Social Theory
Number of credits: 5
Course time(s): On campus and online once/year (instructors rotate)
Catalog description: Origin and growth of ideas leading to the development of sociology as a discipline. Study of the principal frames of reference in contemporary sociological theory. This course is not offered online (but is a requirement for either the Sociology or Social Welfare concentrations).
Prerequisites: Minimum of 15 hours off sociology recommended; soc 204 and 205; at least junior standing.
Course website: https://noegret.org/soc-454-social-theory
Most recent syllabi: Fall ’13 (on campus); Spring ’20 (online)
Recent textbooks used:
- Wesley Longhofer and Daniel Winchester (editors). 2016. Social Theory re-wired. NY: Routledge.
- George Ritzer. 2012. Contemporary Sociological Theory and its Classical Roots. NY: McGraw-Hill.
- Peter Kivisto (editor). 2011. Social Theory: Roots and Branches. NY: Oxford University Press (4th edition).
- Laura Desfor Edless and Scott Applerouth. 2009. Sociological Theory in the Classical Era: Text and Readings. Sage.
- Craig Calhoun, Joseph Gerteis, James Moody, Steven Pfaff, Indermohan Virk (editors). 2007. Classical Sociological Theory (2nd edition). Malden, MA: Blackwell.
- Peter Kivisto. Key Ideas in Sociology. Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge Press.
General topics covered: Origins of sociological theory, classical theory and theorists, theory as a way of learning about the world and as the structure of scientific thought, application of theory, contemporary theory and theorists.
Learning outcomes
Upon completion students will demonstrate the capacity to:
- demonstrate an understanding of the role of theory in the social sciences.
- describe how theories are constructed, and the importance of logic and evidence in this process.
- know how theory can be applied to help explain or predict social phenomena.
- apply a theory in a real world setting.
