Historical Sociology

Overview

Historical Sociology cannot be understood as some hybrid connection of history and sociology. It is a field based on an assumption that a general object of sociology is historical, time and space determined social reality. In accordance with that premise, Historical Sociology could be defined as a specific theoretic and methodological perspective focused on long-term social processes, as well as on the analysis of differences and similarities between different historical epochs. Above all, historical sociology deals with problems of modernisation and social change, globalisation trends, and influences, integration and disintegration processes, the relationship of continuity and discontinuity, religious and cultural pluralism, linking the global to the local, the identification of the chances and risks of social development, the analysis of conflict situations and the possibility of overcoming them.

The need for understanding of all of these issues invokes the need for the development of adequate theoretical and methodological approaches, and also for the specific training of university students, which is possible through the study of Historical Sociology.

Profile of a Graduate

Throughout their study of Historical Sociology, graduates will have covered both theoretical topics as well as practical and research-based topics. 

Regarding theory, graduates will have acquired historical-sociological knowledge from social, cultural, religious, political, and economic spheres. They will learn how to analyse different social phenomena in a wide historical and territorial context and look at them from a long-term perspective. 

Practical and research-based skills acquired throughout the study of this course include professional skills based on managing the basic approaches of quantitative and qualitative historical-sociological research methodology.

This combination of both theoretical and practical fields qualifies graduates for employment both in the academic sphere, i.e., at universities and research institutions, and in the non-academic sphere, i.e. in state administration, NGO’s, agencies, consultancy firms, educational institutions, cultural organisations and in the media.

Accreditation

The MA programme in Historical Sociology is officially recognized and accredited by the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.