Course Contents

1. The Sociological Perspective: Sociology as a Science, Development of Sociology, Perspectives in Sociology : Evolutionary, Interactionist, Functionalist, Conflict and Comparison of various perspectives. 2. The Science of Sociology Begin: Theory: Gerhard Lenski: Society and Technology, Karl, Marx: Society and Conflict, Max Weber: The Rationalization of Society, Emile Durkheim: Society and Function, Critical Review: Four Visions of Society. 3. Culture and “Society”: What is Culture?, Culture and Society, Social and Cultural Development, The Elements of Culture, Cultural Diversity, Theoretical Analysis of Culture 4. Socialization and Self Construction: Meaning of Personality, Factors in development of Personality, Socialization and Self, Socialization through roles and status, ascribed and achieved status and role. Role strain. 5. Social Control: social control, Social control through socialization, Social deviation, Juvenile Delinquency. 6. Groups and Social Structure: Social Groups; Groups and individuals, kinds of groups, group dynamics. 7. Social institutions: Institutional concept, Development of institutions, Family. Religion, Education, Politics and Government 8. Stratification and Status: What Is Social Stratification? Social Class, Significance of Social Class, Functional and Conflict theories of Social Class. 9. Social Mobility: Nature of Social Mobility, Mobility Determinants and Prospects. 10. Social and Cultural Change: Theories and Process of Social Change, Factors in rate of change, resistance to and acceptance of social change and its consequences. Final Project: A final project is mandatory for qualifying the final term paper and is comprises of a comprehensive report/ practical implementation or a presentation on any social project/ civic project for the betterment of society.

Course Synopsis

The course is designed to provide the basic understanding of both the process and challenge of scientific observation and analysis of social behavior. The course is aimed to cultivate the habit of scientific analysis of social data among the students.

Course Learning Outcomes

The central objective of this course is to: • Provide a general introduction to the main perspectives and organizing concepts within sociology in a manner that will engender a questioning attitude toward contemporary society and social issues. • The course is also designed to explain and illustrate both the process and the boundaries inherent in the social construction of reality. Throughout the course, the importance of developing critical analysis through logically constructed argument will be accented.