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Course Title: INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
Course Prefix & No.: SOCI 1010
LEC:
4.5
LAB: 0
Credit Hours: 4.5
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is an introduction to the scientific study of society and human social behavior. It focuses on the
concepts of research methods, research findings, sociological theories, society, institutions, groups, social
structure, culture, social interaction, socialization, social problems, social inequality, and social change. This
course is transferable. Reading assessment and college-level reading skills are recommended for success in this
course.
COURSE PREREQUISITE (S): None
RATIONALE:
This course provides a theoretical basis for the understanding of social structure and human interaction on
both micro- and macro-levels.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK (S) and/or MATERIALS:






TITLE:ACP SOCIOLOGY POP CULTURE TO SOCIAL STRUCTURE
AUTHOR: Brym
EDITION:3rd
COPYRIGHT YEAR:2012
PUBLISHER: Cengage Learning
ISBN:9781285113586
Materials:
No additional Materials required
Attached course outline written by: Social Science Faculty
Date:
Reviewed/Revised by: Mary Cooper, Jenni Fauchier, Gary Toth
Date: 6/11
Effective quarter of course outline: Fall, 2011
Date: 6/11
Academic Dean:
Date:
Jane Franklin
_____________________________
Course Objectives, Topical Unit Outlines, and Unit Objectives must be attached to this form.
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TITLE: INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
PREFIX/NO: SOCI 1010
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
At the successful completion of this course, students are able to:
1.
Compare the major sociological perspectives, their sources and applications.
2.
Apply the scientific method to a sample problem and evaluate the major research methods used in
sociology.
3.
Analyze the major components of culture and the social structure.
4.
Describe the major forms of inequality in society and compare the theoretical explanations for each.
5.
Demonstrate a working knowledge of major sociological terms and concepts.
6.
Cite theoretical explanations for and treatment options applicable to selected deviant patterns of
behavior.
7.
Identify and correlate the functions of the social institutions on the others.
8.
Appraise the impact of collective behavior, social movements, technology, and multicultural contacts on
social change.
9.
Analyze the inter-relation of social and physical environments.
TOPICAL UNIT OUTLINE/UNIT OBJECTIVES:
I.
Introduction to Social Theory
A.
B.
C.
D.
II.
Theoretical basis for sociology
Research in sociology
Culture
Social structure
Individual and Group
A. Socialization
B. Organizations
C. Deviance
III.
Inequality
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A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
IV.
Institutions
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
V.
Stratification
Prejudice and discrimination
Racial and ethnic categories
Gender
Age
Education
Marriage and the family
Religion
Polity and the economy
Emerging institutions
1. Health care
2. Sport, entertainment, and leisure
Social Change
A.
B.
C.
D.
Collective behavior
Population
Urbanization
Multicultural issues in a changing world
UNIT OBJECTIVES
I.
Introduction to Social Theory
A. Define sociology and discuss the sociologist's main areas of interest.
B. Discuss the scientific method and its effect on the nature of sociology.
C. Identify and define the three major sociological theories: functionalism, symbolic interactionism, and the
conflict theory.
D. Distinguish between the different research methods (surveys, participant observation, laboratory and field
experiments, and historical use of available sources) that are used by sociologists.
E. Describe the scientific method as it is used by sociologists and other social scientists.
F. Define the basic building blocks of culture: values, beliefs, norms, language, and material artifacts.
G. Differentiate between norms, mores, folkways, and laws.
H. Examine the difference between various types and sources of social status.
I. Discuss the impact of social structure on human behavior.
II.
Individual and Group
A. Evaluate and contrast the major theories of socialization.
B. Identify the different agents of socialization (the family, peer groups, school, and mass media) and
explain their function.
C. Discuss the research that concerns the importance of conformity in group interaction.
D. Distinguish between primary groups and secondary groups and identify the characteristics of each of
them.
E. Explain what is meant by formal organizations and bureaucracies.
F. Compare and contrast the major theories of deviance.
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G. Review the characteristics of the people who are most often arrested for committing crimes and explain
the flaws in the data on which these characteristics are based.
III.
Inequality
A. Distinguish between the functionalist and conflict approaches of studying stratification, and discuss the
criticisms of each perspective.
B. Identify and distinguish between the six socioeconomic strata or classes in American society.
C. Define discrimination and discuss the relationship that exists between prejudice and discrimination.
IV.
