A. The discipline of sociology. Students will learn:

1. how sociology differs from and is similar to other social sciences;
2. how sociology contributes to a social scientific understanding of social reality; and
3. to apply the sociological imagination, sociological principles and concepts to one's life.

B. The role of theory. Students will learn:

1. the role of theory in building sociological knowledge; and
2. the historical context of times and cultures in which theories were developed.

C. Empirical science. Students will learn:   

1. the principles of scientific methods in sociology;
2. the ethics in conducting research; to convey research findings in writing; and
3. to evaluate media information; become critical consumer of information.

D. Learn the relevance of culture, social change, socialization, stratification, social structure, and institutions, and differentiations by race/ethnicity, gender, age, and class.

E. Culture and social institutions. Students will learn:  

1. how social change affects social structures and individuals; and
2. how culture and social structure vary across time and place.  

F. Individuals and society. Students will learn:  

1. how the self develops sociologically.
2. how social interactions and the self influence society and social structure; and

G. Understand the difference between macro and micro levels and the connections between the two levels.

H. Research in sociology. The students learn:

1. to summarize basic questions and issues in a specialty area, such as deviant behavior, social psychology or social stratification;
2. basic theoretical orientation in a specialty area; and
3. to become familiar with current research in a specialty area.

I. Diversity of American society. Students will learn:

1. the significance of global variations by race, class, gender, and age.

J. Critical thinking. Students will learn:

1. opposing viewpoints and alternative hypotheses on various issues.

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