SOC& 101DIV Introduction to Sociology

Focuses on understanding and applying the sociological perspective, which stresses the importance of the impact of social forces external to the individual in shaping people's lives and experiences. Topics studied will include socialization, social interaction, culture, groups, social structure, deviance, social inequality, social class, race, gender, institutions (political, economic, educational, and family), collective behavior, and social change. Students will be asked to learn the basic concepts, theories, and perspectives of sociology; to see how these operate in terms of social processes, structures, and events; and to apply this knowledge to better understand the social world.