Exploring Society

Description:

Exploring Society challenges students to expand their knowledge of sociology by increasing their awareness of social forces, communities and human relationships. Through the study of this course, students will recognize that they are at the crossroads of their personal experiences and social history. As they conclude this study they will be equipped to understand that to be social is to make decisions about how they participate in the human story.

Exploring Society is an introductory, college-level Sociology course that replaces the popular series The Sociological Imagination . The lively and engaging programs utilize the unique qualities of video to help students understand how sociology can provide them with a new way of looking at the world. Stories and situations are used to dramatize the human conflicts at the core of all sociological issues. Each program features interviews with sociologists and other experts who have been chosen for their individual expertise, as well as for the diverse backgrounds, approaches and viewpoints they bring to this production. Specific voice-over narration is used throughout each lesson to reinforce key points. Each video program is divided into segments that may be used as stand-alone modules on specific topics.

Throughout the course, students explore unique sociological ideas through the use of short, intense visual vignettes. These vignettes, referred to as "Visual Sociology" or "Then and Now," act as transitions between segments for many of the lessons.

Buying Tapes

To acquire tapes for this series, contact the producer, Dallas Telelearning, at 1-972-669-6650 or e-mail tlearn@dccd.edu , or visit their website at telelearning.dcccd.edu . You can also mail them at:
Dallas TeleLearning
Dallas Community College District
9596 Walnut Street
Dallas TX 75243

PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS

Lesson 2: Sociological Perspectives
Describes and distinguishes the three major sociological perspectives and explains how these perspectives contribute to a critical understanding of society.

Lesson 3: Sociological Tools
Examines the processes by which sociologists study group behavior and how the processes differ from everyday observations and conclusions.

Lesson 4: Culture
Interprets the dimensions and significance of culture to society and relates attitude to cultural understanding and sharing within and between cultures.

Lesson 5: Socialization
Explains the significance of the socialization process to social development.

Lesson 6: Social Interactions, Relationships, and Structure
Discusses the role of social interaction in establishing and maintaining relationships, noting effects of social structure on the lives of individuals.

Lesson 7: Social Groups
Interprets the complexities of social groups and their significance to society.

Lesson 8: Formal Organizations and Bureaucracy
Identifies, interprets and differentiates between the complexities of formal organizations and bureaucracies and their functions in society.

Lesson 9: Communities, Societies and Nations
Describes the inter-dependencies among and within communities, societies, and nations.

Lesson 10: Social Stratification
Explains social stratification and discusses the resources that determine life chances.

Lesson 11: Social Class
Explains social class in the U.S. and discusses how wealth, power, and prestige are related.

Lesson 12: Gender
Discusses how society's expectations influence the definitions and behaviors associated with gender.

Lesson 13: Race and Ethnicity
Explains and gives examples of how race and ethnicity influence social patterns of human interaction.

Lesson 14: Age
Examines the sociological definition of age and the social implications of an aging population.

Lesson 15: Deviance and Social Control
Explains how society defines and controls deviance.

Lesson 16: Social Institutions: Religion, Family, and Economics
Discusses the functions of social institutions in terms of meeting society's needs.

Lesson 17: Social Institutions: Politics and Education
Discusses the functions of social institutions in terms of meeting society's needs.

Lesson 18: Health and Medicine
Interprets the sociological significance of medicine and health care.

Lesson 19: Communications Media and Technology
Explains how communications media and technology impact society.

Lesson 20: Population and Urbanization
Explains why sociologists study urbanization and population.

Lesson 21: Social Change
Discusses and gives examples of the social dynamics of social change.

Lesson 22: Social Action
Interprets the relationship of social action and social movements to conflicting interests, change, and power.

For more information: E-Mail: learning@unctv.org