CUNY Common Core
Course Submission Form
Instructions: All courses submitted for the Common Core must be liberal arts courses. Courses may be submitted for only one area of the Common
Core. All courses must be 3 credits/3 hours unless the college is seeking a waiver for a 4-credit Math or Science course (after having secured
approval for sufficient 3-credit/3-hour Math and Science courses). All standard governance procedures for course approval remain in place.
College
Course Number
Course Title
Department(s)
Discipline
Subject Area
Credits
Contact Hours
Pre-requisites
Catalogue Description
Queensborough Community College
SOC 101 (SS 310)
Sociology
Social Sciences
Sociology
SOC
3
3
BE-122 (or 226), or satisfactory score on the CUNY/ACT Assessment Test
Introductory analysis and description of structures and dynamics of human society; special emphasis on application of scientific
methods of observation and analysis of social groups, intergroup relations, social change, social stratification, and social institutions
Syllabus
See attached syllabus
Waivers for 4-credit Math and Science Courses
All Common Core courses must be 3 credits and 3 hours.
Waivers for 4-credit courses will only be accepted in the required areas of Mathematical and Quantitative Reasoning and Life and Physical Sciences. Such waivers
will only be approved after a sufficient number of 3-credit/3-hour math and science courses are approved for these areas.
If you would like to
request a waiver please
check here:
Waiver requested
Indicate the status of this course being nominated:
current course
revision of current course
a new course being proposed
CUNY COMMON CORE Location
Please check below the area of the Common Core for which the course is being submitted. (Select only one.)
Required
English Composition
Mathematical and Quantitative Reasoning
Life and Physical Sciences
Flexible
World Cultures and Global Issues
US Experience in its Diversity
Creative Expression
Individual and Society
Scientific World
Learning Outcomes
In the left column explain the assignments and course attributes that will address the learning outcomes in the right column.
II. Flexible Core (18 credits)
Six three-credit liberal arts and sciences courses, with at least one course from each of the following five areas and no more than two courses in any discipline or
interdisciplinary field.
D. Individual and Society
A Flexible Core course must meet the three learning outcomes in the right column.
Students will compare, contrast and evaluate different explanations of social
processes using sources such as textbooks, readers, ancillary articles,
primary documents, and/or visuals.
 Gather, interpret, and assess information from a variety of sources and points of
view.
Students will critically evaluate theories and research in sociology.
Students will construct oral responses, written essays, and/or papers
demonstrating the use of evidence-based information in drawing
conclusions about sociological questions.
 Evaluate evidence and arguments critically or analytically.
 Produce well-reasoned written or oral arguments using evidence to support
conclusions.
A course in this area (II.D) must meet at least three of the additional learning outcomes in the right column. A student will:
a. Students will demonstrate that they are able to define sociological
concepts and theories.
b. Students will demonstrate how sociological concepts and theories
interpret the relationship between the individual and society.
a. Students will examine inequalities of race, class, and gender.
b. Students will understand the dynamics of power in society.
c. Students will apply sociology to everyday life.
a. Students will identify historical and/or contemporary social trends.
b. Students will assess sociological debates about the impact of social
trends on the individual and society.
 Identify and apply the fundamental concepts and methods of a discipline or
interdisciplinary field exploring the relationship between the individual and
society, including, but not limited to, anthropology, communications, cultural
studies, history, journalism, philosophy, political science, psychology, public
affairs, religion, and sociology.
 Examine how an individual's place in society affects experiences, values, or
choices.
 Identify and engage with local, national, or global trends or ideologies, and
analyze their impact on individual or collective decision-making.
QUEENSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE/CUNY
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
1. Department:
Social Sciences
2. Course prefix, number and title:
SS-310 Sociology
3. Pre-requisites and co-requisites:
BE-122 (or 226), or satisfactory score on the CUNY/ACT Assessment Test
4. Hours and credits:
3 class hours/ 3 credits
5. Course Description:
Introductory analysis and description of structures and dynamics of human society; special emphasis on application of scientific
methods of observation and analysis of social groups, intergroup relations, social change, social stratification, and social institutions
6. Curriculum for which this course is required and curricular objectives addressed by the course:
Nursing A.A.S.
Provide a foundation in general education in the humanities, and biological and social sciences.
Dual/Joint A.A./B.A. Liberal Arts and Sciences and Education
Provide an understanding of the core curriculum of Liberal Arts and Sciences classes.
Dual/Joint A.S./B.A. in Criminal Justice
Students will use historical and social sciences perspectives to analyze and make judgments about issues in the field of criminal
justice.
