Overview of basic theories, methods, concepts and issues central to the discipline of sociology. Examine the relationship between social behavior and society.
Survey the characteristics, issues and problems of the family as a social institution. Topics discussed include: marital satisfaction, conflict, mate selection, alternatives and social change.
Analysis of selected social problems, both domestic and global. Exploration of why social problems occur, how different value premises and theoretical perspectives lead to distinctive ways of addressing social problems. Issues such as poverty, crime, homelessness, intergroup conflicts are examples of the types of issues examined.
Topics which are not regularly offered in the program focus on expertise of available instructors and the needs and interests of students. S/U graded or letter graded. Access online course list. Open CRN link to view syllabus and evaluation method.
Explore the interaction and reciprocal relationship between humans and the environment. Examine how humans modify the environment and how the environment influences behavioral response and societal decisions. Understand environmental problems and consider alternative behavior models and possible solutions.
Examine gender stratification and social inequality. Topics include cultural definitions of masculinity and femininity, socialization and social change.
Examines sociological perspectives, theories, and research on popular culture in society. Focus on people, activities, organizations, and institutions involved in production of popular culture.
This course explores how sociological skills are applicable to a variety of careers. Students will be introduced to the sociology major requirements, including preparation for the senior seminar research project.
SOC 100: with minimum grade of D-
This course includes a survey of the major economic, political and social forces that have shaped the modern world. The course will provide an introduction to theories of social change as well as a discussion of contemporary issues in a globalizing context.
Examine intergroup relations and the dynamics of power relating to race, ethnicity, and intersecting social forces that have produced conflict and inequality. Explore the persistent impact in American society.
This course examines multiple and shifting categories of gender, race, class, and sexuality in feminist perspective, investigating how they contribute to our understandings of systems of privilege and inequality.
Study social deviancy, particularly in terms of types, sources, functions, dysfunctions and social control mechanisms that operate relative to those departures from conformity.
Sociological perspectives on mental illness. Examine conceptual models of mental illness, social epidemiological help-seeking behavior, social impacts of treatment, mental health delivery systems and social policy issues.
Examines sociological perspectives, theories, and research on emotions. Focus on the social definitions and relationship between social structure; and emotional socialization, emotion rules, management, and performance rituals in everyday life.
Investigation and analysis of a specific social problem or issue. S/U graded or letter graded.
Examination of sex trafficking & sex work as social issues. Students will apply both sociological theory and methods to analyze these issues in the context of global trends and policies.
SOC 100: with minimum grade of D-
An introduction to the sociology of disability. Examines different models of disability; the social construction and reality of being disabled; and recent legislation regarding persons with disabilities.
This course examines the social construction of gender within the context of aging in America. We will examine social issues such as masculinity, femininity, class inequality, race/ethnicity and sexuality as they relate to aging, generational differences, and the life course.
Students will engage in an analysis of how gender and sexuality operate in the media and pop culture and examine how these representations affect identity formation.
Examine theoretical perspectives and research issues in the family. Analyze current issues in the family studies areas. Possible topics: singlehood, prenuptial contracts, dual career households, divorce, parenting, cohabitation, custody arrangements.
SOC 120: with minimum grade of D-
History of occupational structures as well as the future of work and occupations. Topics include occupational choice, socialization, managing workers, feelings about work and deviance at work.
Examine the societal definition of childhood and adolescence and how social institutions influence socialization.
SOC 100: with minimum grade of D-
Examine the relationships between individuals and social systems. Focus on language interaction, self-conceptualizing behaviors and change. Review dominant social psychological theories and issues.
SOC 100: with minimum grade of D-
Presents a critical analysis of the realities of America's open-class system, making use of current theoretical perspectives and systematic research. Examines cross-cultural perspectives of stratification.
SOC 100: with minimum grade of D-
Study the history of juvenile law, enforcement structures and explanations for the emergence of delinquency. Study the American juvenile legal system and its major problems.
Survey criminal behavior generally, including theories of causation, types of crime, extent of crime, law enforcement, criminal justice, punishment and treatment.
Survey of the history and structure of punishment in Western societies. Review of the major philosophies and practices of modern corrections.
Study the major classical theorists who established the foundations of sociology during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Focus on the emergence of sociology.
SOC 100: with minimum grade of D-
Review the major modern theoretical paradigms and prominent contemporary theorists in sociology. Examine contemporary issues in sociology.
SOC 351: with minimum grade of D-
Examination of the unequal distribution of environmental risks and benefits across populations, the environmental justice movement, environmental policies and regulatory practices.
Introduces the fundamental logic and methods of social research. Topics may include hypothesis formulation and testing, designing a research project, sampling, methods of data collection including surveys and field observation, analysis of data utilizing statistical procedures, introduction to a statistical computer package, data presentation, report writing, ethical issues. This is the first of a two course sequence.
SOC 100: with minimum grade of D- and May concurrently take SOC 231: with minimum grade of D-
SOC 363
Continuation of
SOC 361 which includes an extension of methods of collecting and analyzing data discussed in
SOC 361. The course may include topics such as index and scale construction, further use of computer applications for analysis, basic logic of multivariate causal reasoning and its application, analysis of variance and regression, introduction to evaluation research, report writing, and data presentation. The knowledge and skills gained in this two course research sequence may be used to design, conduct and present the results of a research study.
