This module introduces students to sociology as the scientific study of society, social relationships, and social institutions. It provides foundational concepts, theories, and methods used by sociologists to understand how societies are structured and how they change over time. The module examines key sociological perspectives, including functionalism, conflict theory, and symbolic interactionism, and shows how these frameworks help explain social order, inequality, and social interaction. Core topics include culture, socialization, social groups, family, education, religion, economy, politics, and social stratification based on class, gender, and ethnicity.
The module also explores social institutions and their role in shaping individual behavior and collective life, as well as processes of social change such as modernization, globalization, and urbanization. Attention is given to contemporary social issues, including poverty, inequality, deviance, crime, and social cohesion, with examples drawn from local and global contexts. Students are introduced to basic sociological research methods and ethical considerations in social research. By the end of the module, learners develop sociological imagination, enabling them to connect personal experiences with broader social structures and processes, and to critically analyze social issues in everyday life and professional contexts.