140.050 (18W) Sociology of Consumption (special topic in Sociology)
Overview
- Lecturer
- Course title german Sociology of Consumption (Spezielle Soziologie)
- Type Seminar (continuous assessment course )
- Hours per Week 2.0
- ECTS credits 4.0
- Registrations 17 (40 max.)
- Organisational unit
- Language of instruction English
- Course begins on 04.10.2018
- eLearning Go to Moodle course
Time and place
Course Information
Intended learning outcomes
Course details
This course analyses the consumption of goods and services as central part of people's daily life, self-expression and social order. Students will examine the act of purchase not only by means of rational supply and demand principles, but rather as a set of beliefs, cultural symbols, meanings, attitudes, identities and norms. The course enables an advanced engagement with the historical, socioeconomic, and cultural aspects of consumption in sociological context. Beyond the fulfilment of basic needs, it particularly highlights the pleasurable, imaginative and meaningful relevance of consumption practices for understanding modern societies.
Aims
The principle aim of this course is to provide students with a sound knowledge and critical understanding of the sociological study of consumption. More specifically, the course aims to:
- explore the socially and historically specific nature of contemporary consumer society
- provide students with a thorough understanding of the main sociological theories and principles of consumption
- analyse the significance, role, and meaning of consumer goods and their relationship to culture and individual/group/national identity
- outline various configurations of consumption in modern society with special focus on digital consumption
- examine the contemporary phenomena of market embeddedness in people’s life and the impacts of living in a commodified world
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- critically evaluate sociological theories, perspectives, and methods as well as identify the relationship of consumption research to practice
- show an understanding of the interplay between social and cultural discourses of consumption
- recognise the ideological, socially, and culturally meaningful and contested nature of modern understandings of consumption
- demonstrate an understanding of the relevance of consumer goods in the construction and maintenance of lifestyle, consumer subjectivity, and meaning-making
- apply the knowledge necessary for further advanced study on marketing, consumer behaviour, and economics in general
- reflect their own consumption practices and how their own identity, opinions and tastes are created and shaped by aspects of modern consumer culture
Teaching methodology including the use of eLearning tools
Organization
The course is a seminar course. Students are expected to participate in group discussions and fulfil tasks during the class. Given that consumption has an increasingly important role in our daily lives, students will also be encouraged to draw on their own experiences to aid understanding of the theoretical content of the class. Accordingly, a substantial portion of the mark will be assigned to effective seminar participation (i.e. not simply attendance).
Furthermore, students will write a brief, but well-conceived research proposal in which they present practical ways to study specific topics in consumption from sociological perspectives.
Examination information
Examination methodology
- Effective seminar participation (group discussion, classroom tasks)
- Research proposal
Grading scheme
Grade / Grade grading schemePosition in the curriculum
- Bachelor's degree programme Business Administration
(SKZ: 518, Version: 18W.1)
-
Subject: Soziologie
(Compulsory elective)
-
23.1 SSOZIO Soziologie I (
0.0h KS / 4.0 ECTS)
- 140.050 Sociology of Consumption (special topic in Sociology) (2.0h SE / 4.0 ECTS) Absolvierung im 4., 5., 6. Semester empfohlen
-
23.1 SSOZIO Soziologie I (
