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Course Snapshot for SOC101 - Intro to Sociology I

The information listed below is subject to change. Please review the course syllabus within your online course at the start of class.

Course Competencies

The competencies you will demonstrate in this course are as follows:

  1. Define sociology and explain the basic insight of sociology.
  2. Explain the meaning and the importance of the sociological imagination.
  3. Contrast the views that Comte, Spencer, and Marx held regarding society and the role of the sociologist.
  4. Compare and contrast three major theoretical perspectives of sociology.
  5. Identify the contributions of theory and research to sociological knowledge.
  6. Describe the logic of cause and effect between variables; state the conditions necessary for correlation and for causation.
  7. Identify the advantages and the disadvantages of laboratory and field experiments.
  8. Distinguish between a population and a sample and explain the connection between them; specify ways to ensure that a sample is representative.
  9. Describe the relationship between culture and society.
  10. Distinguish between instincts, reflexes, drives, and culturally learned behavior.
  11. Discuss norms and their importance to society.
  12. Define ethnocentrism and discuss its consequences for a culture.
  13. Describe cultural relativism and its appropriate use.
  14. Indicate how subcultures and countercultures relate to the dominant culture.
  15. Summarize the ways in which culture affects human interaction and the ways humans change culture.
  16. Define socialization.
  17. Describe the ways in which biological pre-dispositions and social influence are intertwined.
  18. Discuss the concept of self and how it develops.
  19. Describe Cooley's three-part theory of the looking-glass self.
  20. Describe Mead's theory of the formation of self through symbolic interaction, role-taking, and the generalized and particular other.
  21. Identify the key agents of socialization.
  22. List the characteristics of a group that distinguish it from an aggregate or category.
  23. Contrast the features of primary and secondary groups.
  24. Identify ways in which individuals conform to groups.
  25. List the functions of ingroups and outgroups.
  26. Explain the importance of reference groups.
  27. Characterize formal organizations.
  28. Define deviance as a sociological concept.
  29. Discuss the concept of stigma.
  30. Identify means of social control and how they work.
  31. Characterize Merton's five-part typology of deviance.
  32. Explain why mental disorder is classified as a form of deviance.
  33. List four functions of deviance.
  34. List four dysfunctions of deviance and their effects on society.
  35. Define social stratification.
  36. Explain the concept of social mobility.
  37. Describe how sociologists use socioeconomic status (SES) as a measurement of social position.
  38. Explain how stratification systems are maintained.
  39. Discuss social stratification in the United States.
  40. Identify the social classes in the United States and the features of each.
  41. Specify some of the factors that are correlated with social-class membership.
  42. Explain the two ways poverty is defined and indicate which groups in the United States are most likely to experience poverty.
  43. Cite biological evidence in discussing differences between the sexes.
Learning concepts for this course are enchanced using illustrative models, video, and online discussions.

