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Module

SOC3099 : Racism and Society

  • Offered for Year: 2023/24
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Bethan Harries
  • Owning School: Geography, Politics & Sociology
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
Semester 2 Credit Value: 20
ECTS Credits: 10.0

Aims

This course will further develop students’ knowledge of the sociology of race and ethnicity. It will explore the origins and development of racism, examining how it has shaped, and continues to shape the nature of society. We will further examine how ‘race thinking’ has played in the production of inequalities and exclusions, as well as how it informs notions of national identity. The course engages with contemporary debates and theoretical advances.

The module aims to:
•       Advance students’ understanding of theorisations of race, racism and ethnicity.
•       Develop students understanding of the ways in which race and ethnicity interact with other forms of social difference such as nation, gender, class, and religion.
•       Encourage students to evaluate the role of racism in the structure of contemporary society.
•       Explore current theoretical debates around key issues such as institutional racism, Islamophobia, post-race, nationalism, and critical whiteness studies

Outline Of Syllabus

The course begins by deepening students understanding of the concepts of race and ethnicity. This will also involve looking at the interrelationship between ‘race’, ethnicity, and racism. The rest of the module will build on these foundations to examine how race has shaped, and continues to shape, the nature of society in interaction with other forms of social difference such as nation, gender, class and religion. Many of these issues will be highly topical and students will be encouraged throughout the course to engage in contemporary debates.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture92:0018:00PiP Lectures
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion178:0078:00N/A
Guided Independent StudyDirected research and reading187:0087:00N/A
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching91:009:00PiP seminars
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesWorkshops22:004:00PiP sessions – skills-based or learning through research
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesDrop-in/surgery21:002:002x1hr online Q&A sessions (synchronous)
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesScheduled on-line contact time12:002:00N/A
Total200:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The lectures will provide students with key concepts and ideas relevant to the topic. The lectures will also discuss these in relation to topical contemporary debates and students will be expected to actively engage in these debates. Seminars will allow the students to explore the matters raised in lectures more depth and introduce them to key readings. The workshops (debate and content analysis) will give the opportunity for students to draw on the knowledge they have gained and apply this to specific practical examples. This will be useful for the development of critical thinking skills and a helpful practice to prepare for assessment.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Essay2M502000 word essay
Essay2M502000 word essay
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

Both essays will assess the development of sociological knowledge and theoretical concepts of race and racism, critical evaluation and synthesis of relevant literature.

Reading Lists

Timetable