SOC412 Multiculturalism and Social Change
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Mar 03, 2026
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Social and Political Sciences
Mustafa Krupalija
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
This course aims to equip students with a critical understanding of multiculturalism as a social, political, and cultural phenomenon shaping contemporary societies. Students will examine key theories and debates related to diversity, identity, inequality, and citizenship, and analyze how identities intersect with structures of power. By the end of the course, students will develop the analytical skills needed to critically assess challenges and opportunities for multicultural coexistence and social change in an increasingly globalized world.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Bhikhu C. Parekh, Rethinking Multiculturalism: Cultural Diversity and Political Theory, , Harvard University Press, 2002 Jennifer Teramoto Pedrotti & Denise A. Isom, Multicultural Psychology: Self, Society, and Social Change, SAGE, 2021
Additional Literature
Ali Rattansi, Multiculturalism: A Very Short Introduction, Oxford Academic, 2011Teaching Methods
This course employs a range of teaching and learning methods such as verbal lecturing
Written assignments
Essays
PPT
And written exams.
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Course Introduction | |
| 2 | Introduction to Multiculturalism: Key Concepts and Debates | Rattansi (2011), Parekh (2002) |
| 3 | Moral Universalism vs. Cultural Pluralism | Parekh (2002) |
| 4 | Historical Development of the Concept of Culture | Parekh (2002) |
| 5 | Identity and Belonging in Multicultural Societies | Pedrotti & Isom (2021), Rattansi (2011) |
| 6 | Race and Ethnicity in Contemporary Society | Pedrotti & Isom (2021) |
| 7 | Intersectionality | Pedrotti & Isom (2021) |
| 8 | MID-TERM WEEK | |
| 9 | Multiculturalism and Religion in the Public Sphere | Parekh (2002), Rattansi (2011) |
| 10 | Integration vs. Assimilation | Rattansi (2011), Parekh (2002) |
| 11 | The Role of the State in Managing Diversity | Parekh (2002) |
| 12 | Equality and the Politics of Recognition | Parekh (2002) |
| 13 | Intercultural Dialogue and Cultural Conflict | Parekh (2002), Pedrotti & Isom (2021) |
| 14 | Globalization and Multiculturalism | Rattansi (2011) |
| 15 | Review and Discussion |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
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
Midterm Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3
Presentation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 2 3 5
Attendance and Participation
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 2 3 4
Quiz
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes : 1 4 5
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
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Home Study
28 hours ⏳ (14 week × 2 h)
Presentation
12 hours ⏳ (2 week × 6 h)
Midterm Exam Study
18 hours ⏳ (6 week × 3 h)
Final Exam Study
42 hours ⏳ (14 week × 3 h)
Quiz
5 hours ⏳ (5 week × 1 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 [SOC412] 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
Print Syllabus
Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| SOC412 | Multiculturalism and Social Change | 3 | 0 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | Junior Standing | 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 aims to equip students with a critical understanding of multiculturalism as a social, political, and cultural phenomenon shaping contemporary societies. Students will examine key theories and debates related to diversity, identity, inequality, and citizenship, and analyze how identities intersect with structures of power. By the end of the course, students will develop the analytical skills needed to critically assess challenges and opportunities for multicultural coexistence and social change in an increasingly globalized world. | |||||||||
| Textbook | Bhikhu C. Parekh, Rethinking Multiculturalism: Cultural Diversity and Political Theory, , Harvard University Press, 2002 Jennifer Teramoto Pedrotti & Denise A. Isom, Multicultural Psychology: Self, Society, and Social Change, SAGE, 2021 | |||||||||
| 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 verbal lecturing, written assignments, essays, PPT, and written exams. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Course Introduction | |||||||||
| Week 2 | Introduction to Multiculturalism: Key Concepts and Debates | Rattansi (2011), Parekh (2002) | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Moral Universalism vs. Cultural Pluralism | Parekh (2002) | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Historical Development of the Concept of Culture | Parekh (2002) | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Identity and Belonging in Multicultural Societies | Pedrotti & Isom (2021), Rattansi (2011) | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Race and Ethnicity in Contemporary Society | Pedrotti & Isom (2021) | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Intersectionality | Pedrotti & Isom (2021) | ||||||||
| Week 8 | MID-TERM WEEK | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Multiculturalism and Religion in the Public Sphere | Parekh (2002), Rattansi (2011) | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Integration vs. Assimilation | Rattansi (2011), Parekh (2002) | ||||||||
| Week 11 | The Role of the State in Managing Diversity | Parekh (2002) | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Equality and the Politics of Recognition | Parekh (2002) | ||||||||
| Week 13 | Intercultural Dialogue and Cultural Conflict | Parekh (2002), Pedrotti & Isom (2021) | ||||||||
| Week 14 | Globalization and Multiculturalism | Rattansi (2011) | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Review and Discussion | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | 1,2,3,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm Exam | 1 | 30 | 1,2,3 | Not Allowed | |
| Presentation | 1 | 10 | 2,3,5 | Not Allowed | |
| Attendance and Participation | 1 | 10 | 1,2,3,4 | Not Allowed | |
| Quiz | 1 | 10 | 1,4,5 | Not Allowed | |
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture Hours | 3 | 15 | 45 | Home Study | 2 | 14 | 28 | |||
| Presentation | 6 | 2 | 12 | Midterm Exam Study | 3 | 6 | 18 | |||
| Final Exam Study | 3 | 14 | 42 | Quiz | 1 | 5 | 5 | |||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 31/03/2026 | |||||||||