School of Business Administration IU VNU HCMC BA

School of Business Administration IU – VNU HCMC BA 116 IU Introduction to Social Sciences Instructor: Dr. Truong Thi Kim Chuyen USSH – VNU HCMC kchuyen@gmail. com

Course Description. l l 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 1. Overview of the Social Sciences 2. Research Methods in the Social Sciences 3. Social Interaction and Social Network 4. Groups and Organizations 5. Stratification by Gender and Age 6. Population, Urbanization and Health 7. Government, the Economy, and the Environment

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

Course Objectives l l l 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, population and the environment, etc. 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 l l l Participation, In-class Quizzes and Home Assignments: Mid term Exam: Final Exam: 30 30 40

Participation l l l 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 l l 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.

Class Schedule l l 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 l Week 3, Social Interaction and Social Network Schaefer, Ch. 5, pp. 102 -27 Week 4, Groups and Organizations Schaefer, Ch. 6, pp. 128 -49 Perry, Ch. 4, Week 5, Groups and Organizations (cont’d. ) l Week 6, l l Mid-term exam

Class Schedule Dates Topics l Week 7, Stratification by Gender and Age Perry, Ch. 7, 8, 9 l Week 8, Stratification by Gender and Age (cont’d) l Week 9, -422 l Week 10, 127 Readings Schaefer, Ch. 11, pp. 270 -298 Schaefer, Ch. 11, pp. 270 -98 Perry, Ch. 7, 8, 9 Population, Communities and Health Schaefer, Ch. 15, pp. 388 Perry, Ch. 11, Population, Communities and (cont’d) Schaefer, Ch. 5, pp. 102 - Perry, Ch. 10, l Week 11, Government, the Economy, Schaefer, Ch. 14, pp. 359 -87 and the Environment Perry, Ch. 14 and 17, l Week 12 Final exam

Fields of Social Sciences

ANTHROPOLOGY Making sense of cultural difference

What will you get from studying anthropology? v. Understand ways of being human v. Study how we, other societies and communities make sense of our lives. v. Be taught in gender and ethnic relations, sports studies, indigenous issues, children’s worlds, sustainable living, refugees and human rights v. Apply your knowledge and skills to real world challenges such as world poverty, ethnic conflict, environmental insecurity, and global change

Anthropology will help you to v. Think critically and creatively v. Present oral and written arguments v. Undertake v. Work independent research with others in Anthropology and other Social Science disciplines

What do anthropology graduates do? * work as anthropologists in government, private enterprises, NGOs, education and as independent consultants * work in many other professions where you use your anthropological knowledge and skills * work locally, nationally and internationally * add other skills – and find work in other professions where anthropology is useful (heritage, resource development, public relations, marketing, urban planning, health care, education

Why Study History?

Know the past, understand the present l How have empires affected the present day world? l What was Indonesia like before tourists discovered Bali? l What’s really happening between Israel and Palestine? l Why has Australia been involved in so many wars overseas – including Iraq?

What will I learn? l l l Knowledge: answers to these questions – and lots more; important communication and analytical skills that transfer to the workplace; An informed understanding of the present day; How to participate in a discussion group That history is fun!

Where will it lead me? l l l Researcher in business, public service, universities, as consultant History + anthropology = museums History + politics = political adviser, public service, researcher History + media = journalism History +Dip. Ed. = high school teaching

Geography is everywhere

At Curtin Geography means l l l Environmental Management Urban, Rural and Regional Development and Planning Natural Resource Management Tourism, Sport and Recreation International Development Studies

At Curtin, Geography fits with l l Other Social Science majors (e. g. International Relations, Anthropology) Business majors (e. g. International Business, Tourism Management) Double degrees with Journalism, Commerce, Environmental Biology, GIS, Agribusiness and more Professional graduate programmes in Urban and Regional Planning, Business, Education and many more

Geography takes you to l l l The city – urban and environmental planning, social and economic policy, consulting, community development, sports development The country – regional development, natural resource management, tourism The world – aid and international development, consulting, diplomacy

La k is r h ig h in t n e m p Urban develo 5 9 9 1 a it h c n o C a L – e Conches landslide zon 1995 landslides. usgs. gov news. bbc. co. uk landslides. usgs. gov

Coastal erosion hazard – metropolitan Perth Quinns Beach, May 2002

POLITICAL SCIENCE AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

WHY POLITICS? WHY INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS? l Understand how the world works l Understand Australia’s place in its Region l Understand where the world is headed

WHAT WILL IT LEAD TO? l Security and Intelligence Analysis l A Life in Politics l Government and the Private Sector

UNDERSTAND THIS

IT’S YOUR WORLD

SOCIOLOGY The Study of Society, Social Organisation and Social Change

It’s a Rapidly Changing World l l Many kinds of work that seem secure now will be redundant in twenty years, but Governments and Big Business will always need people who can: l l think critically research communicate and build specialist skills on to them.

Sociology builds those skills How? Through studies in l Demography l Gender l Health and Illness l Human Rights l the Media l Organisations l Technology and Work l And much more

Social Sciences and Careers