Sociology is the scientific study of human action and interaction. While our common sense explanations often attribute behavior to individual beliefs or desires, in this course we will examine the societal influences.
Sociologists suggest that our actions are shaped by the context in which they occur.
Each person is born into a society that has its own culture, or ways of thinking and acting. This course will introduce you to the sociological perspective for studying society. It will present a broad spectrum of theoretical perspectives and research methods employed by sociologists to understand how society works. After a presentation of the basic concepts, we will apply these to culture, socialization, social control, deviance, crime, social inequality, social institutions, and social change. In addition to introducing you to the sociological perspective, this course will enable you to think critically about the social world in which you live.