Sociology

🌍 Course Title:

Introduction to Sociology: Understanding Society and Social Behavior

🎯 Course Objectives:

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

• Understand key sociological theories and thinkers.

• Analyze how societies function and how social structures influence behavior.

• Explore issues like inequality, culture, institutions, and social change.

• Apply sociological perspectives to everyday life and current events.

• Develop critical thinking about social norms, roles, and systems.

📚 Course Modules & Content Outline:

Module 1: What is Sociology?

• Definition and scope of sociology

• The sociological imagination (C. Wright Mills)

• Importance of studying society

• Sociology vs. other social sciences

Module 2: Sociological Theories and Founders

• Key figures: Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, Max Weber

• Major perspectives:

  • Structural Functionalism

  • Conflict Theory

  • Symbolic Interactionism

• Feminist and Postmodern perspectives

• Applying theories to real-world issues

Module 3: Culture and Society

• Elements of culture (norms, values, beliefs, symbols)

• Subcultures and countercultures

• Cultural relativism vs. ethnocentrism

• Socialization and identity formation

Module 4: Socialization and the Life Course

• Agents of socialization (family, school, peers, media)

• Nature vs. nurture

• Life stages and development

• Resocialization and total institutions

Module 5: Social Structure and Groups

• Status, roles, and institutions

• Types of social groups (primary, secondary, reference)

• Networks and organizations

• Bureaucracy and authority (Weber’s model)

Module 6: Deviance and Social Control

• What is deviance?

• Theories of deviance (strain theory, labeling theory, control theory)

• Crime and criminal justice

• Social norms and sanctions

• Prisons, policing, and social inequality

Module 7: Social Stratification and Inequality

• Systems of stratification (caste, class)

• Income and wealth inequality

• Social mobility

• Poverty and its consequences

• Global inequality and the digital divide

Module 8: Race, Ethnicity, and Society

• Social construction of race

• Prejudice, discrimination, and racism

• Ethnic identity and assimilation

• Institutional racism and systemic inequality

• Multiculturalism and diversity

Module 9: Gender and Sexuality

• Gender roles and socialization

• Patriarchy and gender inequality

• LGBTQ+ issues

• Feminist theory and intersectionality

• Gender in media, work, and politics

Module 10: Family and Relationships

• Functions and forms of the family

• Marriage, parenting, and changing family structures

• Divorce, cohabitation, and single-parent households

• Domestic violence and family policy

Module 11: Education, Religion, and Social Institutions

• Role of education in society

• Inequality in education

• Religion as a social institution

• Secularization and fundamentalism

• The impact of belief systems on social life

Module 12: Social Change and Globalization

• Causes and types of social change

• Technology and digital society

• Globalization and its impacts

• Social movements and activism

• Environmental sociology

🧪 Assessment Methods:

• Multiple-choice quizzes for each module

• Short reflection essays or discussion board posts

• Case study analyses

• Final project: Sociological analysis of a social issue (e.g., inequality, education, crime)

🎓 Target Audience:

• High school and college students

• Educators and adult learners

• Anyone interested in how society functions and how social change happens