Has anyone taken a Sociology course?

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I know every campus is different but what interested me was my parents don't want me taking a Psychology course so I thought get around it by taking Sociology (I know it's still Psychology! They don't!! !! !) Anyway for my interest I was wondering if it's a good career path to learn. I was thinking videogame studies not just 1 person but groups of people the social Multiplayer dynamic. (I don't see/hear too many of those tests!! !) Also You enjoy buying Ipods Why Toshiba computers and not HP brand recognition and behavior. IMO that's social dynamic. I'm probably off base if so I'm truly sorry. I thought I could get a better understanding of Sociology from you guys and if it applies to what I think it does. and Don't Aspie have Social issues and Social Skills issues HELL learning about Sociology might be fun for an Aspie! LOL!

Why don't they want you to take psychology?

I've had several Sociology courses. One was basically social psychology, which blends the 2 fields. It's pretty interesting--the department person said that Sociology majors get hired pretty easily because they can understand and analyze the behavior of groups in society. It's not so much individual behavior, though, but more of an understanding of social institutions (education, health care, economy, families, etc). It's interesting, though, to look analytically at how people behave in groups in different places, times and stages of their lives. The small group behavior stuff, power dynamics, all of that was fascinating! Not sure how it applies to MMORPGs, because we didn't really get into that but a study on social networking would be interesting.

I took sociology 101 from an old African American professor who always wore suspenders. It was quite an interesting subject. I received a B+

I'm an Aspie! LOL! I get really into it obsessive even. Mom/Dad say it was all I thought/talked about before so NO! Plus my suspension history which I've mention in past PM's they relate the blame more on the me studying Psychology part instead of the suspension not being all my fault. Which is a shame.

I am really glad I studied social sciences, including both psychology and sociology. I have worked in two different policy research fields (unemployment, crime). Some other areas where sociology is useful would be the whole world of advertising and marketing (as you mentioned: consumer preferences), and also business surveys (I have done a little work in this area). Sociology is an important component of public policy research which is carried on by (or on behalf of) government agencies and by private organisations that lobby governments.

I wouldn't say that sociology and psychology are the same thing, though. It is important to understand the differences. Psychology is about the individual - what causes an individual to act a particular way. E.g. do people get more aggressive after they drink alcohol? Sociology is about the group - not the small, face-to-face group of social psychology (E.g. "How do people in a bar form a social hierarchy?"), but whole segments of the population, possibly millions of people. E.g. is the crime rate in this state on average higher near bars serving alcohol than it is elsewhere? (Note: the crime rate near bars might be higher for many reasons, not just because alcohol may affect aggression - e.g. bars may attract people who are selling drugs or stolen goods; they may facilitate illegal gambling; and maybe people leaving bars are more likely to commit driving offences nearby ... the point is: bars are crime magnets; there is a pattern running through the location of crimes and the location of bars, regardless of the psychological factors involved in any one criminal act).

I think it is worth studying both social sciences. But it helps with sociology especially if you have some quantitative skills. A lot of social science, especially sociology, relies on basic skills in statistics.

PS: university libraries are great places to pursue special interests. My university library had about 2 million books ... I loved spending hours reading all sorts of things that weren't on my syllabus, such as ancient languages ...

I've studied both psych and sociology, and find them fascinating. Just want to point out, that if you are interested in Psych, that may be a key to you getting an interesting and lucrative career. If you want to take psych classes, you should. Trust me, it's painful doing a job that doesn't interest you, and exciting to do one that is your special interest.

Could you take a psychology class but not tell your parents about it?

At some universities, courses in neuroscience and biopsychology/ psychobiology are listed separately from the psychology department, or cross-listed with another department (usually biology).

Also consider taking courses from the economics department. A lot of micro-economics < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micro-economics > is about human behaviour. There are some entertaining stories in the following podcast:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2010/09/ ... -to-school

Loosely related humour:
http://xkcd.com/435/

I am currently taking a Sociology course at my community college. It's a very interesting class. My professor jointly teaches Criminology, so he is very knowledgeable in many areas. He engages the class in interesting topics during lectures. Even though I'm making a "C" as of right now, I still really like the class.

Yes; I found it to be pretty easy although it didn't interest me very much. I think if you're really into psychology already, you won't like sociology too much. Social psychology talks a little more about individuals and the way they interact and develop socially, while sociology talks a little more about different societies on a larger scale (such as cultures and counter-cultures, countries, different geographical regions, etc.). Good luck with your parents.

Bummer! I might at least try the course the teacher does seem nice although since it is about what you said I'm not to certain on a research paper. I'll see what his reply his. Sadly all my research ideas are totally off if it's about culture and such. I'm more of the individual behavior thinking with Psychology over groups. Darn Parents!

I'm fairly sure it's something you'll really enjoy. I suspect my father is AS. I know my son is and have had the huge relief of realizing I am. My father made a career of it. It was on one hand a really enjoyable career for him but due to the fact that he was super sensitive to feelings of children and animals it was exhausting. I recommend the course just not the career.

If your interests are in psychology then it makes sense for you to take it. Tell your parents with psychology you could be publishing some new theories and diagnosing new disorders instead of just being in a run-of-the-mill position in some other career.

EDIT: Also, remind them that psychology will help your social skills. In fact I look at psychology a lot, both to help understand human social behavior in a society-wide context and to help improve my own social skills.

& Back to the main question, yes. It was intensely interesting. My passion for me has always been the social sciences, particularly social engineering. I spent my free time in middle school writing word documents for entire World Constitutions, and papers explaining political positions just for myself. Later in high school I'd be debating people all over the internet. At first I thought more about how different policies would effect people's lives in society. Now that I've become a lot clearer with myself over what the social goals should be I think more about what can be done based on the material factors within society to move towards them.

I had a bad experience taking a Sociology class during my high school years, maybe this will be different.

Thanks. They don't look at psychology in that way. I'd tell them my views on discipline and I'd get yelled at (Still do actually) So I tend now adays to keep my mouth shut. It's odd they dislike me TAKING Psychology BUT me/mom discuss the 10/8 year old sisters behaviors all the time. HELL It'd be nice to be an expert to better understand THEM even!! ! I'm not interested in clinical and disorders (While yes I'd have to learn about them) I don't believe I'd actually have to get too involved of that's not my specific area. Thanks for the encouragement though.

...Briefly , yes , I have .