Academic Catalog

SOC 1H: HONORS INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY

Foothill College Course Outline of Record

Foothill College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Summer 2022
Units: 5
Hours: 5 lecture per week (60 total per quarter)
Advisory: Not open to students with credit in SOC 1.
Degree & Credit Status: Degree-Applicable Credit Course
Foothill GE: Area IV: Social & Behavioral Sciences
Transferable: CSU/UC
Grade Type: Letter Grade Only
Repeatability: Not Repeatable

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Student will explain how two major ideas in Sociology as a field of study help them in their everyday lives.
  • Students will identify two of the most important ideas in Sociology as a field of study.
  • Students will identify the leading components or indicators of methodology
  • Students will identify the basis of the scientific method.
  • Students will identify the two main component parts or features of the sociological imagination.
  • Students will demonstrate an understanding of why the sociological imagination is sociologically significant.

Description

Introduction to the field of sociology; the scientific study of human society and the contemporary world, and the interaction of individuals and groups in society. Analysis of major theories, concepts, methods, social institutions, and social processes. Development of a sociological imagination and social context analysis. Society in its social class, racial and gendered dynamics. As an honors course, it is focused on reading and critically analyzing sociological literature and researching specific sociological topics.

Course Objectives

The student will be able to:

  1. Explore the relationship between social theories and the scientific study of society.
  2. Relate current social issues such as war, poverty, crime, prejudice, drug addiction to theoretical models and research studies.
  3. Demonstrate competency in sociological concepts, apply same in critically analyzing selected subtopics.
  4. Account for differences in sociological schools and corresponding social research methods and techniques employed.
  5. Recapitulate examples of social change and social processes using sociological models.
  6. Relate cultural diversity issues to subtopics including prejudice and discrimination.
  7. Demonstrate a global understanding of society via the study of demography and multicultural comparisons.
  8. Account for social conflict and tensions through theoretical analysis of social organization, social integration and social change.
  9. Demonstrate effective reading, writing, and critical thinking skills.

Course Content

  1. Introduction
    1. Basic concepts and perspectives: Micro and macro study
    2. Early European and contemporary American theories
    3. Sociology as scientific discipline compared to other fields of scientific inquiry
  2. Research methods and models
    1. Statistical analysis verses other paradigms
    2. Ethical and legal issues and constraints
  3. Culture and social structure
    1. Influence of language and social norms
    2. Cognitive, normative and material components
    3. Culture variation and ethnocentrism
    4. Status/role patterns and social processes
  4. Socialization
    1. Total learning process and self-awareness
    2. Social and psychological approaches
    3. Life cycle developments and changes
    4. Resocialization techniques and effects
  5. Social stratification
    1. Factors of classification and evaluation
    2. Classical studies and theories on class distinction
  6. Human associations
    1. Informal (emotional) and formal (instrumental) groups
    2. Primary relationships versus bureaucracy
    3. Collective behavior comparisons of relatively structured situations
    4. Emotional contagion and types of crowds and masses
  7. Human demography and ecology
    1. Demographic concepts and theories
    2. Population transition and change
    3. Ecological processes and human impact on ecosystem
  8. Applications of sociological elements and principles to major institutions
    1. Law and deviance
    2. Family
    3. Religion
    4. Education
  9. Ethnic pluralism and minority group relations
    1. Cultural diversity and conflict
    2. Acculturation/assimilation processes
    3. Prejudice and discrimination
  10. Analysis of social change
    1. Major community, economic and political trends
    2. Social movements
    3. Historical changes and social consequences

Lab Content

Not applicable.

Special Facilities and/or Equipment

When taught as an online distance learning section, students and faculty need ongoing and continuous internet and email access.

Method(s) of Evaluation

Methods of Evaluation may include but are not limited to the following:

Class discussions
Active learning exercises
Oral presentations
Critical essay(s)
Examinations or quizzes
As an honors course, this course will include a research paper or literature review on a sociological topic

Method(s) of Instruction

Methods of Instruction may include but are not limited to the following:

Lectures
Discussion of sociological concepts
Video presentations
Group learning activities such as simulations
Review of course material for exams

Representative Text(s) and Other Materials

Anderson, Margaret, and Howard Taylor. Sociology: The Essentials, 10th ed.. 2019.

Ballantine, Jeanne H., Keith A. Roberts, and Kathleen Ogdell Korgen. Our Social World: Introduction to Sociology, 7th ed.. 2019.

Conley, Dalton. You May Ask Yourself: Thinking Like a Sociologist. 2020.

Ferguson, Susan. Mapping the Social Landscape: Readings in Sociology. 2021.

Henslin, James M.. Sociology: A Down-To-Earth Approach. 2021.

Kimmel, Michael S., Amy Aronson, and Tristan Bridges. Sociology Now: The Essentials, 3rd ed.. 2019.

Macionis, John J.. Sociology. 2021.

Types and/or Examples of Required Reading, Writing, and Outside of Class Assignments

  1. College level readings from primary and secondary sources
  2. College level writing assignments based on primary and secondary source reflection and/or analysis
  3. Research paper or literature review on sociological topics

Discipline(s)

Sociology