TheMA program “Global Sociology: Comparative Perspectives” is intended to provide students with training and practice in examining and explaining contemporary social, economic and political processes .Its comparative aspects are very important because they make it possible to better understand trends and regularities of global transformations in Eastern, Western and Russian societies. Participation in the programs of researchers from the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands and Russia gives an opportunity to form a better idea of the specificity and consequences of globalization.
Professor Nikolay Skvortsov,
Dean, Faculty of Sociology,
Saint-PetersburgStateUniversity.
The Institute of Eastern and Western Societies
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia has been searching for ways of integration into the world. Its economy, technology, political and social structure, ethnic relations and cultural patterns are being transformed. That is why different types of comparative studies are crucially important for analyzing the present Russian reality and effecting change in contemporary Russia. The Republic of Korea and the Netherlands can be regarded by Russian people as models of successful entering the system of global markets, which resulted in higher living standards and resolution of many social and ethnic problems.
The Institute of Eastern and Western Societies (IEWS) was established at the Faculty of Sociology, St. PetersburgStateUniversity in 2004. Its aim is to initiate and maintain academic programs and research projects dealing with comparative study of Eastern and Western patterns of global transformation, with specific focus on transformations in Russia in the broader context of world globalization.
For this purpose, the Institute is developing a database which contains information on topics, research projects and researchers in global sociology and comparative research on western and eastern societies. Contacts with leading experts in the field from the Republic of Korea and the Netherlands are being established and maintained.
MA Program
Global Sociology: Comparative Perspectives
This MA program has been developed at the Institute of Eastern and Western Societies of the Faculty of Sociology, St. PetersburgStateUniversity.The program starts in 2006.
General Theory and Methodology of Global Sociology and Comparative Research
* Contemporary Sociological Problems
* Contemporary Sociological Theories of Globalization
* Information Technology in the Social Sciences
* Methodology of Comparative Research
* Sociological Fieldwork in Comparative Research
* Statistical Methods in Comparative Research
* Master Dissertation Writing Workshop
* Cross-Cultural Communication
Sociology of Global Economy and Politics
* Sociology of Global Markets
* International Business Ethics
* Sociology of International Relations
* National Security in the Globalizing World
* Multiculturalism and Ethnic Policy in Contemporary
Societies
Global Social Space
* Network Structures in the Globalizing World
* Evolution of Social Inequality in the Globalizing World
* Globalization of Education and Science
* Globalization of Communication Systems
* Transnational Mass Culture
* Sociology of Consumerism
Eastern Societies under Globalization
* Korean Economy: from Modernization to Globalization
* Korean Politics: from Modernization to Globalization
* Social-Cultural Aspects of Korean Society: Global and
Local Contexts
* Transformation of Japanese Society:Global and Local
Contexts
* Transformation of Chinese Society: Global and Local
Contexts
* Countries of ACEAN in Globalizing World
Russian Society under Globalization
* Russian Social History
* Russian Civilization in Contemporary Global Space
* Economic Aspects of Transformation of Post-Soviet
* Russian Society
*Political Aspects of Transformation of Post-Soviet Russian
Society
*Post-Soviet Russia: Social-Cultural Aspects of
Transformation
* Ethnic Problems in Contemporary Russia
Western Societies under Globalization
* Globalization in the Netherlands: History and Modernity
* Global Transformations in the EU Countries: Diversity of
European Responses to Globalization Challenges
* Integration of Religious Minorities in European Societies
* USA and Globalization: Problems of External and Internal
Development
* Interaction of NAFTA Member States in North America
Foreign Languages
The Program will be taught in English, Russian and Korean. Since some courses will be offered in English, those who wish to study in this program must be fluent in this language. Primarily, English language proficiency will be necessary to understand lectures given by foreign professors and to participate in seminars where American and British sociological research will be discussed.
Those students who want to take part in the students’ exchange program in the Republic of Korea and in Korean companies in St. Petersburg will have an opportunity to study Korean with Korean native speakers. The Institute of Eastern and Western Societies offers a course of the Korean language to students at the Faculty of Sociology, St. PetersburgStateUniversity. Currently, there are groups at two levels of Korean language proficiency - elementary and intermediate.
Interdisciplinary Approach
This MA program will be based on methodology and content of different disciplines. The specific aspects of globalization will be presented as viewed by economics, political science, ethnology, international relations and philosophy. The courses will also include relevant content from psychology, management, statistics and law.
International Cooperation
The focus of the MA program requires maintaining and extending international cooperation within global academic community. We see YonseiUniversity and its Institute of Eastern and Western Studies as our main partner in the program development, organization and delivery.
Comparative Approach
The program focuses on the differentiated levels of conditional global hierarchy: global – regional – local. At the same time, this MA program concentrates on studying and teaching global sociology in the comparative perspective based on the link “East Asia societies – Russia – Western societies.”
Program Curriculum
The length of the program is two years. The program consists of two levels:
* First year MA level with the emphasis on general
research and professional training
* Second year MA level with the emphasis on one of the
profiles
This MA program has been designed for
* Russian students fluent in English and having a BA or
Specialist’s degree (after a 5-year university course) in
Sociology, Political Science, Philosophy, Area Studies,
* Foreign students fluent in Russian and/or English and
having a BA degree in Social Sciences and /or Humanities,
especially, in “Russian Area Studies”
Graduation Requirements
1) The minimum number of courses required : 25. Students should take all courses from the Introductory Module "General Theory and Methodology of Global Sociology and Comparative Research" and at least 3-4 courses from the following Modules: "Sociology of Global Economy and Politics", "Global Social Space", "Eastern Societies under Globalization", "Russian Society under Globalization", "Western Societies under Globalization". Students receive 3 credits for successfully passed exams for each course from the Introductory Module and 2 credits for successfully passed exams for each course from the Elective modules.
2) All students must meet language requirements: level of TOEFL over 550 (or IELTS average of 6.0) and intermediate level of language proficiency in their area of studies.
3) The minimum number of semesters required: 4. The third semester students might study in a foreign university on students exchange program.
