Youth and Young Adulthood in Contemporary Society: Cultures, Transitions and Inequalities SOCIO4140

  • Academic Session: 2024-25
  • School: School of Social and Political Sciences
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
  • Typically Offered: Either Semester 1 or Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No

Short Description

Recent global and national emergencies, from austerity to COVID-19 and the current cost-of-living crisis, have presented significant challenges for young people, prompting a re-examination of key questions in the sociology of youth. This course aims to enhance students' understanding of debates, concepts, and methodologies related to youth transitions and cultures, exploring their intersection with inequalities in the fields of leisure, culture, housing, employment at the intersections of class, gender, race, disability and sexuality. It also delves into methodological research, ethical considerations, and the role of policy in shaping young people's pathways and societal perceptions. Students will critically analyse continuity and change within young lives, encompassing various strands of the sociology of youth. 

Timetable

20 hours of contact time over the course of a semester. This will take the form of both in-person lectures and seminars.

Requirements of Entry

NONE

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

N/A

Assessment

Group Presentation (30%)

Essay, 3000 words (70%)

Course Aims

This course aims to apply longstanding theoretical debates in the sociology of youth - for example intersectional inequalities, youth transitions and cultural practice - to contemporary issues for young people in the twenty-first century, with emphasis on real-world examples and forms of everyday resistance. 

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

 

1. Critically evaluate key debates and theories within the sociology of youth, focusing on youth transitions, culture, and the impact of intersecting social inequalities in various local and global contexts.

 

2. Apply knowledge of youth studies research to analyze and interpret political and policy contexts that influence the transitional and cultural experiences of young people, considering both national and international perspectives.

 

3. Understand and critically analyse the key conceptual and methodological debates and frameworks surrounding continuity and change within young lives.

 

4. Synthesize insights from various debates and theories in the sociology of youth, to help develop a comprehensive understanding of the complex interplay between youth transitions, culture, and social inequalities.  

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.