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Sociology Department

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Courses

Sociology Courses
SOC 201 Introduction to Sociology.
Introduction to the fundamental questions, concepts, theories, and general principles of sociological thought. Inquiries into culture, socialization, norms, power relations, social institutions, and group interaction. Illustrates how human action transforms society, and how social and cultural forces constrain human action. Fulfills Social Sciences Foundation. Three credits. Offered every semester.

SOC 250 Perspectives on Madness.
Focus is on the social construction of madness. Compares the different ways madness has been defined and treated throughout history and in different cultures. Relationship between those labeled mad, those who label, and the sociocultural context will be examined. Part of Marginality and Difference Theme. Three credits. Offered fall semester.

SOC 251 Criminology.
An analysis of crime, criminal behavior, and punishment through a variety of historical and contemporary theoretical perspectives. Sociology 251 is equivalent to Criminal Justice 201. Students may receive credit for only one of these classes. Three credits. Offered on sufficient demand.

SOC 255 Sociology of Work and Employment.
Examines the social forces changing the organization of work and the occupational structure as well as the tensions and conflicts associated with labor and management relations. Reviews the effects of work on attitudes and behavior. Discusses current trends in management, labor, and work processes. Three credits. Offered fall semester.

SOC 280 Social Problems.
Examines a range of social conditions, arrangements, and behaviors typically defined as problems in modern society. Applies sociological analysis to understand how problems arise from the organization of society, and the processes by which conditions become identified as social problems, and how ideology and power shape responses to social problems. Fulfills Social Sciences Foundation. Fulfills U.S. Diversity requirement. Three credits. Offered every semester.

SOC 288 Sociology of Food. 
Considers the way in which values and ideas are socially constructed, with specific focus on the relationship between food and society. A comparative, cross-cultural analysis that examines food production, distribution, preparation, and consumption. Includes nutrition, social eating disorders, religious prescriptions and proscriptions, food and poverty, fast food, and world hunger. Three credits. Offered on sufficient demand.

SOC 304 Analysis of Sociological Data. 
Examination of the basic methods of empirical research in sociology. Focus on collection, analysis, and interpretation of data. Prerequisite: Six hours in sociology or consent of instructor. Three credits. Offered winter semester.

SOC 323 Families in Society. 
An examination of the basic concepts of culture and their application, first to the American family and then to the family in other cultures. Fulfills U.S. Diversity requirement. Part of The Human Journey Theme. Three credits. Offered every semester.

SOC 333 Sociology of The Civil Rights Movement. 
This course applies multiple sociological models of social movements to the American Civil Rights Movement from 1940--1970s. Part of Civil and Human Rights Movement Theme. Three credits. Offered fall semester.

SOC 345 Cultural Sociology. 
Examines the symbolic processes in the production and circulation of meanings within society and the sociocultural context in the construction and interpretation of social behavior, social identity, and location. Prerequisites: 201 or ANT 204 or permission from the instructor. Three credits. Offered odd-numbered years.

SOC 346 Sociology of Art. 
Explores the ways that public debates over art, aesthetics, and taste mask fundamental conflicts of culture, class, race, ethnicity, and gender. Examines controversies over the public funding of historical and contemporary cultural projects as well as the fluid boundaries between the taste for ``high'' and ``popular'' culture. Part of the Creativity Theme. Three credits. Offered winter semester.

SOC 351 Urban Sociology. 
Explores urban theory, including Chicago School, political economy, pluralist and postmodern approaches; the evolution of U.S. cities; suburbanization, immigration, race relations, street life, redevelopment, urban politics and planning, and international comparison. Readings focus on urban theory, specific cities, and methods. Part of Cities Theme. Prerequisite: 201. Three credits. Offered every semester.

SOC 356 Sociology of Health Care. 
An analysis of the social facets of health and disease, the social functions of health organizations, the relationship of health care delivery to other social systems, the social behavior of health care providers and consumers, and international patterns of health services. Race, class, and gender issues are examined. Part of Health, Illness, and Healing Theme. Three credits. Offered fall and winter semesters.

SOC 357 Sociology of Religion.
Critically analyzes religion as an institutional structure and belief system and explores the relationship of religion to social change and organization. Emphasis on religion in the contemporary United States; includes attention to non-Western influences. Part of Religion Theme. Three credits. Offered winter semester.

