The Sociological Experience

This course gives knowledge of the relevance of sociology in the working life. The aim of the course is to enable students to develop their creative use and motivation to use sociology in practice, and experience the relevance of their own education. The students will get the opportunity to work in a company and/or an organisation for a period of three weeks. During this period the students will be conscious about the opportunities that lies in a future working life based on an education in sociology. The students will reflect on the role of the sociology in the period they work in a company and/or an organisation, and discuss and learn from the experiences from the other students.

Knowledge - the student shall:

• have knowledge about how the teoretical, analytical and metodological knowledge of sociology can be used and developed in collaboration with public or private working life, and in it's relation to society in general. How sociology is relevant in the meeting with concrete work tasks is especially important.

Skills - the student shall demonstrate the ability to:

• use theoretical and methodological tools from the field of sociology carrying out practical tasks in the working life.
• use theoretical and methodological tools analyzing phenomena from social science that takes place at the working place and/or in the relation to the society.
• reflect upon the relation between sociology and the practical field.
• show independence in written and oral reflection over the role of sociology in the practical field.

The main part of the course is the practical training in a public or private company or organisation. The students will get the opportunity to get knowledge about the aim of the working place, observe activities and duties, and take part in practical work tasks. At some working places there will be relevant to accomplish tasks in direct relation to a specific employer or a concrete need for the society. At other working places the daily activity in it self is a good case for investigation, analyses and reflection. Through the practical training, the students will get the opportunity to use and reflect upon sociological knowledge and the relevance of it in a concrete working day, and for the society this work is in relation to. The students will be evaluated both in participation, the use of the sociology in, and in reflection of the working place, and their ability to communicate it both in verbally and written work. Details around the seminars and exercises, and relevant working places will be presented in the beginning of the semester. It's only possible to do mandatory activities in the semesters the course is given.