Sociology

  I.  Definition

 II.  Birth of Sociology; Auguste Comte (1798-1857)

III.  Types of Sociology

        A. Qualitative Sociology

        B.  Quantitative Sociology

 IV. The Other Social Sciences

        A. Anthropology

        B. Political Science

        C. Psychology

        D. Economics

  V.  Careers in Sociology

        A. Social Welfare

        B. Law Enforcement 

        C. Healthcare

        D. International Relations & Diplomacy

        E. Education

 VI. Theories, Concepts, Propositions, and their Use

VII. Marx, Comte, Spencer, Durkheim, Mead, Weber and Sociology

VIII. Structural-Functionalism, the Conflict Approach, & Symbolic Interactionism

  IX.  Mills, Collins, Parsons, Davis, Thomas, Goffman, and Sociological Theories

   X. The Scientific Method & its Application to the Study of Sociology

  XI. The Advantages & Disadvantages of Various Research Methods

        A. The Survey Method

        B. Analysis of Existing Sources

        C. Observational Study

        D. Experimental Research

XII.  Challenges & Ethical Issues in the Study of Sociology

XIII.  Culture

          A. What is Culture?

          B. What are the Functions of Culture?

          C. What are norms & why are they important?

          D. How do values underlie norms?

          E. How do norms vary between cultures?

          F. What are symbols?

          G. What are the symbolic elements of culture?

          H. What is the importance of language in transmitting culture?

           I.  How do cultures vary?

           J.  What explains Cultural Variation? 

           K.  How do subcultures and countercultures differ from the dominant

                 culture?

           L.  Cultural universalism vs. Cultural relativism

           M.  How does ethnocentrism affect one’s viewpoint? 

XIV.  Ethnicity

          A. What is ethnicity & how is it transmitted?

          B. What is race & how has it been used by societies?

          C. What is a minority group?

          D. What is prejudice?

          E. What is discrimination?

          F. What is the relationship between prejudice & discrimination?

          G. What are the basic patterns of race & ethnic group relations?

          H. Inter-group conflict & its major contributing factors

           I. Sources of Prejudice & Discrimination

XV.  Gender Role Inequalities

         A. The Difference between Sex & Gender

         B. Cross-cultural comparisons of Gender Roles

         C. The Origin of Gender Roles

              1. Functionalist Theory of

              2. Conflict Theory of

          D. Major Socialization Agents of Gender Roles

          E. Family Socialization of Gender Roles

          F. Women’s Work & Power in Society

          G. Women in Politics

          H. Patriarchy

          I .  Sexism

XVI.  Group & Bureaucracy

           A. Group

                 1. Definition

                 2. Primary Group

                 3. Secondary Group

           B.  Social Support

           C.  Differences in Small Groups

           D.  How Group Leaders Emerge

           E.  Group Influence on Individual Perception & Behavior

           F.  Group decision-making vs. Individual decision-making

           G.  Formal Organization

           H.  The Development of Bureaucracy

            I.   Weber’s Ideal Bureaucracy

            J.  Modern Bureaucracy: Functions & Dysfunctions

           K.   The Peter Principle

XVII.  Socialization

            A. Impact on Self-Image

            B.  Modes of Socialization

            C.  Characteristics of the Socialization Process

            D.  Basic Agents of Socialization or domination

            E.  Socialization in Adulthood

            F.  Socialization’s Importance to Society

XVIII.  Social Stratification

              A.  Definition

              B.  Class

              C.  Major Forms of Stratification

              D.  Some Types of Stratification Systems

              E.  Weber’s Three Dimensions of Stratification

              F.  Views on Why Stratification Exists

              G.  Is Stratification Inevitable? 

              H.  The Evolutionary Perspective

               I.   Social Mobility

               J.  Structural Mobility

XIX.    Society

             A. Types of Societies

                  1. Subsistence adaptation

                  2. Technology

             B. Elements of Social Structure

             C. Status

                  1. ascribed

                  2. achieved

              D. Status Intervention

              E.  Industrial Societies vs. Postindustrial Societies

              F.  Basic Social Processes

                    1. Conflict

                    2. Coercion

                    3. Exploitation

                    4.  Competition

                    5.  Cooperation

XX.   Religion

          A.  Definition

          B.  Durkheim’s Elements of Religion

          C.  Functions of Religion

          D.  Religion & Social Conflict

          E.  Types of Religion

                1. Supernaturalism

                2. Totemism/Animism

                3. Theism/Ethical

           F.  Types of Religious Organizations

           G.  Cults

           H.  Religion & Politics

            I.  Religious Symbols

XXI.  Marriage & Family

           A. Definitions

           B.  Love & Marriage

           C.  The Family as a Social Institution

           D. Nuclear Family & its Disadvantages

           E. Divorce

           F. Exogamy

           G. Family of Orientation vs. Family of Procreation

XXII.  Collective Behavior & Social Movements

            A. Collective Behavior – definition

            B. Social Movement – definition

            C.  Types of Crowd Behavior

                  1. Casual crowd

                  2. Conventional Crowd

                  3. Expressive Crowd

                  4. Acting Crowd

             D. Crowds & Violence

             E.  Diffuse Crowd

             F. Rumors & their Social Impact

             G. Hysteria & Panic

             H.  Fashions vs. Fads

              I.  Influences on Public Opinion

              J.  Mass Media’s Impact

              K. Television and Suicide

              L. Types of Social Movements

                   1. Resistance Movements

                   2. Reform Movements

                   3. Revolutionary Movements

                   4. Expressive Movements

             M. The Professionalization of Social Movements

             N.  Stages of a Social Movement

                    1. Preliminary

                    2. Popular

                    3. Institutionalization

XXIII.  Population & Environment

             A. Demography

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