The material covered in the CLEP exam in sociology (which is reflected in the lecture notes and study guide which follow) is generally considered equivalent to a one semester lower division college course.

Exam type:
CLEP: 100 multiple choice questions in 90 minutes
Typical credits: 3 units

The CLEP Exam

NOTE: There is no on-line course that appears to relate directly to the CLEP Exam. I have drawn from several courses and some guest lectures that seem to reflect the content required on the CLEP. Featured faculty and their home pages can be found at the end of this page.
(I didn't promise you a rose garden. See disclaimer.)

The topics in bold face are those The College Board indicates will be found on the exams. Some of the topics require only a few paragraphs to understand; others fill chapters in a text book.

The arrangement of the topics presented is slightly different from that indicated by The College Board, but more closely resemble the sequence found in text books -- so the percentages given after the main topic headings are only approximate. Always check with The College Board for the latest information. Most libraries have a copy of the CLEP Official Study Guide published by The College Board which has a shorter sample quiz.

Getting Started

Here is one way that you can begin. (If you haven't read a general step-by-step guide, this might be a good time. See also How to Budget Your Time)

A) Here is an outline of a typical textbook Society: The Basics 6th Edition (Macionis)

1. Sociology: Perspective, Theory, and Method.

2. Culture.

3. Socialization: From Infancy to Old Age.

4. Social Interaction in Everyday Life.

5. Groups and Organizations.

6. Deviance.

7. Sexuality.

8. Social Stratification.

9. Global Stratification.

10. Gender Stratification.

11. Race and Ethnicity.

12. Economy and Politics.

13. Family and Religion.

14. Education and Medicine.

15. Population, Urbanization, and Environment.

16. Social Change: Modern and Postmodern Societies.

[Note: Any specific text probably includes some different topics than those covered by the CLEP]

B)Go to the main listing on Sociology in the Columbia Encyclopedia and follow the links.

C) You should also explore the companion sites (in addition to Macionis - above) of several other textbooks related to Sociology. These generally include brief chapter outlines, learning objectives, and an extensive array of interactive quizzes for each chapter. You will want to take advantage of these quizzes as you complete each unit. (Make notes in your journal for each quiz you take, and the percentage of right answers, as yet another guide to help you determine your strengths and weaknesses.)

Sociology for the Twenty-First Century (Tim Curry, Robert Jiobu and Kent Schwirian)

Essentials of Sociology: A Down-to-Earth Approach, 4/e (Henslin)

Using the Free University Project Study Guide

A) Read the Introductory Material suggested in the Study Guide.

B) Read the material in the first two or three topics in the Study Guide. In order to stay focused, only follow those links within the lectures and outlines that seem to be directly related to the subject matter at hand. Take your own notes. If you print out the material, highlight key definitions and concepts for review. Add your own marginal notes.

C) Read corresponding material in a textbook of your choice.

D) Read the next two or three topics as you did in B)

E) Take the on-line quizzes.

Remember to keep your journal up to date.

For those of you who have little background in Psychology and Sociology and have Broadband Access, you might want to review the 5 part Annenberg/CPB series Seasons of Life. While the prime focus is life-span development, this series may help you by providing the big picture.

Introduction

Read over one of the topics under The Times of Our Lives : Kearl as a gentle introduction to sociological inquiry.

And here some interactive examples of case studies Sociology by the Numbers (Henslin)

Major glossary with excellent links. Courtesy the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. The first time you come across a new sociological term, and begin to wonder what it means, look it up in this useful compilation. (Link provided by one of our students. Thanks Rachel.)

Preparing for the exam

Basic divisions of the CLEP exam and related links (Percentages following major headings are those indicated by the College Board.)

A: The sociological perpective - 15%

The Sociological Perspective: Anderson

click on Review questions for Chapters 1 & 2

The Sociological Perspective : Keel

History of sociology

A Sociology Timeline from 1600 : Stephan

Other historical information is found under Theory.

