Define sociology, detail its early origins, and illustrate how the scientific revolution, the Enlightenment, industrialization, and urbanization played a role in its development as a social science.
Utilize their ‘sociological imagination’ and critical thinking skills to highlight the relationships between personal troubles and public issues and recognize how the individual agency is shaped by a larger structure.
Explain functionalist theory, which will include identifying the basic principles of the theory, the questions it seeks to address, underlying assumptions, key theorists, and weaknesses.
Explain conflict theory, which will include identifying the basic principles of the theory, the questions it seeks to address, underlying assumptions, key theorists, and weaknesses.
Explain symbolic interactionism, which will include identifying the basic principles of the theory, the questions it seeks to address, underlying assumptions, key theorists, and weaknesses.
Draw comparisons between the three dominant sociological paradigms: functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism.
Discuss particular social phenomena and institutions using sociological terms and in the context of the overarching themes of sociology: power and inequality; globalization and global diversity; and technology and digital society.