SOC 100: with minimum grade of D- and May concurrently take SOC 231: with minimum grade of D-
SOC 364
(1 laboratory) Designed to familiarize students with the use of a statistical package for the social sciences. Students learn to organize, input and analyze data in a series of research reports.
SOC 361
(1 laboratory) Continued instruction of a statistical package for the social sciences. Students learn to analyze and interpret computer output for a variety of inferential statistical techniques.
SOC 362
This course takes a theoretically informed, sociological approach to understanding how religions operate as a major social institution in society. Drawing on both macro and micro level theories and empirical evidence, this course evaluates the role of religion from antiquity to modern day.
(SOC 100: with minimum grade of D- or SOC 170: with minimum grade of D-)
We examine the body as object and subject of shifting race, gender, class and sexual meanings and as the product of complex social processes, including culture, medicalization, objectification, commodification and globalization.
Sociological perspective on the mutual relationships between health care and society. Covers social factors in illness, illness behavior, sick role, health care providers and health care policies.
Examine interrelationship between self and society in the modern world. Focus on sociological theories and research that analyze social influences on the self and response of self to these influences.
SOC 100: with minimum grade of D-
Systematically attempt to relate sociological concepts to the educational institution. Focus on an analysis of social processes and patterns involved in the educational system.
Enables students to critically and sociologically analyze trends, causes, and consequences of global immigration. Expands students' perspectives on citizenship, as well as immigrant and refugee experiences.
Offerings focus on sociological topics not regularly offered in the program. Topics focus on expertise of available instructors and the specific needs of students. S/U graded or letter graded.
Students examine a specific topic developed by the faculty member teaching the course. Students will apply research methods training and theoretical analysis to a research project culminating in a poster and oral presentation, as well as a written paper.
SOC 351: with minimum grade of D- and SOC 361: with minimum grade of D-
A sociological analysis not just of men, but of masculinities. We will address debates about meanings of masculinity, historical variations, and how these definitions involve both male and female bodies.
Individualized investigation under the direct supervision of a faculty member. (Minimum of 37.5 clock hours required per credit hour.)
SOC 100: with minimum grade of D-
Examine major issues in family violence such as defining family violence, comparing types of explanations from different disciplines and translating social science perspectives to policy and social service delivery systems.
SOC 100: with minimum grade of D-
Analysis of complex organizations in education, health, criminal justice, business and media. Application of theories in structures of organizations, behaviors of individuals within organizations and inter-organizational relationships.
SOC 100: with minimum grade of D-
Evaluate how group processes enhance, limit and define social interaction. Study the major theories of group dynamics. Analyze and discuss issues, trends, paradigms and applications.
Study of the social origins, functions and administration of law in society. Focus on the social organization of law, inequality in the legal system, and how civil and criminal law structure society.
Survey the history of social policy development and contemporary social change and social trends. Study research in social policy and analyze application and implementation.
Course examines theories of family development, interaction and change. Students apply theoretical frameworks to current research, and consider the explanatory value of theory for research methods and real-world application.
SOC 120: with minimum grade of D-
Determinants and consequences of behavior and response to environmental extremes, technological emergencies, and acts of mass violence.
Survey theories and research on the social aspects of aging with emphasis on later maturity and old age.
SOC 100: with minimum grade of D-
Introduction to the sociological study of sport. Focus on sports as social and cultural phenomena, we use sociological concepts and critical thinking to examine the impact of sports on social structure and institutions.
SOC 100: with minimum grade of D-
This course focuses on local, national and international communities. Major theories and empirical evidence will guide understanding of how communities work, their impact on individuals, and how they are constructed.
Provides students with the opportunity to study and gain experience by working with a community agency or group. Internship placement must be arranged and approved prior to the beginning of the course. Credit is given only for work completed during the semester enrolled. S/U graded.
Complete an individualized research project for a community agency or organization. Classroom component addresses issues in applied theory, applied research and professional socialization. Capstone course for Applied Sociology emphasis.
SOC 231: with minimum grade of D- and SOC 352: with minimum grade of D- and SOC 362: with minimum grade of D-
Complete an individualized applied research project for a family service agency. Classroom component addresses issues in applied research, professional socialization and family policy. Capstone course for the Family Studies emphasis.
SOC 324: with minimum grade of D- and SOC 352: with minimum grade of D- and SOC 361: with minimum grade of D- and SOC 362: with minimum grade of D-
Individualized research project for a non-profit organization. Classroom component addresses issues in applied research. Project must be initiated before enrollment and approval of the project is required.
SOC 362: with minimum grade of D-
Scheduled on a semi-regular basis to explore special areas in sociology and carries a subtitle for each offering. Check department office for topics currently planned.
SOC 100: with minimum grade of D-
Scheduled on a semi-regular basis as an experiential approach to studying special areas in sociology and carries a subtitle for each offering. Check department office for topics currently planned.
Students will examine a specific topic developed by the faculty member teaching the course. This course will examine inequality and its implications for various contemporary issues.
SOC 100: with minimum grade of D-