Methods and measurement

Theory and Research in Sociology: Anderson Micro and Macro Sociology

click on Review questions for Chapters 3 & 4

Sociological Research Methods : Keel

Sociological theory

[[Sociological Theory - Theory Notes : Jipson]] The Jipson website may still be undergoing revision.

Social Structure : Keel

Glossary : Development of Sociological Theory: Hamlin

B. Social processes -- 20%

Groups and organizations

Individuals and Groups : Anderson Individuals and Groups -- Biology, Culture and Society

click on Review Questions for Chapter 5

Individuals and Groups : Anderson Socialization and Social Roles

click on Review Questions for Chapter 6

Deviance and social control

Deviance, Conformity and Social Control : Anderson

click on Review Questions for Chapters 7 & 8

Deviance : Keel

The following link is overkill for this exam as it covers an entire course on the Sociology of Deviant Behavior : Keel but you might find it useful to review the main points.

The following are also more extensive than this exam requires, but worth reviewing [[ Home Page : Jipson, and click on Deviance and Social Control
also
Criminology : Jipson. ]] The Jipson website may still be undergoing revision.

Collective behavior and social movements

Groups and Organizations : Keel

Socialization

Socialization : Keel

Culture

Culture : Keel

Social Change

Social Change and Modernization : Anderson

click on Review quiz questions for Chapter 17

Social Change : Keel

C: Social Stratification (Process and Structure) -- 30%

Economic Stratification : Keel

Age Stratification : Keel

Social mobility

Social Class

Power and Social Inequality

Introduction to Social Inequality : Anderson

Basic Concepts of Social Inequality

Basic Theoretical Conceptualizations

Social Classes in the United States

click on Review Questions for Chapters 9 & 10

Professions and occupations

Race and ethnic relations

Racial and Ethnic Inequality : Anderson Gender Inequality and Sex roles

click on Review questions for Chapters 11 & 12

Racial and Ethnic Equality : Keel

Race & Ethnicity : Kearl

Gender roles

Gender Inequality : Keel

[Take a break] See Nietzsche at the Mall

D. Institutions -- 20%

Social Institutions : Anderson The Family

click on Review question for Chapter 13

Collective Behavior and the Social Psychology of Social Institutions : Kearl

Family

The Family : Keel

Marriage and Family Processes : Kearl

Economic

Political Economy : Keel

[[Formal Organizations : Jipson]] The Jipson website may be undergoing revision.

Political

Power, Politics and the State : Anderson

click on Review quiz questions for Chapter 15

Educational

Work and Education : Anderson

click on Review quiz questions for Chapter 16

Education : Keel

Religious

Religion and Religious Behavior : Anderson

click on Review quiz questions for Chapter 14

Religion : Keel

Collective Behavior : Kearl

E: Social patterns -- 15%

Community

Community : Keel

Demography

Demography : Kearl and follow the link to Paul Ehrlich.

Human ecology

Article The concept of community in human ecology (1970) : Stephan

Population Growth and Change : Anderson

click on Review quiz questions for Chapter 18

Urban Growth and Change : Anderson

click on Review quiz questions for Chapter 19

Organizational Growth and Change : Anderson

click on Review quiz questions for Chapter 20

Rural and urban patterns

Something else to think about -- can there be sociological laws? See -- Stephan Home Page, click on The Divison of Territory in Society, then click on chapter 17.

Links to faculty home pages
NOTE: Please don't bug the professors. They have been generous enough just by taking the time and effort to put their material on the Web. And please don't e-mail responses to their tests. Such responses are limited to students actually enrolled in the class.

Michael C. Kearl Ph.D., Trinity University
Robert Keel M.A., University of Misouri St. Louis
Ed Stephan Ph.D. Western Washington University

Internet Resources You can go in giant circles following all the sociology links. For a useful, and manageable, annotated list see this Australian site. Another good series of links can be found at A Sociological Tour Through Cyberspace : Kearl

Good Luck!

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