Course Outline – SOC 195: Democratic Citizenship
Core Area 9: Civic Engagement and Ethics
Topic
Introduction; Sociological
Perspective
Description
Introduction to
Democratic Citizenship,
sociological imagination
and social construction.
Introduction to race, class,
gender and other
sociologically relevant
categories (7.5%)
Critical Thinking,
Evaluating Evidence,
Democratic Decision
Making
Students will learn to
9.1, 9.6
critically examine social
structures and how
individuals relate to
democratic institutions
(7.5%)
These topics will explore
9.2, 9.4, 9.5 and 9.6
how democracy is socially
constructed (variations on
the lines of nationality,
race, class, gender etc.);
students will examine
comparative systems of
democracy; ethics of
political participation in
democratic processes
(15%)
Students will analyze, from 9.1, 9.3, 9.4, 9.5, 9.6
multiple perspectives, the
responsibility of governing
bodies to their citizens, to
the sustainability of
communities and
environments, and to the
promotion of democratic
ideals; Students will
analyze how people
experience democracy
based on social location and
the challenge that the
politics of identity and
difference poses to a
Governance, State,
Alternatives to
Democratic Governance;
Ethnicity and Religion
Responsibilities of
Governing Bodies and
State to Citizens; Civic
Expectations; Rights
Analysis applied to
various social institutions,
and social structures
SL Outcomes
9.1
democratic society. (20%)
Responsibility of Citizens
to the community, “state”,
and the environment;
ethical citizenship, social
responsibility, moving
beyond individual and
ethnocentric interests
Democracy, Human Rights
and Social Change
Participatory Citizenship
and Making a Difference
Students will analyze the
rights, responsibilities and
roles of citizens under a
variety of democratic
systems; Students will
analyze the citizen's role in
promoting democracy
locally, nationally, and
globally, including during
periods when democracy is
challenged/threatened
(20%)
Methods for improving
democracies as an ideal
type of governance/social
change (15%)
Students will examine
ways to deepen
democracy at multiple
levels – individual, group,
national and international
levels (15%)
9.2,9.3,9.4,9.5,9.6
9.1,9.3,9.4,9.5,9.6
9.1, 9.2, 9.3,9.4,9.5,9.6