0.0h KS / 4.0 ECTS)
-
Subject: Soziologie
(Compulsory elective)
- Bachelor's degree programme Business Administration
(SKZ: 518, Version: 18W.1)
-
Subject: Soziologie
(Compulsory elective)
-
23.2 SSOZIO Soziologie II (
0.0h KS / 4.0 ECTS)
- 140.050 Sociology of Consumption (special topic in Sociology) (2.0h SE / 4.0 ECTS) Absolvierung im 4., 5., 6. Semester empfohlen
-
23.2 SSOZIO Soziologie II (
0.0h KS / 4.0 ECTS)
-
Subject: Soziologie
(Compulsory elective)
- Bachelor's degree programme Business Administration
(SKZ: 518, Version: 18W.1)
-
Subject: Soziologie
(Compulsory elective)
-
23.3 SSOZIO Soziologie III (
0.0h KS / 4.0 ECTS)
- 140.050 Sociology of Consumption (special topic in Sociology) (2.0h SE / 4.0 ECTS) Absolvierung im 4., 5., 6. Semester empfohlen
-
23.3 SSOZIO Soziologie III (
0.0h KS / 4.0 ECTS)
-
Subject: Soziologie
(Compulsory elective)
- Bachelor's degree programme Applied Business Administration
(SKZ: 518, Version: 14W.3)
-
Subject: Spezielle Soziologie
(Compulsory elective)
-
§10(1) Spezielle Soziologie (
4.0h VO/VC/KS/SE / 8.0 ECTS)
- 140.050 Sociology of Consumption (special topic in Sociology) (2.0h SE / 4.0 ECTS)
-
§10(1) Spezielle Soziologie (
4.0h VO/VC/KS/SE / 8.0 ECTS)
-
Subject: Spezielle Soziologie
(Compulsory elective)
- Bachelor's degree programme Applied Business Administration
(SKZ: 518, Version: 14W.3)
-
Subject: Spezielle Soziologie
(Compulsory elective)
-
§10(1) Spezielle Soziologie (
4.0h VO/VC/KS/SE / 8.0 ECTS)
- 140.050 Sociology of Consumption (special topic in Sociology) (2.0h SE / 4.0 ECTS)
-
§10(1) Spezielle Soziologie (
4.0h VO/VC/KS/SE / 8.0 ECTS)
-
Subject: Spezielle Soziologie
(Compulsory elective)
- Bachelor's degree programme Applied Business Administration
(SKZ: 518, Version: 12W.1)
-
Subject: Spezielle Soziologie
(Compulsory elective)
-
Spezielle Soziologie (
4.0h VO/VC/KS/SE / 8.0 ECTS)
- 140.050 Sociology of Consumption (special topic in Sociology) (2.0h SE / 4.0 ECTS)
-
Spezielle Soziologie (
4.0h VO/VC/KS/SE / 8.0 ECTS)
-
Subject: Spezielle Soziologie
(Compulsory elective)
- Bachelor's degree programme Applied Cultural Studies
(SKZ: 642, Version: 09W.3)
-
Subject: Gebundene Wahlfächer
(Compulsory elective)
-
Module: Wahlfachmodul Soziologie
-
Wahlfachmodul Soziologie (
6.0h XX / 12.0 ECTS)
- 140.050 Sociology of Consumption (special topic in Sociology) (2.0h SE / 4.0 ECTS)
-
Wahlfachmodul Soziologie (
6.0h XX / 12.0 ECTS)
-
Module: Wahlfachmodul Soziologie
-
Subject: Gebundene Wahlfächer
(Compulsory elective)
- Master's degree programme Applied Business Administration
(SKZ: 918, Version: 12W.4)
-
Subject: Freie Wahlfächer
(Optional subject)
-
Freie Wahlfächer (
0.0h XX / 6.0 ECTS)
- 140.050 Sociology of Consumption (special topic in Sociology) (2.0h SE / 4.0 ECTS)
-
Freie Wahlfächer (
0.0h XX / 6.0 ECTS)
-
Subject: Freie Wahlfächer
(Optional subject)
- Master's degree programme International Management
(SKZ: 908, Version: 16W.1)
-
Subject: Options
(Optional subject)
-
Freie Wahlfächer (
0.0h XX / 9.0 ECTS)
- 140.050 Sociology of Consumption (special topic in Sociology) (2.0h SE / 4.0 ECTS)
-
Freie Wahlfächer (
0.0h XX / 9.0 ECTS)
-
Subject: Options
(Optional subject)
- Master's degree programme Media and Convergence Management
(SKZ: 150, Version: 13W.2)
-
Subject: Options
(Optional subject)
-
Options (
0.0h XX / 6.0 ECTS)
- 140.050 Sociology of Consumption (special topic in Sociology) (2.0h SE / 4.0 ECTS) Absolvierung im 3., 4. Semester empfohlen
-
Options (
0.0h XX / 6.0 ECTS)
-
Subject: Options
(Optional subject)
Equivalent courses for counting the examination attempts
-
Sommersemester 2024
- 140.050 SE Soziale Netzwerkanalyse (2.0h / 4.0ECTS)
-
Sommersemester 2022
- 140.050 KS Soziale Netzwerkanalyse (Spezielle Soziologie) (2.0h / 4.0ECTS)
-
Sommersemester 2021
- 140.050 KS Soziale Netzwerkanalyse (2.0h / 4.0ECTS)
-
Wintersemester 2012/13
- 140.050 PS Ausgewählte Probleme der Arbeits-, Wirtschafts- und Betriebssoziologie (Flexibilisierung und Prekarisierung) (2.0h / 3.0ECTS)