SOCI3637: Race, Racism and Social Justice in Britain

• At least 20 credits of level 2 modules from the Department of Sociology.

• None.

• None.

• Through research-led teaching, to provide students with:
• Sociological, criminological, historical and political understandings of race and racism within a British and global context.
• A deep and critical understanding of theoretical perspectives regarding racial discrimination which centres the experiences of Black and global majority communities in Britain.
• Knowledge of the intersectional nature of race and racism, with particular reference to relationships between class, race and gender.
• Insight into the impact of institutional racism on Black British communities.
• A deep and critical understanding of social justice and meaningful engagement with ideas and examples of anti-racist activism.

• Key sociological and criminological theories to understand racism, including critical race theory, postconialism and critical whiteness studies.
• Mapping of racism historically in the UK over the last century, with particular focus on the last 30 years.
• Role of culture (media and arts) and politics in shaping racism within the UK at the structural and societal level.
• International examples of racism and anti-racist movements, including the USA and South Africa.
• Understanding the impact of White privilege and Whiteness on racism.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• By the end of the module students will:
• Be able to reflect upon how racism operates at the systemic level through major institutions.
• Understand white privilege and the power and centrality of this phenomenon.
• Have knowledge of the contemporary history of racism in the UK and its continued impact on Black people.
• Understand key concepts related to racism, including race, ethnicity, white privilege, nationalism, whiteness and populism.
• Understand the impact of colonialism and Empire on Black communities in Britain over the last 100 years.
• Have knowledge of the role of anti-racist activism and key international examples of anti-racist movements.
• Be able to critically reflect on their own positions and experiences of power, privilege and identity.

Subject-specific Skills:

• By the end of the module students will be able to:
• Critically evaluate sociological and criminological concepts, social science arguments and evidence.
• Critically analyse race legislation and the impact of this on Black communities within the UK.
• Demonstrate understanding of the relationship between social scientific evidence, theories, social policy and lived experience, in relation to racism in the UK.
• Demonstrate orally and in writing the ability to articulate complex concepts about racism.

Key Skills:

• By the end of the module, students should be able to demonstrate:
• An ability to gather and process appropriate information from a range of academic sources.
• Ability to plan workload and manage time.
• Ability to work constructively as part of a small group.
• Ability to construct systematic, coherent and conceptually correct oral and written arguments.
• A range of communication skills including the ability to: construct informed questions; evaluate and synthesise information obtained from a variety of sources; construct coherent written arguments; and communicate relevant information visually, orally and in writing.
• An ability to reflect on their own experiences and learning.

• Lectures: introduce the main issues to be considered. Whilst they encourage students to develop skills in listening and selective note-taking, they will be interactive. The module will be team taught and thus introduce students to different lecturers, which will help students gain an appreciation of the different ways in which material can be organised and presented.
• Seminars: provide an opportunity for students to discuss module themes in a small group setting. Students will be supported to explore key concepts, and will be encouraged to apply these to specific topics, issues and debates. Students will also be supported to reflect on their own experiences and positionality. Seminars help develop a number of transferable skills, such as oral communication, group work, the ability to evaluate evidence and make reasoned arguments, as well as the subject-specific skills mentioned above. In-class exercises and discussion also provide students with feedback on their understanding and progress at regular points during the module.
• Self-directed study: constitutes an important mode of learning on the module. It develops many of the subject-specific and key skills indicated above (e.g. the ability to undertake and present work in a scholarly manner, the ability to improve one's own learning and performance, etc.). This will include academic reading, independent activities and engagement with contemporary material and debates.
• Summative assessment: A summative essay will enable students to demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between social scientific knowledge, critical theoretical perspectives and lived experience by focusing on a key issue or example. This also provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate key communication and presentation skills.
• Formative Assessment: A written formative exercise will require students to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of module topics and prepares students for the summative assignment. It will develop key communication and library skills, as well as subject-specific skills relating to complex concepts and the critical assessment of evidence. The formative assessment is a foundation for the summative assessment. Individual feedback will enable students to improve their future performance in the module by identifying strengths and areas to improve.

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