Precludes & Cross-Listed with EU3224

This is a critical examination of central problems in classical social theory, with emphasis on the multifaceted analysis of the larger social processes in the making of modern society. The course will concentrate on the original contributions of major theorists such as Marx, Weber, and Durkheim and explore how their works continue to influence current Sociology. This course is mounted for all students throughout NUS with an interest in classical social theories.

This is a course in macro-sociology. The course reviews the interdisciplinary literature on modernization, development and globalization in order to examine the formation and evolving dynamics of firms, regions, and markets within the global capitalist system. Ultimately, the course asks questions about Asia’s place within the contemporary global economy and the role Asian political economies and industrial organization play within it. Students will learn about “big” sociological questions regarding the transition to capitalism, global development and inequality, global trade and industry. They will understand how Asia developed and what their iPhones and Nike sneakers have to do with this.

Concepts of race and ethnicity and theories/models of inter-group relations provide the tools for understanding and analysing race/ethnic relations and ethnicity in selected societies. This course will refer to Malaysia/Singapore, Southeast Asian, and other societies where relevant. The topics explored also include race/ethnicity and the nation-state; ethnicity and citizenship/ multiculturalism; ethnic identity; gender and ethnicity; race/ethnicity and its representations; race/ethnicity and crime. This course will appeal to students who are interested in understanding how race/ethnicity influences our perceptions of and responses to other races/ethnic groups, and why it continues to be a source of tension and conflict in societies.

The main objective is to examine and understand the role of formal education - i.e., in school - and education outside of school within contemporary societies. Besides presenting the classic major sociological theories of education, an array of case studies that elaborate on extra-curriculum education will also be presented. We will examine the relationship between education and nation building, the impact of schooling on social stratification, the functions and effects of education, the teaching of discipline through extra-curriculum educational activities, and the relationship between the educational system and the workplace. This course is mounted for all students with interest in the sociology of education.

This course introduces students to political sociology which is broadly concerned with understanding such phenomena as power, state and society relations, and the nature and consequences of social conflict. The main concerns of this course are issues pertaining to modern society and capitalist development, referring to diverse cases from Western Europe to Southeast Asia. We will also be looking at the state, civil society and societal movements, including that of labour, and such contentious contemporary issues as economic globalization, US global hegemony, and terrorism.

The course will look into the various external and internal forces shaping the development of cities. The following themes will be examined: the development and role of cities in Southeast Asia, cities and the new international division of labour (economic roles of cities in linking their respective countries to the global economy), and the social organization (culture, community, housing, social-economic opportunities) of cities. This course is mounted for all students throughout NUS with an interest in the development and social organization of cities.

Kinship, a foundational concern of anthropology, is essentially about relationships. We investigate the forms, meanings and manipulations of relationships that people have constructed across various historical and cultural contexts. Comparing the diverse ways in which people live, labour and love, we examine the centrality of kinship to understandings of what it means to be a person. Concurrently, kinship is a medium for grappling with the interactions between intimate life and public culture, domestic production-reproduction and political economy, everyday practices and conceptual structures and affection and moral obligations. Our focus is on how kinship is a vital force in contemporary societies. Kinship, a foundational concern of anthropology, is essentially about relationships. We investigate the forms, meanings and manipulations of relationships that people have constructed across various historical and cultural contexts. Comparing the diverse ways in which people live, labour and love, we examine the centrality of kinship to understandings of what it means to be a person. Concurrently, kinship is a medium for grappling with the interactions between intimate life and public culture, domestic production-reproduction and political economy, everyday practices and conceptual structures and affection and moral obligations. Our focus is on how kinship is a vital force in contemporary societies.

