SOCb2142 Introduction to Urban Sociology

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2026
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 5 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
Timetable
Thu 18:00–19:40 U41
Prerequisites
TYP_STUDIA(B)
Introduction to sociology (recommended)
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 32 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 32/32, only registered: 1/32, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 1/32
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 10 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Abstract
The aim of this class is to introduce students to the wide field of urban sociology, and to make them familiar with at least a few questions that this subdiscipline of sociology deals with. Since the very beginning of the course students will learn to approach city (a specific settlement, material environment, or institution) as a 'sociological problem' worth studying.
Learning outcomes
After taking this class the students will have a solid knowledge about the topics and types of problems that urban sociologists deal with. Also, they will have an idea about how this subject can be used in practice. Exercises using additional materials and literature, rather than reading original sociological writings, will make students learn about selected methods used in urban scholarship (for example participant observation; starting a research diary+photography; mental mapping; go-along method; interview; document analysis). Tis will help students to get the competency to formulate questions they can understand using similar methods The course stimulates critical reading of academic texts, searching from examples that can be analysed with the knowledge acquired through reading. Last but not least, the course should lead to stimulating curiousness and motivation to understand the relations between society, individual life and (urban) space, thus cultivating students' sociological (Mills) and geographical (Harvey) imagination.
Key topics
  • (1) Key topics and approaches in urban sociology
  • (2) What is a 'city'?
  • (3) Definitions and typologies
  • (4) Economic production of the city and inequalities
  • (5) Urban diversity and everyday life
  • (6) City and order
  • (7) Identity, emotions, and the city
  • (8) Globalization and global inequalities
  • (9) Planning the city and visions
  • (10) Concluding remarks
Study resources and literature
  • Stevenson, Deborah. 2013. The city. Wiley and Sons.
  • HORSKÁ, Pavla; Jiří MUSIL and Eduard MAUR. Zrod velkoměsta : urbanizace českých zemí a Evropa. Vyd. 1. Praha: Paseka, 2002, 352 s. ISBN 8071854093. info
  • GOTTDIENER, Mark. The new urban sociology. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1994, xv, 368. ISBN 0070239126. info
  • SCHWAB, William A. The sociology of cities. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1992, xiv, 514 s. ISBN 0-13-817610-8. info
  • GIDDENS, Anthony. Sociology. 1. ed. Cambridge: Polity Press, 1989, xxvi, 815. ISBN 074560546x. info
Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching
Rather than lectures, students focus on seminars and interactive learning. Students have to prepare for each class (reading, short writing assignments, other homework) and their activity in classes is indispensable in this course. In order to find their way through the readings, students are given a list of questions relating to the class's reading; they help them to get orientation in the texts and point out the main issues to focus on. Also, these questions stimulate individual critical thinking about the issues discussed later in the class. Guest lectures are included to the course if possible.
Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements
Requirements: 1) Class attendance and activity in the classroom: 25% of the mark 2) Homework (evaluated assignments): 30% 3) Final written exam (open questions): 45% To pass the course, the student needs to gain at least 60% of the points along the whole semester.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2019, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2024, Spring 2027.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2026/SOCb2142