America as a Global Thing: An Introduction to Sociology for Those Not Likely to Major
SOC 152
Fall 2012 not offered
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| Certificates: International Relations |
The difference between this course and SOC 151 is that this course takes a specific set of social structures as its topic. Though some of the basic literature appropriate to the sociological study of societies will be discussed, the focus will be on America, the nation-state: its history, culture, political economy, social geography, and global position. The course will introduce the field's basic concepts--social structure, globalization, the social self, social measurement of differences, the modes of economic production, inequality, culture, crime, and deviance, alongside the more familiar theories of class, race, gender, and sexuality--among others to be selected. Concepts and theories will be presented in relation to specific problems of American social structures, with special attention to the formation of the United States as a global power in the capitalist world-system. The course will introduce the basic methods of social research--with special attention to observation in public places, survey research, archival research (these being representative of the three generic methods in use in sociology: the ethnography of local places, the analytic study of global structures, and the narrative interpretation of social power). The course concludes with the presentation of group research on global regions affected by America's global power. |
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| Credit: 1 |
Gen Ed Area Dept:
SBS SOC |
| Course Format: Lecture / Discussion | Grading Mode: Graded |
| Level: UGRD |
Prerequisites: None |
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Fulfills a Requirement for: (STS) |
Major Readings:
Readings will likely include selections from the following among other short readings:
Elliot Liebow, TALLY'S CORNER
W.E.B. Du Bois, BLACK RECONSTRUCTION (selections)
Erving Goffman, STIGMA
Charles Lemert, SOCIAL THINGS
Max Weber, THE PROTESTANT ETHIC AND THE SPIRIT OF CAPITALISM
Filipe Fernandez-Armesto, THE AMERICAS
Immanuel Wallerstein, THE WORLD-SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
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Examinations and Assignments:
Participation in a discussion group. Weekly close-readings of the assigned materials. In-class comment cards. A group research paper and presentation. In term exam. A final individual paper or exam due at the end. |
Additional Requirements and/or Comments:
Discussions will be supported by a TA and are scheduled outside of class time. Instruction will be through lectures, including special invited lecturers, film, as well as discussion. Students who decide during the semester to major in sociology may use Soc 152 as the equivalent of Soc f152. Normally this requires a solid performance in the course and no less than a B+. |
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