Sociology

1. Knowledge and understanding: after having passed the exam students will have a general knowledge of: the current issues and debates in urban sociology, as well as the ability to frame those issues in the context of European cities; the major theories and methods it used in the study of urban regeneration processes and the ability to think critically about them; the role of theory in the application of conceptual frameworks in the research process 2. Applying knowledge and understanding: after having passed the exam students should be able to: identify problems and frame research questions relating to the contemporary city, to people living in it and their experiences; understand the environmental and spatial problems that threaten urban residents (in both Italy and Europe) and some of the potential solutions suggested by the academic community; describe and detail the theoretical and policy implications of urban regeneration processes; analyze urban regeneration case studies in Europe; demonstrate research competence by conducting a simple qualitative study via a class project using existing data sources or simple data collection. 3. Critical faculties should be developed through the ability of: critically discussing how urban regeneration theories can be applied to specific contexts; producing and analysing qualitative data and gathering secondary information; understanding how European cities try to face urban transformations; dealing with and reflecting on social, scientific and ethical issues 4. Communications skills. The ability to communicate what was learned should be developed through the elaboration and the presentation of an integrated regeneration project for a defined urban area in which they should show to have the confidence necessary to engage in collaborative problem-solving. 5. Learning skills. The ability to continue studying the topics should be developed through the skills of: understanding and comparing different ideas and strategies concerning the urban regeneration processes; identifying the different approaches to the study of contemporary cities; understanding and using research methods to examine cities and apply sociological imagination to issues in their life and community; reinforcing their knowledge of the basic sociological concepts and analytical skills they learned in previous courses.