This course concerns the observable phenomena of religion as lived by ordinary people. Analysing religion as part of human knowledge, we grapple with the meanings of the universe, suffering, self, choice and ethics. Comparing systems of symbolic thought, ritual action and moral imagination, we understand societies in terms of their own knowledge, practices, values and interests. We draw from varied religious traditions including world religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam), indigenous traditions (shamanism, animism, ancestor-worship, folk religion), new religious movements and secular humanism. We engage with the interactions between piety, power and productivity in constituting social structures and producing human agency.

Pre-requisite: SC2101

This course aims to equip students with the basic tools for doing social research and data analysis. The course is divided in two parts. The first part focuses on data analysis, and introduces students to statistics which are best suited for different types and levels of data. During lab sessions, students will use SPSS to analyse both small and large data sets. The second part of the course focuses on methodology, and recaps the guiding principles of conducting and managing a large-scale survey. The course is mounted for NUS students with a keen interest in doing social research.

Science and technology shape our lives from the beginning to the end. Sociologists, being scientists themselves, observe the observations which scientists make about the world, look at the ways in which technologies change and shape that world, and try to make sense of processes which, as Weber claims, have divested the world of any meaning whatsoever. In this course, classical and contemporary approaches to the sociology of science, technology and society will be introduced, discussed and exemplified by several case studies. This course is mounted for students throughout NUS with an interest in the influence of science and technology on society.

The main theme of this course is social transformation in Southeast Asia, especially in relation to the processes of modernisation, economic development, state formation, and globalization. It focuses on such topics as colonial legacies, civil society, social movements, ethnicity and religion, the role of values in development, the role of the state, and the emergence of social classes. The course focuses on Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Singapore. It is designed for Sociology undergraduates and those from the Southeast Asia Programme.

Precludes: IF3213

Explore how anthropologists and sociologists have used visual media such as photography, film and video to conduct ethnographic research and to produce and communicate knowledge about the lives and cultures of the other. We will study their works, both classic and contemporary, to see how they have experimented with the possibilities of visual media while trying to remain consistent with the intellectual demands of their disciplines. Armed with an understanding of the epistemological, methodological, ethical and practical issues involved, students are expected to try their hands at producing visual ethnographies.

This course adopts a life course perspective to examine various issues of human aging. Themes covered include physical and mental health, retirement and pension, marriage and family, community and social network, and policy and business. Throughout these topics, students and adult learners are expected to comprehensively understand population aging and its implications, and develop analytical and practical skills of the life course perspective, especially in policy and business domains. The context of Singapore is highlighted with constant comparison with other countries.

This course takes the idea and reality of law as a social phenomenon, drawing on classical and contemporary social theories and on empirical studies on the development of law in pre-modern, modern, and contemporary societies. Basic issues include the following: law versus custom; the idea of justice; types and processes of regulation, adjudication and punishment; law in relation to political power, social inequality and ideology; law as a mechanism for social change; the transformations of modern law; and the organization of modern legal systems. This course is mounted for students throughout NUS with interest in law and its implications on the society.

This course is about the anthropology and sociology of understanding what it means to be a ‘self’ in ‘society,’ that is, to be a ‘social self.’ This course is NOT about a psychological study of the self. It analyses important theoretical debates about and ethnographic studies on the relationship between society and the self. Particular attention will be paid to examining how ideas about the self are socially constructed and re‐constructed by various processes, especially the roles played by the state and its institutions in shaping perceptions and practices the self in relation to ethnicity, the family, gender, marriage, work, leisure and friendship.

Sex, sexuality and sexual orientations are cultural forms rather than purely “natural” states. This course examines the variety of social dimensions that shape human sexuality. A range of theoretical perspectives and cross-cultural comparisons are drawn in order to unravel the complexities of sexualities and to see how sexualities are shaped by historical norms, social scripts, political structures, global forces and commodification. Students are required to read historical materials, anthropological research and be familiar with political economy and social constructionist paradigms.

