Learning Outcomes

Topic 1 : Empowerment, Agency and Distributive Justice

Topic 2 :Action Strategies: Dismantling Oppression and Power

Topic 3 : Child Brides

Topic 4: Child Soldiers: The Big Dilemma of Small Soldiers

Topic 5: Trauma, Violence, and Memory in African Child Soldier Memoirs

Topic 6: Child Soldiers: Violence as a Currency of Legitimacy

Lesson Summary

This module defines oppression and power and discusses how they intersect in people's daily lives and experiences. We look at two key contexts for children: marriage and warfare. Strategies for combating power disparities and oppression are also discussed.

Topic 1 : The Concept of Environmental Justice and Its Use

Topic 2 : Environmental Justice in Indian Country

Topic 3 : Unjust Coverage of the Flint Water Crisis

Topic 4: The New York Times Parachutes Into Flint

Topic 5: National Media Coverage

Topic 6: Theorizing Indigenous Student Resistance

Topic 7: Native American Student Activism and Tma’áakni

The module investigates the literature on environmental justice, attempting to demonstrate its varied nature and application since the middle of the 1980s. We also explore environmental justice, the degradation of the environment, and waste dispersal.

Justice, Power, and Human Rights: Global Challenges Explored - Assessment

This free online course investigates approaches to prevent child maltreatment and environmental injustice.

Justice, Power, and Human Rights: Global Challenges Explored

This course tackles global and distributive justice issues through the lens of society's most vulnerable group: children. We discuss two crucial issues for them: marriage and war. We also investigate environmental degradation, waste distribution and environmental justice. The links between these two seemingly apart themes raised the question: How are global justice arguments viable when people lack access to justice?

What Is Sociology?

The History of Sociology

Theoretical Perspectives

Why Study Sociology?

This module introduces you to sociology by giving an overview of what culture is and how it develops and changes over time. It looks at areas such as population and diversity with reference to the three main theories: Structural-Functionalism, Conflict Theory and Symbolic Interactionism.

What Is Culture?

Elements Of Culture

Pop Culture, Subculture and Cultural Change

Theoretical Perspectives on Culture

This module introduces expands on what culture is by examining popular culture and sub culture, how the norms are maintained and the effect of language and symbols on a culture. The different perspectives each theory has on culture are also outlined.

Types Of Societies

Theoretical Perspectives On Society

Social Constructions Of Reality

This model reviews the evolution of societies, particularly industrial and post-industrial, and the emergence of conflict theory. It also looks at the reality of social interactions or habitualisation and ‘roles and status’ affect society along with our own view of our selves.

Theories Of Self Development

Why Socialization Matters

Agents Of Socialization

Socialization Across The Life Course

Socialisation, or is how we learn the norms and beliefs of our society, from childhood through education and into the workplace is covered here. It reviews why it is important and what problems people can have if they are not socialised into the society in which the live.

Types Of Groups

Group Size And Structure

Formal Organizations

Within all societies the are various groups and subgroups the people belong to. This module looks at the different types of groups, such as family or political, how they are formed, what type of structures they have and how they compete with each other.

Demography And Population

Urbanization

The Environment and Society

Societies and the environment have a symbiotic relationship. As we impact on the environment we diminish what we can take from nature. We see the challenges in addressing climate change given the increase in urbanisation and different stages of industrialisation throughout the world.

What Is Social Stratification?

Global Stratification And Inequality

Theoretical Perspectives On Social Stratification

Social Stratification And Mobility In The United States

This module explores the different layers in society, such as class or caste. It also explores what affect this has on the individual: either enabling them through privilege and wealth to access a good education and job opportunities, or limiting them through poverty or social restriction to a poorer education and less skilled jobs.

Global Stratification And Classification

Global Wealth And Poverty

Theoretical Perspectives on Global Stratification

This module looks at the way countries are classified in terms of wealth and development and how the difference in wealth and resources leads to dependencies between countries that contribute to poverty. It also looks at the different types of poverty experienced in different places.

Racial, Ethnic, And Minority Groups

Stereotypes, Prejudice, And Discrimination

Theories Of Race And Ethnicity

Intergroup Relationships

Race and ethnicity are among the most common causes of inequality globally. This module looks at the roles and behaviours of both dominant and subordinate groups, how stereotyping perpetuates discrimination, what the different types of discrimination are, and the nature of intergroup relationships.

