North South University

Department of Political Science and Sociology

SOC 101: Introduction to Sociology
Summer 2022

Course Outline (Proposed)

A. Wohab, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Political Science and Sociology
North South University

Room No. NAC 911

E-mail: abdul.wohab@northsouth.edu
Office Hours: ST 2:40 pm – 4: 40 pm (other time by appointment)
Monday :100pm -5:00pm (other time by appointment)

Class schedule:
Section 07: Sunday & Tuesday 09:40 am – 11:10 am, NAC1078
Section 08: Sunday & Tuesday 01:00 pm – 02:30 pm, NAC301
Section 09: Monday & Wednesday 9 :40 am - 11:10 am, NAC1078
Section 10: Monday & Wednesday 11:20 am - 12:50 pm, NAC602

Course Description:

Sociology is one of the young but intellectually rich analytical social sciences. Sociology is about social
relations, network, family, club, group, and marriage, cultures and so on of modern societies and numerous
rules and procedures that govern these societies. This is an introductory course in sociology which
familiarizes students with key concepts of sociology, theories, and different theoretical perspectives within
the discipline. The course will encourage students to debate various issues of the globalized world to
develop a sociological imagination. Students also be introduced to basic research methods (with practical
exercises) used for sociological investigations, which will help them develop the primary skills to study
human behaviors. This will be a 3-credit course i.e. of 36 hours duration.

Course Outcomes:
1. Critically explain the historical context in which sociology as a social science emerged as a
separate discipline.
2. Communicate with the processes in which people become members of society.
3. Differentiate between/among different types of society and will also be able to critically analyze
why social behavior vary from society to society.
4. Explain many of the social problems using sociological concepts and theories.
5. Enhance global thinking abilities on human behavior from the sociological perspective thereby
observing those features, which are common to all cultures, and be able to assess them in the
context of their own unique setting.
6. Identify from the sociological perspective, those factors in society which contribute to social
change, and recognize sound sociological research procedures when presented in an experimental
framework.

1
Course Outline:

WEEK TOPIC/KEY AREAS READINGS

(Books and
Chapters)
1 (lec. 1 & 2) Introduction 1 (Richard
What is sociology? Use of sociological imagination; sociology Schaefer)
and other social sciences

2 (lec. 3) Understanding Sociology 1 (Richard

Origin and development of sociology; contributions of Comte, Schaefer)
Durkheim, Marx and Weber; major sociological
perspectives; functionalism; conflict and interactionism

Quiz: 01
2-3 (lec. 4 &5) Culture 3 (Richard
What is culture? Material and non-material culture; Sub- Schaefer)
culture, Cultural shock; Ethnocentrism, Elements of culture;
Technology and Future; Computer technology and
biotechnology

3-4 (lec. 6 & 7) Socialization 4 (Richard

What is socialization? Debate on nature versus nurture; Schaefer)
Theories of Cooley, Mead and Goffman; Agents of
socialization - family, school, peer group, mass media,
workplace and the state.
Quiz: 02 and the announcement of the
photovoice/assign/report/ presentation/viva
4-5 (lec. 8 & 9) Research Methodology (Richard
Definition of sociological research; Designing Research: Schaefer)
Research strategies and data collection methods: Ethics of
Research; Data analysis and report writing.
5-6 (Lec. 10 & 11) Economic System (Richard
Types of economic systems; characteristics Schaefer)
MID TERM/CASE EXAMINATION: After 11th lecture (lecture 1-
STUDIES/CRITICAL 11)
ANALYSIS
6-7 (lec. 12 &13) Religion and Society (Richard
Definition of religion: Role of religion in society; Types of Schaefer)
religion and their basis
7-8 (lec. 14 & 15) Education (Richard
Theorizing the significance of Education; Social Divisions Schaefer)
and Education; Education in Global Context
8-9 (Lec. 16, 17 & 18) Social Institutions and Social Structure 7 (Marilyn
Marriage and Family; Theoretical perspectives; Changing Poole)
functions of family; Future of marriage and family; and the
alternative lifestyles.

