SOCn5003 City in the sociological theory of the 20th century

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2026

The course is not taught in Spring 2026

Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 8 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Slavomíra Ferenčuhová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Slavomíra Ferenčuhová, Ph.D.
Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Ing. Soňa Enenkelová
Supplier department: Department of Sociology – Faculty of Social Studies
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/20, only registered: 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Abstract
The class introduces students to the history of sociological study of the city. It focuses on the most cited and most discussed works in urban sociology since the very beginning of this discipline. It aims to make students familiar with the key works in European and American urban sociology written in the first half of the 20th century. Then it focuses on crucial works in global urban studies that have been written in the past 60 decades. However, explaining the history of this discipline is not the only aim of the course. It attempts to lead students to reflecting the main conceptual problems in urban sociology, and to critically analyze the writings. Also, it leads them to understand in their own study the connections between sociology and other disciplines studying cities.
Learning outcomes
Besides informing students about the key works, topics and approaches in urban sociology, and its theory (which is crucial especially for students who aim to write their diploma thesis in urban studies and need to get better knowledge in urban theory), this course main outcome is students' capacity to critically analyze academic and scholarly writings, including analyzing their historical contextualization.
Key topics
  • Introduction to the course
  • BLOC 1: CLASSICS IN URBAN SOCIOLOGY
  • BLOC 2: KEY ISSUES IN URBAN SOCIOLOGY (the content of the blocs changes by semester)
Study resources and literature
    required literature
  • The urban sociology reader. Edited by Jan Lin - Christopher Mele. London: Routledge, 2005, ix, 363. ISBN 0415323436. info
    not specified
  • FERENČUHOVÁ, Slavomíra. Sociologie města 20. a 21. století (Urban sociology of the 20th and 21st century). Praha/Brno: Sociologické nakladatelství SLON/Masarykova univerzita, 2013, 290 pp. Základy sociologie 11. svazek. ISBN 978-80-7419-162-6. info
Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching
In-class debates and discussions of the readings assigned stimulate critical reflection. Students have readings to read for each class, and homework in form of short written assignments; for some of these they need to study and use a selected method of data collection, for example participant observation, interview, or go-along method. Students prepare their presentations (similar to conference presentations) in group or individually. The main exam in the class is an essay-assignment.
Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements
Requirements: 1) Attendance 2) Presentation in class, individual or in group 3) Homework, written assignments handed/in and accepted 4) Final essay The student has to collect at least 60% of the points along the semestr (altogether) to pass the course.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught every week.
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