On successful completion of this unit, the student will be able to:
Explain principle sociological concepts and theories.
Apply sociological theories, concepts and evidence to sociological questions.
Develop arguments by using evidence, evaluating competing explanations, and drawing conclusions.
Communicate sociological ideas, principles and knowledge using appropriate formats and through a Christian Worldview.
Sociology focuses on the organisation of social life. It looks at how people’s lives are influenced by their opportunities and experiences; and the impact that people have on society through taking action and creating change. Sociology provides insights into the ways factors such as class, wealth, race, gender, ethnicity, age, sexuality, disability and religion shape people’s lives, but this is only one part of it. Sociology is diverse and covers all aspects of social life.
Most importantly, sociology is a perspective on the social world that values critical thinking. Sociologists question the commonsense and popular explanations of social life and look at the dynamics of power and inequality in everyday life.
A central concept to sociology is that of the sociological imagination. The sociological imagination allows sociologists to make connections between personal experiences and larger social issues. This course is designed to introduce you to a range of basic sociological principles so that you can develop your own sociological imagination.
Throughout this unit you will learn about the origins of sociology as a discipline and be introduced to major sociological theories and methods of research. You will also explore such topics as sex and gender, deviance, and racism and how the Christian worldview speaks into these spaces. As you move through the course, try to develop your sociological imagination by relating the topics and theories you read about to your own life experiences.
The Unit Offerings listed above are a guide only and the timetable for any year is the final authority. The College may vary offerings based on demand, regulatory requirements, continual improvement processes or other conditions.
This unit may be available in different modes of delivery i.e. online and face-to-face as listed above. The unit content will not differ between these modes of delivery. There will possibly be a difference in the schedule and/or the prescribed assessment tasks, however both will cover and assess the same content.