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Introductory sociology is a low-level course in social sciences, taught in college as part of general education or a sociology course. It can be a single class or a sequence, with varying presentation styles. Topics include culture, social structures, religion, politics, and social disturbances. Instruction can focus on key topics and techniques or analyzing foundational works of great sociologists.
Introductory sociology is low-level instruction in the social sciences, usually taught early in college as part of general education requirements or as an initial component of a sociology course. The exact presentation of such instruction can vary dramatically based on the nature of the school and sociology program. Introductory sociology can be a single class or a sequence of classes. Some introductory sociology programs are based on a textbook and present the basic techniques and topics used and examined by researchers in sociology. Others begin with an examination of some of the foundational works of great sociologists.
The fundamental questions examined in any introductory sociology course are generally representative of the broad problems addressed by the field as a whole. Culture and the development of large-scale social structures such as governments and civilizations are highly important. Smaller scale issues such as social interactions within families or among small groups of friends are also common areas of study. The development, organization, and social role of religion are almost always examined in introductory sociology. Other topics such as politics, social psychology, age and gender differences, and social disturbances can also be studied in an introductory psychology course.
Many introductory sociology programs focus on examining key sociology topics and the techniques used to study them. This form of sociology instruction usually involves a combination of conceptual learning and problem solving. Important concepts in sociology range from certain topics in biology and evolution to large-scale behavioral studies of large groups of people. Problem solving tends to involve mainly statistics, since much of the quantitative work in sociology is based on the mathematical analysis of the behaviors of large groups of people. This form of sociology education allows students to decide whether they are interested in and suited to the type of work common in professional sociological research.
Another common approach to introductory sociology is based on studying some of the great works of sociology. Rather than a structured study of sociology techniques and topics, students learn by analyzing the foundational works of great sociologists. This method, rather than seeking to provide a broad and comprehensive view, often requires students to delve into a smaller subset of topics. It prepares students to read and understand complex sociological research papers that often provide the foundation for further study of sociology. Modern methods and problem-solving techniques can be learned in later courses.
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