The following list shows the module-level topics for the course. To see all of the course pages, visit the Table of Contents.
- Module 1: Foundations of Sociology
- What Is Sociology?
- The History of Sociology
- Why Study Sociology?
- Defining the Sociological Imagination
- Applying the Sociological Imagination
- Introduction to Theoretical Perspectives
- Structural-Functional Theory
- Conflict Theory
- Feminist Theory
- Symbolic Interactionist Theory
- Introduction to Sociological Research
- The Scientific Method
- Surveys
- Experiments
- Field Research
- Secondary Data Analysis
- Summary of Research Methods
- Ethics
- Module 2: Culture and Society
- Culture and Society
- What Is Culture?
- Ethnocentrism and Xenocentricism
- Values and Beliefs
- Social Norms
- Symbols and Language
- Pop Culture and Subculture
- Cultural Change
- Types of Societies
- Theoretical Perspectives on Culture
- Functionalism and Society
- Conflict Theory and Society
- Conflict Theory and Alienation
- Symbolic Interactionism and Society
- Social Constructions of Reality
- Roles and the Presentation of Self
- Dramaturgy
- Module 3: Socialization and Interaction
- Theories of Self-Development
- Moral Development
- Why Socialization Matters
- Social Group Agents
- Institutional Agents
- Socialization Across the Life Course
- Resocialization
- Types of Groups
- Group Size and Structure
- Leadership Styles
- Conformity
- Types of Formal Organizations
- The McDonaldization of Society
- Module 4: Deviance, Crime, and Social Control
- Deviance and Control
- Theoretical Perspectives on Deviance
- Conflict Theory and Deviance
- Symbolic Interactionism and Deviance
- The Criminal Justice System
- Criminal Activity
- Module 5: Social Stratification and Inequality
- Defining Social Stratification
- Systems of Social Stratification
- Standard of Living
- Module 6: Race and Ethnicity
- Introduction to Race and Ethnicity
- Racial, Ethnic, and Minority Groups
- Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination
- Theoretical Perspectives of Race and Ethnicity
- Intergroup Relationships
- Native Americans
- African Americans
- Asian Americans
- Hispanic Americans
- Arab Americans
- White Ethnic Americans
- Module 7: Gender, Sex, and Sexuality
- Sex and Gender
- Sexual Orientation
- Gender Identity
- Gender and Socialization
- Gender Inequality
- Theoretical Perspectives on Gender
- The Women’s Movement
- Sex and Sexuality
- Theoretical Perspectives on Sex
- Module 8: Marriage and Family
- Defining Family
- Marriage and Courtship Patterns
- Lines of Descent and Family Stages
- Variations in Family Life
- Theoretical Perspectives on Marriage and Family
- Divorce and Remarriage
- Violence and Abuse
- Module 9: Religion and Education
- The History of Religion
- Theoretical Perspectives on Religion
- Types of Religion
- Hinduism
- Buddhism
- Confucianism
- Taoism
- Judaism
- Islam
- Christianity
- Religion and Social Change
- Secularization
- Education Around the World
- Universal Access to Education
- Functionalist Theory on Education
- Conflict Theory on Education
- Feminist Theory on Education
- Symbolic Interactionist Theory on Education
- Hot Topics in Education
- Charter Schools and Homeschooling
- Contemporary Issues in Education
- Module 10: Health, Aging, and the Elderly
- Why It Matters: Health, Aging, and the Elderly
- The Cultural Significance of Health
- Theoretical Perspectives on Health and Medicine
- Global Health
- Health in the United States
- Mental Health and Disabilities
- Healthcare in the United States
- Healthcare Outside of the United States
- Aging in Society
- The Graying of the United States
- Aging Around the World
- Theoretical Perspectives on Aging
- Growing Old
- Social and Psychological Changes of Aging
- Death and Dying
- Poverty
- Ageism and Abuse
- Putting It Together: Health, Aging, and the Elderly
- Module 11: Government and Politics
- Why It Matters: Government and Politics
- Defining Power
- Types of Authority
- Forms of Government
- Politics in the United States
- Theoretical Perspectives on Government
- Module 12: Work and the Economy
- Why It Matters: Work and the Economy
- Introduction to Work and the Economy
- Types of Economic Systems
- Capitalism and Socialism
- Theoretical Perspectives on Economics
- Globalization
- Recent Economic Conditions in the United States
- Work in the United States
- Poverty in the United States
- Module 13: Population, Urbanization, and the Environment
- Why It Matters: Population, Urbanization, and the Environment
- Demography and Population Growth
- Demographic Theories
- Urbanization on the Rise
- Theoretical Perspectives on Urbanization
- Environmental Sociology
- Environmental Racism
- Putting It Together: Population, Urbanization, and the Environment
- Module 14: Social Movements, Media, and Technology
- Why It Matters: Social Movements, Media, and Technology
- Collective Behavior
- Levels of Social Movements
- Types and Stages of Social Movements
- Theoretical Perspectives on Social Movements
- Occupy Wall Street
- Social Change and Modernization
- Introduction to Media and Technology
- Modern Technology
- Media and Technology
- Media Globalization
- Technological Globalization
- Functionalism on Media and Technology
- Conflict Perspective on Media and Technology
- Symbolic Interactionism on Media and Technology
- Class Structure in the United States
- Social Mobility
- Introduction to Global Inequality
- Global Stratification and Inequality
- Global Stratification
- Global Classification
- Types of Global Poverty
- Poverty Around the World
- The Impact of Poverty
- Theoretical Perspectives on Social Stratification
- Theoretical Perspectives on Global Stratification