Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: review the definition of sociology, types of research methods, some basic theories and perspectives, including the work of Mark, Weber, Durkheim and DuBois; interpret what culture is and identify social roles in a culture; summarize theories of how individuals develop socially through perspectives from Freud, Piaget, Kohlberg, Gilligan, Mead and Erikson; distinguish how social groups form and the characteristics of these groups; identify why diversity is important to a society, and explore how it may sometimes be harmful to a society; outline the role gender, race, and ethnicity plays in individuals and society and learn about the role of sex in society; define the effects that aging has on society and individuals; relate the links between the economy, politics and society through studying topics that include the evolution of the economy, political parties, labor unions and social power; examine a range of social institutions, such as family units, religious groups, schooling and healthcare systems, to see how these groups play a role in society; and show how a society changes over time including the role of collective behavior, social movements and population growth.