Introductory Sociology

What is Society? How have societies developed historically? How do they distribute wealth, income and other resources? How do they organize political authority and economic power? How do they coordinate work? How do they socialize people to "fit in" with those around them? How do they produce popular culture? This course provides answers to these questions in ways that provide an introduction to the field of sociology. It focuses on a broad range of theory and research showing how sociologists think about and study these questions.

Social Problems

Daily news reports direct much of our attention to social problems such as crime, poverty, prejudice and political corruption. Yet rarely are such reports accompanied by a discussion of the systematic causes of these problems. More often we become witness to an endless stream of media coverage reporting seemingly isolated incidents. Seldom are we informed of the decision-making process by which some social problems become selected for cover­age, while others are ignored. The purpose of this course is to subject the coverage of modern social problems to an in-depth, critical analysis. We will attempt to answer such questions as:  how does a social problem become defined as such? and  what are the causes or sources of various social problems?

Preparation for College

The descriptions provided above are actually from Dartmouth College (an Ivy League school).

  • The Sociological Perspective
    • Sociological Concepts: interaction, structure, and change
    • The History of Sociology
    • Sociological Theories
  • Culture
    • Cultural Characteristics: language, beliefs, norms and values
    • Cultural Diversity
    • Culture in Society
  • Socialization
    • Theories of Socialization
    • Agents of Socialization
    • Socialization over the Course of Life
  • Social Organization
    • Building Blocks: roles, status, institutions, and networks
    • Social Differentiation
    • Ways of organizing: kinship, bureaucracy, markets, informal networks
  • Social Inequalities
    • Social Class and Social Stratification
    • Race and Ethnicity
    • Gender
    • Age
  • Deviance and Conformity
    • Definitions of Deviance (positive and negative)
    • Costs and Benefits of Deviance
    • Deviant Identities
    • Measuring Crime
  • Social Institutions
    • Family
    • Education
    • Religion
    • Work/Economy
    • Power, Politics, and Government
    • Media and Culture
    • Health
  • Social Change
    • Population, Urbanization and the Environment
    • Collective Behavior and Social Movements
    • Causes and Consequences of Social Change
    • Theories of Social Change
  • Module 1: Foundations of Sociology
      • Chapter 1: An Introduction to Sociology
        • What Is Sociology?
        • The History of Sociology
        • Theoretical Perspective
        • Why Study Sociology?
      • Chapter 2: Sociological Research
        • Approaches to Sociological Research
        • Research Methods
        • Ethical Concerns
  • Module 2: Culture and Society
      • Chapter 3: Culture
        • What Is Culture?
        • Elements of Culture
        • Pop Culture, Subculture, and Cultural Change
        • Theoretical Perspectives on Culture
      • Chapter 4: Society and Social Interaction
        • Types of Societies
        • Theoretical Perspectives on Society
        • Social Constructions of Reality
  • Module 3: Socialization and Interaction
      • Chapter 5: Socialization
        • Theories of Self-Development
        • Why Socialization Matters
        • Agents of Socialization
        • Socialization Across the Life Course
      • Chapter 6: Groups and Organization
        • Types of Groups
        • Group Size and Structure
        • Formal Organizations
  • Module 4: Deviance, Crime, and Social Control
      • Chapter 7: Deviance, Crime, and Social Control
        • Deviance and Control
        • Theoretical Perspectives on Deviance
        • Crime and the Law
  • Module 5: Social Stratification and Inequality
      • Chapter 9: Social Stratification in the United States
        • What Is Social Stratification?
        • Social Stratification and Mobility in the United States
        • Global Stratification and Inequality
        • Theoretical Perspectives on Social Stratification
      • Chapter 10: Global Inequality
        • Global Stratification and Classification
        • Global Wealth and Poverty
        • Theoretical Perspectives on Global Stratification
  • Module 6: Race and Ethnicity
      • Chapter 11: Race and Ethnicity
        • Racial, Ethnic, and Minority Groups
        • Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination
        • Theories of Race and Ethnicity
        • Intergroup Relationships
        • Race and Ethnicity in the Chaptered States
  • Module 7: Gender, Sex, and Sexuality
      • Chapter 12: Gender, Sex, and Sexuality
        • Sex and Gender
        • Gender
        • Sex and Sexuality
  • Module 8: Marriage and Family
      • Chapter 14: Marriage and Family
        • What Is Marriage? What Is a Family?
        • Variations in Family Life
        • Challenges Families Face
  • Module 9: Religion and Education
      • Chapter 15: Religion
        • The Sociological Approach to Religion
        • World Religions
        • Religion in the Chaptered States
      • Chapter 16: Education
        • Education around the World
        • Theoretical Perspectives on Education
        • Issues in Education
  • Module 10: Health, Aging and the Elderly
      • Chapter 19: Health and Medicine
        • The Social Construction of Health
        • Global Health
        • Health in the Chaptered States
        • Comparative Health and Medicine
        • Theoretical Perspectives on Health and Medicine
      • Chapter 13: Aging and the Elderly
        • Who Are the Elderly? Aging in Society
        • The Process of Aging
        • Challenges Facing the Elderly
        • Theoretical Perspectives on Aging
  • Module 11: Government and Politics
      • Chapter 17: Government and Politics
        • Power and Authority
        • Forms of Government
        • Politics in the Chaptered States
        • Theoretical Perspectives on Government and Power
  • Module 12: Work and the Economy
      • Chapter 18: Work and the Economy
        • Economic Systems
        • Globalization and the Economy
        • Work in the Chaptered States
  • Module 13: Health, Aging and the Elderly
      • Chapter 20: Population, Urbanization, and the Environment
        • Demography and Population
        • Urbanization
        • The Environment and Society
  • Module 14: Social Movements, Media, and Technology
      • Chapter 21: Social Movements and Social Change
        • Collective Behavior
        • Social Movements
        • Social Change
      • Chapter 8: Media and Technology
        • Technology Today
        • Media and Technology in Society
        • Global Implications of Media and Technology
        • Theoretical Perspectives on Media and Technology