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Bart van Heerikhuizen

Top Instructor

103,575 already enrolled

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Classical Sociological Theory

University of Amsterdam

About this Course

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This Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) will offer the participants an introduction into the most important classical sociological readings between the 18th and 20th century. Highly influential social science scholars, such as Karl Marx, Max Weber and Emile Durkheim, will be discussed during 8 sessions. Combined with small tests, based on the video’s and recommended readings, the participants will be encouraged to dive deeply into the complex texts and get familiar with classical sociological concepts that are still very relevant today.

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Approx. 13 hours to complete

English

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Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Approx. 13 hours to complete

English

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Instructor

Instructor rating

4.94/5 (584 Ratings)

Bart van Heerikhuizen
Top Instructor

Dr.

Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences

103,575 Learners

1 Course

Offered by

University of Amsterdam

A modern university with a rich history, the University of Amsterdam

(UvA) traces its roots back to 1632, when the Golden Age school Athenaeum Illustre was established to train students in trade and philosophy. Today, with more than 39,000 students, 5,000 staff and 285 study programmes (Bachelor's and Master's), many of which are taught in English, and a budget of more than 600 million euros, it is one of the largest comprehensive universities in Europe. It is a member of the League of European Research Universities and also maintains intensive contact with other leading research universities around the world.

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating99%(20,723 ratings)

Week

Week 1

2 hours to complete

Session 1: Classical Sociological Theory - An Introduction

2 hours to complete

8 videos (Total 45 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz

8 videos

1.1 What is this course about?5m

1.2 Implicit Theories in Everyday Life5m

1.3 What is Sociological Theory?4m

1.4 Founding Fathers5m

1.5 Sociology in the Modern Industrial Age5m

1.6 Linking Classical to Contemporary Theories6m

1.7 The Sociological Theoretical Field6m

1.8 Aims and Claims of this Course5m

3 readings

Welcome note10m

Transcripts10m

Classical Sociological Theory - An Introduction10m

1 practice exercise

Classical Sociological Theory - An Introduction30m

Week

Week 2

1 hour to complete

Session 2: Bernard Mandeville (1670-1733) and Adam Smith (1723-1790)

1 hour to complete

7 videos (Total 44 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

Week

Week 3

1 hour to complete

Session 3: Auguste Comte (1798-1857)

This session will cover the author of the word “sociology”, August Comte. He often engaged in theorizing the social world in order to attempt to discover invariant laws. Terms like “positivism”, “the law of the three stages” and “Functionalism” are prominent topics in this session. Comte believed that positivism could both advance science (theory) and change the ways people live their lives (practice).

1 hour to complete

8 videos (Total 48 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

8 videos

3.1 Religious and Scientific Knowledge5m

3.2 The Law of the Three Stages of the Human Mind7m

3.3 Sociology as a Means to Establish Social Harmony5m

3.4 The Law of the Classification of Sciences6m

3.5 Religious Thought as Starting Point5m

3.6 Comte’s Religion of Humanity6m

3.7 Early Functionalism5m

3.8 The Importance of Auguste Comte5m

1 reading

Auguste Comte (1798-1857)10m

1 practice exercise

Auguste Comte (1798-1857)30m

Week

Week 4

1 hour to complete

Session 4: Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859)

1 hour to complete

8 videos (Total 48 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

8 videos

4.1 Tocqueville as a Precursor of Modern Sociology5m

4.2 An Aristocratic Perspective6m

4.3 On Democratisation6m

4.4 The Dominance of the Middle-Class5m

4.5 The Dangers of Centralisation5m

4.6 Grassroots Politics as the Heart of Democracy6m

4.7 ‘Revolutions Will Become Rare’5m

4.8 Tocqueville’s Predictions5m

1 reading

Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859)10m

1 practice exercise

Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1859)30m

Week

Week 5

2 hours to complete

Session 5: Karl Marx (1818-1883)

2 hours to complete

8 videos (Total 50 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

Week

Week 6

2 hours to complete

Session 6: Émile Durkheim (1858-1917)

When thinking of Durkheim, one thinks of social facts. According to Durkheim these social facts are the social structures and cultural norms and values that are external to, and coercive over, individuals. Durkheim argues that two social facts, in particular, influence suicide rates: integration, and regulation. This session will cover the views of Durkheim on topics like solidarity, suicide, and religion.

2 hours to complete

8 videos (Total 51 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

Week

Week 7

2 hours to complete

Session 7: Max Weber (1864-1920)

This week shines a light on the work of Max Weber. From social action, verstehen, and ideal types to rationalisation and his famous work on the Protestant Ethic. Weber's theory of society tried to account for the manner in which various symbolic factors take part in establishing social status, stratification and inequality. His influence still runs throughout the realms of politics, religion and economics.

2 hours to complete

8 videos (Total 51 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

Week

Week 8

2 hours to complete

Session 8: Norbert Elias (1897-1990)

2 hours to complete

8 videos (Total 54 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

8 videos

8.1 The Last of the Great Classic Sociologists5m

8.2 Introduction to the Civilizing Process6m

8.3 The Social Constraint Towards Self-Constraint8m

8.4 The Conditions of Civilisation6m

8.5 The Importance of Norbert Elias6m

8.6 A Base for Contemporary Studies7m

8.7 Figurational Processes6m

8.8 Classical Sociological Theories: a Focus on Long Term Trends6m

1 reading

Norbert Elias (1897-1990)10m

1 practice exercise

Norbert Elias (1897-1990)30m

1 hour to complete

Classical Sociological Theory Final Test

1 hour to complete

Reviews

4.9

736 reviews

5 stars
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TOP REVIEWS FROM CLASSICAL SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY

by DSep 29, 2018

An amazing and interesting course to grasp the very basics of sociological theory. Clear and deep ideas of the authors are explained with interesting examples and motivating readings!!!

by VAOct 15, 2020

I really liked the way the course was constructed and the professor, who has a great voice to listen to. This course encouraged me to study more about sociology so i recommend it to everyone :)

by ZMNov 22, 2016

Love this course. I really obtained new insight of those theorists. Thank you Dr. Bart and producers of this course! I will definitly come back to your contemprary sociological theory course.

by MSJul 25, 2017

Loved the teacher, really explained things well. You could tell he really loved the subject he was teaching, which makes me love the subject even more. I'll be taking his next MOOC

View all reviews

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Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

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Classical Sociological Theory

Classical Sociological Theory

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