Module Outcomes Mapped to Competencies

Module 1
  Outcomes Competencies
1 Define sociology, and explain the basic insight of sociology.  A
2 Explain the meaning and the importance of the “sociological imagination.” B
3 Contrast the views that Comte, Spencer, and Marx held regarding society and the role of the sociologist. C
4 Compare and contrast three major theoretical perspectives of sociology. D
5 Identify the contributions of theory and research to sociological knowledge.  E
6 Describe the logic of cause and effect between variables; state the conditions necessary for correlation and for causation.  F
7 Explore the advantages and the disadvantages of laboratory and field experiments. G
8 Explore the differences between a population and a sample, and explain the connection between them; specify ways to ensure that a sample is representative.  H
9 Define what sociology means to you.  A
Module 2
  Outcomes Competencies
1 Describe the relationship between culture and society.  I
2 Distinguish between instincts, reflexes, drives, and culturally learned behavior.  J
3 Discuss norms and their importance to society.  K
4 Define ethnocentrism and discuss its consequences for a culture.  L
5 Explore cultural relativism and its appropriate use.  M
6 Indicate how subcultures and countercultures relate to the dominant culture.  N
7 Summarize the ways in which culture affects human interaction and the ways humans change culture.  O
8 Define socialization. P
9 Describe the ways in which biological predispositions and social influence are intertwined.  Q
10 Explore the concept of self and how it develops.  R
11 Describe Cooley’s three-part theory of the looking-glass self.  S
12 Describe Mead’s theory of the formation of self through symbolic interaction, role-taking, and the generalized and particular other.  T
13 Identify the key agents of socialization. U
Module 3
  Outcomes Competencies
1 Identify the characteristics of a group that distinguish it from an aggregate or category.  V
2 Contrast the features of primary and secondary groups.  W
3 Identify ways in which individuals conform to groups. X
4 Identify the functions of in-groups and out-groups. Y
5 Explore the importance of reference groups.  Z
6 Characterize formal organizations.  AA
7 Define deviance as a sociological concept.  AB
8 Explore the concept of stigma.  AC
9 Identify means of social control and how they work. AD
10 Characterize Merton’s five-part typology of deviance.  AE
11 Identify why mental disorder is classified as a form of deviance.  AF
12 Identify four functions of deviance.  AG
13 Identify four dysfunctions of deviance and their effects on society.  AH
14 Create an annotated bibliography formatted in APA Style to explore the contributions of theory and research to sociological knowledge. E
Module 4
  Outcomes Competencies
1 Define social stratification and what it is like in the United States. AI, AM
2 Explore the concept of social mobility. AJ
3 Describe how sociologists use socioeconomic status (SES) as a measurement of social position. AK
4 Explain how stratification systems are maintained. AL
5 Identify the social classes in the United States and the features of each. AN
6 Specify some of the factors that correlate with social-class membership. AO
7 Explore the two ways poverty is defined, and indicate which groups in the United States are most likely to experience poverty. AP
8 Explore prejudice and discrimination. AS
9 Explore minority relations. AT
10 Explore globalization and the impacts of it. AU
11 Create a detailed outline formatted in APA Style to explore the contributions of theory and research to sociological knowledge.   E
Module 5
  Outcomes Competencies
1 Explore biological evidence that addresses the differences between the sexes. AQ
2 Explore the sex roles and sexism. AQ
3 Explore the social effects of aging and ageism, and the consequences of it.  AD 
4 Review the course material and determine how sociology applies to your life. A
5 Explain and apply at least one of the three major theoretical perspectives of sociology. D
6 Discuss norms and their importance in this society. K
7 Explore how subcultures and/or countercultures relate to the dominant culture. N
8 Explain the ways in which culture affects human interaction. 0
9 Explore how primary and secondary groups fit. W
10 Explain ways in which individuals conform to groups. X
11 Identify and explain the in-groups and out-groups. Y
12 Identify and explain means of social control and how they work. AD
13 Identify, explain, and apply at least one function of deviance. AG
14 Identify, explain, and apply at least one dysfunction of deviance and the effects on society.   AH
15 Explore the concept of social mobility. AJ
16 Specify some of the factors that correlate with social-class membership.  AO
17 Explore minority relations. I

Course Time Commitment and Expectations

The semester schedule for this course may be 15 weeks, 10 weeks, or 6 weeks in duration. Based on the course format, this table shows the approximate amount of time you should plan to spend per week on this course. This includes time to read/listen to the online content, participate in discussion forums, complete all assignments, and study the course material.

For accelerated courses, the amount of time required per week is greater. Note that regardless of course format, the course material is the same and all course competencies, module outcomes, and assignments will be covered.

Course Activity Hours and Student Learning Hours
Course Credit Hours Course Format (Duration) Pace Relative to a 15-Week Course Course Activity Hours Student Learning Hours per Week
3 15 Weeks - 135 8.5 to 9.5
3 10 Weeks 1.5x faster 135 12.5 to 14.5
3 6 Weeks 2.5x faster 135 21 to 24

Aside from typical reading assignments, this course has the following (Please Note: This list is subject to change based on the discretion of the instructor facilitating this course.):

Summary of Grading
Assignment Points %
Student Icebreaker (1 @ 50 points each) 50 5%
Discussions (10 @ 30 points each)
*Module 5 Discussion 2 is a reflection assignment and will use a different rubric. Be sure to refer to the rubric specific to this assignment for grading. 		 300 30%
Module Project Assignments (4 @ 75 points each) 300 30%
Final Project: My Ideal Society: Annotated Bibliography 
(1 @ 50 points each)		 50 5%
Final Project: My Ideal Society: Detailed Outline 
(1 @ 100 points each)		 100 10%
Final Project: My Ideal Society  200 20%
TOTAL 1000 100%

CCCOnline Course Quality Commitment

CCCOnline goes to great lengths to assure the quality of your online learning experience. You can expect the following from our courses: