HS2009 Sociology of the Life Course

This course is an introduction to the life course approach, and how it is applied to social science. With the help of several concepts and principles, the life course perspective helps us understand how societies and individuals change over time. It gives us a framework to examine various factors (e.g., historical, social) that affect us as we grow older; both in the continuities of life, and in the twists/turns that may happen to us along the way. It shows us that our lives are interconnected, but also that disparities between social groups can grow over time. In addition, we will briefly explore some methodological tools that can help us evaluate these processes.

The class schedule is divided into three broad parts. In the first part of the course, we will learn about the key principles of the life course perspective and how they can be applied empirically. In the second part, we will explore different drivers of societal change over time, and learn to discriminate between them. Finally, in the third part, we will explore select topics that are crucial to life course analysis, such as the integration of biomarkers in life course research.