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2020/2021  BA-BSOCO1810U  Introduction to Economic Sociology

English Title
Introduction to Economic Sociology

Course information
Language English
Course ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Mandatory
Level Bachelor
Duration One Semester
Start time of the course Autumn
Timetable Course schedule will be posted at calendar.cbs.dk
Study board
Study Board for BSc in Business Administration and Sociology
Course coordinator
  • Alfred Reckendrees - Department of Management, Politics and Philosophy (MPP)
Main academic disciplines
  • Organisation
  • Sociology
  • Economics
Teaching methods
  • Blended learning
Last updated on 25-06-2020

Relevant links
Learning objectives
On completion of the two courses Fundamentals of Social Theory and Introduction to Economic Sociology, the student should be able
  • to describe central problems and questions of classical social theory and economic sociology
  • to identify essential similarities and differences between theoretical positions within their particular historical, political, economic, and social contexts
  • to present and use different concepts for analysing corporate, social, economic, environmental and political problems
  • to reflect upon the relevance of theoretical positions with regard to understanding the present world
  • to write an argumentative paper with a clear structure that corresponds to academic writing standards, particularly correct citation and referencing of literature
Course prerequisites
The courses Introduction to Economic Sociology (IES) and Fundamentals of Social Theory (FST) have one integrated project exam. You can only participate in Introduction to Economic Sociology if you also register for Fundamentals of Social Theory.
Prerequisites for registering for the exam (activities during the teaching period)
Number of compulsory activities which must be approved (see s. 13 of the Programme Regulations): 1
Compulsory home assignments
This course shares a compulsory mid-term assignment with the FST course. The mid-term assignment has the form of a 10 page home written project. It is to be written in groups of four students and is a crucial part of the exam preparation.
Examination
Interdisciplinary examination in Social Theory and Economic Sociology:
Exam ECTS 15
Examination form Home assignment - written product
Individual or group exam Individual exam
Size of written product Max. 15 pages
Assignment type Written assignment
Duration Written product to be submitted on specified date and time.
Grading scale 7-point grading scale
Examiner(s) One internal examiner
Exam period Winter
Make-up exam/re-exam Oral Exam
Duration: 30 min. per student, including examiners' discussion of grade, and informing plus explaining the grade
Preparation time: With the listed preparation time: 30 Minutes
Examiner(s): If it is an internal examination, there will be a second internal examiner at the re-exam. If it is an external examination, there will be an external examiner.
Aids: Limited aids, see the list below
The student is allowed to bring to the preparation room
  • In paper format: Books (including translation dictionaries), compendiums and notes
The student is also allowed to bring simple writing and drawing utensils (non-digital). Students are not allowed to communicate with others during the preparation time.
Description of the exam procedure

The exam of the courses IES and FST takes the form of a discussion paper presenting and using concepts and theories from both courses. This paper shall meet academic writing standards, including a clear structure.

 

The two courses with their mandatory readings as well as two joint workshops of IES and FST will prepare for this task.
Course content, structure and pedagogical approach

The objective of this course is to introduce the students to key concepts of Economic Sociology. We study markets, firms, and change in society: How do markets work? What do firms do and how are they organized? How do firms and markets interact?

 

We ask these questions because markets are constructed by firms and other actors like the state. They are embedded in social and political structures. Such relationships as well as interactions within firms and between firms are of Interest to Economic Sociology and are at the centre of the course.

 

The course also introduces to different types of academic texts and includes introducing excercises to academic writing, particularly finding literature and referencing.
Description of the teaching methods
The course is based on a combination of pre-recorded online lectures and on campus lectures connected to more interactive workshops including text work, case discussions, group work, and brief presentations of the students
Preparation includes reading books and articles as well as using online material.
Four brief home assignments aim at providing feedback and supporting the learning process.

Two joined workshops of the courses IES and FST in which student groups work on a specific case and develop a presentation will help prepare for the mid-term assignment and the final exam.

In the autumn 2020 parts of the teaching will take place online.
Feedback during the teaching period
The course provides continuous Feed-back in lectures, on home assignments and in workshops. It is provided in the following ways:
1. The teacher gives collective and/or individual feedback on quizzes and assignments (either in the lectures or via CANVAS) in regard with understanding of the syllabus.
2. Guided peer-to-peer feedback to groups of 5–6 students is given during the two joined workshops (IES & FST).
3. The mid-term assignment is followed by a feedback workshop including peer-to-peer feedback and teachers' feedback to each group.
4. The final exam is followed by individual feedback sessions.
5. Office hours are available for all students, specific time slots will be provided, but also on-demand. Particularly due to limited on-campus teaching, students should make use of this individually or in groups.
Student workload
preparing for classes (1.5h per 1h teaching) 54 hours
lectures 36 hours
Workshops 6 hours
Excercises: Acadmic writing: literature and referencing 6 hours
mid-term assignment perparation 10 hours
mid-term assignment 18 hours
exam preparation 40 hours
writing the exam 35 hours
diverse 1 hours
Further Information

The primary purpose of the 1st semester is to enable the student to adopt an integrative approach that combines theories and methods the two courses Fundamentals of Social Theory and Introduction to Economic Sociology introduce to.
Expected literature

Textbook

Carruthers, Bruce G. and & Babb, Sarah L. (2013) Economy/Society. Markets, Meanings, and Social Structure (2nd. ed.), Thousand Oaks, Calif. London: SAGE.
(select chapters)

 

Articles will include, f.e.

Block, F. (2002) 'Rethinking Capitalism' In Readings in Economic Sociology, ed. by N. Woolsey Biggert, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 219-230.

Fligstein, N. (2002) 'Markets as Politics: A Political-Cultural Approach to Market Institutions' In Readings in Economic Sociology, ed. by N. Woolsey Biggert, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 197-218.

Granovetter, M. (2002) 'Economic Action and Social Structure: The Problem of Embeddedness', In Readings in Economic Sociology, ed. by N. Woolsey Biggert, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 69-93.

Schumpeter, J. (1942/1994) 'The Process of Creative Destruction' In Capitalism, Socialism & Democracy. With a New Introduction by R. Swedberg, London & New York, pp. 81-86.

 

Case studies

Last updated on 25-06-2020