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NC State European Center in Prague

SOC 202: Principles of Sociology

Instructor: Ewa Grigar
Credits: 3
GEP: Social Science & U.S. Diversity

Course Description

Introduction to sociology. Analyses of key processes and institutions including interaction, inequality, organization, socialization, and social change. Addresses experiences and outcomes of diverse groups in U.S. society. Includes core sociological concepts, methods, and theories.

Welcome! This special section of SOC 202 is specifically designed for your study abroad in Prague. The course is designed to be collaborative and we will work with each other to maximize our individual and collective experiences.

Among many things, sociology is about the study of society, social inequality, different human systems, and how people create meanings, particularly when working together in a group. The city of Prague is exceptionally interesting to examine from a sociological perspective as it offers rather rich social and cultural history permeated with either similar or completely opposite paradigms of life when compared with those in the United States.

We are going to build our sociological experience in Prague by embracing, as I would call, the Kafkaesque experience which is so often – and, indeed, very aptly – associated with the city of Prague and the life in the Czech Republic in the past and presence which is marked by a stream of different revolts. The memory plays here an important role: starting with the nation-building stage in the 19th century, to the present-day globalization imbued with conflicting values with those established by the nation’s forefathers.

This course meets the General Education Program (GEP) U.S. Diversity Requirements for Social Sciences.

Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of this course students will have:

  1. Strengthened their intercultural skills
  2. Participated in a learning community taking responsibility for themselves and helping others
  3. Developed a sociological perspective focused on culture and families
  4. Used evidence to address empirical and interpretive questions
  5. Honed critical and creative thinking skills
  6. Practiced verbal and written skills