Syllabus (SOCIOLOGY)
Course Type: MAJ-13
Semester: 7
Course Code: BSOCMAJ13T
Course Title: Science, Technology and Society
(L-P-Tu): 5-0-1
Credit: 6
Practical/Theory: Theory
Course Objective: The objective of this course is to teach the students about the sociological significance of science and technology. They will also learn how technology has not only influenced the foundations of society directly or otherwise, but also has become intertwi
Learning Outcome: Students of this course will be able to analyse the impact of rapidly changing technology on social structure. It will also help them analyse the emerging social realities which have been driven by some cutting-edge technological inventions like artificia
Contents of the Course
- Science: Definition; Science, Rationalism and Disenchantment; Perspectives on Scientific Knowledge (Functionalism, Rationalism, Relativism, Critique of Frankfurt School)
- History of Technological Development; Indigenous Knowledge and Technology; Technology and Social Change (Trust and Expert Systems); The Idea of Risk Society.
- Changing notions of Time and Space: Disembedding and Time-space Distanciation
- Virtual Community: Definition; Features; Importance of Internet in Everyday Life; Digital Divide; Cyber Crime.
- Media: Print and Electronic, Visual and Social Media
- E-Governance and Surveillance Society; Artificial Intelligence and Transhumanism.
Readings and References
- Tony Bilton et al.2008. Introductory Sociology. Macmillan.
- Webster, Andrew. 1991. Science, Technology and Society. Macmillan.
- Davis, Kingsley. 2003. Human Society. Surjeet Publications.
- Walker, Mark. 2003. Science and Ideology: A Comparative History.Routledge.
- Fox. Robert. 1996. Technological Change: Methods and Themes in the History of Technology. Routledge.
- Mike Michael. Reconnecting Culture, Technology and Nature. Routledge.
- Giddens, Anthony. 1990. The Consequences of Modernity. Polity Press.
- Ghernaouti, Solange. 2013. Cyber Power: Crime, Conflict and Security in Cyberspace. EPFL Press.
- Mosco, Vincent. 2004. The Digital Sublime: Myth, Power and Cyberspace. MIT Press.
- Bostrom, Nick. 2005. ‘A History of Transhumanist Thought’, Journal of Evolution and Technology. Vol. 14 (1).
- Ritzer, George. 2010. Modern Sociological Theory. McGraw-Hill.
- Bottomore, Tom. 2002. The Frankfurt School and Its Critics. Routledge.
Basic Features
Undergraduate degree programmes of either 3 or 4-year duration, with multiple entry and exit points and re-entry options, with appropriate certifications such as:
- UG certificate after completing 1 year (2 semesters with 40 Credits + 1 Summer course of 4 credits) of study,
- UG diploma after 2 years (4 semesters with 80 Credits + 1 Summer course of 4 credits) of study,
- Bachelor’s degree after a 3-year (6 semesters with 120 credits) programme of study,
- 4-year bachelor’s degree (Honours) after eight semesters (with 170 Credits) programme of study.
- 4-year bachelor’s degree (Honours with Research) if the student completes a rigorous research project (of 12 Credits) in their major area(s) of study in the 8th semester.
Note: The eligibility condition of doing the UG degree (Honours with Research) is- minimum75% marks to be obtained in the first six semesters.
- The students can make an exit after securing UG Certificate/ UG Diploma and are allowed to re-enter the degree programme within three years and complete the degree programme within the stipulated maximum period of seven years.
