Learning Objectives
5 objectives- Understand the foundational concepts, history, and scope of sociology as a discipline.
- Analyze key sociological theories and perspectives and their applications in understanding society.
- Examine the processes of socialization, social institutions, and their impact on individual and collective behavior.
- Evaluate social stratification, inequality, and the dynamics of culture, deviance, and social control.
- Explore sociological research methods and the role of social movements and globalization in social change.
Content Outline
Preview1. Introduction to Sociology
- Definition and scope of sociology
- Historical development of sociology
- Key concepts: society, culture, social structure, social interaction
- Role and importance of sociologists in studying society
2. The Sociological Imagination
- Concept introduced by C. Wright Mills
- Distinction between personal troubles and public issues
- Importance in critical thinking and understanding social context
3. Sociological Perspectives
- Functionalism
- Overview and key theorists (e.g., Emile Durkheim)
- Society as a system of interrelated parts
- Conflict Theory
- Overview and key theorists (e.g., Karl Marx)
- Society as a site of inequality and power struggles
- Symbolic Interactionism
- Overview and key theorists (e.g., George Herbert Mead)
- Focus on social interaction and meaning-making
- Feminist Theory
- Overview and key ideas
- Gender inequality and social structures
4. Socialization and Social Institutions
- Process of socialization: primary and secondary
- Agents of socialization: family, peers, education, media
- Major social institutions:
- Family: roles and functions
- Education: social reproduction and change
- Religion: beliefs and social cohesion
- Media: influence on norms and behaviors
5. Social Stratification and Inequality
- Definition and types of stratification systems
- Social class: theories and class structure
- Race and ethnicity: concepts and social implications
- Gender inequality: patriarchy and gender roles
- Other forms of inequality: age, disability, sexuality
- Effects on life chances and social mobility
6. Culture and Society
- Definition of culture
- Components: norms, values, beliefs, symbols
- Cultural diversity and cultural relativism
- Subcultures and countercultures
- Influence of culture on social behavior and interactions
7. Deviance and Social Control
- Defining deviance and conformity
- Theories of deviance:
- Structural strain theory
- Labeling theory
- Conflict theory
- Social control mechanisms:
- Formal and informal controls
- Role of institutions (legal system, family, education)
8. Globalization and Social Change
- Definition and dimensions of globalization
- Effects on societies, economies, and cultures
- Global identities and cultural hybridization
- Processes and agents of social change
- Challenges and opportunities in a globalized world
9. Research Methods in Sociology
- Overview of qualitative and quantitative methods
- Surveys: design and implementation
- Interviews: structured and unstructured
- Observations and ethnography
- Experiments in sociology
- Ethical considerations in sociological research
10. Social Movements and Social Change
- Definition and types of social movements
- Collective action and protest strategies
- Role of revolutions and reform movements
- Impact of social movements on policies and societal norms
- Contemporary examples of social movements
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