Sociology is the study of social behavior.
The first half of this course surveys the theoretical and empirical contributions of these classical figures to sociological perspectives on modern society. The second half of the class assembles an overview of contemporary sociological research on the life course-from cradle to grave. Topics include the childhood socialization, the sociology of education, social trends in marriage and parenting, the changing workplace, and lastly, the sociology of aging and death. This class links personal experiences with broader cultural perspectives. Students analyze and question the cultural and structural forces that have shaped and continue to shape their lives.