Undergraduate Module Descriptor

SOC1036: Foucault-Discipline and Punish

This module descriptor refers to the 2017/8 academic year.

Module Content

Syllabus Plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will focus on five themes in the discussion of the book:

  • Torture
  • Punishment
  • Discipline
  • Prison 
  • Secondary literature
  • Critical Theory, Freedom, Biopolitics

The primary text is divided into four parts (Torture, Punishment, Discipline, Prison) and we aim to discuss them over the first 6 weeks of the course.

Learning and Teaching

This table provides an overview of how your hours of study for this module are allocated:

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
27.5122.50

...and this table provides a more detailed breakdown of the hours allocated to various study activities:

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled Learning and Teaching activity 27.511 x 1.5 hour weekly seminars and 11 x 1 hour tutorials in small groups to conduct detailed text analysis. You should be prepared to discuss your reading notes and questions from the weekly reading in the seminars and tutorials. We will discuss the book in great detail and also wider related philosophical and social topics. This format combines larger (up to 20) and smaller group work (up to 12)
Guided Independent study122.5The hours given below are indicative: 40.5 hours reading and analysing the primary text; 12 hours writing the first essay; 40 hours research and reading secondary literature study for the essays; 30 hours writing the second essay

Online Resources

This module has online resources available via ELE (the Exeter Learning Environment).

http://vle.exeter.ac.uk