what kinds of concepts does a college sociology course cover

by Prof. Josianne Lebsack Sr. 6 min read

Sociology studies how societies change over time, how social order develops, and sources of conflict in societies. The typical college sociology class covers topics like racial and ethnic identities, family units, and consequences of change within various social structures.

The course will cover basic concepts and theories used in sociology, discuss how sociologists conduct research, and examine several social institutions (e.g., economics, education, politics, media, etc.) and social issues (e.g., poverty, racial/ethnic conflict, environment, etc.).

Full Answer

What does a typical college sociology class consist of?

It covers the concepts of group dynamics, unspoken social codes, and patterns of behavior on local, national, and global scales. Sociology studies how societies change over time, how social order develops, and sources of conflict in societies. The typical college sociology class covers topics like racial and ethnic identities, family units, and consequences of change within various …

What are the main concepts of Sociology?

While one of the most intellectually and methodologically diverse branches of the social sciences, Sociology is not limited to the academy. Sociology concerns itself with a way of seeing and thinking about the world. This course lays the foundation for investigating the world as a sociologist. We will cover a range of topics explored by sociologists – the questions …

How would you describe sociology in one sentence?

The course will examine how ideas of culture, myths of origin and concepts of otherness are created and sustained in both the public imagination and in social institutions. Readings and discussions include contemporary border crossings and how economic, political, cultural and psychic factors mediate everyday experiences of race, class and gender.

What skills do you learn through sociology courses?

Nov 08, 2012 · It covers the concepts of group dynamics, unspoken social codes, and patterns of behavior on local, national, and global scales. Sociology studies how societies change over time, how social order develops, and sources of conflict in societies. The typical college sociology class covers topics like racial and ethnic identities, family units, and consequences of change within …

What does a sociology course cover?

Sociology is the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior. Sociologists investigate the structure of groups, organizations, and societies, and how people interact within these contexts.

What do you study in sociology in college?

Sociology majors study society and human behavior. Sociology is a social science that analyzes human interactions, so students in this major study individuals, groups, communities, organizations, cultures and societies.Jul 16, 2019

What are the basic concepts of sociology of education?

The sociology of education is the study of how public institutions and individual experiences affect education and its outcomes. It is mostly concerned with the public schooling systems of modern industrial societies, including the expansion of higher, further, adult, and continuing education.

What are the four concepts of sociology?

This lesson will briefly cover the four major theories in sociology, which are structural-functional theory, social conflict theory, feminism, and symbolic interactionism theory.Aug 25, 2021

What does a sociologist do on a daily basis?

Sociologists typically do the following: Design research projects to test theories about social issues. Collect data through surveys, observations, interviews, and other sources. Analyze and draw conclusions from data.Feb 15, 2022

What are the 3 reasons we study sociology?

Five reasons to study SociologyBetter understanding of humankind. Sociology allows you to gain a greater understanding of the complex and simple nature of humans and their societies. ... High levels of student satisfaction. ... Broad skillset. ... Understand and cope with changes in society. ... Potential for joint honours.

What is sociology of education and why is it important in a teacher education program in Nigeria?

Sociology of Education is therefore important in Teacher Education programme in order to enable teachers understand the dynamics of these interactions and relationships which will equip them to help pupils enhance their academic performance.

What are the aims and objectives of sociology of education?

Educational sociology aims to develop a curriculum that will adequately socialize each individual student . It tries to find out what would best contribute towards the child's personality development and control the educative process to achieve personality development of each single child.

What is the difference between educational sociology and sociology of education?

Sociology of Education is the study of how public institutes and experience of people affect the field of education and its outcomes. Educational Sociology is the application of Sociological findings on education.Jan 30, 2017

What are the 5 concept of sociology?

Definitions of key terms for the five basic sociological perspectives – Functionalism, Marxism, Feminism, Social Action Theory and Postmodernism.Apr 4, 2017

What are examples of sociological concepts?

Some other important sociological concepts include social stratification, social mobility, social networks, social control, and social conflict.Oct 8, 2021

What does concept mean in sociology?

A sociological concept is a mental construct that represents some part of the world in a simplified form. An example of a mental construct is the idea of class, or the distinguishing of two groups based on their income, culture, power, or some other defining characteristic(s).

What do sociology classes teach?

Through sociology courses, even introductory courses, students learn a variety of sociology-related skills, including understanding how human behavior affects culture. These skills can help students as they come to understand the individuals they study and work with in research or in their daily lives. Acquired skills may include:

What is sociology?

Sociology is the study of the collective behavior, development, structure and functioning of social institutions and organized groups. Courses in this discipline offer useful skills in topics such as group behavior, cross-cultural relations and ethical issues.

What are the skills required for sociology?

Through sociology courses, even introductory courses, students learn a variety of sociology-related skills, including understanding how human behavior affects culture. These skills can help students as they come to understand the individuals they study and work with in research or in their daily lives. Acquired skills may include: 1 Insight into group behavior: Identify people who will work well together or make assessments about what is happening to disturb the group dynamics. 2 Cultural understanding: Familiarize yourself with cultural trends that affect how society works. 3 Cross-cultural understanding: Grow to understand how other cultures work and develop an appreciation for them. 4 Interaction with other cultures: Understand how to work well with races, genders and backgrounds different from your own and understand the diversity in the world today. 5 Recognize ethical issues in research: Understand how ethics vary in different cultures, groups and societies and how to address them.

