2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Humanities and social science courses
Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences4:Sociology
- Academic unit or major
- Humanities and social science courses
- Instructor(s)
- Masayo Arizono
- Class Format
- Lecture
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - Class
- -
- Course Code
- LAH.S404
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 4Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 19, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
In this class, the basic concepts and analytical framework of sociology will be explained. I will also refer to social issues or social problems in contemporary society, through which students will be able to acquire the basic ways of thinking of sociology.
Please note that some of the content overlaps with “Sociology A” offered at the undergraduate level.
Course description and aims
1) Acquire a knowledge of basic sociological concepts and ways of thinking.
2) Understand the application of sociological thinking while using contemporary social issues or social problems as examples.
Keywords
Sociology, Social Theory, Modernity, Contemporary Society, Japanese Society
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
1) If a large number of students enroll, this class will be lecture-based.
2) If a small number of students enroll, this class will be based on group discussions, presentations and lectures.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Introduction | I will give you instructions in class. |
| Class 2 | The origins of Sociology and the concepts of Sociology | Read the basic books presented in class. |
| Class 3 | Modernization and Sociology theory (1) | Read the basic books presented in class. |
| Class 4 | Modernization and Sociology theory (2) | Read the basic books presented in class. |
| Class 5 | Contemporary society and Sociological thought (1) | Read the basic books presented in class. |
| Class 6 | Contemporary society and Sociological thought (2) | Read the basic books presented in class. |
| Class 7 | Summary and outlook | Final exams |
Study advice (preparation and review)
Read the basic books presented in class and the assigned chapters in the textbook.
Textbook(s)
None required.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
1) Japan Sociological Society (ed.), "Encyclopedia of Sociology," 2010, Maruzen Publishing, Tokyo. ISBN:9784621082546 (Japanese)
2) SEIYAMA, Kazuo et al. (ed.), "Introduction to Sociology," 2017, Minerva Publishing, Kyoto. ISBN:9784623079117 (Japanese）
3) ARIZONO, Masayo, "Surviving in National Sanatoriums for Hansen's Disease: from Asylums to Autonomous Fort," 2017, Sekai-shiso-sha, Kyoto. ISBN:9784790716990 (Japanese)
4) Other course materials are provided during class.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Students’ course scores are based on final exams (70%) and in-class assignments (30%)
The course content will vary depending on the level of understanding of the students and the number of students enrolled. Therefore, the assesment criteria and methods will be explained again in class.
Related courses
- LAH.S107 ： Sociology A
- LAH.S207 ： Sociology B
- LAH.S308 ： Sociology C
Prerequisites
No prerequisites, but you are required to understand Japanese.