Sociology

What is Sociology? Sociology is the study of human social relationships and institutions. Sociology’s subject matter is diverse, ranging from crime to religion, from the family to the state, from the divisions of race and social class to the shared beliefs of a common culture, and from social stability to radical change in whole societies. Unifying the study of these diverse subjects of study is sociology’s purpose of understanding how human action and consciousness both shape and are shaped by surrounding cultural and social structures. Sociology is an exciting and illuminating field of study that analyzes and explains important matters in our personal lives, our communities, and the world. At the personal level, sociology investigates the social causes and consequences of such things as romantic love, racial and gender identity, family conflict, deviant behavior, aging, and religious faith. At the societal level, sociology examines and explains matters like crime and law, poverty and wealth, prejudice and discrimination, schools and education, business firms, urban community, and social movements. At the global level, sociology studies such phenomena as population growth and migration, war and peace, and economic development. Sociologists emphasize the careful gathering and analysis of evidence about social life to develop and enrich our understanding of key social processes. The research methods sociologists use are varied. Sociologists observe the everyday life of grou...

9 Social Stratification in the United States • Introduction • 9.1 What Is Social Stratification? • 9.2 Social Stratification and Mobility in the United States • 9.3 Global Stratification and Inequality • 9.4 Theoretical Perspectives on Social Stratification • Key Terms • Section Summary • Section Quiz • Short Answer • Further Research • References • 11 Race and Ethnicity • Introduction • 11.1 Racial, Ethnic, and Minority Groups • 11.2 Theoretical Perspectives on Race and Ethnicity • 11.3 Prejudice, Discrimination, and Racism • 11.4 Intergroup Relationships • 11.5 Race and Ethnicity in the United States • Key Terms • Section Summary • Section Quiz • Short Answer • Further Research • References • 19 Health and Medicine • Introduction • 19.1 The Social Construction of Health • 19.2 Global Health • 19.3 Health in the United States • 19.4 Comparative Health and Medicine • 19.5 Theoretical Perspectives on Health and Medicine • Key Terms • Section Summary • Section Quiz • Short Answer • Further Research • References • Figure 1.7 Sociologists develop theories to explain social occurrences such as protest rallies. (Credit: David Shankbone/flickr) Sociologists study social events, interactions, and patterns, and they develop theories to explain why things work as they do. In sociology, a theory is a way to explain different aspects of social interactions and to create a testable proposition, called a hypothesis, about society (Allan 2006). For example, although suicide is generally ...

Course Summary Sociology 101: Intro to Sociology has been evaluated and recommended for 3 semester hours and may be transferred to over 2,000 colleges and universities. If you're looking for an easy and self-paced way in which you can review engaging lessons and get expert instruction to help you get started on your degree, then this resource is for you. Sociology is a field of study that seeks to answer major questions about our social world. Review the definition of sociology, and understand how it differs from social psychology and anthropology. Learn about the major themes and questions considered in sociology, and explore possible careers in the field. Take Quiz Lesson 2 - Why Is Sociology Important? - Applications in Public Policy, Social Change & Personal Growth Why Is Sociology Important? - Applications in Public Policy, Social Change & Personal Growth Take Quiz Lesson 3 - Comte's 3 Stages of Society & Theory of Positivism Comte's 3 Stages of Society & Theory of Positivism Take Quiz Lesson 4 - Sociology's Four Theoretical Perspectives: Structural-Functional, Social Conflict, Feminism & Symbolic Interactionism Sociology's Four Theoretical Perspectives: Structural-Functional, Social Conflict, Feminism & Symbolic Interactionism Take Quiz Course Progress Best Score Lesson 1 - Charles Horton Cooley: Looking Glass Self and the Effect of Primary Groups Charles Horton Cooley: Looking Glass Self and the Effect of Primary Groups Take Quiz Lesson 2 - Herbert Spencer: Theory &...

