COURSE OUTLINE
Course Code: SOCI1002
Course Title: Introduction to Sociology
Course Discipline: Social Sciences
Credits: Three (3)
Prerequisite: None
Course Rationale
The central problem of social theory revolves around the question: are social theories relevant to an understanding of social life in contemporary times, especially in the Caribbean. This question falls against the background that much of what we identify as sociological theory has been developed against changes in European society. Caribbean society today has a peculiar evolution that cannot be explained through a dependence on Eurocentric outlooks and therefore social theory must be questioned and undergo a systematic evaluation that makes it relevant to the musings on Caribbean life. Notwithstanding what has been said, it is critical that students be exposed to the classical sociological thoughts and perspectives but at the same time understand their relevance, be critical of their frames of understanding and develop an appreciation for the gaps in what is presented and what Caribbean academia have contributed to sociological theory.
Sociology is about a systematic interrogation of the interaction between persons and between them and institutions in society. This means that it considers influences, worldviews, belief systems, economics, politics and governance to name a few and the degree to which these affect how people behave and relate in society.
The understanding of social theory is an important addition to any UWI student’s life, regardless of whatever discipline it is they are devoted to. UWI graduates are members of societies as well and as they will learn in this introductory course, sociological theory gives an understanding of Academic Board Approved, 2014, SOCI1002 – Introduction to Sociology (Revised 2016) Page 2 the rules of behavior crucial to the successful assimilation of people in society. Caribbean societies are riddled with problems that challenge the way of life and expectations of its nationals. Poverty, youth violence and crime, male marginalization and globalization’s impact on culture are some of issues confronting the region today. In this course you will see that solutions to these problems cannot be divorced from an understanding of social theory.
Course Description
This course will introduce students to classical social theory through an understanding of the work of writers such as Auguste Comte, Max Weber, Karl Marx and George H. Mead. The main focus of this studying is to understand the central ideas of these writers and to reflect on the usefulness of their theory in contemporary Caribbean societies. This reflection will support students’ further investigations of the explanations given for issues on the front line of Caribbean societies’ development agendas. At the same time, students will learn about the central ideas and perspectives of writers such as Edward Kamau Brathwaite, M.G. Smith and George Beckford. The combination of classical and Caribbean schools of social inquiry will set the tone for a synthesizing of perspectives on race, class, gender, ethnicity and the family in society. This process will assist students with developing their theoretical base in social theory, as well as independent thought on happenings in Caribbean society.
Course Objectives
At the end of the course, learners will be able to:
Knowledge
1. Identify the main ideas of classical sociologists such as Comte, Weber, Marx, Mead
2. Define basic concepts such as socialization, culture and norms in sociology and apply to situational analysis of Caribbean social life.
3. Explain the social structure of the contemporary Caribbean and the presence of inequality.
4. Evaluate information on institutions such as the family, religion and education in the Caribbean for the formulation of perspectives on social issues.
Skills
1. Compare the contributions of sociological perspectives on the interaction between people in Caribbean society.
2. Apply sociological methodologies and interpretation to issues and social phenomena raised in this course.
Attitudes
1. Agree on the relevance of Caribbean sociological perspectives to understanding social phenomena in the Caribbean
2. Defend the use of scientific and non-scientific approaches of sociological inquiry into social phenomena.