SOC 360 Social Psychology: Sociology's View. 
Studies how individual's perceptions, belief systems, moralities, identities, and behaviors are influenced by their place in society relevant to institutions and structural context. Also studies how individuals, as actors, influence our social world. Prerequisite: Sociology 201. Sociology 360 is not equivalent to Psychology 360. Students may receive credit for both courses. Three credits. Offered every semester.

SOC 366 Sociology of Media. 
Critically examines the production and consumption of mass media. The roles that mass media play in shaping values, ideology, and human interaction will be studied through examination of the economic and social organization of the mass media, media content, and the ways audiences interact with media. Part of Society and the Media Theme. Three credits. Offered fall semester.

SOC 375 Perspectives on Masculinity. 
Discusses and analyzes social and political perspectives on men and the men's movements. Engages students to look critically at men and sports, sexuality, work, and friendship. Part of Gender, Society, and Culture Theme. Three credits. Offered winter semester.

SOC 377 Globalization: Structures and Movements.

Examines and critiques the historical origins, economic and technological foundations, institutional arrangements, ideological underpinnings, collective movements, and controversial outcomes of 'transnationalism'  and 'globalization.' Sociological analysis emphasizes macro-level institutions that shape globalization, social conflicts arising from its effects, and the consequences of global change on individuals, groups and organizations. Prerequisites: Sociology 201 or Sociology 280. Three credits. Offered winter semester.

379 Love, Sex, and Gender. 
Considers the way in which ideas and values are socially constructed and contextually grounded. Focus on the historical, socioeconomic, psychological, and political construction of love, sex, and gender in the United States. A comparative aspect is also provided. Part of Gender, Society, and Culture Theme. Prerequisite: Junior standing. Three credits. Offered fall and winter semesters.

SOC 380 Special Topics Seminar. 
A seminar for the study of important topics not ordinarily covered in other courses. This course may be taken more than once when the topic is different. One to three credits. Offered On sufficient demand.

SOC 381 Class, Race, Gender, and Sexuality. 
Studies the meaning of difference in contemporary society. Focus on the interplay of structure and agency in relation to class, race, gender, and sexuality regarding life opportunity, privilege, and inequality. Fulfills U.S. Diversity requirement. Part of American Mosaic Theme. Prerequisite: 201 or 280. Three credits. Offered fall and winter semesters.

SOC 382 Race and Ethnicity. 
Analysis of cultural, historical, and social construction of race and ethnicity in the U.S. and cross-culturally. Assesses theories of prejudice, discrimination, and racism. Grounds the examination of the interplay of group privilege and disadvantage within the context of contemporary issues related to race and ethnicity. Fulfills U.S. Diversity requirement. Prerequisite: 201. Three credits. Offered every semester.

SOC 383 Sociology of Women. 
Examines the social and cultural construction of gender differences and sociological theories of gender. Explores both the historical and contemporary status of women. Three credits. Offered on sufficient demand.

SOC 384 Sociology of Drug Use and Abuse. 
Covers the etiologies and use and abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD) in the U.S. Also studies past and present patterns of ATOD, their causes, social and legal aspects, treatment, and the political economy of drug trafficking. Three credits. Offered every semester.

SOC 385 Social Class Inequality. 
Focus on the historical, socioeconomic, and political construction of class inequality in the United States from a critical perspective. Includes attention to cultural and global context. Part of Marginality and Difference Theme. Prerequisite: Junior standing. Three credits. Offered fall and winter semesters.

SOC 386 Sociology of Childhood. 
Explores sociological issues, theory, and research on the social and cultural worlds of children. Focuses on the institution of childhood and the study of children as social actors. Main attention devoted to the social lives of children and their families. Prerequisite: 201. Three credits. Offered fall semester of even-numbered years.

SOC 387 Sociology of Adolescence.
Focuses on adolescence through various sociological paradigms. Identifies conceptual differences in adolescence, including social, cross-cultural, and historical constructions. Examines textual and narrative materials on the agency of adolescence. Also, challenges many assumptions about the adolescent experience. Prerequisite: SOC201. Three credits. Offered winter semester.

SOC 388 Middle Age and Aging. 
Examines the social context of mid-life aging in contemporary society in areas such as work, family, health, and politics. Applies social theories and primarily historical analysis of the socio-political issues and myths regarding aging in a rapidly aging society and social world. Three credits. Offered winter semester of even-numbered years.