7. General Education objectives addressed by the course:
General Educational objectives addressed by this course
Briefly describe activities in the course which help students
meet each of these general education objectives.
use analytical reasoning to identify issues or problems and
evaluate evidence in order to make informed decisions
a. Students will describe the way issues or problems are
formulated within sociology.
b. Students will evaluate issues or problems in light of
sociological theory and research.
integrate knowledge and skills in their program of study
a. Students will integrate sociological topics with those of other
relevant disciplines, such as anthropology, psychology,
economics, political science, history, or philosophy.
b. Students will identify ways in which social processes operate
in diverse settings.
use historical or social sciences perspectives to examine
formation of ideas, human behavior, social institutions, or social
processes
a. Students will define concepts specific to sociology
b. Students will compare and contrast sociological theories.
c. Students will demonstrate how sociological concepts and
theories interpret social institutions and processes.
8. Course objectives/expected student learning outcomes:
II.E. Individual and Society
Expected student learning outcomes
Gather, interpret, and assess information from a variety of
sources and points of view
Students will compare, contrast and evaluate different
explanations of social processes using sources such as textbooks,
readers, ancillary articles, primary documents, and/or visuals.
Evaluate evidence and arguments critically or analytically
Students will critically evaluate theories and research in
sociology.
Produce well-reasoned written or oral arguments using evidence
to support conclusions
Students will construct oral responses, written essays, and/or
papers demonstrating the use of evidence-based information in
drawing conclusions about sociological questions.
Identify and apply the fundamental concepts and methods of a
discipline or interdisciplinary field exploring the relationship
between the individual and society, including, but not limited to,
anthropology, communications, cultural studies, history,
journalism, philosophy, political science, psychology, public
affairs, religion, and sociology
a. Students will demonstrate that they are able to define
sociological concepts and theories.
b. Students will demonstrate how sociological concepts and
theories interpret the relationship between the individual and
society.
Examine how an individual’s place in society affects experiences,
values, or choices.
a. Students will examine inequalities of race, class, and gender.
b. Students will understand the dynamics of power in society.
c. Students will apply sociology to everyday life.
Identify and engage with local, national, or global trends or
ideologies, and analyze their impact on individual or collective
decision-making.
a. Students will identify historical and/or contemporary social
trends.
b. Students will assess sociological debates about the impact of
social trends on the individual and society.
9. Summary of main topics covered in the course:
Topics will be chosen from, but not limited to, the following:
I. What is Sociology?
a. Sociology and the other social sciences
b. Sociology and common sense
c. Sociology and science
II. Sociological Perspectives
a. Functionalism
b. Conflict theory
c. Symbolic Interactionism
d. New sociologies: phenomenology, feminism, postmodernism
III. Culture
a. Basic concepts: material culture, beliefs, values, norms, language and symbols
b. Subcultures and countercultures
c. Ethnocentrism, cultural relativism, and multiculturalism
d. Social sanctions
IV. Structure
a. Basic concepts: status, role, group, organization, institution
b. Modern bureaucratic structure; the “McDonaldization” of society
c. Industrial and postindustrial society
V. Socialization
a. The self as a social product
b. Psychological theories of socialization
c. Sociological theories of socialization
d. Resocialization; total institutions
VI. Deviance
a. The relativity of deviance
b. Biological and psychological theories of deviance
c. Sociological theories of deviance
VII. Stratification Systems
a. Class
b. Race and ethnicity
c. Gender and sexuality
VIII. Social Institutions
a. Family
b. Economy
c. Politics and Law
d. Education
e. Religion
f. Media
10. Example texts/readings/bibliography/other materials required or recommended for the course (as applicable):
Example Textbooks and Readers:
Basirico, L., Cashion, B. and Eshleman, J.R.. Introduction to Sociology. Best Value Textbooks.
Ferrante, J. Seeing Sociology: An Introduction. Wadsworth/Cengage.
Giddens, A. Introduction to Sociology. W.W. Norton.
Giddens, Duneier, Applebaum, Carr. Introduction to Sociology. WW. Norton.
Intersections: Readings in Sociology. Pearson Custom Publishing.
Massey, G. Readings for Sociology. Norton.
Newman, D. Exploring the Architecture of Everyday Life. Pine Forge Press.
11. Methods by which student learning will be evaluated (describe the types of evaluation methods to be employed; note
whether certain evaluation methods are required for all sections):
A variety of assessment methods are employed in individual sections, including but not limited to the following: objective tests,
essay examinations, essay assignments, term papers, reflection papers, oral presentation, and/or group projects.
12. Required attire: Not applicable
13. Other expectations for student performance (if applicable): Not applicable