Demonstrate an understanding of the “Sociological Imagination” and apply the three main theoretical perspectives to a variety of social issues and processes

INTRODUCTION

We see ourselves as individuals, but by virtue of our gender, race, class, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, or even our consumption habits, we are also members of several social groups, all of which are interacting constantly. If we think about society as consisting of various structures (and systems which animate those structures), it is enlightening to understand how the social groups to which we belong as individuals have participated in creating our society, and what impacts these have had both historically and currently. Whereas psychology studies the individual mind, sociology digs into what happens when at least two (or more) are interacting.

Do you want to relate to people in both your personal and professional life? Do you want to understand the impacts of the structures of society on the individual as well as how the individual acts on the structure of society?

These are the types of things you will examine in this course. In this module, you’ll learn about the development of sociology as a field of research and discover various theoretical perspectives central to the study of society. In addition, you will learn why it is worthwhile to study sociology and how sociology can be applied in the real world.

For example, did you know that sociologists helped the Supreme Court end “separate but equal” racial segregation in the United States? It might also interest you to know that the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., Ronald Reagan, Robin Williams, and First Lady Michelle Obama were all sociology majors.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Define sociology and describe the historical and social context from which it emerged
• Explain the sociological imagination as the relationship between the individual and the broader workings of society or as the connections between personal troubles and public issues
• Compare and contrast sociology with other social sciences
• Differentiate between the three main theoretical perspectives and explain how each perspective/paradigm reflects the work of major theorists and their contribution to the field then compare and contrast how each theoretical perspective would approach the study of a particular social issue

Okay, let’s get started!