ELHS.13.0.1
Introduction to Sociology Syllabus
Course Description
"People’s minds and their conceptions of themselves are shaped by their social experiences."
(George Herbert Mead) The world is becoming more complex. How do your beliefs, values and
behavior affect the people around you and the world we live in? In this increasingly connected
world, students will examine problems in our society and learn how human relationships can
influence the life of the student. Exciting online video journeys to different areas of the world will
also presented in the course.
*NOTE: The suggested time frame for the completion of each unit is just an estimate. This
syllabus is based on an 18-week semester. You may work on each unit at your own pace, but
keep in mind that you must finish the entire course within the time specified by your school
district.
Unit 1: An Invitation to the World of Sociology (Weeks 1 through 2)
Objectives
Upon completion of this unit, you will be able to:
• learn about the sociological approach
• learn what sociologists do
• understand the development of sociology
• understand the major sociological perspectives
• understand sociology today
Modules
1. What is Sociology?
2. The History and Development of Sociology
3. Major Theoretical Perspectives
Assignments
Unit 1 Quiz #1: Introduction to Sociology
Quiz
3 points
Online Lab Assignment: India - Hole in the Wall
Homework
5 points
Unit 1: An Invitation to the World of Sociology Unit Test
Test
10 points
Unit 2: Our Culture (Weeks 3 through 4)
Objectives
Upon completion of this unit, you will be able to:
• understand what culture is
• learn how culture develops in a society
• learn what language, norms, values, and sanctions are
• understand cultural variations like subcultures and countercultures
• learn about cultural diversity
Modules
1. What is Culture?
2. The Development of Culture
3. Elements of Culture
4. Cultural Variations
Assignments
Unit 2 Quiz #1: Development of Culture
Quiz
3 points
Online Lab Assignment: Bhutan - The Last Place
Homework
5 points
Unit 2 Quiz #2: Culture Variations
Quiz
3 points
Paper Assignment: My Culture
Paper/Essay
10 points
Unit 3: Socialization (Weeks 5 through 6)
Objectives
Upon completion of this unit, you will be able to:
• understand what socialization is and how people learn to be members of their culture
• examine the different socialization processes throughout the life course
• earn how the agents of socialization teach individuals culture
• examine how socialization affects the development of the self
• understand the role of the family, school, peer group, media, and workplace in the
socialization process
Modules
1. Socialization
2. The Role of Socialization
3. Socialization and the Self
4. Socialization over the Life Course
5. Agents of Socialization
Assignments
Unit 3 Quiz #1: The Role of Socialization
Quiz
3 points
Online Lab Assignment: Understanding Greed
Homework
5 points
Unit 3 Quiz #2: Socialization
Quiz
3 points
Unit 3: Socialization Unit Test
Test
10 points
Unit 4: Social Structures and Group Behavior (Weeks 7 through 8)
Objectives
Upon completion of this unit, you will be able to:
• examine the social structure of society and how this structure affects your everyday life
• learn about the statuses in society that you may hold and the roles that follow from these
statuses
• follow the development of technology in society from preindustrial societies to
postmodern ones and examine how these changes affect the social structure of societies
• explore social interactions between groups of people
Modules
1. Groups
2. Social Structure
3. Social Roles
4. Networks
5. Social Institutions and Social Structure
Assignments
Unit 4 Quiz #1: Groups and Social Structure
Quiz
3 points
Online Lab Assignment: U.S. Population Tops 300 Million
Homework
5 points
Unit 4 Quiz #2: Networks and Social Structure
Quiz
3 points
Unit 4: Social Structures and Group Behavior Unit Test
Test
10 points
Introduction to Sociology Midterm Exam (Week 9)
Objectives
Upon completion of this unit, you will be able to:
• review information acquired and mastered from this course up to this point
• take and pass a course exam based on material from the first four units in this course
(Note: You will be able to open this exam only one time.)
