Introduction to Sociology and Social Life Course
Details
The free online course Introduction to Sociology and Social Life is the first in a series of four courses that describes in detail the concepts of societies and cultures, and the types of processes that produce them. The course introduces you to sociology by giving an overview of the three main theories - Structural-Functionalism, Conflict Theory and Symbolic Interactionism. It then covers the history of how sociology evolved from from its founding by Auguste Comte in the nineteenth century right through to the modern theorists. The course reviews social inequality, its causes and impacts, the way people are socialized and how different cultural socialization can cause social division. It also reviews why groups form and how they function. You will learn more about culture and how it is defined, its mores and norms, what differentiates cultures and what is common to all cultures. You will also learn how population and the environment are linked and the impact this can have on society. This course will be of great interest to professionals working in areas as diverse as medicine, politics, law, urban organization and marketing, and any learner who would like to know more about how cultures and societies evolve and change.
CERTIFICATIONTo qualify for your official ALISON Diploma, Certificate or PDF you must studyand complete all modules and score 80% or more in each of the course assessments. A link to purchase your Diploma certificate will then appear under the My Certificates heading of your My Account page.
LEARNING OUTCOMESHaving completed this course you will be able to:
- Explain concepts and theories central to sociology and how they are used;
- Describe the three main theories: Structural-functionalism, Conflict Theory and Symbolic Interactionism;
- Identify ways sociology is applied in the real world;
- Discuss the role of social control within culture;
- Describe the difference between psychological and sociological theories of self development;
- Describe the importance of socialization both for individuals and society;
- Learn the roles of families and peer groups in socialization;
- Explain how socialization occurs and recurs throughout life;
- Apply the concept of carrying capacity to environmental concerns.
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