I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Honors Introduction to Sociology

2. Course Prefix & Number:
SOCL 1403

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 3

Lecture Hours: 3

4. Course Description:

This foundation honors course is highly recommended as the starting point from which students may logically proceed to further study of sociology. Students will be introduced to the fundamental concepts of the sociological perspective, including culture, socialization, organization, authority, deviance and inequality. Students in the honors course will be required to write papers reflecting a substantial understanding of the principle concepts of the sociological perspective. Courses in the Honors Program emphasize independent inquiry, informed discourse, and direct application within small, transformative, and seminar-style classes that embrace detailed examinations of the material and feature close working relationships with instructors. In addition, students learn to leverage course materials so that they can affect the world around them in positive ways.

5. Placement Tests Required:

Accuplacer (specify test):

Writing Honors College Level

Score:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

7. Other Prerequisites
One of the following: ACT English score 24, ACT Reading score 24, Accuplacer Reading Comprehension score 78, Accuplacer NextGen Reading score 250, High School GPA 3.0, Or permission from the instructor or Honors Coordinator

8. Prerequisite (Entry) Skills:
Reading and writing skills at high school levels.

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:

St. Cloud State University, SOC 160 Principles of Sociology, 3 cr
Bemidji State University, SOC 1104 Introduction to Sociology, 3 cr
University of MN-Crookston, Honors Introduction to Sociology, 3 cr

III. Course Purpose

2. MN Transfer Curriculum (General Education) Courses - This course fulfills the following goal area(s) of the MN Transfer Curriculum:

• Goal 2 – Critical Thinking
• Goal 5 – History and the Social and Behavioral Sciences

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Demonstrate written communication skills	Analyzing three readings of sociological importance.
Demonstrate reading and listening skills	Preparing written critiques of these two readings of sociological importance.
Apply abstract ideas to concrete situations	Class discussions, readings, written papers, computer projected statistical analysis, appropriate videos.
Discuss/compare characteristics of diverse cultures and environments	Class discussions, readings, written papers, computer projected statistical analysis, appropriate videos.

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

• Identify and explain key concepts in Sociology. (MnTC Goal 5);
• Apply key concepts in Sociology to real world examples. (MnTC Goal 5);
• Identify and explain major theoretical perspectives in Sociology (MnTC Goal 5);
• Analyze social phenomena using theoretical perspectives. (MnTC Goal 5);
• Apply a Sociological Imagination to social issues. (MnTC Goal 5);
• Identify and explain the causes and consequences of social inequalities. (MnTC Goal 5);
• Compare and contrast societies based on social structure, institutions and culture. (MnTC Goal 5);
• Identify and describe the research methods used in Sociology. (MnTC Goal 5);
• Identify ways to exercise the civic roles of being a United States and world citizen. (MnTC Goal 5);
• Imagine and seek out a variety of possible goals, assumptions, interpretations, or perspectives, which can give alternative meanings or solutions to given situations or problems. (MnTC Goal 2);
• Analyze the logical connections among the facts, goals, and implicit assumptions relevant to a problem or claim; generate and evaluate implications that follow from them; (MnTC Goal 2) and
• Recognize and articulate the value assumptions, which underlie and affect decisions, interpretations, analyses, and evaluations made by ourselves and others. (MnTC Goal 2).

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1. History of Sociology
• Noted sociologists
• Noted theories
2. The Circle of Culture
• Ethnocentrism vs. Relativism
• Values  and norms
• Language and symbols
• Functionalist/conflict approaches to social phenomena
3. The Six Societies
• Humanity’s ancient origins
• Institutions
• Status and role
• Environmental challenges to global survival
4. Socialization
• Nature vs. nurture
• Re-socialization in “total institutions”
• Agents of socialization
5. Social Interaction
• Symbols
• Social construction of reality in interactive contexts
• Stanley Milgram’s experiments on obedience to authority
6. Social Organization
• Groups
• Informal groups
• Bureaucracy
• Dysfunctions of bureaucracy
• Secret organizations
7. Social Deviance as Social Construction
• Medicalization
• white collar vs. street crime
• Racism in the criminal justice system
8. Stratification
• Social mobility
• Life chances
• Inequality
• Marx and Weber
• Microcase statistical correlation of social variables