Admission requirements and assessment of previously acquired knowledge/competences
Applicants to the degree programme shall hold a five-year secondary school diploma or equivalent suitable qualification obtained abroad, or a four-year secondary school diploma and diploma for the relative supplementary year, or, where no longer active, they will be assigned credits to be awarded.
Methods of assessment of the ability to understand the Italian language and of the good general knowledge and the essential logic and mathematical skills required for the Degree Programme teaching regulations:
- all enrolled students possessing a secondary school diploma with a score of ≥ 70/100 (or equivalent) are deemed to possess the required knowledge;
- all enrolled students possessing a secondary school diploma with a score of ≤ 69/100 (or equivalent) must sit an entrance exam which is held at the beginning of October (all students enrolling beyond that date will be required to sit the exam at the beginning of January).
Students are exempted from the assessment of their own skills and knowledge in the event of:
- withdrawal,
- loss of student status,
- having chosen an option from the previous degree programme system,
- possessing a university qualification or learning outcomes acquired in foreign universities,
- moving to another study programme inside the Bologna University
- transferring to another University
The exam comprises two parts:
1. assessment of the ability to understand the Italian language and of the good general knowledge
2. assessment of the essential logic and mathematical skills
Any candidates failing the first part of the exam will be allocated additional learning requirements (OFA) in Italian language.
Any candidates failing the second part of the exam will be allocated additional learning requirements (OFA) in logic and mathematical skills.
Students failing both parts of the exam will be allocated both OFA.
The additional learning requirements must be achieved by 10th August 2012, in accordance with the published requirements.
Programme profile
The degree programme in Sociology aims to provide students with the knowledge and skills to understand different and complex social phenomena and the main processes of social change related to globalisation, understood as the increasing inter-dependence between different national and local social systems in economic, political, cultural, religious, media, communicative and linguistic terms. Particular attention focuses on the study of the most important structural, institutional and subjective changes in economic and political processes and the dynamics of social stratification, migration, city life, contemporary culture and intercultural relations and the media. The programme also includes learning activities aiming both to study the main sociological theories and relative empirical survey methods and techniques.
Expected learning outcomes
Conoscenza e capacità di comprensione (knowledge and understanding)
Graduates:
- possess good knowledge of the evolution of sociology (from its origins to the most recent theoretical, methodological and empirical developments);
- understands the basic features of the evolution of sociological thought, political-institutional history and public law, in terms of concepts, theories and key figures;
- understand the main methods of qualitative and quantitative empirical research.
The above knowledge and understanding are achieved through lectures and seminars, workshops and other activities as well as elf-study in all the course units, in particular those concerning sociological, mathematical-statistical and economic, legal, politological, anthropological, historical-geographic, psycho-pedagogic and linguistic disciplinary fields. Particular explanations on specific subjects or concerning reference texts are offered by each professor during their own office hours. The professors will be supported by a tutor who can provide additional support to both working students (who cannot regularly attend lessons) through the guided preparation of exams, and to students having difficulties in understanding the subject matter. Assessment of the achievement of the described learning outcomes shall be mainly through the final examination for each learning activity which, as indicated clearly in each course unit programme, involves the production of at least two written assignments during the course and an oral exam to verify the students' ability to coordinate different topics handled during studies and faced analytically during the programme, as well as any topics learned which were not assessed during progress tests.
Capacità di applicare conoscenza e comprensione (applying knowledge and understanding)
Graduates:
- are able to apply the knowledge learned and correctly understand the phenomena and dynamics of change on different scales in contemporary society in different spheres (social, political, cultural, etc.);
- are able to formulate general hypotheses and practical research plans for qualitative and quantitative research, drafting the relevant methodologies and techniques.
The above knowledge and understanding are achieved through participation in the learning activities, in particular those concerning sociological, mathematical-statistical and economic, legal, politological, historical-philosophical, anthropological, historical-geographic, psycho-pedagogic and linguistic disciplinary fields; individual study of recommended reading; case studies presented in class; workshops and/or internships; simulations of research and other theoretical and practical activities.
The described learning outcomes are assessed not only through the examination for each course unit, the methods of which are indicated clearly in the relative programme, but also through exercises and group work in the classroom and workshops.
Autonomia di giudizio (making judgements)
Graduates:
- possess a basic multi-dimensional knowledge of sociological, legal, economic and historical subject areas necessary for a conceptually well-constructed and guided analysis oriented to a range of social issues;
- are able to identify, gather and select data and information to support research and analysis and express opinions on specific social and institutional contexts;
The ability to make judgements is achieved through participation in the learning activities, in particular those concerning sociological, mathematical-statistical and economic, legal, politological, historical-philosophical, anthropological, historical-geographic, psycho-pedagogic and linguistic disciplinary fields. Judgement skills are assessed through standard exams as well as through discussions and debates during seminars, laboratory work and research simulations.
Abilità communicative (communication skills)
Graduates:
- will be able to express opinions concerning the field of study using appropriate concepts and ideas and suitable forms of communication according to the interlocutors;
- will have a strong command of the English language and will be able to read complex texts and hold conversations with specific contents.
Written and oral communication skills are developed in particular during the intermediate written assignments and oral final exam of each course unit, as well as during practical exercises and learning activities which also require the production and oral presentation of reports and written assignments.
The communication skills are also assessed during the preparation and presentation of the final examination.
The English language is learned during lectures and through the active participation of the students in laboratory work in groups of students possessing a similar initial knowledge of the language.
Knowledge of the English language will be assessed through the final examination, which, as indicated clearly in each exam programme, involves at least two written assignments during the course and an oral final exam.
Capacità di apprendimento (learning skills)
Graduates:
- will be able to apply the learning methods developed for updating and further studying the programme contents, either in professional contexts, or in order to embark upon further studies;
Learning skills are acquired throughout the whole study period, using the above-described teaching methods and tools, which together will assure the achievement of the professional and specific learning outcomes. In particular, the programme aims to develop the analytical and empirical skills required by graduates to study and research the issues presented in the course units and the study programme as a whole.