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Unit 1: Introduction Unit 2: Principles of Macrosociology Unit 3: Materialism Unit 4: Evolutionism in the Work of the Founders Unit 5: Contemporary Social Evolution Unit 6: Bureaucratization Unit 7: Capital Unit 8: The State Unit 9: Rationalization Unit 10: The System |
This is a ten week MOOC beginning September 2, 2013. You may sign up at Coursesites.com. Thank you for your interest in the open course, "Sociocultural Systems: Principles of Structure and Change" offered by Dr. Frank Elwell, Professor of Sociology and Dean of Liberal Arts at Rogers State University. The course uses a single textbook that I authored of the same name which can be purchased at most online bookstore in an inexpensive paperback or electronic version or, if you are really tight, a free PDF version can be obtained from Athabasca University Press. Macrosociology—the study of large-scale social structures and the fundamental principles of social organization—was the style of sociology practiced by the founders of the discipline. Today, the social theories of Karl Marx, Max Weber, Émile Durkheim, and Herbert Spencer (among others) are commonly studied as part of the history of the field, but, although the macrosociological approach that these thinkers advocated is still employed, it no longer dominates the discipline. Instead, sociologists typically adopt a narrower focus, specializing in areas such as social psychology, medicine, religion, or the study of social stratification. Examining the bigger picture is a task often left to public intellectuals. Sociocultural Systems aims to reinstate macrosciology as the heart of the discipline by demonstrating that both classical and contemporary macrosociologists stand upon common ground. Focusing on the broad issues that concerned the founders, we will address such questions as: Historically, what factors accounted for the origin, survival, and evolution of sociocultural systems? Why were some societies more technologically advanced than others? What is the origin of capitalism? What factors determine the allocation of goods and services within and among societies? What effects do changes in government and economic institutions have on communities? We will argue that, as evolution does for biology, the macrosociological paradigm offers an analytical strategy that can be used both to guide and prioritize research in all of the myriad specialties within sociology and to lay forth an orderly body of knowledge for students. Clearly articulating important sociological principles, Sociocultural Systems provides a critical understanding of social institutions and issues, while also furnishing a framework for possible solutions to the perennial social crises that are part and parcel of the development of human societies. The course begins September 2, 2013 and lasts for 10 weeks. Additional updates will be posted on this site and emailed to participants as I prepare for the grand opening...
Contact Information:
Texts: Elwell, Frank W. 2013.
Sociocultural Systems: Principles
of Structure and Change. Alberta: Athabasca University Press. Assorted
articles to be distributed through the Internet.
Articulating important sociological principles, this course
provides a critical understanding of social institutions and issues,
while furnishing a framework for possible solutions to the crises that
plague human societies. Course Goals:
Work Required & Grading
Completion of each unit means that you will do all of the reading, full
participation in the discussion forum, as well as completing assignments
in your blog.
This course is quite demanding and requires higher order skills of
synthesis, critical thinking, and integration. The vocabulary words are
measuring the far more basic skill of memorization. While most
undergraduates are good at it (and thus it boosts many grades), there
are a few in every class who struggle with it (I was never very good at
it either). For students like us it takes discipline, repetition, and
actual use to finally sink in. I suggest handwritten flash cards to
people who are in our predicament. I should add that in addition to
boosting grades mastering the vocabulary is really the first step in
mastering a subject area—it can only help you in the rest of the course
(and in life itself).
Grading:
All written assignments are graded in accordance with the standards
explained on the attached
Grading Rubric.
Student Memorandum of Understanding (MOU):
I know that this seems like a significant amount of work. This is not an
easy class. But if you are of average intelligence, have some interest
in sociology and in the workings of capitalism, and have a good work
ethic ("Life is easier when you work hard") you will do fine. So that
this is clearly understood I ask each of your to print, sign, and turn
in the
Student MOU.
Other Useful Information
Attendance:
Mental attendance should be regular. Traditional lecture material is
presented off of this web site. You should plan on spending time
attending online lectures, forum discussion, blogging, and perhaps
viewing of films.
Academic Integrity:
By signing your name to a test or paper you are indicating that the work
is yours and yours alone. Any academic cheating will result in failure
of the course. "Plagiarism is the representation of the words or ideas
of another as one’s own, including: direct quotation without both
attribution and indication that the material is being directly quoted,
e.g. quotation marks; paraphrase without attribution; paraphrase with or
without attribution where the wording of the original remains
substantially intact and is represented as the author’s own; expression
in one’s own words, but without attribution, of ideas, arguments, lines
of reasoning, facts, processes, or other products of the intellect where
such material is learned from the work of another and is not part of the
general fund of common knowledge.” One of the social problems that
appears to be on the rise in American society is academic dishonesty.
Don't do it!
Much of the class will be given over to informed discussion. You should
begin your reading immediately by going through the "Introduction" class
presentations. I will keep you informed through e-mail of the specific
due dates of your reading assignments. While the occasional articles I
will send through e-mail are usually optional, reading them will help
you master class material. Class discussion will often center on the
required readings and the instructor presentations. It is therefore
imperative that all assigned reading be done in a timely fashion.
A Final Point:
You are encouraged to ask questions on the readings through e-mail or in
instructor forums. It is not expected that you will always agree with
the perspectives of the instructor, the authors of various texts, or
with your classmates. As have all human beings we have been influenced
by the values of our society as well as our roles in various social
structures. However, it is the duty of the social scientist to
acknowledge these influences and attempt to minimize their effects upon
social analysis. Should the resulting analyses be counter to your
perceptions, challenge them on the basis of empirical fact, logic, and
reason--not ideology, prejudice, wishful thinking, or "politically
correct" assertions. The goal of this course is for you to develop your
own critical thought processes and world view, not for you to blindly
accept any one perspective.
Updated Continuously |