Accessible Appalachia: An Open-Access Introduction to Appalachian Studies is an edited collection of original scholarship. The textbook offers an interdisciplinary perspective and is ideal for introductory classes in Appalachian Studies. Available free to students everywhere, this textbook features coverage of Appalachian artistic, cultural, historical, natural, and social development.
"The Future is Now: Empowering Society Through AI Literacy" aims to educate and empower a broad audience on the nuances of artificial intelligence, ensuring that readers are not only informed about what AI is and can do but are also prepared to engage with the technology ethically and responsibly. The book adopts a multidisciplinary approach, weaving together technical explanations, ethical consi…
Welcome to the Race, Crime, and Justice Open Educational Resource! This book was developed with a diversity, equity, and inclusion framework. This course is about race, so our primary focus will be on the experiences of people of color (POC) in the criminal justice system. An important aspect of this book is the various spotlight examples we weave throughout the chapters to demonstrate the applic…
The Craft of Sociological Research: Principles and Methods of Collecting, Analyzing, and Presenting Social Science Data was developed with the goal of developing an open educational resource (OER) that makes well-written and engaging methods-training materials available for free to students. The manuscript was written by a team of authors at Virginia Commonwealth University who are all researcher…
This openly licensed text uses a multi-level, intersectional feminist approach to frame our understanding of contemporary sociology in the United States. The text introduces a variety of concepts and theories that are helpful in understanding the social world in which we live. It asks and answers the questions “What is sociology?” “How do groups, networks, and social interactions shape our realit…
Changing Society offers a foundational exploration of the causes, impacts, and dynamics of social change. Informed by the tenets of universal design, equity and belonging, and a commitment to a decolonizing approach, it is written for undergraduate students majoring in social sciences, social work, ethnic studies, or social justice studies.
In Keepin’ Up with Popular Culture, Dr. David Arditi introduces students to popular culture as a way to view and understand society, politics, and culture. This book demonstrates to students the overall importance of popular culture in their lives. It explores the ways that language is used (and the way that we use language) to construct the world around us through popular culture.
Social Justice & Advocacy in Human Services delves into the complex realm of social justice, offering a deep dive into historical roots and theories to practical applications in the field. This text covers fundamental concepts, including power, privilege, and oppression, and explores critical issues like racism, gender, sexuality, poverty, religion, and disability in the context of the United Sta…
Introduction to Criminology provides a foundation for understanding the origins, evolution, and current status of criminological theories. This textbook explains the field of criminology and influential theories in context, with real-life examples and activities. All content is delivered through a lens of equity, diversity, and inclusion. Each chapter includes bold-faced key terms with definition…
