MCCCD Program Description

Introduction to Sociology

Course: SOC101

First Term: 2011 Fall

Lecture 3 Credit(s) 3 Period(s) 3 Load
Subject Type: Academic
Load Formula: S

Description: Fundamental concepts of social organization, culture, socialization, social institutions and social change

MCCCD Official Course Competencies
1. Define sociology and explain how it differs from other social sciences. (I) 2. Explain the sociological imagination and how it operates in everyday life. (I) 3. Describe the basic theoretical perspectives sociologists use to analyze social phenomena. (II) 4. Name and briefly describe the importance of selected major theorists to the field of sociology. (II) 5. List and explain the stages in a basic research design. (III) 6. Describe and differentiate between qualitative and quantitative research methods. (III) 7. Define the basic sociological concepts: culture, society, socialization, social structure, groups, and institutions. (IV) 8. Describe values and norms, including mores, folkways, and laws. (IV) 9. Describe societal and structural factors that can influence individual behavior. (V) 10. Describe sociological/psychological theories as they relate to the development of the self. (V) 11. Describe the influence of selected institutions on society and the individual. (VI) 12. Describe the effect of race/ethnicity, sex/gender, and age on social inequality. (VII) 13. Explain major sociological perspectives on social class. (VII) 14. Explain how conflict, functionalist, and symbolic interactionist theoretical perspectives view deviance and conformity. (VIII) 15. Describe and explain social change, including the influence of collective behavior, social movements, and demographic factors. (IX)
MCCCD Official Course Competencies must be coordinated with the content outline so that each major point in the outline serves one or more competencies. MCCCD faculty retains authority in determining the pedagogical approach, methodology, content sequencing, and assessment metrics for student work. Please see individual course syllabi for additional information, including specific course requirements.

MCCCD Official Course Outline
I. Sociology as a discipline A. Definition B. Relationship to other disciplines C. Application of the sociological imagination D. Application to everyday life II. Theoretical perspectives A. Definitions B. Theoretical perspectives 1. Structural/functional 2. Conflict 3. Symbolic interaction C. Major theorists III. Methodology A. Research design B. Qualitative methods C. Quantitative methods D. Terminology IV. Basic concepts A. Culture B. Society C. Socialization D. Groups E. Social structure F. Social institutions V. Development of self/socialization A. Role theory B. Psychological foundations VI. Culture/social structures A. Definitions B. Macro-sociology C. Micro-sociology VII. Stratification A. Social class and caste B. Other means of stratifying 1. Gender 2. Race/ethnicity 3. Age VIII. Deviance and conformity A. Definitions B. Theories IX. Social change A. Collective behavior B. Social movements C. Demography D. Global perspective

MCCCD Governing Board Approval Date: 6/27/1995

All information published is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information presented, but based on the dynamic nature of the curricular process, course and program information is subject to change in order to reflect the most current information available.