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Sociology (SOC) 001: Introduction to Sociology

Using highly interactive course material, this course provides a broad overview of sociology and how it applies to everyday life. Major theoretical perspectives and concepts are presented, including sociological imagination, culture, deviance, inequality, social change, and social structure. Students also explore the influence of social class and social institutions, such as churches, education, healthcare, government, economy, and environment. The family as a social structure is also examined.

What will I learn in this course?

This is a 3-credit, 100 level intro to Sociology course. Sociology is about people who are concerned with the changes they observe in society and the desire people have to study contemporary and historical societies, so that they can improve their own societies. In this course you will:

View people’s behavior from a sociological perspective, discover your own sociological imagination, and apply it to a variety of social problems and situations.
Discuss the development of sociology as a science and differentiate it from the other social sciences.
List at least five sociologists and their major contributions to the field.
Describe the three major sociological perspectives—Functionalist, Conflict, and Interactionist—and analyze human behavior applying these perspectives appropriately.
Explain the elements of a culture and how culture is different from society.
Explain the seven steps of the scientific research process and recognize appropriate research procedures in an experiment or an article describing research.
Explain the relationships between social structure, social stratification, and the consequences of social status.
List at least four universal social institutions and describe the characteristics of each.
Describe how inequality and other social factors contribute to social change.
Summarize the relationship between socialization and the family.

This course meets the General Education Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS) requirements. See your advisor if you have questions about how this course can be used in your program of study.

Are there any prerequisites for this course?

There are no prerequisites to take Introduction to Sociology.

I've never taken an online course before. What is it like?

This course is taught completely online. We'll use Penn State's course management system, ANGEL, for SOC 001, and you will be able to communicate with the professor and your classmates through chat, e-mail, and threaded discussions within ANGEL.

You do not need to come to campus at any time, and you do not need a proctor or remote testing site.

An online course, however, is not easier than on-campus course. In fact, it takes a lot more self-discipline. You must be willing and able to commit the same amount of time as you would for attending class and studying for a traditional course. You must also be a motivated, organized student who feels confident about reading to learn and who is comfortable working independently. If you're wondering whether an online course is right for you, take this short survey to find out more about how online learning is different.

What are the technological requirements for this course?

To complete this course, you must have the following equipment or capabilities:

Have access to a computer that meets the ANGEL technological requirements.
Have access to a computer with audio speakers several days each week
Have access once a week to a computer with a built-in microphone or an external microphone (which can be purchased inexpensively at most office supply stores)
Be comfortable with navigating the Internet and downloading and uploading files.

The course content and chat and threaded discussion tools are located in ANGEL.

How is the course structured?

SOC 001 consists of 13 topic areas, each of which is covered over a one-week period during the regular academic semester or more rapidly during the summer session.

Each topic consists of selected sections from the textbook, an interactive lecture, discussions and written assignments. There is one mid-term and one final in the course. SOC 001 also includes a five part project that is completed in steps throughout the semester.

Where can I get more information?

For more information about SOC 001 Online, see a recent course syllabus. To register, visit the Office of the University Registrar. At the beginning of each semester, all enrolled students should access SOC 001 at the site of Penn State's course management system, ANGEL.

Sociology: the science or study of the origin, history, and constitution of human society

Oxford English Dictionary

Emile Durkeim