What are acquired skills?

Acquired skills may include: Insight into group behavior: Identify people who will work well together or make assessments about what is happening to disturb the group dynamics. Cultural understanding: Familiarize yourself with cultural trends that affect how society works.

Course descriptions for a selection of courses

Analysis of human societies, organizations and groups, and the interrelations among individuals, groups, and societies. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Discussion/Recitation and one Lecture-Discussion. Individual and Society course, and US Society course.

FAQs

Learn more about registering for courses, course restrictions, transferring course credit, and study abroad course credit:

What are the prerequisites for sociology?

Prerequisites: junior or senior standing and approval of instructor and division.

What is social network theory?

Network theories of social structure view actors as inherently interdependent , and examine how social structure emerges from regularities in this interdependence. This course focuses on the theoretical foundations of structural network dynamics and identifies key analytical questions and research strategies for studying network formation, organization, and development. Attention is paid to both interactionist and structuralist traditions in network analysis, and includes a focus on the core principles of balance and centrality, connectivity and clustering, power and hierarchy, and social structure writ large. Substantive topics include social mobility and stratification, group organization and mobilization, patterns of creativity and innovation, resource distributions, decision making, the organization of movement and belief systems, conflict and cooperation, and strategic interaction. This course couples theoretical and substantive themes with methodological applications. Approximately one-third of course time is spent on the methodology of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting social network data. Prerequisites for sociology credit: Sociology 211; for political science credit: Political Science 240 and one upper-level international relations course. Conference. Cross-listed as Political Science 350.

What are the main concepts of sociology?

The main concepts of sociology include society, culture, social organization, social structure and inequality. Sociology seeks to learn about the structure, functioning and development of human society.

What is social structure?

Social Structure. Social structure looks at the pattern within organizations and cultures through which social action happens. This includes arrangements of organizations, institutions and roles, and cultural symbols. Over time, all of these remain stable, and if they do progress or change, they do so mostly invisibly.

What is culture in art?

Culture. Culture is a set of rules, symbols and traditions that shape a specific group. They are enacted by that group as thoughts, feelings and behaviors. Culture is passed to new generations and might include both non-physical factors, such as beliefs and habits, and physical factors, such as artifacts and art.

What is norm in social behavior?

Norms are behaviors and concepts that are typically abstract and general. They are used to set the standards or rules for social interaction and behavior. In some cases, they are derived from a culture's values. Social structure looks at the pattern within organizations and cultures through which social action happens.

What is social inequality?

Social Inequality. This concept explores the socioeconomic division of people in a society. Social stratification is an element of this, and it essentially divides people into strata or layers. The stratification might be in the form of property, cultural products, wealth and access to material goods.

What is society in science?

Society is a concept created by humans. It's a system or organization of interrelationships among those of a common culture that connects them. Every person lives in a society and when explored closely, all societies throughout the world have their own unique traits.

What is social organization?

Social Organization. This concept refers to the parts that make up a society an their respective arrangement. It also explores the distribution of people in social positions, as well as the organization of those social positions. Status is part of this withsocially defined niches.

What is sociology in science?

In summary, sociology is the systematic study of human society, culture, and relationships on a group level. As a field, sociology asks many questions about how human groups and ideas interact with each other. For example, one aspect of sociology is the study of social institutions, which are major structures made up of groups or ideas ...

What is sociology in psychology?

A general definition of sociology is the systematic study of human society, culture, and relationships on a group level. One way to think about sociology is to contrast it with different, but similar fields. For example, social psychology asks many of the same questions as sociology but uses different research methodology ...

What is the difference between sociology and social psychology?

While sociology studies group patterns, such as why one culture believes in men having multiple wives while another culture does not, social psychology would study how the individual people within a marriage feel about their partner.

What are some examples of social institutions?

Examples of social institutions are religious groups, schools, political organizations, and families .

What is the sub-field of anthropology?

It includes the sub-field of archaeology, which examines ancient tools, pottery, and so on to see how ancient cultures compare to modern culture. So, now that we have a basic foundation of what sociology is, ...

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Sociology Course Skills Overview

  • Sociology is the study of the collective behavior, development, structure and functioning of social institutions and organized groups. Courses in this discipline offer useful skills in topics such as group behavior, cross-cultural relations and ethical issues.
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Group Behavior, Cultural Differences & Ethics Skills

  • Through sociology courses, even introductory courses, students learn a variety of sociology-related skills, including understanding how human behavior affects culture. These skills can help students as they come to understand the individuals they study and work with in research or in their daily lives. Acquired skills may include: 1. Insight into group behavior:Identify people who w…
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Other Marketable Skills

  • Every degree program offers more than just skills for the major subject. Through courses in sociology, students can further develop skills that are useful in their everyday lives and transferable to any job they obtain. These include: 1. Problem-solving skills 2. Analytical skills 3. Research skills 4. Communication 5. Leadership 6. Ability to work well under pressure 7. Conflic…
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