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Sociology 2
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Sociology is the study of people, social life, and society. The development of a sociological imagination will enable students to examine how society shapes human actions and beliefs, and how such actions and beliefs in turn shape society. Exciting online video journeys to different areas of the sociological world are also presented in the course.
Major Topics and Concepts
Unit 1: Marriage & Family
- Learn about different family arrangements around the world.
- Think about the different functions that families provide for individuals and society.
- Examine the patterns in mate selection for marriage.
- Investigate the factors that have led to an increase in divorce.
Unit 2: Religion & Education
- Learn what functions religion provides for individuals and society.
- Examine different types of religious organizations.
- Investigate the functions of education in society.
- Examine the relationship between education and social inequality.
- Discuss the growth of online education.
Unit 3: The Economy & Politics
- Learn the differences between capitalism and socialism.
- Discuss several recent trends in the economy.
- Examine the three types of authority.
- Investigate the differences between totalitarianism, authoritarianism, and democracy.
- Discuss several models of power to explain the political system.
Unit 4: Sport & Entertainment
- Learn how sports reinforce social inequality in society.
- Discuss how sports contribute to socialization into North American culture.
- Investigate the functions that the mass media provide.
- Consider how the concentration of the media and gatekeeping activities influence what we are exposed to.
- Examine the controversy over violence in the media and how individuals receive messages in the media.
Unit 5: Population & Environment
- Understand the basic concepts used in the study of population.
- Investigate several theories of population growth.
- Examine some trends in population growth and the effects that these may have on society and the environment.
- Discuss how the culture of North America contributes to environmental problems.
- Understand what environmental racism is and how it reinforces social inequality.
Unit 6: Cities & Urban Life
- Understand some of the factors that led to the development of cities.
- Learn what urbanization is and how it affects society, individuals, and the environment.
- Examine how cities may affect those who live in them.
- Investigate the trends of urban decline, the growth of Sunbelt cities, and sprawl.
- Understand some of the effects that urban decline and sprawl have on society, cities, and individuals.
Unit 7: Collective Behavior & Social Movements
- Understand the forms of collective behavior.
- Examine explanations for collective behavior in society.
- Investigate the difference categories of social movements and how they change society.
- Discuss why social movements develop and the stages that they go through.
Unit 8: Social Change
- Understand what social change in society is and what causes it.
- Examine how theorists have explained social change.
- Discuss how society has changed since the Industrial Revolution.
- Learn the common characteristics of postmodern societies.
Competencies
The Family Unit
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the family unit by explaining the dynamics of family, summarizing the role of family, and describing divorce within a family.
Institutions of Society
Students will demonstrate an understanding of institutions of society by explaining the function of religion in society, explaining the function of education in society and explaining the impact of education on social inequality.
The Economy
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the economy by comparing types of economic systems, explaining trends in the economy, and summarizing the impact of the political system on the economy.
Relationship Between Entertainment and Media
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between entertainment and media by explaining the function of the mass media, describing the mass media’s communication of sports and entertainment messages, and the summarizing of the power of mass media messaging.
Effects of Population
Students will demonstrate an understanding of the effects of population by explaining the study of demographics, summarizing theories of population growth, and describing the impact of the population on society and the environment.
Urban Sociology
Students will demonstrate an understanding of urban sociology by describing the effects of cities on society, summarizing the development of cities, and summarizing urban trends.
Collective Behaviors
Students will demonstrate an understanding of collective behaviors by explaining types of collective behaviors, explaining theories for collective behaviors, and summarizing theories for social movements.
Social Change
Students will demonstrate an understanding of social change by summarizing social change theories, describing resistance to social change, and describing characteristics of postmodern societies.