SOC 389 Child Maltreatment. 
An examination of the individual, familial, community, and sociocultural causes of child maltreatment in this country. Focus is on the analysis and integration of theory, research, and practice. Three credits. Offered fall and winter semesters.

SOC 390 Advanced Seminar on Social Issues. 
An in-depth analysis of a specific social issue, problem, or sociological area. Seminar in format, the course is intended to give majors an opportunity to continue to pursue some topic of interest in depth. Topics vary. Students may take more than once if topic is different. Three credits. Offered on sufficient demand.

SOC 392 Social Deviance and Social Control. 
An analysis of deviant behavior: its causes, manifestations, prevention, and programs of control. Special attention is given to the role of social norms in generating as well as controlling deviance. Emphasis is put on ways in which social structures generate and label deviants. Part of Freedom and Social Control theme. Three credits. Offered winter semester.

SOC 399 Independent Readings. 
Independent supervised readings in selected topics. A student may take only one reading course for one to three credits per term. No more than six hours of 399 and 499 combined may count toward a major or three hours of 399 and 499 combined toward the minor. Prerequisites: 201 and the written consent of the instructor before registration. Offered every semester.

SOC 400 Classic Social Theory. 
A critical survey of social theorists who shaped early sociology and remain relevant today. Covers theory from the early modern period to World War II. Prerequisite: Six hours in sociology. Three credits. Offered fall semester.

SOC 401 Contemporary Sociological Theory. 
A critical survey of social theorists who extended and sometimes challenged the sociological perspective. Emphasizes the development and application of theory in relationship to contemporary issues. Covers theorists from post-World War II to the present. Prerequisite: Six hours in sociology. Three credits. Offered winter semester.

SOC 420 Sociology of Community. 
Provides students with an understanding of the concept of ``community.'' Combines theory and practice. Students will work together as a team to examine, analyze, experience, and improve community life. SOC 420 is equivalent to GPY 420. Students may not receive credit for both courses. Part of American Mosaic Theme. Prerequisites: SOC 201 or GPY 220; STA 215. Three credits. Offered fall semester.

SOC 490 Practicum: Career-Service. 
Agency experience in the community relating practical training and independent study in a specialized area. Limited to 10 credits maximum. Prerequisites: 15 hours of course preparation and permission of instructor. One to nine credits. Offered on a credit/no credit basis. Offered every semester.

SOC 495 Senior Seminar in Sociology Capstone. 
Critiques contemporary debates in sociology. Through active reading, discussion and production of a milestone statement, students will reflect on the meaning and application of the sociological imagination, which may include a research project or critical thinking project. Prerequisites: Senior standing in the department and written permission of instructor before registering. Three credits. Offered fall and winter semesters.

SOC 499 Independent Study and Research. 
Research conducted individually with faculty supervision. Attention given to written and oral presentation of research findings. A student may take only one independent study course for one to four credits per term. No more than six hours of 399 and 499 combined may count toward a major or three hours of 399 and 499 combined toward the minor. Prerequisites: Nine hours in the department and written permission of instructor before registration. Offered on a credit/no credit basis. Offered every semester.

Social Science Courses
The following are interdisciplinary social science courses that may be used for a sociology major or minor. Consult your advisor for further information.

SS 300 Research Methods in the Social Sciences.
Examination of basic investigatory methods in the social sciences. Focus on logic and theory of social research, including formulating and testing hypotheses, research design, sampling procedures, data collection techniques, and the ethics of conducting research. Prerequisite: STA 215. Three credits. Offered every semester.

SS/WGS 351 Family & Gender in the Developing World.
A comparative examination of the impact of development on families and gender roles in third world countries. Will include consideration of general issues (e.g., factors affecting family reproduction decisions, women in the formal and informal labor force, etc.) and in-depth study of gender and family in one or more countries. Part of the New Third World Theme. Three credits. Offered winter semester.

SS 381 Death and Dying.
Considers the way in which ideas and values are socially constructed and contextually grounded. Specific focus on the historical, socioeconomic, psychological, and political construction of death and dying in the United States. A comparative aspect is also provided. Part of Death and Dying Theme. Prerequisite: Junior standing. Three credits. Offered summer and winter semesters.