Unit 2484: Introduction to Sociology

1. What is Sociology?

• Definition of Sociology
• Scope of Sociology
  • Study of human society
  • Social behavior and interactions
  • Social structures and institutions
• Importance of Sociology as a social science
  • Understanding social patterns
  • Informing policy and social change

2. The Founding Fathers of Sociology

• Overview of Classical Sociological Thinkers

2.1 Karl Marx

• Historical materialism
• Class conflict theory
• Influence on social theory and critique of capitalism

2.2 Emile Durkheim

• Social facts and collective conscience
• The study of social integration and suicide
• Functionalism and social cohesion

2.3 Max Weber

• Interpretive sociology and verstehen
• The Protestant Ethic and the spirit of capitalism
• Bureaucracy and rationalization

3. Sociological Imagination

• Concept introduced by C. Wright Mills
• Connecting personal troubles to public issues
• Importance in sociological thinking and analysis

4. Social Institutions

• Definition and role of social institutions

4.1 Family

• Structure and functions
• Variations across cultures

4.2 Education

• Role in socialization and social mobility
• Educational inequality

4.3 Religion

• Functions in society
• Types and influence on social norms

4.4 Government

• Political institutions and power
• Governance and social order

5. Social Stratification

• Definition and dimensions

5.1 Class Stratification

• Economic inequality and class systems

5.2 Race and Ethnicity

• Racial inequalities and discrimination
• Ethnic identity and social dynamics

5.3 Gender Stratification

• Gender roles and inequality
• Feminist perspectives

6. Culture and Society

• Components of culture
  • Values, norms, symbols, language
• Cultural diversity and multiculturalism
• Culture's influence on social norms and behavior

7. Deviance and Social Control

• Definition of deviance
• Social norms and violations
• Theories of deviance
  • Functionalist, conflict, and symbolic interactionist perspectives
• Mechanisms of social control
  • Formal and informal sanctions
• Crime and punishment

8. Social Change

• Processes and causes of social change

8.1 Modernization

• Impact on traditional societies

8.2 Globalization

• Economic, cultural, and political dimensions

8.3 Social Movements

• Types and roles in promoting change
• Examples of social movements

9. Research Methods in Sociology

• Overview of sociological research

9.1 Surveys

• Design and application

9.2 Interviews

• Structured and unstructured methods

9.3 Experiments

• Controlled studies in social settings

9.4 Observational Studies

• Participant and non-participant observation

• Ethical considerations in research

10. Socialization and Identity

• Process of socialization
  • Agents of socialization: family, peers, media
• Formation of social identity
• Role of culture and social context in identity construction