BA116IU Introduction to Social Sciences School of Business Administration IU – VNU HCMC BA116IU Introduction to Social Sciences Instructor: Dr. Truong Thi Kim Chuyen USSH – VNU HCMC kchuyen@gmail.com

Course Description . Seeking to foster an understanding and appreciation of the social sciences There are many kinds of social sciences, including anthropology, psychology, sociology, economics, political science, geography, ect..

Contents Overview of the Social Sciences Research Methods in the Social Sciences Culture Social Interaction and Social structure Groups and Organizations The family and Intimate Relationships Stratification by Gender and Age

Course Textbooks Everyone will be required to read the course textbook: Perry, J. and Perry, E. (2005), Contemporary Society: An Introduction to Social Science, 11th edition, London, Allyn and Bacon Richard T. Schaefer (2006), Sociology A Brief Introduction, 6th ed., McGraw Hill. Other Required Material(s): McAdams, T., Neslund, N. and Kristopher, N. (2004) Business and Society, 7th Edition, Irwin Press You will also be asked to read several articles that I will provide.

Course Objectives This course has several objectives: Explain several reasons for studying the social sciences. Describe the methods used by social scientists to conduct research Identify and discuss key issues involved in debates about social change in areas such as: group and organization, gender, social interaction and network (structure), family, inequality, education… Develop critical thinking skills as course topics are discussed and debated. Improve writing skills through essays and in-class writing assignments.

Course Grading 100 points Participation, In-class Quizzes and Home Assignments: 30 Mid term Exam: 30 Final Exam: 40

Participation Participation is valued at 10 points. Among other things, participation involves reading material to be discussed in class beforehand, active engagement in class discussions (listening and speaking), asking relevant questions, and good faith efforts to grapple with course material. Earning a high participation grade, of course, will require you to attend class regularly. The In-class Quizzes, and Assignments will be worth 20 points. You may do the assignments either as an individual or as a group. More information, including a list of possible topics, will be provided in a separate handout.

Mid-term and Final Exams Mid-term and final exams will be worth 30 points and 40 points. You will do with two sections of multiple choice and a short essay to express your own point of view on some selected topics critically and originally.

Email: kchuyen@gmail.com Weblog:http://socialscience09.wordpress.com/

Class Schedule Week 1, Overview of the Social Sciences Perry, Ch.1, Dates Topics Readings Week 1, Overview of the Social Sciences Perry, Ch.1, and Sociology Schaefer, Ch.1, pp. 1-26 Week 2, Research Methods in the Soc. Sci. Perry, Ch.1, and Sociology Schaefer, Ch.2, pp. 26-52 Week 3, Culture Schaefer, Ch.3, pp. 53-77 Perry, Ch.11, Week 4, Social Interaction and Social Network Schaefer, Ch.5, pp. 102-27 Week 5, Groups and Organizations Schaefer, Ch.6, pp. 128-49 Perry, Ch.4, Week 6, Mid-term exam

Class Schedule Relationships Schaefer, Ch.12, pp. 299-324 Dates Topics Readings Week 7, The family and Intimate Relationships Schaefer, Ch.12, pp. 299-324 Week 8, The family and Intimate Relationships (cont’d) Schaefer, Ch.12, pp. 299-324 Week 9, Stratification by Gender and Age Schaefer, Ch.11, pp. 270-298 Perry, Ch.7, 8, 9 Week 10, Stratification by Schaefer, Ch.11, pp. 270-98 Gender and Age (cont’d) Perry, Ch.7, 8, 9 Week 11, Final exam