Sociology is the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior. Sociologists investigate the structure of groups, organizations, and societies, and how people interact within these contexts. Since all human behavior is social, the subject matter of sociology ranges from the intimate family to the hostile mob; from organized crime to religious cults; from the divisions of race, gender and social class to the shared beliefs of a common culture; and from the sociology of work to the sociology of sports. In fact, few fields have such broad scope and relevance for research, theory, and application of knowledge.
Sociology provides many distinctive perspectives on the world, generating new
ideas and critiquing the old. The field also offers a range of research
techniques that can be applied to virtually any aspect of social life: street
crime and delinquency, corporate downsizing, how people express emotions,
welfare or education reform, how families differ and flourish, or problems of
peace and war. Because sociology addresses the most challenging issues of our
time, it is a rapidly expanding field whose potential is increasingly tapped by
those who craft policies and create programs. Sociologists understand social
inequality, patterns of behavior, forces for social change and resistance, and
how social systems work.
[From: American Sociological Association]
Courses Fall 2003:
Sociology 105 Introduction to Sociology
Text website is: www.mhhe.com/schaefer5
Material on Title IX:
Title IX Government
Website--description of law
Feminist Majority
Website
Article on sleep deprivation from New York Times:
"Lack of Sleep Deprivation Takes its Toll on Student Psyches"
Sociology 345 Sociology of the Family
New York Times (11/23/03) article on
meaning of marriage:
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/23/weekinreview/23LEWI.html?ex=1070622938&ei=1&en=a8ec90a57de44174
Text website is: www.mhhe.com/cherlin3
Friday Nov 21--Guest lecture by Dr. Bob Weedon, VDM on the role
of pets in the family. Please read the following two articles to prepare:
"Pets
are Family"
"Pet-Human
Bonding"
Revised reading for Exam 3:
Chapter 10 Children and Parents: Omit pp 338-48;
Chapter 14 Remarriage: Read ONLY pp 450-62;
Chapter 15 Social Change: omit pp 487-497
Return to Diane Levy's Home Page
last revised 12/03/03