SOCI 302: Classical Social Theory

This course is designed to give students an overview of the study of sociological theory so that they can better understand the social world. By analyzing a variety of theories, it is hoped that students will develop a theoretical perspective about social reality and a critical orientation toward sociological theory. Students will discuss the works and ideas of some early enlightenment thinkers (Auguste Comte, Saint Simon, Herbert Spencer, Emile Durkheim, Karl Marx Weber, and George Herbert Mead). Emphasis will be placed on some major themes such as modernity, nationalism, industrialization, social order, and the process of human interaction.