INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY Course 2502SOC Elective Course .5 credit Did you ever wonder why shoppers are trampled on Black Friday, or why people commit crimes, or how stereotypes are created? Sociology provides students with an introduction to the study of society and why we do what we do. Various topics and questions will be investigated, explored and discussed including, but not limited to: Who defines the norms and values in society? Are you the person you are because of your background, who you surround yourself with, how you were raised, and/or your genetic make up? Why do some people act differently in groups rather than how they would individually? How is society structured, and what are the inequalities that exist in our society? How does change occur? How do the social institutions of family, education, religion, and politics influence who we are? In addition, students will study current social problems that exist, such as deviance, crime, poverty, and the influence of the media. This course requires students to be actively involved in their learning by participating in large group discussions, collaboratively working in small groups, completing various unit projects, and a semester sociological research project.
85