Professor: Rosanne Martorella, Ph.D. Office: Science Bldg. 348 Office Hours: Posted on door Phone: (201) 595-2388 Fax: (201) 595-3522 Email: romartin@frontier.wpunj.edu Listserv: Soc110@frontier.wpunj.edu Homepages: William Paterson University of New Jersey / Department of Sociology / sch-hmss/ sociology/ |
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Society is a structure in process energized by man.
Introduction
Welcome to the introductory course in the Department of Sociology. This course is both a requirement to all other courses in the department, and can fulfill GE requirements for your baccalaureate degree. The course is geared for students requiring just a general background in Sociology as well as to introduce the field to those students who wish to pursue further studies in the discipline.
The course attempts to enlighten students to their own background, to become more tolerant of others and the diversity in society, and to gain an understanding of the major social problems facing society today. Such topics to be covered include the nature of subcultures in society, race and ethnicity, social class, crime and deviance, divorce and family problems, and the changing work environment.
It is important for students to gain an understanding of themselves, especially through these college years. This course, in analyzing the nature of the development of self identity, focuses on how we acquire and maintain our identity. The theories of social psychologists (such as George Herbert Mead, Jean Piaget, Kai Erickson and others) are discussed as examples of theories of socialization).
The course then shifts to an analysis of social structure by taking a look at social class (education, income, occupation and social status) in America today. Recent data on income and wealth distribution are reviewed along with the impact of the changing work environment. Students find this topic interesting because of its relevance to their lives in their coming to terms with future career options. The course ends with an analysis of social change and lectures that focus on the urban environment, mass culture, and collective movements (such as crowds, mobs and riots).