If you’re considering a sociology major, you may have wondered, “What can I do with a sociology degree?” This is a reasonable question—after all, sociology does not necessarily lead to one specific career path. Learners who are drawn to the social sciences and who want a flexible degree that can apply to diverse careers may enjoy a sociology major. In this article, we explore what you can do with a sociology degree at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels. Degree Finder What Is Sociology? Sociology is the study of human social behavior, structures and change. An interdisciplinary field, sociology often overlaps with other social sciences such as psychology, anthropology, economics and political science. It can also intersect with specialized disciplines like urban studies, criminal justice and religious studies. Drawing on classical and contemporary sociological theory and practices, sociology seeks to understand how societies work and how they can evolve to better serve all of their members. Sociologists use a variety of lenses to examine the structures and functions of social groups and institutions of all sizes, including families, neighborhoods, cities, ethnic groups and even the global population as a whole. Sociology Areas of Study Sociology degree-seekers can tailor their coursework to their career goals by pursuing one or more specialized areas of study. For example, a concentration in law and society could benefit Below we explore some common specialization...

Learning Objectives 1.1. What Is Sociology? • Explain concepts central to sociology • Describe the different levels of analysis in sociology: micro-sociology and macro-sociology • Understand how different sociological perspectives have developed 1.2. The History of Sociology • Explain why sociology emerged when it did • Describe the central ideas of the founders of sociology • Describe how sociology became a separate academic discipline 1.3. Theoretical Perspectives • Explain what sociological theories are and how they are used • Describe sociology as a multi-perspectival social science, which is divided into positivist, interpretive and critical paradigms • Understand the similarities and differences between structural functionalism, critical sociology, and symbolic interactionism 1.4. Why Study Sociology? • Explain why it is worthwhile to study sociology • Identify ways sociology is applied in the real world Introduction to Sociology Concerts, sports games, and political rallies can have very large crowds. When you attend one of these events, you may know only the people you came with. Yet you may experience a feeling of connection to the group. You are one of the crowd. You cheer and applaud when everyone else does. You boo and yell alongside them. You move out of the way when someone needs to get by, and you say “excuse me” when you need to leave. You know how to behave in this kind of crowd. It can be a very different experience if you are travelling in a foreign coun...

Recent Examples on the Web But the general takeaway remains the same, said Michal Engelman, associate professor of sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. — Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 2 June 2023 Max Holleran is a lecturer in sociology at the University of Melbourne and author of Yes to the City: Millennials and the Fight for Affordable Housing. — Max Holleran, The New Republic, 25 Apr. 2023 Social and Behavioral Sciences (58 new members), including psychological sciences; economics; political science; law; anthropology and archeology; sociology, demography and geography; and education. — Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes, 20 Apr. 2023 And though showing raw emotion is seen as non-masculine, worship is the rare environment in which tears and vulnerability are accepted and welcomed, particularly among Asian men, said Nadia Kim, a professor of sociology and Asian and Asian American studies at Loyola Marymount University. — Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 12 Apr. 2023 The current wave of Venezuelans seeking asylum tends to be young, working class people with very limited English language skills and few, if any, social ties to the United States, says Cecilia Menjívar, a professor of sociology at the University of California at Los Angeles. — Palabra, al, 15 Mar. 2023 But the vagaries of climate migration, as well as data compiled by researcher Matthew Hauer, an assistant professor of sociology at Florida State University who studies the impacts of climate change on society, indica...

Figure 1.2 Sociologists learn about society while studying one-to-one and group interactions. (Credit: GlacierNPS/Flickr) Sociology is the scientific and systematic study of groups and group interactions, societies and social interactions, from small and personal groups to very large groups. A group of people who live in a defined geographic area, who interact with one another, and who share a common culture is what sociologists call a society. Sociologists study all aspects and levels of society. Sociologists working from the micro-level study small groups and individual interactions, while those using macro-level analysis look at trends among and between large groups and societies. For example, a micro-level study might look at the accepted rules of conversation in various groups such as among teenagers or business professionals. In contrast, a macro-level analysis might research the ways that language use has changed over time or in social media outlets. The term culture refers to the group’s shared practices, values, and beliefs. Culture encompasses a group’s way of life, from routine, everyday interactions to the most important parts of group members’ lives. It includes everything produced by a society, including all the social rules. Sociologists often study culture using the sociological imagination, which pioneer sociologist C. Wright Mills described as an awareness of the relationship between a person’s behavior and experience and the wider culture that sh...