SYLLABUS

CONTEMPORARY SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY

Instructor: Office Hours: School: Location: Semester, Year: e-mail:

Required Text:

Allan, Kenneth. 2006. Contemporary Social and Sociological Theory. Pine Forge Press.

Course Description:

The course will examine major works of modern sociological theorists. Students will be exposed to the major works and contributions by George. H. Mead, Herbert Blumer, Erving Goffman, Peter Blau, Talcott Parsons, Robert H. Merton, C. Wright Mills, R. Dahrendorf, and others. Some major themes will include Social Interaction, Social Structure, Inequality, Change, Modernity, etc.

Course Objectives:

Basically there is one major objective in this course: to understand the various theoretical perspectives and use them as tools of critical analysis. Additional goals include:

-To acquaint students with contemporary sociological theorists and their work. -To provide a historical context within which sociological theory/ideas have developed. -To develop critical thinking and evaluation of sociological theory. -To discuss the complexity of social systems. -To teach students how to interpret and use social science data. -To analyze contemporary society and social issues through the application of sociological perspectives.

Grades:

Grades will be based on a midterm and final exam (2 x 35% = 70%), a paper (25%), and class participation (5%). Grades (for tests and/or the final semester grade) will NOT be given out by email request under any circumstance.

Grade Key:

A = 93-100 A- = 90-92 B+ = 86-89 B = 83-85 B- = 80-82 C+ = 76-79 C = 73-75 C- = 70-72 D+ = 66-69 D = 60-65 F = 0-59

Reading Assignments/Topics: Please note that the following are subject to change!

Symbolic Interactionism:

Week 1. Introduction. Text book chapter 1. George H. Mead & Herbert Blummer: Symbols, Meaning, & the Self.

Week 2. Text book chapter 3. Harold Garfinkel: Organizing Ordinary Life.

Week 3. Text book chapter 4. Erving Goffman: Performing the Self / The Presenting of Self in Everyday Life.

Week 4. Text book chapter 5. Randall Collins: Emotion and Interaction Ritual Chains.

Functionalism:

Week 5. Handout A. Talcott Parsons and Robert H. Merton: Excerpts from Sociological Theory and Modern Society / Social Theory and Social Structure.

Week 6. Text book chapter 6. Peter M. Blau: Social and Population Structures.

Week 7. Text book chapter 8. Pierre Bourdieu: The Replication of Class.

Week 8. Midterm Exam

Conflict Theory, Modernity, and Change:

Week 9. Handout B. C. Wright Mills and R. Dahrendorf: The Power Elite / Class and Class Conflict in Industrial Society.

Week 10. Text book chapter 9. Immanuel Wallerstein: Global Capitalism and the Decline of American Hegemony.

Week 11. Text book chapter 11. Jurgen Habermas: Modernity and Reason.

Identity Politics:

2 Week 12. Text book chapter 16. Cornel West: Race Matters.

Week 13. Text book chapter 17. Dorothy E. Smith: Gendered Consciousness.

Week 15. Text book chapter 18. Judith Butler: Materializing Sex and Queer Theory.

Final Exam

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