Sociology is the scientific study of society and social interaction.
As we study sociology throughout the next thirteen weeks, I want you to develop a sociological perspective, i.e., to apply and interrelate sociological concepts, ideas, and theories to social phenomena. As you develop a sociological perspective, you will get better at understanding interaction, groups, organizations, societies, and global social systems. You can take the understanding you acquire in this course and use it for the rest of your life. Sociology studies many kinds of social phenomena, e.g., racial and gender prejudice and discrimination, inequality, poverty, crime, and the different kinds of groups and organizations we are in and how they affect us. It studies causes and consequences of social phenomena.