The Difference Between Sex And Gender

Gender

Theoretical Perspectives On Gender

Sex And Sexuality

Theoretical Perspectives On Sex And Sexuality

This module explores the effect of gender and gender identity on the individual in society. It looks at the differences between socialising and educating males and females and how this can restrict or enable them in life. It also looks at the role of both homophobia and heterosexism in society.

Education Around The World

Theoretical Perspectives On Education

This module looks at the differences in educational resources around the world and the resulting impact on individuals. It also considers the role played by both the formal education and informal education within schools.

Diploma in Sociology - First Assessment

You must score 80% or more to pass this assessment.

What Is Marriage? What Is A Family?

Variations In Family Life

Theoretical Perspectives On Marriage And Family

Divorce And Remarriage

Violence And Abuse

This module looks at how sociology defines family, lines of decent and residency. It also explores how families vary from single parents to same-sex couples, and what the social impact of changing family structures is along with the challenges faced by families through divorce and family abuse.

The Sociological Approach To Religion

World Religions

Religion And Social Change

This module explores religion from a sociological perspective and will give you an insight into the different types of religious organisations and classifications of religion, before looking at major world religions in more detail and how religion has brought about social change.

Power And Authority

Forms Of Government

Voter Participation

Theoretical Perspectives On Government And Power

In this module you will explore power and authority and its use in government and politics by looking at types or authority and the various forms for government from dictatorships and oligarchy to democracy including constitutional monarchies. You will look at the roles of race, gender and class in voter participation.

Economic Systems

Capitalism And Socialism

Theoretical Perspectives On The Economy

Globalization And The Economy

This module explores world of work and the economy with a focus on capitalism and socialism, both practice and from the view of the three main theories. You will also look at globalisation and how it manifests itself, in modern society along with the pros and cons from an economic point of view.

The Social Construction of Health

Global Health

Comparative Health and Medicine

Theoretical Perspectives on Health and Medicine

This module studies healthcare from the social construction of health and medical sociology to global health and social epidemiology and the differences between low and high income nations. Using the United States as an example, you will explore the issues such access for different socio-economic groups, mental health and disability issues and the correlation between medicalisation and stigmatisation.

Deviance and Control

Theoretical Perspectives on Deviance

Crime and the Law

This module looks at how sociology defines deviance or non-conformity and how it differs from crime, and how deviant behavior, such as Rosa Parks violated social norms when she refused to move to the "black section" can advance civil rights for all. You will look at how crime is categorized and the different areas of criminal justice systems.

Technology Today

Media and Technology in Society

Global Implications

Theoretical Perspectives on Media and Technology

This module explores how new technologies, particularly in the area of media, impact society globally, particularly the divide between those who have early access to new technology. We see the effect of new media, television and advertising on social homogenization and social fragmentation.

Who Are the Elderly? Aging in Society

The Process of Aging

Challenges Facing the Elderly

Theoretical Perspectives on Aging

In this module you will see how the role of the elderly in society is changing and how this impacts on the on their lives though the need to work longer, being disenfranchised and sometimes abused, while society will need to plan for and fund more resources of elder care in the future.

Collective Behavior

Social Movements

Social Change

In this module you will explore the role of social movements in changing society, why and how these movements form and evolve over time. You will also learn about crowds and collective behaviour along with the emerging norms in a society.

Approaches to Sociological Research

Research Methods - Part 1

Research Methods - Part 2

Ethical Concerns

This module studies how sociology research is carried out using the scientific method and understood in an interpretive framework. You will learn about the different methods used, such as surveys and field research as well as ethical considerations that need to be considered when doing research.

Diploma in Sociology - Second Assessment

Diploma in Sociology - Assessment

Learn how society and culture combine to create the human world around us in this free online sociology diploma course.

Diploma in Sociology

This diploma course lays out the important concepts and methods of sociology to explain how humans organize themselves into large groups. The study of sociology is crucial for planning and understanding communities to effectively manage their problems. We establish that society is a complex phenomenon with multiple interacting elements and show you how to use sociology to understand them. Sign up to see the world around you with new eyes