Introduces students who are considering majoring in sociology to the basic topics, concepts, and principles of the study of society. This course is required for the major; 1 or any version of 3 is prerequisite for other sociology classes; students not considering a sociology major are directed to any version of 3 or 3AC.

W.E.B. Du Bois (1868-1963) was one of the great scholars and public intellectuals of the 20th century, he was an editor, poet, novelist, historian and above all the founder of US sociology. He also a scholar activist – a civil rights leader, socialist and father of Pan Africanism. This course will take you through a selection of his prolific writings, starting with the sociology that informed his account of US history: his theory of the Civil War, Reconstruction and the rise of Jim Crow; his study of urban Philadelphia and of the rural South at the end of the 19th century; his account of race riots, masculine domination, the division of Africa among European powers at the time of World War I; his analysis of and reaction to the New Deal; and finally his involvement in the international was peace movement and struggles for Independent Africa after World War Two. With each topic we will assess the relevance of his work for today and together we will construct a Du Boisian sociology of our contemporary era.

Credit Restrictions

Students will receive no credit for Sociology 1 after completing Sociology 3, 3A or 3AC.

Repeat Rules

Course is not repeatable for credit.

Requirements class fulfills