Course Outline

Course :            A systematic study of human society. This introductory

                         course will provide an assessment of how social forces,

                         institutions, and inequality influence human interaction.

                         Topics of study include: culture, crime, economy,

                         government, religion, education, poverty, and

                         inequalities.

Text:                Schaefer, Richard T. Sociology: A Brief Introduction (2008).

                            Seventh Edition. New York, N.Y. McGraw Hill.

Orientation :    Role of Critical Thinking in Sociology

I. Chapter 1      Sociological Imagination

    A. Development of Sociology

         1. Early Thinkers

         2. Emile Durkheim

         3. Max Weber

         4. Karl Marx

         5. Modern Developments

    B. Theoretical Paradigms in Sociology

         1. Functionalist Perspective

         2. Conflict Perspective

         3. Interactionist Perspective

         4. Feminist Perspective

II. Chapter 2     Methodology

     A. Steps in Social Science Research

         1. Defining the Problem

         2. Reviewing the Literature

         3. Formulating the Hypothesis

         4. Collecting and Analyzing Data

         5. Conclusion

      B. Major Research Designs

         1. Surveys ( Interviews and Questionnaires )

         2. Observation

         3. Experiments

         4. Use of Existing Sources

      C. Ethics in Research

Exam One

III. Chapter 3         Culture

       A. Global Culture

          1. Cultural Universals

          2. Innovation

          3. Globalization

          4. Diffusion

          5. Technology

       B. Components of Culture

          1. Symbols/Language

          2. Values

          3. Norms

              a. Proscriptive and Prescriptive

              b. Mores and Folkways

              c. Ideal and Real

        C. Cultural Diversity

           1. Subcultures

           2. Countercultures

           3. Ethnocentrism

           4. Cultural Relativism

           5. Multiculturalism ( Bilingualism )

IV. Chapter 4          Socialization

         A. Social Isolation and Personality

         B. Theories of Personality Development

         C. Agents of Socialization

            1. Family

            2. School

            3. Peers

            4. Mass Media

            5. Workplace and the State

        D. Socialization over the Life Course

        E. Resocialization

V. Chapter 5          Social Interaction and Social Structure

        A. Construction of Social Reality

        B. Elements of Social Structure

             1. Status ( Ascribed and Achieved )

             2. Social Roles

             3. Groups

             4. Social Networks and Technology

             5. Social Institutions

        C. Traditional vs. Modern Societies

             1. Durkheim: Mechanical vs. Organic Solidarity

             2. Tonnies :   Gemeinschaft vs. Gesellschaft

             3. Lenski :     Sociocultural Evolutionary Perspective

Exam Two

VI.   Chapter 6   Social Groups and Organization

          A. Primary and Secondary Groups

          B. In-Groups and Out-Groups

          C. Reference Groups

          D. Formal Organizations

               1. Bureaucracy

                    a. Characteristics of Bureaucracy

                    b. Humanization of Bureaucracy

               2. Theories of Bureaucracy

VI.I.  Chapter 8         Deviance and Social Control

         A. Social Control

              1. Conformity and Obedience

              2. Informal and Formal Social Control

              3. Law and Society

         B. Deviance

              1. What is Deviance?

              2. Theories of Deviance

                  a. Functionalist Perspective : Durkheim

                  b. Merton's Mode of Adaptation

                  c. Sutherland's Differential Association

                  d. Routine Activities Theory

                  e. Labeling Theory

                  f. Conflict Perspective

                  g. Feminist Perspective

         C. Crime

              1. Types of Crime

              2. Crime Statistics

Exam Three

VIII Chapter 9        Stratification

         A. Systems of Stratification

             1. Slavery

             2. Castes

             3. Estates

             4. Social Class

         B. Stratification by Social Class

             1. Measuring Social Class

             2. Income and Poverty

         C. Social Mobility in the American Culture

IX. Chapter 16    Social Change and Technology

      A. Characteristics of Social Change

           1. Social Change is Inevitable

           2. Social change is Sometimes Intentional but Often Unplanned

           3. Social Change Generates Controversy

           4. Social Change has Variable Consequences

      B. Sources of Social Change

           1. Natural Environment

           2. Population Changes

               a. Immigration

               b. Migration

           3. Cultural Change

               a. Invention

               b. Discovery

               c. Diffusion

            4. Social Conflict and Social Movements

            5. Technology

                a. Sex Selection

                b. Biomedical Technology

                c. Genetic Manufactured Foods

                d. Bioterrorism

Final Exam

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