Course Description
This course will focus on the most recognized and significant thinkers in the development of Sociology as a discipline during the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. This includes the classic works of Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx, Max Weber and Georg Simmel, along with more contemporary schools of thought such as Critical Theory, Interactionism, and Postmodernism. (3 credits)
Prerequisites
- ENG 101: English Composition 1
- ENG 102: English Composition 2
- SOC 101: Sociology (Recommended)
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
Students who graduate with a concentration in Sociology will be able to:
- Use qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, including statistical reasoning, research design, and evaluation of data.
- Identify key concepts of classical and contemporary sociological theory.
- Evaluate societal institutions and social processes, e.g., stratification, racial and ethnic groups, gender, family, urban, work, healthcare, and education.
- Relate sociological research to social policy formation.
- Explain the relationship between personal experience and societal change within an historical/global context.
- Synthesize their learning of the concentration through a research paper, project, portfolio, or practicum.
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:
- Outline the history and sociocultural context of sociological theory.
- Identify the main theorists and sociological schools that comprise the discipline of Sociology and explain their relevance.
- Explain and appropriately apply key classical and contemporary social theories to current social problems and issues.
Course Activities and Grading
| Assignments | Weight |
|---|---|
Weekly Class Discussions | 28% |
Response Papers (4) | 32% |
Quizzes (3) | 24% |
Final Exam | 16% |
Total | 100% |
Required Textbooks
Available through Charter Oak's online bookstore
- Ritzer, George. Sociological Theory. 11th ed. Boston: Sage Publications, Inc., 2022. ISBN-13: 9781071832349
Course Schedule
| Week | PLOs | SLOs | Readings and Exercises | Assignments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 5 | 1,2,3 | Topic: History and Development of Sociology
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2 | 2,4 | 2,3 | Topic: Karl Marx
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3 | 2,3 | 2,3 | Topic: Emile Durkheim
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4 | 2,3,4 | 2,3 | Topic: Max Weber
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5 | 2 | 2,3 | Topic: Georg Simmel
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6 | 2,3 | 1,2,3 | Topic: A Historical Sketch of Sociological Theory: The Later Years
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7 | 2,3,5 | Topic: Symbolic Interactionism and Ethnomethodology
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8 | 1,5,6 | 1,2,3 | Topic: Contemporary Feminist Theory and Structuralism, Poststructuralism and Postmodern Social Theory
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COSC Accessibility Statement
Charter Oak State College encourages students with disabilities, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, attention deficit/hyperactive disorder, or psychiatric disabilities, to discuss appropriate accommodations with the Office of Accessibility Services at OAS@charteroak.edu.
COSC Policies, Course Policies, Academic Support Services and Resources
Students are responsible for knowing all Charter Oak State College (COSC) institutional policies, course-specific policies, procedures, and available academic support services and resources. Please see COSC Policies for COSC institutional policies, and see also specific policies related to this course. See COSC Resources for information regarding available academic support services and resources.