Ritual, performance and symbolism have been core areas in social science analysis for some time. Initially studies of symbolism focussed on non-industrial peoples, whose ritual lives were very rich and visible. Increasingly social scientists have come to see that ritual is still an important activity in the contemporary world, and that analyzing performances can give us insights into nationalism, sports, tourism, media and other areas of life that deal with questions of identity. This course will offer students an overview of these important topics, in order to better understand communication, identity and community in the modern world.

This course will give students an understanding of the value of qualitative research as well as a practical grasp of a variety of qualitative research strategies and techniques (participant observation, ethnographic fieldwork, in-depth interviews, life history interviews, oral history and other qualitative methods). It will introduce student to some key theoretical issues that structure the ongoing debates about qualitative methodology in the social sciences. It will provide the space for learning, experiencing and practising actual qualitative research. The course will involve discussions and presentations on the use of a variety of qualitative methods in relation to a particular study that the student will undertake.

China's transition from a command economy to a market economy has brought fundamental and rapid changes in its social structure and social relationships among members of different subgroups in society. The objective of this course is to offer an overview of emerging social issues in contemporary China, focusing on changes after 1949. This course offers sociological perspectives to examine topics such as changes and new challenges in Chinese families, gender roles, demographic structure and distribution, social safety net, and environment. The class will combine lectures, academic readings, films, sources from the mass media, and discussions.

This course provides an introductory take on the importance of visual images and some of the key theoretical debates that concern making, seeing, and sharing images. It engages historical and contemporary practices of image making and image consumption, and covers a variety of visual media and application domains. This class also provides an opportunity to engage with visual media through experiential learning. At the end of the course, students will have gained familiarity with key repertoires for the study of visual culture, and increased their “visual literacy” as image producers and consumers.

The concept of social capital has gained popularity, both in sociology and outside the academia globally. The theoretical basis of social capital is that resources embedded in social relations affect the life chances of individuals and collectivities. It has also been argued that social capital has a significant impact on occupational mobility, civic engagement, social movement, and economic development. The course will explore (1) the theories of social capital, (2) the empirical work on social capital, (3) linkages between social capital and instrumental and expressive actions, (4) new directions for research extension of the theory of social capital.

This course offers a survey of economic life from a macro-sociological and historical viewpoint, with a focus on industrialization, the rise of market society, employment systems, property rights, and the role of the state in economic development. The course will equip students with knowledge (1) regarding the complex macro-environment surrounding economic organizations, and (2) on how the success and failure of different economic organizations depend on the institutional and regulatory ecology in which economic organizations operate. Furthermore, the course will teach students relevant knowledge on the conditions under which markets fail and the disruptive dynamics in market economies.

This course introduces students to the theoretical and methodological approaches through which sociologists analyse major historical changes that have deeply shaped the modern world, ranging from the emergence of capitalism and nation-state, revolutions and democracy, empires and colonization, to the formation of modern subjectivity and citizenship. The course will examine various challenges, strategies and reflections on making generalizable arguments based on historical cases and events. Central issues in comparative thinking, understanding of historical specificity and analysis of temporality will be explored.

This course is about how the senses organise different dimensions of social life. How are race, gender, and class identities related to sensory perceptions? How do the senses shape power relations and knowledge production? In order to address these queries, the course interrogates how sensory experience lies beyond the realm of individual, physiological responses by analysing a range of sensory faculties through cross‐cultural comparative approaches. Students are introduced to key ideas in sensory scholarship and will be equipped with analytical tools to examine the senses in relation to selfhood and identity, urbanity, politics, religion, and heritage.

While norm violations occur everywhere, the responses to them vary. This course is a comparative study of deviance with a focus on empirical case studies. “Nuts, sluts, perverts” is Alexander Liazo's phrase to refer to deviants from below like mental patients, sex workers and sexual outlaws. “Scandals” involve deviance from above, committed by authorities such as clergy abuse, official corruption and corporate malfeasance. Analyzing the range of underdog and elite forms of deviance in terms of disparities in their social constructions, criminal processing and dispensing of justice would enhance our understanding of structures of inequality and power.

