SOC503 Social and Cultural Theory
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Oct 10, 2025
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Social and Political Sciences
Mustafa Krupalija
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
Social and cultural theory serves as a critical lens through which we unravel the complexities of human existence. The course will examine cultural practices, representations, and power dynamics, showing how societies construct meaning, negotiate identities, and navigate social structures. This theoretical framework enables us to dissect the interplay between culture, history, and individual agency, fostering deeper insights into the fabric of our shared human experience.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Farganis, J. (1996). Readings in Social Theory. The McGraw-Hill Companies; Lemert, Ch. (2018). Social Theory - the Multicultural, Global, and Classical Readings. Routledge;
Additional Literature
Hall, S. (1997). Representation: Cultural Representations and Signifying Practices; Berger, P. L., & Luckmann, T. (1966). The Social Construction of Reality: A Treatise in the Sociology of Knowledge; Levi-Strauss, C. (1966). The Savage Mind; Foucault, M. (1972). The Archaeology of Knowledge; Jameson, F. (1991). Postmodernism, or, The Cultural Logic of Late Capitalism; Said, E. W. (1978). Orientalism; Appadurai, A. (1996). Modernity at Large: Cultural Dimensions of Globalization:Teaching Methods
This course employs a range of teaching and learning methods
Such as verbal lecturing
Assignments
And written and verbal exams.
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction | |
| 2 | Social and Cultural in Theory | |
| 3 | Structuralism | |
| 4 | Poststructuralism | |
| 5 | Cultural materialism and Marxism | |
| 6 | Postmodernism and Cultural Crtitque | |
| 7 | Midterm Week | |
| 8 | Postcolonialism | |
| 9 | Race and Ethnicity | |
| 10 | Cultural Studies and Media Theory | |
| 11 | Globalization and Cultural Flows | |
| 12 | Digital Culture and Virtual Communities | |
| 13 | Environmental Sociology and Ecocriticism | |
| 14 | Contemporary Debates | |
| 15 | Review and Discussion |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOC503.1 | Course | Wednesday 17:00 - 19:50 | B F1.1 FBA Graduate Seminar Room | - | - |
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 :
Midterm Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
Discussion
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
Panel Contribution
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
Participation / Attendance
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
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:
Final Exam
45 hours ⏳ (15 week × 3 h)
Midterm Exam
21 hours ⏳ (7 week × 3 h)
Discussion
30 hours ⏳ (15 week × 2 h)
Panel
24 hours ⏳ (12 week × 2 h)
Participation
30 hours ⏳ (15 week × 2 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 [SOC503] 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 Oct 10, 2025 | 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 | |||||||||
| SOC503 | Social and Cultural Theory | 3 | 0 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | None | 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 | Social and cultural theory serves as a critical lens through which we unravel the complexities of human existence. The course will examine cultural practices, representations, and power dynamics, showing how societies construct meaning, negotiate identities, and navigate social structures. This theoretical framework enables us to dissect the interplay between culture, history, and individual agency, fostering deeper insights into the fabric of our shared human experience. | |||||||||
| Textbook | Farganis, J. (1996). Readings in Social Theory. The McGraw-Hill Companies; Lemert, Ch. (2018). Social Theory - the Multicultural, Global, and Classical Readings. 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 verbal lecturing, assignments, and written and verbal exams. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Introduction | |||||||||
| Week 2 | Social and Cultural in Theory | |||||||||
| Week 3 | Structuralism | |||||||||
| Week 4 | Poststructuralism | |||||||||
| Week 5 | Cultural materialism and Marxism | |||||||||
| Week 6 | Postmodernism and Cultural Crtitque | |||||||||
| Week 7 | Midterm Week | |||||||||
| Week 8 | Postcolonialism | |||||||||
| Week 9 | Race and Ethnicity | |||||||||
| Week 10 | Cultural Studies and Media Theory | |||||||||
| Week 11 | Globalization and Cultural Flows | |||||||||
| Week 12 | Digital Culture and Virtual Communities | |||||||||
| Week 13 | Environmental Sociology and Ecocriticism | |||||||||
| Week 14 | Contemporary Debates | |||||||||
| Week 15 | Review and Discussion | |||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 40 | Not Allowed | ||
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Midterm Exam | 1 | 20 | Not Allowed | ||
| Discussion | 15 | Not Allowed | |||
| Panel Contribution | 15 | Not Allowed | |||
| Participation / Attendance | 10 | Not Allowed | |||
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Final Exam | 3 | 15 | 45 | Midterm Exam | 3 | 7 | 21 | |||
| Discussion | 2 | 15 | 30 | Panel | 2 | 12 | 24 | |||
| Participation | 2 | 15 | 30 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 23/10/2025 | |||||||||