Active Outline

General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
SOCD001.
Course Title (CB02)
Introduction to Sociology
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Course Description
The sociological approach to the study of human behavior from a variety of perspectives. Explores important concepts in sociology, including culture, social structure, socialization, social institutions, social interaction, social inequality, intersectionality, collective behavior, and social change in human societies.
Faculty Requirements
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course is a major preparation requirement in the discipline of Sociology for at least one CSU or UC. This course meets a general education requirement for °®¶¹´«Ã½, CSUGE and IGETC. This course also fulfills a core requirement for the AA Degree for Transfer in Sociology. It is the basic overview course in Sociology and provides a foundation for the discipline.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
Yes
Foothill Course ID
SOC F001.

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to both UC and CSU
°®¶¹´«Ã½ GEArea(s)StatusDetails
2GDX°®¶¹´«Ã½ GE Area D - Social and Behavioral SciencesApproved
CSU GEArea(s)StatusDetails
CGDYCSU GE Area D - Social SciencesApproved
IGETCArea(s)StatusDetails
IG4XIGETC Area 4 - Social and Behavioral SciencesApproved
C-IDArea(s)StatusDetails
SOCISociologyApprovedC-ID SOCI 110

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
4.0
Maximum Credit Units
4.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours4.08.0
Laboratory Hours0.00.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
48.0
Laboratory
0.0
Total
48.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
96.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
96.0

Prerequisite(s)

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

EWRT D001A or EWRT D01AH or ESL D005.

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

(See general education pages for the requirements this course meets.)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Discussion of assigned reading

Discussion and problem solving performed in class

In-class essays

Homework and extended projects

Collaborative learning and small group exercises

Collaborative projects

Assignments

  1. Reading
    1. Assigned reading from texts and other assigned references
    2. Suggested supplemental readings
  2. Writing
    1. Analytical reading responses or analytical essay(s) on selected course material
    2. Project-based research assignments
  3. Oral Communication
    1. Preparation of course material for small group discussions of assigned topics
    2. Preparation for class presentation of assigned topics

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Oral and written assignments on designated topics to be evaluated based on extent of mastery of course objectives
  2. Tests and one comprehensive final exam including objective, short-answer and essay questions to be evaluated based on extent of mastery of course objectives
  3. Participation in and contribution toward classroom discussions and topic debates to be evaluated based on extent of mastery of course objectives
  4. Project-based research assignments, analytical reading responses or analytical essay(s)to be evaluated based on extent of mastery of course objectives

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • None.
Essential College Facilities:
  • None.

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Conley, Dalton. 2017. You May Ask Yourself: An Introduction to Thinking Like a Sociologist, 5th ed. New York, NY: Norton.
Ferguson, S.J. 2018. Mapping the Social Landscape: Readings in Sociology. 8th ed. Boston, MA: McGraw Hill.
Johnson, A.G. 2014. The Forest and the Trees: Sociology as Life, Practice and Promise. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press.
Schneider, L. & A. Silverman. 2012. Global Sociology: Introducing Five Contemporary Societies, 6th ed. Boston, MA: McGraw Hill.
Schwalbe, M. 2017. The Sociologically Examined Life: Pieces of the Conversation. 5th ed. New York: Oxford University Press.

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisher
Journals and periodicals: American Journal of Sociology, American Sociological Review, Social Problems, Gender and Society, and Symbolic Interaction.
Ali, S. & P.H. Cohen. 2018. The Contexts Reader. New York: NY: W.W. Norton.
Andersen, M.L. & P.H. Collins. 2015. Race, Class and Gender: An Anthology. 9th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Andersen, M.L, & K.A. Logio. 2015. Understanding Society: An Introductory Reader. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Cengage.
Babbie, E. 2015. The Practice of Social Research. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Cengage.
Berger, P.L. & T. Luckmann. 1989. The Social Construction of Reality: A Treatise in the Sociology of Knowledge. New York, NY: Doubleday.
Blumer, H. 1969. Symbolic Interactionism: Perspective and Method. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
Bradshaw, Y.W. & M. Wallace. 1996. Global Inequalities. Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge.
Charon, J. 2013. Ten Questions: A Sociological Perspective. Belmont, CA: Cengage.
Cohen, R. & P. Kennedy. 2013. Global Sociology. Washington Square, NY: New York University Press.
Collins P.H. 2008. Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness and the Politics of Empowerment. New York, NY: Routledge.
Collins, R. 1994. Four Sociological Traditions. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Feagin, J.R. & H. Vera. 2014. Liberation Sociology. Boulder, CO: Westview
Giddens, A. 1973. Capitalism and Social Theory: An Analysis of the Writings of Marx, Durkheim and Weber. Cambridge, England: University Press.
Hedke, L. & P. O'connor. 2004. Oppression, Privilege and Resistance: Theoretical Readings on Racism, Sexism and Heterosexism. Boston, MA: McGraw Hill.
Hickel, J. 2018. The Divide: Global Inequality from Conquest to Free Markets. New York, NY: W. W. Norton.
Korgen, K.O. & M. Atkinson 2018. Sociology in Action. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Lemert, C.C. 2011. Social Things: An Introduction to the Sociological Life. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.
Lewis, D.L. 1996. W.E.B. DuBois: A Reader. New York, NY: Holt.
Madoo Lengermann, P. & J. Neibrugge-Brantley. 2007. The Women Founders: Sociology and Social Theory, 1830-1930. Boston, MA: McGraw-Hill.
Mills, C.W. 1967. The Sociological Imagination. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Odell, K.O., White, J.M. White. 2013. Sociology in Action: Sociology, Social Change and Social Justice. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage/Pine Forge.
Ore, T.E. 2018. The Social Construction of Difference and Inequality: Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality. Boston, MA: McGraw Hill.
Smith, D.E. 1989. The Everyday World as Problematic: A Feminist Sociology. Boston, MA: Northeastern University Press.
Wallerstein, I. 1980. The Modern World-System. New York, NY: Academic Press.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Examine the broad scope and dimensions of the sociological discipline and evaluate the perspectives of a variety of theoretical traditions within sociology
  • Analyze the historical development of sociology as a Western academic discipline, and specifically evaluate major contributions and analysis by traditionally marginalized sociologists.
  • Apply the key elements of sociology's distinctive way of thinking about individuals, groups, organizations, institutions and movements in social life.
  • Compare and contrast common sociological methodologies with emphasis on ethical issues and limitations in social research.
  • Evaluate how the processes in social systems operate by analyzing social institutions, such as politics, the economy, religion, family, mass media, education, health care and the military, and the integrative, conflictual and symbolic elements of these systems.
  • Investigate the diversity of human societies by contrasting information from a variety of ethnic, racial, social class, international, gender, and sexuality perspectives.
  • Examine the dynamics of social change and apply this knowledge to understanding the complexities of life within a heterogeneous society
  • Analyze the impact of globalization on social life both within and across nations and groups.

