Course Description and Competencies

What to Expect

Our society is heavily influenced by many factors. These include religion, race, gender, education, and culture. In this course, you will study the hidden rules, or norms, by which people live. And you will consider how those norms permit or limit certain behaviors. You will learn how families, schools, workplaces, and governments shape (and or shaped by) our society. You will also discover how people deviate from the rules by challenging norms. And you will learn how such behavior may result in social change

Throughout the course, you will find a variety of interactive elements. These include knowledge checks to assess your understanding and help deepen your understanding of the content. That way, you can determine your readiness for the final exam. Your competency will be demonstrated by the successful completion of that objective final exam.

Course Competencies

This course covers the following competencies:

  • The graduate explains major perspectives and key contributors to the development of sociology. 
  • The graduate identifies components of culture and socialization as they relate to individuals in society. 
  • The graduate explains the constructs of conformity to and deviance from social norms. 
  • The graduate explains how societies are stratified across various social statuses. 
  • The graduate explains reciprocal relationships between social institutions and individuals.

Assessment

The assessment provides an opportunity to demonstrate your mastery of the competencies in this course. You may attempt the assessment two times before additional support is necessary. If you require further attempts, please contact your Student Experience Team.

1 Final Exam
3 Competency Units

Course Outline

ModuleUpon completion of this module, you will be able to:
Foundations of Sociology
  • Explain the development of the field of sociology. 
  • Identify the major perspectives in sociology. 
  • Identify sociological research methods.
Culture & Socialization
  • Define culture and the processes of culture. 
  • Identify the components of culture. 
  • Identify the socialization process in the development of the self. 
  • Explain the socialization process. 
Organizations & Deviance
  • Identify the impact of groups in establishing and enforcing social norms. 
  • Identify the dynamics of groups and organizations. 
  • Identify major sociological explanations of deviance. 
  • Identify the patterns of crime and sanctions for crime across various social groups.
Social Inequality
  • Identify the significance of race and ethnicity in society. 
  • Identify the significance of sex, gender, and sexuality in society. 
  • Identify the significance of stratification systems globally.
Institutions & Change
  • Identify the significance of the institution of marriage and families. 
  • Identify the significance of institutions of religion and education. 
  • Identify the significance of the institution of health care in the United States of America. 
  • Identify significant components of social change

Technology Requirements

We want you to have the tools to succeed! Since this course includes at least one proctored test, please be sure to have a working microphone, speakers, and an external webcam. Unfortunately, an internal webcam (built into many laptops) is not acceptable. (Note: The external webcam is required only for exams that have proctors. You do not need one for practice tests and other non-proctored assessments.) If you haven't already, be sure to download the Meazure Learning Guardian browser, which you will need for the proctoring system.

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader DC. If you haven't already, download this free software. You may encounter an interactive form that contains fields that you can select or fill in. Review how to fill in a PDF form.

You are allowed to use a hand-held calculator on every assessment. Be sure to follow these calculator requirements.

For other details about the technology you'll need, review the Computer System and Technology Requirements. If you have questions about your setup, contact support@academy.wgu.edu.

Key Contacts

Certificate Connect
Check out this online community to take advantage of course resources, including videos and tips from your educators. You can ask and answer questions, provide feedback on your progress, and interact with fellow students. You will find this platform in the Student Resources section of the course. Log on and do some exploring!

Technical Support
If you encounter technical issues, be sure to contact the Help Desk. Just submit a Support Request for assistance.

Program Support
Do you have questions about your account? Student Support has answers. They can help with billing, switching courses, and other requests. You can contact them at (888) 320-0540 or support@academy.wgu.edu.

Accommodations

WGU provides compliant and accessible learning experiences. If you require accommodation, please contact us at the start of the course. You can email disability@academy.wgu.edu.

We are committed to ensuring that all students with disabilities have equal access to WGU's services and materials. We strive to use best practices for accessibility. Our goal is to conform to existing U.S. laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 and Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Our learning management system (LMS) platform is Open edX. Open edX’s commitment to accessible content is published in their Website Accessibility Policy.