The objective of this course is to provide a general survey of the field of sociology while also equipping you with a framework to think critically about the social world and your place within it. The lectures, readings, and assignments will focus on understanding basic social processes and applying them to everyday events. We will cover a range of topics, including but not limited to the economy, religion, politics, immigration, culture, inequality, race, and gender.
- Identify, adopt, and practice a sociological approach.
- Become familiar with the major theories, issues, and findings in sociology.
- Understand how social contexts influence human behavior and the sociological research process, including the types of evidence sociologists use to examine social life.
- Gather sociological evidence and construct arguments based on that evidence through written assignments.
Henslin, James. 2007. Down to Earth Sociology: Introductory Readings, 14th Edition. This book is available at the GT Barnes & Noble Bookstore and online. Readings followed by a number in parentheses refer to the corresponding reading in Down to Earth Sociology. The number in parentheses indicates the reading number within the Henslin reader. Other required readings can be found on Canvas.
Attendance and Participation (15%)
Pre-Class Discussions (15%)
Assignments (35%)
Midterm (15%)
Final Exam (20%)
It is crucial to attend every class to stay up to date with the course material. You are allowed only TWO absences (excused and unexcused combined) throughout the semester. Lectures, videos, and discussions are designed to complement the reading assignments by providing additional insights, rather than simply repeating the content.
- Academic Conduct: Students are expected to adhere to the Georgia Tech Honor Code. Violations of the Honor Code will be addressed appropriately and may result in an “F” on the assignment or in the course. If you require special accommodation due to a disability, please inform me as soon as possible. You should also contact the Office of Disability Services.
- Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools: You may use generative AI programs, e.g. ChatGPT, to help generate ideas and brainstorm. You should be aware that the material generated by these programs may be inaccurate, incomplete, biased or otherwise problematic. Also, use of these tools may stifle your own independent thinking and creativity. Per GaTech's Honor Code, you may not submit any work generated by an AI program as your own. If you include material generated by an AI program, it should be cited like any other reference material (with due consideration for the quality of the reference, which may be poor). When/if you use AI platforms in your assignments, please write a note to clarify where in your process you used AI, include the prompt used to generate the material, and which platform(s) you used. See this article for how to cite AI properly: How to cite ChatGPT: https://apastyle.apa.org/blog/how-to-cite-chatgpt. That said, using any AI tools during a proctored exam or quiz is never permitted.
- Class Conduct: Please avoid disrupting the class by arriving late or leaving early unless you have a valid reason. Ensure that your phone is turned off, and refrain from packing up before the class has ended. You are expected to think critically during class, and everyone’s ideas should be welcomed and respected. Respectful behavior is essential to maintaining a safe and open environment for class discussions. Any behavior that creates a hostile, offensive, or intimidating atmosphere for any reason, including but not limited to gender, race, ethnicity, religion, age, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation, will not be tolerated. Hate speech will not be permitted.
This course is a Core IMPACTS course within the Social Sciences area, designed to provide students with essential knowledge in foundational academic disciplines. It aims to help students master course content while supporting their broader academic and career goals. The course is centered around the following guiding question:
- How do I understand human experiences and connections?
By completing this course, students should achieve the following learning outcome:
- Students will effectively analyze the complexity of human behavior and understand how historical, economic, political, social, or geographic relationships develop, persist, or change.
The course content, activities, and exercises are designed to help students develop the following career-ready competencies:
- Intercultural Competence
- Perspective-Taking
- Persuasion