This seminar-based course covers a wide range of material derived from a variety of theoretical traditions and bodies of work. It introduces students to, and help them develop an understanding of, complex issues and texts that are now established as the theoretical basis of scholarship in a number of relevant cognate fields, including communication studies, media studies, cultural studies, gender studies, visual culture, postcolonial studies, literary studies, anthropology, education, film studies, sociology and psychology. Topics in this course will vary according to course instructor and student interest, and may include readings of classical and/or contemporary theories in the social sciences.

CILO-1: Identify a common set of scholars, theories, and concepts that are relevant to the broad topic of social theory, and which are influential across different disciplines and beyond one’s own narrow specialization, and discuss the role of power, discourse, and representation in social knowledge. CILO-2: Identify the responsibility that accompanies the researcher’s ability to create ostensibly ‘objective’ and authoritative accounts of others. CILO-3: Summarize the main components of particular theories in notable academic articles from across social science disciplines in a systematic manner. CILO-4: Communicate and explain how abstract theoretical concepts may be applied to practical examples of daily social life.