'Race’, Ethnicity and Colonial Modernity

Code

SOCI3040

School

Sociology and Social Policy

Level

3

Credits

20

Semesters

Autumn UK, Spring UK

Summary

This module examines the intersection of three key concepts in contemporary sociology, ethnicity, 'race' and colonial modernity. It particularly considers the following:

• The colonial and historical background of the emergence of modernity and its intersection with issues of race and ethnicity.
• Sociological models of ethnicity and 'race', the construction of ethnic boundaries and identities, the relationship between 'culture' and 'ethnicity', and its relevance in the contemporary world. 
• A series of empirical case studies illustrating the experience and complexities of ethnic and racial identities in the United Kingdom, reflecting on the global trends.

Target Students

Available to Level 3 and Level 4 UG students and PGT students including subsidiary students from outside the school. Also available to exchange students.

Classes

This module is taught through a combination of lectures and seminars.

Assessment

• 40% Coursework 1: 1,500 words.
• 60% Coursework 2: 2,500 words.

Assessed by end of autumn semester

Educational Aims

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

• Critical, wide-ranging and reflexive understanding of racialised, and colonial modernity and the ideas of ‘race’ and ethnicity.
• Awareness of the social, cultural, and historical aspects of ‘race’ and ethnicity globally and in the United Kingdom. 
• Critical engagement with questions of structure and agency, with individuals’ active negotiation of ‘their’ cultural/ethnic traditions. 
• Students will also explore a range of relevant theoretical and methodological issues.

Intellectual Skills

• The ability to critically relate theory to data and vice versa.
• The ability to develop and explore relevant questions within a wider area of study.
• To relate new findings to existing perspectives, to assess evidence and construct coherent arguments on the basis of reasoned analysis.
• To present clear arguments in both oral and written form.

Professional/Practical Skills

• The ability to critically engage with complex concepts and theories.
• Refined discussion skills.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• The ability to develop a new angle within an established area of research.

Transferable Skills

• Independent research (library-based, web-based and documentary).
• Information retrieval skills in relation to primary and secondary sources of information.
• Evaluating different sources of information.
• Time-planning and management.

Conveners

• Dr Roda Madziva