Humans are, by nature, social creatures. We interact, make friends, and form bonds with other humans on a daily basis. Our background, upbringing, values, and the bonds we form assist in subtly sorting us into groups. The word sociology is defined as the study of these social groups and the interactions that occur within and between them. There are two main types of sociology: macrosociology and microsociology. These words can be defined exactly like their prefixes imply. "Micro"sociology is the study of specific parts of society while "macro"sociology is the study of large societies using a "world systems approach". Macrosociology (the one we are most concerned with) analyzes societies in relation to the other bigger social systems that these smaller societies make up. Sociology is a subject that is made up of many competing theories on society. Philosophers as far back as Aristotle have many theories about how these social systems fit together. Each theory, however, seeks to understand the ways in which all of the different components of society, from individual relationships to social institutions such as schools, workplaces, and the position one has in their family, impact the existence of society.
Sociology is very relevant not only to my education but to my life in general. First and foremost, in coming to any college, you are encouraged to make friends, get involved, and find a place where you can belong. This involves countless interactions with other individuals and other groups. I think the study of sociology will help me to understand the positive and negative effects these interactions have on me and my education. I fully plan on being involved but really understanding how I fit into this large educational institution and societal group can only be a benefit to me. Everyone at the College of Charleston came here with a common bond: to learn and obtain an education from one of the top liberal schools in the Southeast.
