Contemporary Social Theory

On completion of the course, the students will possess an overview of key-issues, concepts and controversies across a number of recent developments in sociology and social theory; they will be able to understand the critical impetus of the presented theories in regards to the social theory tradition; but most importantly, they will possess an understanding of the different empirical potentials and possibilities entailed in the presented theories, and thus be better suited in critically reflecting on proper theoretical choices and empirical possibilities in relation to their PhD projects.

The participants will learn to apply the theories offered on the course to proper empirical work on the basis of (a) lectures offered by experts on the respective theoretical fields, (b) mandatory readings of preselected and pre-circulated texts, (c) presentation, feedback and discussion of own work in progress in relation to the theories presented on the course, and (d) the preparation of a subsequent 4000-word paper based on the course. They will also receive some mentoring in relation to their PhD projects.

The course is open to all PhD students who want to work with recent social theory in their thesis and/or seek an up-to-date introduction to recent important developments in sociology and social theory. Priority is given to PhD candidates at the Department of Sociology and Human Geography at the University of Oslo.

PhD students at the Department of Sociology and Human Geography register for the course in Studentweb.

Participants outside the Department of Sociology and Human Geography and Master students should fill out this application form. Since registration is binding, if you are not entirely sure that you are able to attend, please mark for waiting list in the application form.

The application deadline is seven weeks prior the course. Dates are published at the semester page of the course.

You find course dates and schedule on the semester page.

Each of the first three days will focus on recent developments within a respective area of contemporary social theory: i) Micro-Sociology, ii) Theory of Practice andiii) New Materialism. During the morning session, one of the course lecturers will provide an overview of theory and research withing an area, followed by a student-led discussion of selected readings central to the theoretical area in question. Afternoons will be devoted to hands-on theorizing sessions. Students will present a research paper or essay seeking to relate their PhD project to one or more of the theoretical areas at the center of the course. They will then receive feedback from professors and PhD-peers. The final and fourth day will be used for additional presentations, but also to resume and discuss the main points of the course, and to mentor students on their research projects.

A reading list is published on the semester page of the course. Participants are expected to read all obligatory readings prior to meeting in class, and to carefully prepare for the seminar discussions of the texts. Some students will be chosen to lead seminar discussions, but all students must participate actively in all discussions - also in discussions of theories foreign to their own work or interests.

Two weeks before the course starts, each participant contributes a one-page description of her/his project (aim, research questions and theoretical approaches) to [email protected].

The entire four-day event makes up the PhD course, with the equivalent of 5 ECTS. For approval you need to be an active participant throughout the course, be present on all days (the whole program from start to end), read the curriculum and submit a paper.

The paper should focus on theoretical issues related to the candidate's research (ideally a first draft of an article or a thesis chapter). It should be approx. 4000 words, plus references. The paper deadline is approx. six weeks after the course's end - date is to be communicated. The paper needs to be sent to [email protected].