The Science of Society
How our Social World Guides our Actions and Choices
Abstract
Introduction to Sociology (SOC 1305) has been a mainstay at Baylor ever since it was first taught by President Samuel Palmer Brooks in 1910. Each semester about 700 Baylor students take the course. Students gain a unique social perspective on their lives, the lives of those who came before them, and the lives of those will follow them. The new ELG version is known as Science of Society. By spreading the course over three semesters, we aim to dig much deeper into how society guides our behavior and shapes our opportunities. In addition to classroom sessions, we will go into the field, studying the social forces that operate around us. We will observe on downtown streets, in courtrooms, in churches, at prisons, in stores, and in a number of other venues. We will participate in the collection and analysis of survey data. And, we will go into the lab and take part in experimental social psychological research. The aim is to develop a more in-depth understanding of the social world in which we live.
Director: Dr. Charles Tolbert II (Sociology)
Faculty Partners: Professor Randy Jacobs (Sociology), Dr. Lydia Bean (Honors College-BIC and Sociology), Dr. Kevin Dougherty (Sociology), Dr. Kyle Irwin (Sociology)