2
 10 (lec. 19 & 20) Social Stratification, Class, Mobility and 9 (Richard
Inequality Schaefer)
Understanding Stratification: Systems, Theories and
Perspectives; Stratification by Social Class,
Social mobility
Definition of inequality, Global economic inequality,
Population and inequality

11 (lec. 21 & 22)
Social Problems: Deviance, Crime and Social (Richard
Control Schaefer)
Definition of social control, Crime and Deviance; Sociological
Perspectives of Crime and Deviance; Social Policy and Social
control

12 (lec.23 &24) Media & Technology (Richard

Technology today, Media & Technology in Society, Schaefer)
Global Implications, Theoretical Perspectives on
Media and Technology

13 (lec 25 & 26) Presentation/ Review Class

Presentation based on project or report/review class

Course Assessment Methods:

Assignment
For this assignment you will be required to write an 800 (min/max) word piece. This piece should draw on
the materials and ideas in the course to date, and requires formal referencing. This piece is designed to get
you thinking sociologically, and to give us a chance to check your progress early on.

Required format: 1.5 line spacing, 12 point font sizing, title of assessment, name, student number, page
numbers in bottom right corner, referencing on a separate page following the essay, assessment cover sheet
attached to the front of the essay including your teacher’s name

Quiz
Quizzes will be designed to test the students’ understanding in the course and to assess various course
outcomes.

Examinations
Midterm and final examinations shall contain questions designed to test students’ knowledge and
comprehension of basic sociological concepts, problems and implications.

Assessment Methods vs. Course Outcomes:

Assessment Methods 1 2 3 4 5 6
Assignment X X X X X
Quiz X X X X X X
Exam X X X X X X

Text:

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Primary textbook:
Schaefer, R.T (2016). Sociology: A brief introduction, 12th ed. Canada: McGraw-Hill Companies Inc.
(Compulsory Reading)- instructor will show you the recommended chapters for you to read for this
semester.
Additional:

Giddens, A. & Sutton, P. W. (2009). Introduction to Sociology. Wwnorlon and Company.

Supporting Tools:

Lecture notes and other course materials will be made available on google classroom (allocated place for
students).

Course Policies:

Class Policy
• Active participation in class discussions is expected and encouraged. In addition to the above, any
student missing 3 or more consecutive classes without authorization will automatically receive a text,
and may be at risk of being barred from attending the final exam.
• The instructor reserves the right to make any necessary (announced) changes to the grading scheme
or to the syllabus. The midterm examination date will be announced in class (as per academic
calendar). The final examination will be held as per the North South University schedule.

Academic Integrity
Each student in this course is expected to abide by the North South University Code of Academic
Integrity. Any work submitted by a student in this course for academic credit will be the student's
own work. Copying from another student or copying from published, unpublished or electronic
sources without appropriate citations or quotations is plagiarism. If there is evidence of plagiarism,
ALL students involved will automatically receive a zero grade. The penalty for violation of this code
can also be extended to include failure of the course and University disciplinary action. Faculty also
reserves the right to take viva on any time during the semester.

Late submissions and examinations

No late submissions or make-up examinations will be accepted or arranged except for extreme
circumstances, conditional on appropriate documentation.

Grading Policies:
Students’ grades are assigned according to the grading scale of the North South University Undergraduate
Study and Examinations Regulations. In addition, the faculty are allowed to take into consideration the
class average and standard deviation to reflect the actual class performance for student grade assignment.
Grading will follow the following system:

Marks Grade GPA

93 and
A Excellent 4.0
above
90 - 92 A- 3.7
87 - 89 B+ 3.3
83 - 86 B Good 3.0
80 - 82 B- 2.7
77 - 79 C+ 2.3
73 - 76 C Average 2.0
70 - 72 C- 1.7
67 - 69 D+ 1.3
60 - 66 D Poor 1.0

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 Bellow 60 F Failure 0.0
I Incomplete
W Withdrawal
R Retaken

Course Assessment/Evaluation Methods:

Seventy percent (70%) for Mid Term and Final is fixed according the university requirement. However, for
the remaining 30% (project/ report/attendance and class participation/quizzes/assignment etc/) can be
allocated by individual faculty members.

Method Marks (%)

Attendance 05 %
Assignment/Case 30%
analysis/Photovoice (group)/
(10+10+10)
Research Report and
Presentation/discussion and Viva
Quiz (Best 1 out of 2) 10 %
Midterm/Case Analysis 25 %
Final/Critical Assessment 30 %
Total 100 %

Best of luck!