SOCY 403 - Intermediate Sociological Theory   

 Warren Johnson

Faculty Contact Information:
1 November 2004 - 6 March 2005 Warren Johnson Collegiate Associate Professor Office hours: 24/7 Email: wjohnson@faculty.ed.umuc.edu

Course Materials:
Ritzer, G., & Goodman, D. J. (2004). Classical Sociological Theory (4th ed.). Boston: McGraw Hill.

Course Description:
Prerequisite: SOCY 100 or equivalent.  A study of major theoretical approaches to sociology, including functionalism, conflict, and symbolic interactionism.  Original works of major theorists are examined in historical and cultural perspective.

Course Goals/Objectives:
1. Analyze and describe the interconnections between social organization and the major sociological theories.
2. Distinguish between functionalist, social conflict, and symbolic interactionist perspectives in terms of scope, hypotheses, and major assumptions.
3  Relate the key aspects of theorists' biographical information to the construction of their theories.
4. Describe the basic features of the classical theories and compare and contrast the key elements between and among these theories.
5. Apply the classical sociological theories to assist in the understanding of selected contemporary issues.

Course Introduction:
Intermediate Sociological Theory provides students with the opportunity to examine the perspectives and lives of theorists ranging from Auguste Comte, Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx and Max Weber to Georg Simmel, George Mead, Erving Goffman and C. Wright Mills. Historically, theorists such as Ibn Khaldun (1332--1406) and Karl Marx (1818--1883) have attempted to develop broad conceptual explanations pertaining to society. Others, such as Max Weber (1864-1920) and C. Wright Mills (1916-1962 examined social class. Still others, like George Mead (1863-1931) and Erving Goffman (1922-1982), looked at small-scale detail such as symbolic interaction. Among theorists who have examined all the theories are Lewis Coser, Masters of Sociological Thought (New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Inc.); Marcello Truzzi, Sociology: The Classic Statements (New York: Random House), and George Ritzer, Classical Sociological Theory (New York: McGraw Hill).  The contributions made by these theorists will be discussed during the course.

Grading Information and Criteria:
Weekly assignments and class participation 50% Proctored midterm 25% Final Exam 25% A = 90% and above B = 80%-89% C = 70%-79% D = 60%-69% F = 59% or below Written assignments will be graded both for content and writing. Assignments should be thorough, accurate, logical, and clearly organized with correct sentence structure, punctuation, and grammar. In addition, you will be expected to comment constructively on at least three other students' essays each week.

Other Information:
Other sources you might find useful if your library has them are: Herbert Blumer, Symbolic Interactionism Lewis Coser, Masters of Sociological Thought Marcello Truzzi, Sociology: The Classic Statements Theordore Porter, The Rise of Statistical Thinking 1820-1900 Masters of Sociological Thought is available on-line at Dead Sociologists.

Project Descriptions:
Weekly contributions or assignments will cover topics and ideas focusing on the various aspects of Intermediate Sociological Theory. It is expected that students will do weekly research, using sources outside of the textbooks, including internet sources, news sources, interviews, books, and articles. It is also expected that they will respond constructively to at least three other students' essays each week.

Academic Policies:
Cases of plagiarism are handled consistent with current UMUC guidelines. See the UMUC policies at the following URL: http://www.umuc.edu/policy/

Course Schedule:
1 - Historical Sketch: The Early Years 2 - Historical Sketch: The Later Years 3 - Auguste Comte 4 - Herbert Spencer 5 - Karl Marx 6 - Emile Durkheim 7 - Max Weber Proctored MIDTERM EXAM Semester Break 20 Dec 2004 - 16 Jan 2005 8- Georg Simmel 9 - Early Women Sociologists 10 - W.E.B. Du Bois 11 - Thorstein Veblen 12 - Karl Mannheim 13 - George Herbert Mead 14 - FINAL EXAM WEEK 28 February thru 6 March