Introduction to Sociology: The Basics
What Is Sociology? - Definition, Themes & Careers in Sociology
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All Videos in Introduction to Sociology: The Basics
- 1. What Is Sociology? - Definition, Themes & Careers in Sociology
- 2. Why Is Sociology Important? - Applications in Public Policy, Social Change & Personal Growth
- 3. Comte's 3 Stages of Society & Theory of Positivism
- 4. Sociology's Four Theoretical Perspectives: Structural-Functional, Social Conflict, Feminism & Symbolic Interactionism
Key Sociology Theorists
Charles Horton Cooley: Looking Glass Self and the Effect of Primary Groups
All Videos in Key Sociology Theorists
- 1. Charles Horton Cooley: Looking Glass Self and the Effect of Primary Groups
- 2. Herbert Spencer: Theory & Social Darwinism
- 3. Gerhard Lenski's Theories of Sociocultural Evolution, Social Stratification & Technology
- 4. Karl Marx: Theory of Class Consciousness and False Consciousness
- 5. Karl Marx on Religion: How Religion Affects Social Inequality
- 6. Karl Marx's Theories: Class Differentiation and Revolution, Socialism & Capitalism
- 7. Bureaucracy: Max Weber's Theory of Impersonal Management
- 8. Emile Durkheim: Society, Integration Level & Suicide Study
- 9. W.E.B. Du Bois: Theories, Accomplishments & Double Consciousness
- 10. Harriet Martineau: Theories and Contributions to Sociology
- 11. C. Wright Mills: Sociological Imagination and the Power Elite
- 12. Robert K. Merton: Theories and Functionalism
- 13. Erving Goffman's Theories: Impression Management, Dramaturgy & Symbolic Interaction
Types of Research Design
Theories of Individual Social Development
Id, Ego and Superego
All Videos in Theories of Individual Social Development
Social Groups & Organizations
Types of Social Groups: Primary, Secondary and Reference Groups
All Videos in Social Groups & Organizations
- 1. Types of Social Groups: Primary, Secondary and Reference Groups
- 2. Leadership Styles and Types: Authoritarian, Laissez-Faire & Democratic
- 3. Social Conformity Definition: Normative vs. Informational
- 4. Groupthink: Definition & Examples
- 5. Social Loafing & Social Facilitation: Definition and Effects of Groups
- 6. Social Groups: Dyad and Triad & In-Groups and Out-Groups
- 7. Formal Organization Structure: Utilitarian, Normative & Coercive
- 8. Max Weber: Verstehen and the Rationalization of Society
- 9. George Ritzer and the McDonaldization of Society: Definition and Principles
Diversity in Society
Sociological Theories of Deviance: Definitions and Theoretical Perspectives
All Videos in Diversity in Society
- 1. Sociological Theories of Deviance: Definitions and Theoretical Perspectives
- 2. Labeling Theory and Crime: Stigma & Retrospective and Projective Labeling
- 3. Social-Conflict Theory and Crime: Definitions and Approach to Deviance
- 4. Crime and Deviance in the U.S. Criminal Justice System: Punishment and Due Process
- 5. Social Status: Caste vs. Class and Social Stratification
- 6. American Class System and Structure: Definitions & Types of Social Classes
- 7. Social Mobility Definition and Types: Intragenerational vs. Intergenerational & Vertical vs. Horizontal
- 8. Poverty in the United States: Definitions of Relative & Absolute Poverty
- 9. Global Stratification Definition: Differences in Income Levels and Poverty
Sex and Gender in Society
Sex and Gender in Society: Differences, Preferences & Characteristics
All Videos in Sex and Gender in Society
- 1. Sex and Gender in Society: Differences, Preferences & Characteristics
- 2. Gender Views: Margaret Mead, George Murdock and Global Views
- 3. Sexism and Patriarchy: Definitions and Forms
- 4. Sexual Relationships in Society: Definitions and Concepts
- 5. Sexual Controversies in Society: Differing Viewpoints
- 6. Sexism: Gender Differences and Contexts
- 7. Violence Against Women and Men: Definitions & Gender Differences
- 8. Sexual Harassment: "Quid Pro Quo" vs. "Hostile Environment" Harassment
- 9. Feminism Types and Definitions: Liberal, Socialist, Culture & Radical
Race and Ethnicity in Society
Race and Ethnicity Definitions: Social Minority vs. Social Majority
All Videos in Race and Ethnicity in Society
Social Institutions
Family and Kinship: Patrilocality, Matrilocality & Neolocality
All Videos in Social Institutions
- 1. Family and Kinship: Patrilocality, Matrilocality & Neolocality
- 2. Family Life Stages and Traditions: Courtship, Marriage, Child Rearing & Aging
- 3. What Is a Non-Traditional Family? - Definition of Options
- 4. Religious Views: Atheism, Agnosticism & Theism
- 5. Religion: Key Concepts and Definitions
- 6. Monotheism: Islam, Judaism & Christianity
- 7. Nontheism: Hinduism, Buddhism & Confucianism
- 8. Religion and Social Change in Protestantism and Liberation Theology
- 9. Religiosity, Secularization & Civil Religion: Applications on Individuals & Cultures
- 10. Schooling: Cultural Differences in Schooling Theory
- 11. Functions of School: Socialization, Cultural Innovation, Integration & Latent Functions
- 12. School Controversies: Self-Fulfilling Prophecies and Tracking
- 13. Economics and Health: Healthcare, Medical Issues & Income
- 14. Health Challenges in America: Smoking, Obesity, STDs & Eating Disorders
- 15. Types of Health Care: HMOs, PPOs, Socialized Medicine & Direct-Fee System
- 16. Social Constructions of Health: "Sick Role," "Physician's Role" & Profit Motive in Medicine
Social Change Over Time
Migration from Rural to Urban Settings in Europe and the U.S.: History and Effects
All Videos in Social Change Over Time
