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• Sociology

Undergraduate Sociology

2024 Fall Term

Class Schedule

PRINCIPLES OF SOCIOLOGY

SOCIOLGY 240

This course introduces students to the ways in which sociologists use theory and research to study human group behavior and the processes by which people build, maintain, and change their institutional arrangements and relationships with one another. The course will focus on five areas of inquiry: social structure, interaction, and change; inequality and diversity; family and health; crime, criminal justice.

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SOCIAL PROBLEMS

SOCIOLGY 250

This course examines various theoretical explanations of contemporary social problems such as crime, drug use, poverty, discrimination and environmental pollution. The impact of social problems on different groups in society and the role of social movements, government, and social policy are considered.

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INTRODUCTION TO FAMILY STUDIES

SOCIOLGY 252

This course emphasizes the influence of gender, race/ethnicity, and class on family and marriage in comtemporary U.S. society. It introduces students to theories and research that explain social forces affecting family commitments, and familiarizes them with varying social and cultural patterns of family formation.

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RACE AND ETHNIC RELATIONS

SOCIOLGY 265

This course examines relationships between racial minorities and the majority group in the United States in their socio-historical contexts. Early histories of relations between minorities and the majority as well as present relations will be addressed. Questions raised include whether American society should attempt to minimize differences between minorities and the majority, and whether to blend or maintain group identities.

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THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY: A SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE

SOCIOLGY 270

This course provides lower level undergraduate students with systematic sociological understanding of the historical and current experiences of African American people.

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INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY

SOCIOLGY 276

An introduction to the field of criminology through examination of theories and patterns of criminal behavior, the operation of the criminal justice system, and the politics of crime control policy.

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BASIC SOCIAL STATISTICS

SOCIOLGY 295

Introduction to basic statistical methods and their utility in sociology including statistical concepts, frequency distribution, measures of central tendency and variability, correlation analysis, OLS regression analysis, and including the logic of hypothesis testing. In addition, introduction to basic operations of SPSS statistical software in social data analysis.

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CULTURE, MEDICINE AND HEALTH

SOCIOLGY 302

Medical anthropologists apply critical concepts and ethnographic methods to understand the lived experience of illness and suffering; differing medical practices; and the various ways modern healthcare impacts societies. This course is an introduction to the field and designed for students in the social sciences, humanities, and biological/health sciences.

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SOCIOLOGY OF DISABILITY

SOCIOLGY 315

Sociology of Disability is an examination of the social construction of disability, including its historical and cross-cultural variations, institutional and organizational contexts, and interactional and emotional dimensions. Particular attention is given to the experience of living with various biomedical conditions and the ways in which the social status of disability is related to other forms of social inequality and difference.

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ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIOLOGY

SOCIOLGY 319

This course examines the economic and political structures that have induced natural environmental degradation throughout the world and highlights the impact of collective social actors mobilizing to influence the process of environmental policy formation in order to address environmental and technological risks.

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SOCIOLOGY OF GENDER

SOCIOLGY 345

This course will analyze gender as a process and as a social institution. It will examine how we can experience gender in ways that maintain existing gender relations or in ways that challenge them.

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GENDER AND FAMILY IN JAPAN

SOCIOLGY 347

This course will examine forms of masculinity, femininity, sexuality, and family in contemporary Japan, and their historical development. Students will learn how gender, sexuality, and family are historically and socially constructed, how they are recreated through social interaction, how power inequalities are embedded in gender and family relations, how these inequalities impact individuals (and vice versa).

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SOCIOLOGY OF MONEY

SOCIOLGY 351

This course explores how money is not merely a financial instrument and how people use it in all areas of economic life to create, maintain, symbolize, and transform meaningful social relations. We will discuss the ways in which money reflects and reproduces social arrangements, how individuals value money differently in various contexts, and how money is used to create distinctions among people or objects. Topics include: conspicuous consumption, the gender pay gap, social class inequalities, the relationship between money and happiness, informal credit systems, the tipping culture in the US, and ethics of trading human body parts, among others.

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SOCIOLOGY OF VIOLENT CRIME

SOCIOLGY 371

This course will provide an in-depth look at homicide and other violent crimes as a social and legal category and at the social psychological variables that affect them. Various types of criminal violence will be examined in American society and in a global context. Forensic issues will be addressed along with political and social issues.

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SOCIOLOGY OF POLICE AND COURTS

SOCIOLGY 374

A sociological analysis of the development and behavior of the police, lawyers, prosecutors and judiciary in society and their role in social control.

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SOCIOLOGY OF DRUGS AND CRIME

SOCIOLGY 377

This course examines the intersection of drugs and crime in U.S. society. This course utilizes the social constructionist perspective as it pertains to both legal and illegal drugs. Through the use of the constructionist perspective, this class will explore how believed truths and realities about drugs are often socially created, how the laws and the control of drugs has been constructed and maintained, how culture and history influence perceptions of drugs and crime, and how societal norms, values and ideas concerning drugs are created and perpetuated.

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SOCIOLOGY OF PUNISHMENT AND CORRECTIONS

SOCIOLGY 378

The critical analysis of probation, parole, halfway houses, jails and prisons. Their origins in and possible function for the larger society will also be examined. Field trip is required.

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GENDER, SEXUALITY AND CRIME

SOCIOLGY 379

This course examines the role of gender and sexual identities in offending and victimization dynamics; the frequently blurred boundaries of victimization and criminalization for cis women and girls and transgender people; and disparities in the criminal law, police, and courts based on intersecting gender, race, and sexual identities.

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ORGANIZATIONS AND SOCIETY

SOCIOLGY 380

An examination of the growth and role of organizations in society with specific attention to American society.

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CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORY

SOCIOLGY 472

This course is an in-depth investigation of criminological theories with an emphasis on sociological criminology. Students will compare-contrast the assumptions, principles and concepts of major theories, examine empirical research relevant to the theories, and consider the policy applications of theoretical perspectives.

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SOCIAL THEORY: CLASSICAL AND CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES

SOCIOLGY 473

An examination of classical and contemporary social thought. The connections between early major European and contemporary U.S. and international theorists will be emphasized to analyze key areas of sociological inquiry. The course will map important theoretical camps in sociology as well as conduct analysis of contemporary and historical issues using social theory.

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METHODS OF SOCIAL RESEARCH

SOCIOLGY 476

To acquaint the student with research methods in sociology and the social sciences; the foundation of sociology in science; the role of theory in research; construction of the research design; sampling, data gathering techniques, and analysis and interpretation of data.

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SUPERVISED TEACHING AIDE

SOCIOLGY 482

This course provides selected undergraduates with teaching experience in a college classroom. Students learn from a teaching aide experience in which the student assists an instructor in preparing, delivering, and overseeing lab, review or discussion sessions or by tutoring students. The student will attend the class sessions for a second time, meet weekly with the instructor, and is under the direct supervision of a faculty mentor.

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APPLIED SOCIOLOGY

SOCIOLGY 493

This course involves a supervised internship in a public or private organization. Through on campus seminars and written assignments on the intern experience, students learn how sociology can be applied to solve social problems. Repeatable for a maximum of 6 credits in degree.

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SEMINAR IN SOCIOLOGY

SOCIOLGY 494

Variable topics. Group activity. An advanced course of study in a defined subject matter area emphasizing a small group in intense study with a faculty member. Repeatable.

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INDEPENDENT STUDY- UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH

SOCIOLGY 498R

Study of a selected topic or topics under the direction of a faculty member. Repeatable.