This course introduces students to major schools of thought and topics of research in sociological theory. It will provide students with an understanding of the scientific study of social life through some key sociological concepts such as secularization, gender, culture, conflict, social change, deviance and inequality. In this course, we will establish that “the intellectual craftsmanship” begins with questioning what others may take for granted. What is the nature of society? How have societies developed historically? In what ways does the individual play a role in shaping the society? To what extent is the individual shaped by society? How much of our opinions, personal preferences, taste, political stance are determined or influenced by the social environment we live in and by the social institutions we are subscribed to? We will read how sociological works engage with these difficult questions. Through a close reading of these works, we will also pay close attention to their particular sociological methodologies. In the later part of the course, the students will be asked to demonstrate their understanding of social methods as well as theory through conducting their own fieldwork on a sociological problem of their own choosing.