Sociology 2018-2019-Semester 1

The world is a strange and beautiful place. This class should help students to look more closely at it and figure out why it is the way that it is. This is a one-semester course that introduces the history and basic concepts of sociology, including social groups, race and ethnicity, class, gender, deviance, poverty/wealth, and social institutions. Major themes, such as power, inequality, social change, and justice, help to build understanding of one's role in society and the roles of others. Through service learning projects, students will enhance understanding of their role in creating change in the world. This course is designed to apply sociological concepts to real-world contexts, such as Chicago neighborhoods. Building on the skills acquired in previous Social Studies courses, such as World History and U.S. History, the course exposes students to current social issues that exist within local communities.

Sociology is the study of social life, the causes of social change, and the causes and consequences of human behavior. Our lives are inherently social and we are formed by those interactions. Over time, patterns become part of the structure of society. Sociologists investigate and try to understand the structure of groups, organizations, and societies and how people interact within them. Since most human behavior is social, the subject matter of sociology ranges from the intimate family to the internet; from organized crime to religious traditions; and from the divisions of race, gender and social class to the shared beliefs of a common culture (ASA 2013).

Students will develop foundational skills in research, communication, and collaboration as in a traditional Sociology course, but will also recognize a sense of social responsibility based on your own contributions in the community. Students will enhance research, communication, and social engagement skills as well as solidify reading, writing, and critical analysis skills. Students will learn how to become more reflective on yourselves, your community, and your society. By exploring sociological themes, you will be able to critically examine social institutions/phenomena and prepare for further studies in Social Science. We first study theories of sociology in order to develop a sociological perspective and gain an understanding of how society works. Through our studies, we address critical questions such as: why do our communities look the way they do, how were they constructed, and how can we improve them? There will be opportunities for guest speakers and service projects. A key focus of this course is a service-learning/research-based project, which will facilitate understanding of several of the themes discussed throughout the course, such as gender, race, ethnicity, age, social class, deviance, and institutions.