Introduction to Sociological Theory

This course introduces students to sociological thought. Students explore the ideas of the founding figures (especially Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, and Georg Simmel), their philosophical predecessors, the primary theoretical perspectives used in the discipline (functionalism, conflict theory, symbolic interactionism, feminism, poststructuralism and postmodernism), and contemporary theoretical directions (including theories of race and colonialism, globalization theory, and theories of science, technology and nature). By analyzing each approach, students will increasingly appreciate the role theory plays in understanding social life and contemporary social problems.