Introduction to Sociology

This course introduces students to the discipline of sociology in the United States, including its history, theorists, methodological approaches, ethical concerns, major intellectual debates, important figures, key concepts, and data sources. We will also 1) incorporate the work of individuals who have been marginalized in the field but have made important contributions to its development; 2) apply sociological concepts, methods, and theoretical frameworks to current social dynamics; and 3) learn about popular areas of sociological inquiry: race and ethnicity, gender and sexuality, class and economic inequality, globalization, and crime and deviance.