A flourishing modern society can be promoted by volunteerism and civic engagement. Considering that volunteerism is perceived as a crucial indicator of livable society, it has been a concern of many countries including Singapore to promote volunteering among citizens. Mainly through various non-profit voluntary organizations, volunteer workforce helps attain the goal of civic, livable, and harmonious society. This course thus pursues three main themes: (1) the relationship between civil society and civic engagement, (2) the precursors of volunteer workforce (i.e., what makes people volunteer?), and (3) the outcomes of volunteerism (e.g., life satisfaction, health, and status attainment).

The internship provides students with an opportunity to apply sociological knowledge to the workplace. In particular, students learn about the challenges of workplace situations, and reflect upon how practising sociology may provide clarity to problems encountered. Internships must take place in organisations  or companies, be relevant to sociology, consist at least 120 hours for SC3550 (or 240 hours for ISC3550), and be approved by the Department to be considered for credit. This course is not compulsory and will be credited as a Major Elective or a combination of Major Elective and Unrestricted Elective.
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Pre-requisite: Students must have declared a major, completed a minimum of 24 units in that major, and have a GPA of at least 3.20

A UROP involves the student working with a supervisor, and usually in a team, on an existing research project. It has relevance to the student's major, and involves the application of subject knowledge, methodology and theory in reflection upon the research project. UROPs usually take place within FASS or ARI, though a few involve international partners. All are vetted and approved by the major department. All are assessed. UROPs can be proposed by supervisor or student, and require the approval of the major department.

For more information on the FASS Undergraduate Research Opportunity, please visit the FASS website.

This course introduces students to some of the major social theories and debates that inspire and inform anthropological analysis. We investigate a range of topics such as agency, structure, subjectivity, history, social change, power, culture, and the politics of representation. We will approach each theoretical perspective or proposition on three levels: (1) in terms of its analytical or explanatory power for understanding human behavior and the social world; (2) in the context of the social and historical circumstances in which they were produced; and (3) as contributions to ongoing dialogues and debate.

Preclusion: SC2224

Conducted as an apprenticeship in Visual Anthropology, this course provides practical training in the use of contemporary and emerging image and audio technology for qualitative social science research, data collection, and analysis. Readings and discussions will expose students to classic and contemporary applications of photographic, film, audio and video methods employed in the field of Visual Anthropology and related issues of visual research design, project planning, proposal writing, data recording, data analysis, politics, ethics, project implementation, and collaborative research. Developing theoretical understandings through engagement in field research alongside Anthropologists, students will gain a hands‐on practical education in visual anthropology.

Preclusion: SC3207

Kinship, a foundational concern of anthropology, is essentially about relationships. We investigate the forms, meanings and manipulations of relationships that people have constructed across various historical and cultural contexts. Comparing the diverse ways in which people live, labour and love, we examine the centrality of kinship to understandings of what it means to be a person. Concurrently, kinship is a medium for grappling with the interactions between intimate life and public culture, domestic production-reproduction and political economy, everyday practices and conceptual structures and affection and moral obligations. Our focus is on how kinship is a vital force in contemporary societies. Kinship, a foundational concern of anthropology, is essentially about relationships. We investigate the forms, meanings and manipulations of relationships that people have constructed across various historical and cultural contexts. Comparing the diverse ways in which people live, labour and love, we examine the centrality of kinship to understandings of what it means to be a person. Concurrently, kinship is a medium for grappling with the interactions between intimate life and public culture, domestic production-reproduction and political economy, everyday practices and conceptual structures and affection and moral obligations. Our focus is on how kinship is a vital force in contemporary societies.

