By the end of the course, students will have acquired a basic understanding of the sociology of the Third Sector, including its historical development, the main types of Third Sector organizations, and their role in the relationships between the state, the market, and civil society. They will be able to analyse the functioning of Third Sector organizations and assess their contribution to welfare, social innovation, and local development, with particular attention to intercultural contexts. Students will also be able to use the essential terminology of the discipline, critically discuss case studies, and formulate informed judgments on the opportunities and challenges facing the Third Sector in contemporary societies, providing a foundation for further academic study and future professional practice.
Students are expected to have good reading comprehension and analytical skills in Italian. Since some supplementary readings may be assigned in English, a good reading knowledge of English is recommended.
The course combines lectures with interactive learning activities, including case study analysis, guided discussions, critical reading of institutional documents and reports, and seminars delivered by practitioners and professionals from the Third Sector.
The exam is structured as follows:
The written examination consists of multiple-choice questions, completion tasks, and open-ended questions. Assessment criteria include the relevance of responses, understanding of course content, argumentative skills, and accuracy and clarity of written expression. Responses that are not clearly legible will not be graded.
The final grade is awarded on a 30-point scale.
This course introduces students to the fundamentals of the sociology of the Third Sector, providing the conceptual tools needed to understand the role of civil society organizations in contemporary social, economic, and cultural change. It examines the Third Sector in relation to the state, the market, and local communities, with particular attention to social innovation, civic participation, and welfare. The course also explores the role of nonprofit organizations, social enterprises, and volunteer organizations in national and international contexts, highlighting the importance of linguistic and intercultural mediation. As no prior knowledge of sociology is required, the course begins with an introduction to the basic sociological concepts necessary for understanding the topics addressed.
There is no distinction in the course programme between attending and non-attending students.
Following the written assessment, the instructor may require an additional oral examination, where deemed necessary, to verify the achievement of the course learning outcomes and to ensure the accurate assessment of student performance.
