Course Description

This course introduces student to the core concepts in sociology, including sociological perspectives on culture, social structure, socialization, social institutions, personality and the self, prejudice and discrimination, the significance of race, class and gender, political and social change, demography, human ecology, and crime and deviance.

Prerequisite: None.

Credit Units/Hours

Upon successful completion of this course, you will earn 3 semester hours of college credit. This course represents the equivalent of learning outcomes normally achieved through 45 hours of student classroom study or through distance learning instruction.

Course Learning Objectives

Based upon APA standards and completion of the course, students should be able to:

• Develop the “sociological imagination” – the ability to apply a critical perspective to view yourself and your various social worlds (family, school, workplace, hometown, country, biosphere, etc.) with a greater understanding of individual, group and societal processes.
• Master the basic tools of sociological inquiry – including the ability to identify a sociological problem, to pose theoretical questions and engage with current debates, and to learn methods of data collection and presentation.
• Expand knowledge of specific events, groups, historical periods and economic, political, and social trends, focusing on subject areas that resonate with and expand your own interests.
• Develop written and verbal skills for developing ideas, exchanging ideas with others, and presenting these ideas to a broader audience.
• Recognize, understand, and respect the complexity of sociocultural and international diversity.
• Develop insight into your own and others’ behavior and mental processes and apply effective strategies for self-management and self-improvement.