- 1. Migration from Rural to Urban Settings in Europe and the U.S.: History and Effects
- 2. Historical Growth of Cities: Gemeinschaft, Gesellschaft, Gentrification & the Concentric Zone Model
- 3. Population Change from Aging, Death, and Migration
- 4. Demographic Changes from Fertility and Birthrates
- 5. Types of Mass Behavior: Definitions & Examples
- 6. Social Movement: Theories and Motives
- 7. Social Movement Stages: Emergence, Coalescence, Bureaucratization & Decline
- 8. Social Movement Definitions: Alternative, Redemptive, Reformative & Revolutionary
Sociology 101: Introduction to Sociology is designed to help you prepare for the Sociology CLEP Exam and the Excelsior Introduction to Sociology exam. These video lessons make learning fun and interesting. You get self-graded quizzes and practice tests to help you gauge how much you have learned.
Our sociology instructors are experienced and knowledgeable educators who have put together comprehensive video lessons in categories covering various sociology topics, such as politics, family structures, religion and gender roles. Use these lessons to help you pass the CLEP or Excelsior exams and earn real college credit.
| Category | Objectives |
|---|---|
| Introduction to Sociology | Learn the definition of sociology and why it is important. Research some basic theories and perspectives related to sociology. |
| Key Sociology Theorists | Study the main theories associated with sociology from individuals, including Mark, Weber, Durkheim and DuBois. |
| Sociology Research Methods | Find out what types of research methods are used in sociology. See how research is interpreted and used. |
| Foundations of Society | Discover what culture is and identify social roles in a culture. Find out the elements that make up a culture and why diversity in culture is important. |
| Theories of Individual Social Development | Look at theories of how individuals develop socially through perspectives from Freud, Piaget, Kohlberg, Gilligan, Mead and Erikson. |
| Social Groups & Organizations | Examine how social groups form and the characteristics of these groups. Also discover how people fit into such groups. |
| Diversity in Society | Look at why diversity is important to a society, but also define how it may sometimes be harmful to a society. |
| Sex and Gender in Society | See how big of a role gender plays in defining individuals and learn about the role of sex in society. |
| Race and Ethnicity in Society | Examine the different ways race and ethnicity influence and shape a society. |
| Aging in Society | Define the effects that aging has on society and individuals. Learn about the effects, challenges and theories associated with aging. |
| Economics and Politics | Discover 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. |
| Social Institutions | Study 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. |
| Social Change Over Time | Examine how a society changes over time. Discover the role of collective behavior, social movements and population growth. |
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Education Portal Instructors
Education Portal's 53 instructors bring a diverse array of experience and expertise to each course. From teaching philosophy in Athens, Greece, to exploring the mystery of genetics, each instructor is uniquely qualified to bring students the best online learning experience possible. Meet them now!
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Jessica Bayliss, M.S.
Jessica is our Director of Education and leads the development of Education Portal's free courses. She has 10 years of experience in education and online teaching. Her work with students of all age levels drives
her belief in the power of free online resources to make higher education more affordable and efficient. Jessica's favorite part of the day is
reading feedback from Education Portal's students. She has a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois and a master's degree in
instructional technology from Texas A&M - Kingsville.
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Greg Chin, Ph.D.
Greg has taught genetics, molecular biology, and general biology to
high school, collegiate, and post-graduate students at Stanford University, the University of California, Los Angeles, Santa Clara
University and the Dolan DNA Learning Center at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. He has also taught science workshops for the general
public and led biology teacher enrichment workshops throughout the U.S. He received a B.S. in Genetics from the University of
California, Davis, and a Ph.D. from Stanford University. Find out how your genes work in Greg's introduction to genetics video lesson!
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Max Pfingsten, M.Ed.
Max has taught classics, history and philosophy
at a variety of levels at the Dikemes Academy in Athens, the Boulder Valley School District, University of Colorado at Boulder and
the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA). His work is noteworthy for its synthesis of technology and simulation with more
traditional teaching approaches. He received a B.A. in Classics from Depauw University, a M.A. in Classics from University of
Colorado at Boulder, and a M.Ed. from Jones International University. See Socrates come to life in Max's lesson on the life, death,
and philosophy of the great Socrates.
- Meet all 53 of our instructors
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The videos were a great study tool. I aced the CLEP exam and earned 3 college credits!
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