this area cut across literary theory, history, philosophy, psychology, anthropology and sociology.
Comparative sociology begins its specialisation at second year. Students normally use two first-year subjects in ANY and/or SCY as the basis for a minor or major in COS but other subjects may be allowed. Second-year subjects deal with the rise of capitalist societies, with the study of culture, with understanding prejudice and discrimination in its many guises, and with the impact of scientific rationality on our view of the world and our place in it. In the third year students can choose among options including the sociology of literature; the consumer society; bodily representations; nationalism; the sociology of disabilities; Japanese society; Marxist, critical, structuralist and post structuralist theories.
An honours program is also available for students wishing to specialise further and who may want to proceed to postgraduate research. The department offers a general MA by coursework within which specialised subjects are available in social theory, comparative sociology, gender and feminism, and anthropology; postgraduate research degrees are also available.
Pass courses
Major sequence
At the first-year level a major sequence in comparative sociology consists of two subjects from ANY1010, ANY1020, SCY1010, or SCY1020 or one of these plus a subject from a cognate discipline.
At the second-year level a major sequence consists of a minimum of sixteen points, which must include one of COS2110, COS2130 or SCY2230, together with either another subject from the above list or an appropriate second-year level ANY or SCY course chosen with the advice of the department.
At the third-year level a major sequence consists of a minimum of sixteen points from the list of third year COS subjects or from the following additional list: ANY3470, ANY3490, COS3810, COS3710, COS2230, COS3630 and with a minimum of an additional eight points at second or third-year level.
Minor sequence
A minor sequence in comparative sociology may consist of either (i) appropriate subjects at the first-year level worth twelve points plus appropriate COS subjects at the second-year level worth sixteen points or (ii) appropriate sequences of COS subjects at the second-year level worth sixteen points plus appropriate sequences of COS subjects at the third-year level worth a minimum of twelve points.
Honours
Students may enrol for honours at the completion of their pass degree, after completing a major in comparative sociology or in sociology or anthropology. There are no prerequisite subjects. A credit level in subjects to the value of twenty-four points must be gained at second and third-year level in the major sequence; sixteen points must be gained at third-year level.
Details of the fourth year are set out under `Fourth-year level.'
Mid-year entry is offered in comparative sociology.
Combined honours may be taken in comparative sociology and another discipline, provided that all honours requirements have been met in both disciplines and subject to approval of the heads of both departments/centres.