CSLOs

  • Develop a sociological imagination, which is the ability to evaluate the effects of cultural, structural, historical, geographical, institutional and stratification processes on groups and individuals, including one's own experiences.

  • Distinguish the sociological perspective from other sciences, including its methods, theories and empathetic standpoint.

Outline

  1. Examine the broad scope and dimensions of the sociological discipline and evaluate the perspectives of a variety of theoretical traditions within sociology
    1. The sociological imagination as a world view
    2. Social scientific and empirical methods as an approach to understanding human behavior
    3. Major areas of study within the discipline
    4. Comparison and contrast of theoretical schools of thought within sociology, such as historical materialism, cultural-idealism, structural-functionalism, feminism, symbolic interactionism, conflict perspectives, critical theory, post-colonialism and post-structuralism.
  2. Analyze the historical development of sociology as a Western academic discipline, and specifically evaluate major contributions and analysis by traditionally marginalized sociologists.
    1. The historical context of the rise of sociology as an academic discipline
    2. The sociological field as part of the Western academic tradition
    3. The range and complexity of sociology
    4. The significance of female sociologists perspectives and contributions
    5. The significance of sociological contributions by people of color and those from non-Western societies
  3. Apply the key elements of sociology's distinctive way of thinking about individuals, groups, organizations, institutions and movements in social life.
    1. Compare and contrast systemic thinking with individualistic thinking
    2. Social structure, culture, institutions and social interaction as influences on human behavior
    3. Compare and contrast ethnocentrism and cultural relativism
    4. Compare and contrast large scale and small scale organizations
    5. Investigate participation in social movements
    6. Intersectionality of major axes of stratification and identity
  4. Compare and contrast common sociological methodologies with emphasis on ethical issues and limitations in social research.
    1. Quantitative approaches to social research and their methods of data collection and analysis
    2. Qualitative approaches to social research and their methods of data collection and analysis
    3. Ethical concerns arising within social research
    4. Limitations on the validity of social research methods
  5. Evaluate how the processes in social systems operate by analyzing social institutions, such as politics, the economy, religion, family, mass media, education, health care and the military, and the integrative, conflictual and symbolic elements of these systems.
    1. Material and non-material culture
    2. The concept of social institutions
    3. Socialization and the self
    4. Social structure and social organization
    5. Social interaction
    6. Deviance and social control
    7. Power, conflict and privilege
  6. Investigate the diversity of human societies by contrasting information from a variety of ethnic, racial, social class, international, gender, and sexuality perspectives.
    1. Diversity, pluralism, and heterogeneity
    2. Social stratification
    3. Historical roots of contemporary social inequalities
    4. Dominant and subordinate group relations in the U.S.
    5. Variations in experience across national societies
  7. Examine the dynamics of social change and apply this knowledge to understanding the complexities of life within a heterogeneous society
    1. Macro social processes, such as industrialization, rationalization, urbanization and globalization
    2. Collective behavior and social movements and their impact on society
  8. Analyze the impact of globalization on social life both within and across nations and groups.
    1. The world-system and its core, periphery, and semi-periphery
    2. The historical development of globalization, including colonialism, decolonization and neo-colonialism
    3. Global inequalities
    4. Cultural diffusion and cultural imperialism
    5. Immigration, demography and human ecology
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