SOC201 Social Theory
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Mar 03, 2026
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Political Science and International Relations
Mustafa Krupalija
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course provides an introductory foundation in social theory, offering students a comprehensive overview of the major theoretical traditions that have shaped sociological thought. The course is designed to familiarize students with classical and contemporary perspectives, including positivism, functionalism, conflict theory, exchange and rational choice theories, phenomenological sociology and ethnomethodology, symbolic interactionism, feminist theory, critical theory, and postmodernism. Through engaging with these frameworks, students will develop an understanding of how social theories are used to interpret social structures, interactions, power relations, and social change in the modern world.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Shaun Best (2003). A Beginner's Guide to Social Theory. London: Sage Publications; Anthony Elliot (2009). Contemporary Social Theory: An Introduction. London and New York: Routledge.
Additional Literature
Betty Dobratz, Lisa K Waldner, Timothy Buzzell. (2011) Power, Politics, and Society. Routledge. John Scott. 2006. Social Theory: Central Issues in Sociology. London: SAGE Publications Derek Layder. 2006. Understanding Social Theory. London: SAGE Publications Michael Hviid Jacobsen and Keith Tester. 2012. Utopia: Social Theory and the Future. Burlington: ASHGATETeaching Methods
This course employs a range of teaching and learning methods such as lecturing
Written assignments
Presentations
Essays
Group debates and pop quiz.
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Course Introduction | |
| 2 | The Foundations of Society / Expectations and Requirements | [pp. 1-13] Shaun Best |
| 3 | Functionalist Perspectives: Theorizing Systems and Structures | [pp. 17-44] Shaun Best |
| 4 | Marxism: Theorizing Capitalism | [pp. 50-104] Shaun Best |
| 5 | Marxism: Theorizing Capitalism | [pp. 50-105] Shaun Best |
| 6 | The Action Perspectives: Theorizing Social Action and Self | [pp. 110-138] Shaun Best |
| 7 | Anthony Giddens: Theorizing Agency and Structure | [pp. 183-209] Shaun Best |
| 8 | Midterm Week | |
| 9 | Theorizing Fragmentation and Uncertainty | [pp. 213-273] Shaun Best |
| 10 | Theorizing Fragmentation and Uncertainty | [pp. 213-273] Shaun Best |
| 11 | The Conceptualization of Politics in Social Theory | [pp. 1-35] Betty Dobratz |
| 12 | The Network Society | [pp. 270-307] Anthonny Elliot |
| 13 | Social Theory and Globalization | [pp. 308-340] Anthonny Elliot |
| 14 | Social Theory Today and Towards 2025 | [pp. 342-351] Anthonny Elliot |
| 15 | Final Exam Review |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOC201.1 | Course | Friday 09:00 - 11:50 | B F2.16 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
| Day | Time | Office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 12:00 - 15:00 | A F1.9 | |
| Friday | 13:00 - 14:00 | A F1.9 |
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4 5 6
Group Presentation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 5 6
Mid-term Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 2 5 6
Participation / Attendance
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 6
Quiz
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture Hours
39 hours ⏳ (13 week × 3 h)
Group Presentation
12 hours ⏳ (2 week × 6 h)
Participation
39 hours ⏳ (13 week × 3 h)
Home Study
26 hours ⏳ (13 week × 2 h)
Midterm Exam
15 hours ⏳ (5 week × 3 h)
Final Exam
15 hours ⏳ (5 week × 3 h)
Quiz
4 hours ⏳ (1 week × 4 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [SOC201] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Mar 03, 2026 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| SOC201 | Social Theory | 3 | 0 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | SOC102 | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Mustafa Krupalija | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Tuesday: 12:00-15:00 Friday: 13:00-14:00 |
|||||||
| mkrupalija@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | This course provides an introductory foundation in social theory, offering students a comprehensive overview of the major theoretical traditions that have shaped sociological thought. The course is designed to familiarize students with classical and contemporary perspectives, including positivism, functionalism, conflict theory, exchange and rational choice theories, phenomenological sociology and ethnomethodology, symbolic interactionism, feminist theory, critical theory, and postmodernism. Through engaging with these frameworks, students will develop an understanding of how social theories are used to interpret social structures, interactions, power relations, and social change in the modern world. | |||||||||
| Textbook | Shaun Best (2003). A Beginner's Guide to Social Theory. London: Sage Publications; Anthony Elliot (2009). Contemporary Social Theory: An Introduction. London and New York: Routledge. | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | This course employs a range of teaching and learning methods such as lecturing, written assignments, presentations, essays, group debates and pop quiz. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Course Introduction | |||||||||
| Week 2 | The Foundations of Society / Expectations and Requirements | [pp. 1-13] Shaun Best | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Functionalist Perspectives: Theorizing Systems and Structures | [pp. 17-44] Shaun Best | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Marxism: Theorizing Capitalism | [pp. 50-104] Shaun Best | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Marxism: Theorizing Capitalism | [pp. 50-105] Shaun Best | ||||||||
| Week 6 | The Action Perspectives: Theorizing Social Action and Self | [pp. 110-138] Shaun Best | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Anthony Giddens: Theorizing Agency and Structure | [pp. 183-209] Shaun Best | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Midterm Week | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Theorizing Fragmentation and Uncertainty | [pp. 213-273] Shaun Best | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Theorizing Fragmentation and Uncertainty | [pp. 213-273] Shaun Best | ||||||||
| Week 11 | The Conceptualization of Politics in Social Theory | [pp. 1-35] Betty Dobratz | ||||||||
| Week 12 | The Network Society | [pp. 270-307] Anthonny Elliot | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Social Theory and Globalization | [pp. 308-340] Anthonny Elliot | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Social Theory Today and Towards 2025 | [pp. 342-351] Anthonny Elliot | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Final Exam Review | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 1,2,3,4,5,6 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Group Presentation | 1 | 10 | 1,5,6 | Not Allowed | |
| Mid-term Exam | 1 | 30 | 2,5,6 | Not Allowed | |
| Participation / Attendance | 1 | 10 | 6 | Not Allowed | |
| Quiz | 1 | 10 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 13 | 39 | Group Presentation | 6 | 2 | 12 | |||
| Participation | 3 | 13 | 39 | Home Study | 2 | 13 | 26 | |||
| Midterm Exam | 3 | 5 | 15 | Final Exam | 3 | 5 | 15 | |||
| Quiz | 4 | 1 | 4 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 27/03/2026 | |||||||||