SOCIOLOGY

SOCIOLOGY STUDIES 

                           ..analyzing social groups and relationships!

Welcome to the sociology studies section of this website! This section is crated to help all those who are interested in the study of sociology.  As you explore the information in this section of the website you will be to answer most of your commonly asked questions, and also have an in-depth overview of the discipline, as well as an idea of the different directions a career in sociology can take you.

Take your time to explore the content of this section; it is carefully structure to train you on sociology mastership. The contents range from elementary, minor, major and professional sociology studies. Each of the topics contains a wealth of information to make your study worth while. 

"Although social change cannot come overnight, we must always work as though it were a possibility in the morning."- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Sociology is defined as the study of the social world around us, the social causes and consequences of human behavior. Over the years sociologists have invested painstaking efforts to investigate the structure of groups, organizations, and societies, and how people interact within these contexts. Fundamentally, all human behavior is social, and in the light of this fundamental consciousness, the subject matter of sociology ranges from the family to the anonymous crowd, organized crime to organized religion, from inequality along the lines of race, gender and social class to the shared beliefs of a common culture, and from the sociology of work to the sociology of sports. It is a subject with a wide coverage and approach, which has the potential to enable understand yourself and the society at large.

Sociology put forwards a unique way of observing and understanding the social world in which we dwell. It looks beyond taken-for-granted views of reality to provide deeper, more illuminating and challenging understandings of social life. Sociology expands our awareness of social relationships, cultures, and institutions that profoundly shape our lives and human history through the approach:

·        Analytical perspective.

·        Theoretical approaches.

·        And research methods.

The study of sociology will also help you to understand more clearly the forces responsible for shaping the particulars of our own lives. The ability to see and understand this connection between large-scale social forces and personal experience, offers invaluable academic preparation for our personal and professional lives in an ever-changing society. This is what C. Wright Mills called "the sociological imagination,"

The study of sociology can help you understand the patterns of human interdependence that shape your daily life. Many of the pleasures and pains you encounter in life is a function of the fact that you depend upon others for what you want. You depend on friends, parents, sisters, brothers, employers, musicians, technicians, caterers, photographers, cooks, furniture makers, fashion designers, dry cleaners, etc for the enjoyment of the services provided by them. However, it is important to note that you are not the only one in this game of interdependency. If you look beyond yourself to the lives of others you will notice that the same is true for them. At the heart of sociology is the fact of human interdependence. This goes a long way to affect what you want and what you get from others, who you are, what you can do, what you must do, and how much pleasure and pain comes your way as you play the game of the relationships of interdependence.

THE GOALS OF SOCIOLOGY STUDY

This course will introduce students to the discipline of Sociology, its perspective, its basic concepts and principles, its methods of analysis and its major sub-fields. Through this introduction it is expected that students will begin to think in ways that take into account the social realm of thought, including the impact of social forces, social constraints, and social structure on an individual's thoughts and behaviours. The goals of the course are to encourage students to begin to think critically about the social world, to examine various life issues with a sociological lens, to 'problematize' social issues, and to spark the sociological imagination - "the ability to see the relationship between individual experiences and the larger society" (C. Wright Mills, 1959).

Sociology is the scientific study of human interaction and the body of knowledge which has been accumulated through that study. Sociology study is a survey of concepts, theories, research, and ideas which comprise the core of body knowledge. In addition to learning the core of the discipline you will come to appreciate and acquire certain values and ways of thinking about human interaction which is often called "the sociological perspective."

Through this perspective you will train yourself to derive the intellectual enjoyment from life through an enriched understanding of the social world. Scientifically, the purpose of this study is to describe what sociology is, what

Sociologists do and how to understand your environment and human behavior in order to contribute your quota in helping making the society a better place for all.

Secondly, by studying sociology, you will learn a way of analyzing world events and human behavior through sociological methods and techniques.

Thirdly, the study of sociology will present a clear overview of the sociological perspective in a way practical to the everyday experiences of your life.

Fourthly, the study of sociology will enable you to understand that individuals are products of their social environments. Who they are, what they believe, what they strive for, and how they feel about themselves are all dependent on others and the society in which we live.

Fifthly, the study of sociology will enable you to make occasional references to other cultures (cross-cultural) by highlighting, through comparison, distinctive aspects of Nigerian society that might otherwise be taken for granted.