Assignment
Introduction to Sociology Midterm Exam
Exam
18 points
Unit 5: Deviance and Crime (Weeks 10 through 11)
Objectives
Upon completion of this unit, you will be able to:
• understand what deviance is and how it affects society
• examine the different explanations for deviance
• discuss how society encourages conformity and how it uses social control to discourage
deviance
• understand the different types of crime and how society deals with crime
Modules
1. Deviance
2. Biological and Personality Explanations
3. Durkheim's Theory of Deviance
4. Merton's Strain Theory
5. Social Control
6. Crime
Assignments
Unit 5 Quiz #1: Deviance
Quiz
3 points
Online Lab Assignment: School for Success
Homework
5 points
Unit 5 Quiz #2: Deviance Theories
Quiz
3 points
Unit 5: Deviance and Crime Unit Test
Test
10 points
Unit 6: Social Stratification and Class (Weeks 12 through 13)
Objectives
Upon completion of this unit, you will be able to:
• understand what social stratification is and how it affects society
• learn about the three types of social stratification
• examine the major theories of social stratification
• investigate the social classes that exist in the United States and Canada
• learn about poverty in North America and which groups are more likely to be poor
Modules
1. Systems of Stratification
2. The Functions of Social Stratification
3. Social Stratification and Conflict
4. Social Stratification in the United States and Canada
5. Social Stratification and Social Mobility
6. Poverty in North America
Assignments
Unit 6 Quiz #1: Systems of Social Stratification
Quiz
3 points
Online Lab Assignment: Rich in Russia
Homework
5 points
Unit 6: Social Stratification and Class Unit Test
Test
10 points
Unit 7: Inequalities of Race and Ethnicity (Weeks 14 through 15)
Objectives
Upon completion of this unit, you will be able to:
• learn what race and ethnicity are
• investigate the characteristics of a minority group
• understand what prejudice, racism, and discrimination are
• examine the different ways that group relationships may be organized in society
• discuss how a minority group may respond to repression
Modules
1. Race and Ethnicity in Society
2. Prejudice and Discrimination
3. Patterns of Group Relations
4. Minority Group Responses to Repression
Assignments
Unit 7 Quiz #1: Inequalities
Quiz
3 points
Online Lab Assignment: Affirmative Action
Homework
5 points
Unit 7 Quiz #2: Group Relations
Quiz
3 points
Unit 7: Inequalities of Race and Ethnicity Unit Test
Test
10 points
Unit 8: Gender (Weeks 16 through 17)
Objectives
Upon completion of this unit, you will be able to:
• learn what gender and gender roles are
• examine how gender roles and expectations influence the positions and opportunities
available to men and women
• discuss the social construction of gender
• investigate how the socialization process teaches gender
• look at gender inequality in society and how it affects men and women
Modules
1. Gender
2. Gender and History
3. Patriarchy and Sexism
4. The Social Construction of Gender
5. Gender, Peers, and School
6. Gender and the Media
7. Gender and Stratification
8. The Women's Movement
Assignments
Unit 8 Quiz #1: Gender and Sexism
Quiz
3 points
Online Lab Assignment: Implicit Association Test - Gender
Homework
5 points
Unit 8 Quiz #2: Dealing with Gender
Quiz
3 points
Unit 8: Gender Unit Test
Test
10 points
Introduction to Sociology Final Exam (Week 18)
Objectives
Upon completion of this unit, you will be able to:
• review information acquired and mastered from this course
• take and pass a course exam based on material from all units in this course (Note: You
will be able to open this exam only one time.)
Assignment
Introduction to Sociology Final Exam
Exam
25 points
* NOTE: If you have a disability or condition that may affect your ability to succeed in this course,
please contact your teacher. It’s important that you discuss the problem with him or her so
accommodations may be made to give you every opportunity to perform well. Your teacher and
virtual school program coordinators are committed to helping students with disabilities succeed,
and every request will be treated with respect and confidentiality.