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2026/2027  BA-BSOCO2022U  Theories of Modern Society

English Title
Theories of Modern Society

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 Global Relations
Programme BSc in Business Administration and Sociology
Course coordinator
  • Anders Sevelsted - Department of Business Humanities and Law (BHL)
  • Christoph Houman Ellersgaard - Department of Organization (IOA)
Main academic disciplines
  • Organisation
  • Political leadership and public management
  • Sociology
Teaching methods
  • Blended learning
Last updated on 03-03-2026

Relevant links
Learning objectives
On successful completion of the course, the student should be able to:
  • Demonstrate understanding of modern sociological theory based on a careful reading of course material.
  • Apply key concepts of the course material in order to identify, analyse, and reflect on empirical phenomena in modern society and their potentials and challenges for public, private and/or civil society organisations.
  • Show and evaluate the analytical implications of applying different theoretical perspectives with different assumptions about modern society.
  • Demonstrate the ability to convey rigorous, analytic arguments orally and in writing, in one's own voice and in accordance with the conventions of academic writing in the social sciences.
Course prerequisites
The courses Theories of Modern Society and Qualitative Methods have one integrated project exam. You can only participate in Theories of Modern Society if you also register for Qualitative Methods.
Examination
Integrated exam in Theories of Modern Society and Qualitative Methods:
Exam ECTS 15
Examination form Oral exam based on written product

In order to participate in the oral exam, the written product must be handed in before the oral exam; by the set deadline. The grade is based on an overall assessment of the written product and the individual oral performance, see also the rules about examination forms in the programme regulations.
Individual or group exam Individual oral exam based on written group product
Number of people in the group 4-5
Size of written product Max. 10 pages
Assignment type Project
Release of assignment An assigned subject is released in class
Duration
Written product to be submitted on specified date and time.
30 min. per student, including examiners' discussion of grade, and informing plus explaining the grade
Grading scale 7-point grading scale
Examiner(s) Internal examiner and second internal examiner
Exam period Winter
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam. Students will have to reupload the same project as for the ordinary exam. No new project needs to be produced.
Description of the exam procedure

The exam is a joint exam between Theories of Modern Society and Qualitative Methods. Each course has their own learning objectives that all apply to the joint exam. Students will work in the same groups across the two courses to develop a written group project that a) uses sociological concepts to identify and analyze a research problem relevant to organizational sociology and business administration and b) uses qualitative methods to gather and analyze empirical data following a qualitative research design.

 

For the exam, students should be able to:  

  • understand and apply key concepts from modern sociological theory
  • formulate and operationalise a research problem based on modern sociological theory that is suitable for inquiry by means of basic qualitative methods
  • apply basic qualitative methods such as ethnography, document analysis and interviews to research problems in business sociology
  • account for the relationship between theory and methods
  • critically assess strengths and weaknesses of the applied theories and methods in relation to concrete research problems
  • reflect upon the theories, methods and research design applied
  • write an argumentative paper with a clear structure that conforms to academic writing standards
Course content, structure and pedagogical approach

Modern society presents a complex environment for private, public, and third sector organisations. Increasingly, established social hierarchies are challenged, leading to new forms of freedom and domination, just as earlier power relations continue to be in effect under new conditions. Simultaneously, different spheres in society – science, politics, art, education, religion – seem to become both increasingly autonomous and increasingly intertwined.

 

Unlike many other disciplines, sociology has not established a dominant paradigm for understanding these developments and the social, human, and economic challenges they raise. Instead, the most influential sociological theorists rely on different basic assumptions and methodological approaches for understanding modern society.

 

The course introduces five key sociological theoretical perspectives that are influential in sociology and its many sub-disciplines. During the course, we will uncover the basic assumptions, key concepts, and central arguments of the theories. We will focus on ways that these perspectives are applied to fields relevant to private, public, and third sector organisations, and more broadly examine how the theories shed important light on changing constellations of economic, political, and social actors as well as on the social, human, and environmental consequences of their activities. 

 

The course is based on lectures that integrate exercises and student discussions, and workshops and seminars that help student choose themes and operationalize concepts.

 

The course builds on the theories that were introduced during Fundamentals of Social Theory.
Research-based teaching
CBS’ programmes and teaching are research-based. The following types of research-based knowledge and research-like activities are included in this course:
Research-based knowledge
  • Classic and basic theory
  • New theory
  • Teacher’s own research
  • Methodology
Research-like activities
  • Development of research questions
  • Analysis
  • Discussion, critical reflection, modelling
  • Students conduct independent research-like activities under supervision
Description of the teaching methods
The course consists of three types of sessions for each theoretical perspective that is introduced: Lectures, examples of empirical application and/or further theoretical developments, and workshops aiming to facilitate students’ case selection, operationalization of concepts and theoretically informed work with data.

Lectures are focused on understanding, application, and reflection. Workshops will be focused on application. A final workshop will focus on comparing the perspectives introduced during the course.

In-class exercises and discussions as well as online material such as videos, other online materials and quizzes will support lecture preparation. The different approaches will be evaluated in a mid-term evaluation.
Feedback during the teaching period
The course is designed to enable continuous feedback. Through workshops, students will be aided in the different steps of the research process from choosing a theme and a case to operationalizing concepts and theories and to work with data in a theory-informed way.

During workshops, groups are encouraged to ask questions and present their work, on which they will then have the opportunity to receive feedback as they work with applying the concepts of the lectures to a case.

All groups are offered supervision at prearranged timeslots. These timeslots are set in the office hours. The slots are distributed by the teacher and it is optional for the students to use the offer.

Consultation hours are available to all students individually or in groups.
Student workload
Lectures 38 hours
Preparation of lectures (7h per 2h lecture) 112 hours
Exam 56 hours
Further Information

Minor changes may occur to this course description until 30 June.

Last updated on 03-03-2026