Institutions
A. Delineate the functions and characteristics of the major social institutions.
B. Analyze the major characteristics of and distinctions among capitalism, socialism, and mixed economics.
C. Evaluate and contrast the major theories of power.
D. Discuss the family and some of the different forms that it takes.
E. Distinguish between the sacred and the profane, and define religion, in general.
F. Inventory the functions of education for society and for the individual.
G. Cite potential interconnections between the polity and the economy.
H. Discuss the impact of emerging institutional forms.
V.
Social Change
A. Construct models for the major sources of social change (i.e., technological innovation, ideas, cultural
diffusion, and population).
B. Explain and critically evaluate the four best known theories that describe collective behavior: value-added
theory, contagion theory, convergence theory, and emergent-norm theory.
C. Illustrate, using a contemporary example, the characteristics of a social movement.
D. Explore the impact of urbanization and suburbanization and related issues such as gentrification on social
life.
E. Discuss specific current events (i.e., terrorist activities, the breakdown of the Soviet Union, the
proliferation of hate groups, or the global nature of economic conditions) as they reflect or
contribute to social change.
F. Assess the importance of technology in producing social change.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS/EVALUATION:
Students are required to successfully complete tests and out-of-class assignments as specified by the
instructor in the course syllabus. Evaluation will be based on written work, attendance, and appropriate class
participation (see attached). With successful completion of the objectives of this course, the student will have
acquired cognitive knowledge of sociological theory and the ability to synthesize and evaluate models of social
life.
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COURSE OBJECTIVES/ASSESSMENT MEASURES
INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
SOCI 1010
1.
2.
3.
4.
4.
6.
7.
8.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
ASSESSMENT MEASURES
Compare the major sociological perspectives, Test (i.e., written, oral, open book, take home,
their sources and applications.
multiple choice), and/or short papers, and/or class
participation, and/or crossword vocabulary reviews,
and/or application projects (i.e., in-class, outside of
class, vocational/career).
Apply the scientific method to a sample Test (i.e., written, oral, open book, take home,
problem and evaluate the major research multiple choice), and/or short papers, and/or class
methods used in sociology
participation, and/or crossword vocabulary reviews,
and/or application projects (i.e., in-class, outside of
class, vocational/career).
Analyze the major components of culture and Test (i.e., written, oral, open book, take home,
the social structure.
multiple choice), and/or short papers, and/or class
participation, and/or crossword vocabulary reviews,
and/or application projects (i.e., in-class, outside of
class, vocational/career).
Describe the major forms of inequality in Test (i.e., written, oral, open book, take home,
society
and
compare
the
theoretical multiple choice), and/or short papers, and/or class
explanations for each.
participation, and/or crossword vocabulary reviews,
and/or application projects (i.e., in-class, outside of
class, vocational/career).
Demonstrate a working knowledge of major
Test (i.e., written, oral, open book, take home,
sociological terms and concepts.
multiple choice), and/or short papers, and/or class
participation, and/or crossword vocabulary reviews,
and/or application projects (i.e., in-class, outside of
class, vocational/career).
Cite theoretical explanations for and treatment Test (i.e., written, oral, open book, take home,
options applicable to selected deviant patterns multiple choice), and/or short papers, and/or class
of behavior.
participation, and/or crossword vocabulary reviews,
and/or application projects (i.e., in-class, outside of
class, vocational/career).
Identify and correlate the functions of the
Test (i.e., written, oral, open book, take home,
social institutions on the others.
multiple choice), and/or short papers, and/or class
participation, and/or crossword vocabulary reviews,
and/or application projects (i.e., in-class, outside of
class, vocational/career).
Test (i.e., written, oral, open book, take home,
multiple choice), and/or short papers, and/or class
Appraise the impact of collective behavior,
participation, and/or crossword vocabulary reviews,
social movements, technology, and
and/or application projects (i.e., in-class, outside of
multicultural contacts on social change.
class, vocational/career).
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9.
Analyze the inter-relation of social and
physical environments.
Test (i.e., written, oral, open book, take home,
multiple choice), and/or short papers, and/or class
participation, and/or crossword vocabulary reviews,
and/or application projects (i.e., in-class, outside of
class, vocational/career).
AAO Revised 3-13-01