PART ONE. IMAGINING THE SELF AND SOCIETY. This portion of the syllabus is designed to equip the students with the conceptual tools for understanding their relationship as individuals to society. (Weeks 1 - 4)

1. The Sociological Imagination. The issues of Selfhood, Nationhood and Citizenship are best understood with a quality of mind that enables one to imagine the intersection of biography, history and social structure. As a conceptual tool, the sociological imagination will provide students with a means to understand their relationship to society.
2. The Dynamic Relationship of the Self and Society. While society influences individuals, individuals through their practices also shape society. This portion will delve into the dynamic relationship of Self and Society through a multi-disciplinal approach.

PART TWO. SELFHOOD. The quest for self-identity is a product of modern society. It arose out of the dissolution of traditional values and communities. This section will look into the various societal forces that shape our notions of who we are. At the same time, this section will also introduce students to the possibility of self-realization through a discussion of perspectives that highlight individual autonomy. (Weeks 5 - 8)

1. Who are You?: Problematizing Identity. This section will introduce the sociological, psychological and philosophical approaches in approaching the concept of Identity. This section will also highlight the role that society plays in the formation of our identities and the possibilities of re-creating ourselves
2. Time, Space and National Identity. The socio-cultural and historical forces that shape identity will be discussed in this portion. This will include discussions on the effects of war, definitions of place and national identity on our notions of Self. This portion will also tackle the peculiarities of national identities in the context of the global village. The Diaspora of the Filipino Overseas Contract Workers will be given special emphasis.
3. Institutions and You. Identities are also engaged in a dialectical relationship with the social institutions that envelop them. This section probes into the dynamics that transpire between the Self and societal institutions such as the family, prisons, medical establishments and others.
4. Identity and Postmodernity. New cultural technologies in the form of the internet, cable television, the cell phone etc. have increasingly modified the terrain of cultural life. An analysis of the effects of these technologies as well the emergent global economic conditions on identity will be tackled in this section.

PART THREE. NATIONHOOD. This part will focus on the continuing project of nationhood. It will include a discussion of our nation’s past as well as an exposition of the contemporary state of Philippine society. (Weeks 9 - 12)

1. The Filipino Nation : Past to Present. This part will invite us to situate the Filipino nation by re-examining our nation’s history, assessing the problems and challenges it faces in a globalized world environment, and in the context of a postmodern society, revaluing the virtues and meanings that we hold dear. It will problematize:

1. The Nation in Fragments. This section will delve into the issues and problems that serve as sources of tensions and conflicts in our nation. This will include discussions on contemporary social issues such as the struggle for autonomy in Mindanao, patriarchal culture and poverty, among others.

1. The Family
2. Educational Institutions
3. Religious Institutions
4. Political Institutions
5. Economic Institutions
6. Mass Media

PART FOUR. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND PERSONAL AUTONOMY. The great challenge of living in the (post)modern era demands that we imagine our responsibility to ourselves and our community as parallel and related struggles. (Weeks 12 - 16)

1. Creating a Better Filipino Society. This section strengthens the case for social responsibility through a discussion of possible solutions to the problems that confront a project of nationhood. It will involve discussions on the possibility of political, cultural and economic transformations in Philippine society.
2. Creating Critical and Reflective Filipino Individuals. Parallel to the quest for social change, is the importance of creating the conditions that will nourish autonomous and self-realizing individuals This section will introduce students to practices of autonomy.
3. The Challenge of Citizenship. While we learn to realize our individual "selves," we must also learn to live with, and take responsibility for, our community. Citizenship is the performative space where social responsibility and personal autonomy meets. Students will be exhorted to practice the virtues of citizenship in this section.
4. Resources:

The course will require equipment for multimedia presentations as werll as the availability of books in the library. The department has access to these materials.

5. Number of Classes