Sixthly, the study of sociology will help you reinforce, and value such basic learning skills as:

1. Self-discipline, as applied to study habits, meeting deadlines, and completing assignments.

2. Reading, writing, studying and comprehending the English language.

3. Independent and critical thinking. You will acquire the conceptual foundations which will allow you to successfully complete additional courses in sociology.

Lastly, the study of sociology will also help you gain important skills. You will learn specific marketable skills, such as how to use statistical software. More generally, you will learn how to engage in critical analysis, an ability that will serve you well irrespective of your future career.

STUDY COMPETENCIES AND OBJECTIVES

As you engage yourself with the habit of exploring the contents of this section you will be able to do the following:

·        Demonstrate critical thinking skills and improve writing for better expression of our analyses of social life.

·        Identify sociological concepts and understand research methods in analyzing social behavior.

·        Appreciate social diversity - both within your own culture and across cultures and societies by using sociological perspectives and sociological imagination.

·        Explain history and development of Sociology as a science and a discipline.

·        Apply sociological concepts and theories to your personal and social lives.

·        Analyze the major social institutions (economics, government, religion, education, and families) and their significance.

·        Explain the dynamics of population, urbanization, ecology, medicine, health, and environmental issues.

·        Analyze the socialization process, gender roles/stratification, and how we become social beings.

·        Explain social stratification/social inequality, race, ethnic relations, and aging in Nigeria and other societies.

·        Explain interaction, group dynamics, bureaucracy, and social structure.

·        Define, explain, and understand sexuality, deviant and collective behavior.

·        Analyze the importance and dimensions of social change.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN SOCIOLOGY

People who get a B.A. in sociology are often employed in the helping professions, in business, and in various public welfare positions, especially those dealing with social programs and their implementation.

Career opportunities for students with a degree in sociology include:

1.     Administration.

2.     Advertising.

3.     Banking.

4.     Counseling (family planning, career, substance abuse, etc.).

5.      Community planning.

6.     Health services.

7.     Journalism.

8.     Group and recreation work.

9.     Marketing and market research.

10.                        Sales.

11.                        Teaching.

12.                        Human resources/personnel.

13.                        Social services.

14.                         Social research.

15.                        Business.

16.                        Counseling.

17.                        International Relations

18.                         Business Consultation

19.                         Federal Government

20.                         Urban Social Work

21.                         Military

22.                         State Government

23.                         Criminal Justice

24.                         Seminar and Workshop Consultations

25.                         Education - Administration

26.                         State Agencies

27.                         Consulting - Education

28.                         City Management

29.                         Evaluation Research

30.                         Law

31.                         Child Welfare

32.                         Gerontology

People who work in these fields often have to make decisions based on analysis of social trends and phenomena. The study gives professionals some of the grounding in methodology and technique that they need to do their work. The good news is that the sociology section is loaded with topics that are uniquely suited to help you develop the skills you need for a successful 21st century career.

The sociology section shall provide sound and quality information on the following areas. Just take your time to explore!

