Sociology (SOCI) 460
The Sociology of Information Technology (Revision 2)
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Delivery Mode: Individualized study online
Credits: 3 credits
Area of Study: Social Science
Prerequisite: One of SOCI 335, SOCI 337, SOCI 345, SOCI 381, or any 300-level Sociology or Women's and Gender Studies course or Labour Studies or equivalent.
Faculty: Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences
SOCI 460 is not available for challenge.
Overview
Sociology 460 is a three-credit, senior-level university course that is designed to encourage critical thinking vis-à-vis information technology. This course is designed to increase your understanding of technology, information technology, and the impact technology has on your life and our world.
Outline
- Unit 1: Introduction
- Unit 2: Theories of Information Technology
- Unit 3: Information Technology and Work
- Unit 4: Surveillance, the Panopticon, Facebook, Social Media, and the Mercers
- Unit 5: The Deepening Divide
- Unit 6: The Religion of Technology
- Unit 7: Conclusion
Evaluation
To receive credit for this course you must obtain a grade of at least 50 percent on the final assignment and an overall course composite grade of at least D (50 percent). The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:
Activity | Weighting |
---|---|
Unit 2 Assignment | 10% |
Unit 3 Assignment | 10% |
Unit 4 Assignment | 10% |
Unit 5 Assignment | 10% |
Unit 6 Assignment | 10% |
Unit 7 Assignment | 10% |
Quizlet Exam | 10% |
Final Assignment | 30% |
Total | 100% |
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.
Course Materials
Textbooks
Clark, A. C. (1990/1953). Childhood’s end. New York: Del Rey.
Noble, D. F. (1999). The religion of technology: The divinity of man and the spirit of invention. New York: Penguin.
van Dijk, J. A. G. M. (2005). The deepening divide: Inequality in the information society. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Webster, F. (2014). Theories of the information society (4th ed.). London and New York: Routledge.
Other material
All other course materials will be accessed online.
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized-study counterparts.
View previous revision
Opened in Revision 2, April 8, 2019.