AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL UNIVERSITY
SOCIOLOGY DEPARTMENT
INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY
Soci. 201 (Introduction to Sociology)
Class Days and Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays (2-3:25pm)
Course Lecturer: Amb. Trokon Bobby Harmon
harmontrokonbobby@gmail.com
0777754679/0886754679
Sociology is defined as the systematic study of human society. For the
purpose of class, the goal is to achieve a level of scholarly understanding
of our everyday social worlds.
Sociology as a discipline was born out of the attempt to understand the
transformations that seemed to threaten the stability of society. Social
thinkers argued that there was an urgent need to establish a separate
science of society. They believed that such a science would be of great
help in understanding the nature of society. The amount of changes that
occurred during the Industrial Revolution heavily impacted on society and
it was necessary to gain an understanding of these changes and how they
were influencing society. People were faced with a new world and it had
created disorder, misery, poverty, disease, unemployment and conflicts
(Marshall, 1998). People felt despair, lacked traditional beliefs, lacked
confidence, and felt inferior.
Course Objectives:
By the completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. In their own words explain the definition of Sociology
2. Explain reasons for studying Sociology
3. Highlight the relationship between Sociology, major Social Sciences
and other related academic disciplines
4. Discuss the Historical Development of Sociology
5. Demonstrate an understanding of major Theoretical Perspectives
6. Identify and explain the contribution of key Founders of Sociology
7. Identify and Explain Basic Concepts in Sociology
Text Book: Internet Source and Article Source
Selected References
Internet Sources
Calhoun, Craig, et al. (1994) Sociology. 6th Ed. New York: McGraw Hill.
Hungwe, Chipo (2016) Principles of Sociology
Doda, Zerihun (2005) Introduction to Sociology, lecture notes for Health
Science Students
Fassika Melesse (2004) Introduction to Sociology, lecture notes for Health
Extension Workers
Ferrante J, (2007) Sociology: A Global Perspective
Giddens, Anthony (1996) Sociology. 6th Edition. London: Macmillan
Gates G (2010). Overview of Sociology
Henslin, James M. and Adie Nelson. (1995) Sociology:
A Down-to-Earth Approach. Canadian Edition. Scarborough, Ontario:
Allyn and Bacon
Jacoby H (1976). The Bureaucratization of the World
Kotttak, Conrad P. (2002) Anthropology. The Exploration of Human
Diversity. 9 ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill
th
Macionis, John J. (1997) Sociology. Sixth Edition. Upper Saddle River,
New Jersey:
Prentice Hal
Marshall G, (1998). A Dictionary of Sociology
Montagna J A (2010). The Industrial Revolution
Nicki Lisa Cole (2019) Macro and Microsociology
https://www.thoughtco.com/macro-and-microsociology-3026393
Stockard, Jean, (1997) Sociology. Discovering Society. Belmont, CA:.
Wadsworth Publishing Company
Team of Experts, (2000). Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Sociology.
New
Delhi: Animol Publication
Tanjim, Dreamy (2012) Relationship between Sociology and Public
Administrationhttps://dreamytanjim.wordpress.com/2012/05/16/
relationship-between-sociology-and-public-administration/
Accessed 13 Dec 2020
Book/Article Sources
Lenski, Gerhard, Patrick Nolan and Jean Lensiki, (1995.) Human Societies,
An
introduction to Macro Sociology, Seventh Edition. New York:
McGraw-Hill
Schaefer, Richard T. (2003) Sociology, 8 Ed. New York: McGraw-Hill
th
Thomas, LaVerne W. (1999) Sociology- The study of Human
Relationships, fourth edition.
Class Attendance:
Attendance is required in this class. Lectures and discussions will
complement and expand on the material in the note and additional
readings. Students will be expected to read the required materials before
coming to class. However, attendance will be monitor.
Class Evaluation:
There will be class participation, assignments, quizzes and final
examinations in this class, totaling 100 points of the final grade.
Class Assignments:
Over the course of the semester students will be required to do a series of
assignments. These will become part of a portfolio of work that will
constitute 10% of students’ final grade. Specific due dates and
requirements will be announced in class. These assignments are pass/fail.
To pass, work must have been completed fully, thoroughly and
thoughtfully. If students are not in class when the assignment is
completed the WILL NOT be able to make it up.
Grading Scale:
90-100 A
80-89 B
70-79 C
60-69 D
0-59 F
CLASSROOM OTHER POLICIES AND PROCEDURES:
I ask that students arrive on time for class, and turn the phone on silent. I
reserve the right to ask anyone texting their phone to leave the
classroom. I would prefer that students do not use laptops or tablets in the
classroom unless it is a necessary learning tool.
Email: I make an effort to respond to students emails as quickly as
possible. Please understand that this does not mean I will necessarily be
able to respond within a few minutes or a few hours. Typically, students
can reasonably expect a response from me within one business day (not
that weekends are not business days).
Academic Misconduct: Academic integrity is central to the mission of this
institution:
1. Seeks to claim credit for the work or efforts of another without
authorization or citation;
2. Uses unauthorized materials or fabricated data in any academic
exercise;
3. Forges or falsifies academic documents or records; intentionally
impedes or damages the academic work of others;
4. Engages in conduct aimed at making false representation of a
student’s academic performance;
5. Assists other students in any of these acts.
This college course requires both reading and writing. Designed to
introduce to the students the basic concepts and theories of sociology, as
well as the methods utilized in social research, it addresses how
sociological concepts and theories can be utilized to analyze and interpret
our social world, and describes how profoundly society and groups
influence us. Your “taken-for-granted” or “common sense” understandings
about society, social institutions, and social issues will be challenged.
Special attention will be paid to the intimate connections between
personal lives and the larger structural features of social life. The
implications of social inequalities, such as race/ethnicity, gender, and
social class will also be discussed.
In fulfillment of this course students will be required to cover
these topics.
What is Sociology
Sociology and Common Sense
Macro and Microsociology
Reasons for Studying Sociology
The Relationship between Sociology and other Social
Sciences.
Sociology and Economics
Political Science and Sociology
Sociology and History
Sociology and Psychology
Sociology and Geography
Sociology and Anthropology
Sociology and Public Administration
Sociology and Law
Sociology and Mass Media Communication
Historical Development of Sociology
The French Revolution of 1789
The Industrial Revolution
The enlightenment thinkers
Belief in empiricism
Rejection of Papal infallibility
Two noticeable thinkers
Major Theoretical Perspectives
Functionalist Perspective/ Structural Functional Theory
Manifest and Latent Function
Dysfunctions
Conflict Perspective/Theory
Symbolic Interactionist Perspective
Feminism
Postmodernism
Contribution of key Founders of Sociology/ Classical
sociologists
Basic concepts in sociology
Culture
Society as a concept
Ethnocentrism, Cultural Relativism and Culture Shock
Ethnocentrism
Cultural Relativism
Culture Shock
CULTURE VARIATION
COUNTERCULTURE
SUBCULTURE
Socialization
Roles
Status
The Sociological Imagination
STAGES OF THE SELF
THEORY OF THE SELF
Conclusion
Selected References
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES ON ESSENTIAL
COMMUNICATION
Verbal communication with peers and instructor
Written communication expressed in exams and reflection essays
Reading and analyzing reading assignments
Evaluating and presenting an argument
CRITICAL THINKING
Problem setting
Evidence acquisition
Evidence evaluation
Making an argument and drawing conclusion
PERSONAL AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Intercultural understanding and competence
Explain and work with issues pertaining to human activities
Ethical reasoning on human problems
Team work and collaboration skills
Civil knowledge, discourse and engagement