1.     What is sociology
2.     Studying sociology
3.     The origins of sociology
4.     Introduction to sociology
5.     The nature of sociology
6.     Government and the economy
7.     Communities
8.     Population
9.     What sociologists do
10.                         School of sociology
11.                        The sociological perspective
12.                        Sociological theories
13.                        Culture
14.                        Interaction and social structure
15.                        Socialization
16.                        Social inequality
17.                        Social inequality: gender & race
18.                        Deviance and crime
19.                        Social institutions: the economy & politics
20.                        Conducting sociology research 
21.                        Sociology career opportunity
22.                        Modern sociology.
23.                        Urban sociology
24.                        Economy, work and organization
25.                        The conjunction of biological and social relationships: the family and gender
26.                        Social identity:  age, class, gender and race
27.                        Social norms and deviance
28.                        Religion  and belief systems
29.                        Organizations and bureaucracy
30.                        Society and the environment
31.                        People, health and sociology of the body
32.                        Sociology of sex, gender and power.
33.                        Research methods
34.                        Statistics for the social and behavioral sciences
35.                        Social problems
36.                        Racial and ethnic relations
37.                        Sexual relationships, marriage and family
38.                        Sociology of violence
39.                        Health and illness in contemporary society
40.                        Social gerontology: aging and society
41.                        Sociology of communication & media
42.                        Sociology of film
43.                        Gangs and organized crime
44.                        Sociology of migration and immigration
45.                        Personality and social interaction: the sociology of everyday life
46.                        Sociology of sports
47.                        Death, dying and bereavement
48.                        Cultural anthropology
49.                        Sociology of work
50.                        The sociology of intimacy
51.                        Minority and group relations
52.                        Art and anthropology in Africa
53.                        Intercultural relations
54.                        Sociology of international development
55.                        Social movements
56.                        Quantitative analysis of social data
57.                        Political sociology.
58.                        Multiculturalism, immigration and citizenship
59.                        Global health systems.
60.                        Social meanings of home.
61.                        Inequality and social justice.
62.                        Poverty and public policy
63.                        Women, work and family
64.                        20th century revolutions.
65.                        Capitalism, prosperity and crisis
66.                        Love, romance, intimacy and dating.
67.                        Drugs and pharmaceuticals in society
68.                        Organizations in society.
69.                        Markets and management.
70.                        Prisons
71.                        The sociology of globalization.
72.                        Sociological imagination.
73.                        Sociology of emotions.
74.                        Society.
75.                        Political sociology: power, politics, and protest.
76.                        The sociology of work.
77.                        Democracy and democratization in developing countries.
78.                        Betwixt and between: identity and development in multi-racial adolescents
79.                        Religion and belief systems
80.                        Society and the environment
81.                        Functionalism
82.                        Marxism
83.                        Feminism
84.                        The new right
85.                        Managing cross-cultural training skills
86.                        Understanding and managing diversity
87.                        Data analysis and statistics in the social sciences
88.                        Research techniques in the social sciences
89.                        Sexuality, marriage and the family
90.                        Medical sociology
91.                        Sociology of the professions
92.                        Contemporary thinking on global perspectives
93.                        Technology and social change
94.                        Class, status and power
95.                        Victims and society
96.                        Sociology of adolescence
97.                        Sociology of education
98.                        Juvenile delinquency
99.                        Deviance: perspectives and processes
100.                   Juvenile justice
101.                   Criminology
102.                   Sociology of corrections
103.                   Marketplace activities
104.                   Occupational sociology
105.                   Mass communication
106.                   Health, illness and society
107.                   Sociology of mental disorder
108.                   Millennialism and violence
109.                   Religion in sociological perspective
110.                   Cults & new religious movements
111.                   Field research methods
112.                   Sexuality and the law
113.                   Policing in a democratic society
114.                   Waterloo region as knowledge society
115.                   Complex organizations
116.                   Cyberspace and social life
117.                   Comparative health care systems
118.                   Power and parenting
119.                   Custodial and rehabilitative institutions
120.                   Sociology of law
121.                   Good and evil in social relations
122.                   Theoretical perspectives on gender
123.                   Sociology of knowledge
124.                   Classical sociological theory
125.                   Contemporary sociological theory
126.                   Knowing & acting: social theory from early Greeks to the present.
127.                   Symbolic interaction and ethnographic research.
128.                   Educational theory and practice.
129.                   Liberal arts education and knowledge society.
130.                   Quantitative methods.
131.                   Sentencing as a social process.
132.                   Sociology and computer.
133.                   The three sociological perspectives
134.                   Stratification (inequality)
135.                   Poverty and unemployment
136.                   Race and ethnicity
137.                   Political institutions & democracy
 

The power of Sociology in helping you better manage your environment and interact with people in a mutually beneficial manner cannot be over emphasized. It will challenge you to see the world through the lens of different cultures and communities and give you opportunities to collaborate with others in developing multi-cultural and global understandings. Sociological methods can help you build strong math and science skills. Preparing papers about social problems and the theories and evidence that can help us solve them; will foster the strong writing and presentation skills you need to succeed.

Sociology enables us to understand the structure and dynamics of society, and their intricate connections to patterns of human behavior and individual life changes. It examines the ways in which the forms of social structure -- groups, organizations, communities, social categories (such as class, sex, age, or race), and various social institutions (such as kinship, economic, political, or religious) affect human attitudes, actions, and opportunities.

The discipline also explores how both individuals and collectivity construct, maintain, and alter social organization in various ways. Sociology asks about the sources and consequences of change in social arrangements and institutions, and about the satisfactions and difficulties of planning, accomplishing, and adapting to such change. Areas studied in examining social dynamics include: culture, values, socialization, cooperation, conflict, power, exchange, inequality, deviance, social control, violence, order and social change.

Sociologists study social change, use scientific methods to find empirical answers to complex social questions. Studying sociology can help you foster your creativity, innovation, critical thinking, and analytic problem solving and communications skills.

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Explore to excel!

Precious O.U. Ogholaja