Overview of Course

A sociological perspective reveals general patterns in what otherwise might be thought of as personal troubles. Problems such as social inequality, poverty, mental illness, racism, substance abuse, crime, poor health, and environmental degradation are more than random events experienced by a few people. They are issues that affect large numbers of people and originate in society’s institutional arrangements. In this course, we will examine basic sociological concepts and theories and use them to understand how social institutions, culture and ideologies around class, race, sexuality, religion, and gender shape human experience. We will critically examine issues of power, difference, and inequality, and we will do so by utilizing comparative, historical, and global perspectives. We will use our Semester at Sea journey and the different ports we visit to investigate the many ways social problems manifest in local contexts and how we, as a human community, collectively struggle to find solutions. Through readings, writing assignments, lectures, and class discussions, learners will develop an increased awareness of the ways global social problems define our lives both at the individual and societal levels, allowing them to evaluate their own lives and actions in the context of larger social forces and global citizenship.