Sociology and Culture

Syllabus

1. Sociology, Society and Human-Environment Relationship (4 hours)
   1. Sociology as the study of human society
   2. Scope of sociology to architectural studies
   3. Society as a human-environment system
   4. Concept of social architecture and spatial organization
2. Social Structure, Institutions and Social Processes (4 hours)
   1. Social structure in rural and urban Nepal
   2. Institutions: family, religion, economy, governance and their spatial roles
   3. Social groups, communities and neighborhood organization
   4. Social interaction: forms and implications for space
   5. Introduction to social change within institutions and communities
3. Culture and Civilization (6 hours)
   1. Concept of culture and civilization
   2. Culture, cultural drift, diffusion, transmission, acculturation
   3. Family and kinship systems
   4. Gender and power: patriarchal and matriarchal systems
   5. Tangible and intangible cultural heritage
   6. Civilization and archaeology: early city forms (Indus, Mesopotamia, Egypt)
   7. Nepali context: Lumbini archaeology and Buddhist urbanism as sacred city models
4. Social and Cultural Dimensions of Architecture in Nepal (6 hours)
   1. Socio-cultural meaning of open spaces: chowks, ghats, courtyards, public squares
   2. Socio-cultural meaning of built spaces: houses, temples, palaces, communal halls
   3. Ethnic and regional traditions: Newar settlements, Mithila houses, Tharu housing, Khasa settlements
   4. Rituals, festivals and community practices shaping architecture
5. Social Change and Modernization (4 hours)
   1. Processes of social change: migration, urbanization, globalization
   2. Impacts on traditional architecture and settlements
   3. Changing family, kinship and community patterns
   4. Contemporary socio-cultural challenges in Nepali architectural design
6. Applied Study: Socio-Cultural Analysis (6 hours)
   1. Application of sociological and cultural concepts to architecture
   2. Field observation of a settlement, neighborhood or building type
   3. Mapping social use of spaces
   4. Short reflective assignment linking social practices and spatial design
   5. Group and class presentations of applied findings