Preclusion: SC3208

This course concerns the observable phenomena of religion as lived by ordinary people. Analysing religion as part of human knowledge, we grapple with the meanings of the universe, suffering, self, choice and ethics. Comparing systems of symbolic thought, ritual action and moral imagination, we understand societies in terms of their own knowledge, practices, values and interests. We draw from varied religious traditions including world religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam), indigenous traditions (shamanism, animism, ancestor-worship, folk religion), new religious movements and secular humanism. We engage with the interactions between piety, power and productivity in constituting social structures and producing human agency.

Preclusion: SC3220

Ritual and Symbolism have been core areas in anthropological analysis for some time. Initially studies of symbolism focussed on non-industrial peoples, whose ritual lives were still very rich and visible. Increasingly anthropologists have come to see that ritual is still an important activity in the contemporary world, and that analyzing ritual can give us many insights into understanding nationalism, sports, tourist performances and other areas of life that deal with questions of identity. This course will offer students an overview of this important topic, in order to better understand communication, identity and community in the modern world

Preclusion: SC3223

This course provides an introductory take on the importance of visual images and some of the key theoretical debates that concern making, seeing, and sharing images. It engages historical and contemporary practices of image making and image consumption, and covers a variety of visual media and application domains. This class also provides an opportunity to engage with visual media through experiential learning. At the end of the course, students will have gained familiarity with key repertoires for the study of visual culture, and increased their “visual literacy” as image producers and consumers.

Preclusion: SC3228

This course is about how the senses organise different dimensions of social life. How are race, gender, and class identities related to sensory perceptions? How do the senses shape power relations and knowledge production? In order to address these queries, the course interrogates how sensory experience lies beyond the realm of individual, physiological responses by analysing a range of sensory faculties through cross‐cultural comparative approaches. Students are introduced to key ideas in sensory scholarship and will be equipped with analytical tools to examine the senses in relation to selfhood and identity, urbanity, politics, religion, and heritage.

In this course, we examine major theories and approaches in the anthropological study of development. Key questions we investigate include: what are development and underdevelopment? What is the ‘third world’, and how was it made? What are the causes of failure and success in development programs? In doing so, we will look at the history of development theory, with special attention to the political context and content of each model, alongside anthropological models of culture change. We aim to understand the strengths and weaknesses of an ethnographic focus on development for purposes of policy-making, analysis and theory.

This course explores a range of intersecting socio-technological domains in both historical and contemporary settings. What is the relationship between technology and work? How do technological advances intersect with work infrastructures? What is the impact of emergent technologies upon our identities, social relations and material conditions? By harnessing anthropology as a social scientific discipline, we query, through ethnographic analyses of science and technology, the sociocultural value and import of technology upon social actors in their everyday life experiences. Core themes and discourses revolving around such areas as communications, biotechnology, genetics, technoscience and big data will be addressed.

Pre-requisite(s): (i) Completed at least 60 units in total (about 3 semesters), including 24 units in Anthropology (6 course), and declared Anthropology as their Major (including as Second Major). (ii) Completed AN1101E Anthropology and the Human Condition and AN2101 Research Methods in Anthropology.
The internship provides students with an opportunity to apply anthropological knowledge to the workplace. In particular, students learn about the challenges of workplace situations, and reflect upon how practising anthropology may provide clarity to problems encountered. Internships must take place in organisations  or companies, be relevant to anthropology, consist at least 120 hours for SC3550 (or 240 hours for ISC3550), and be approved by the Department to be considered for credit. This course is not compulsory and will be credited as a Major Elective or a combination of Major Elective and Unrestricted Elective

Pre-requisite: Students must have declared a Major, completed a minimum of 24 units in that Major, and have a GPA of at least 3.20

A UROP involves the student working with a supervisor, and usually in a team, on an existing research project. It has relevance to the student's Major, and involves the application of subject knowledge, methodology and theory in reflection upon the research project. UROPs usually take place within FASS, ARI, and partners within NUS, though a few involve international partners. All are vetted and approved by the Major department. All are assessed. UROPs can be proposed by supervisor or student, and require the approval of the Major department.