SOC - Sociology
Courses
SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology credit: 4 Hours.
[IAI Code: S7900] Sociology offers a unique lens through which we can examine the world around us. In this course you will develop a perspective that will allow you to analyze the social world in a way that reveals the hidden and/or overlooked social forces that shape our lives. This approach, the sociological imagination, will enable you to explore how social forces influence the ways we view and navigate our social world. We will discuss how sociologists use theory and research to better understand important social issues such as inequalities of race, class, gender, sexualities and how social order and social change are possible. We will discuss how society affects individuals and in turn how individuals can affect society.
This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for:
Social & Beh Sci - Soc Sci
SOC 101 Sociology of Gender credit: 3 Hours.
An exploration of current questions of gender and their applications to students today. The course will focus primarily on the United States emphasizing individual, interactional, and institutional aspects of the social world. Topics for study include sociological research on femininities, masculinities, gendered bodies, socialization, work, family, politics, sport, and sexualities.
This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for:
Social & Beh Sci - Soc Sci
SOC 130 Intro Gender & Women's Studies credit: 3 Hours.
Same as GWS 100. See GWS 100.
This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for:
Social & Beh Sci - Soc Sci
SOC 160 Global Ineq and Social Change credit: 3 Hours.
Introduces sociological concepts of poverty, inequality, and social change within a global context. Themes explored include basic food security, poverty and hunger; population and resource distribution; foreign aid and development institutions; and social policies and movements for change. Course approach is historical and transnational, and typically includes case studies from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the United States.
This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for:
Cultural Studies - Non-West
Social & Beh Sci - Soc Sci
SOC 161 Introduction to Poverty credit: 3 Hours.
Introduction to sociological research about the views, experiences, causes, and consequences of poverty in both advanced and developing countries. The purpose of the course is to set the facts straight about who experiences poverty, why poverty remains pervasive, and what is being done, at home and abroad, to alleviate poverty.
This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for:
Social & Beh Sci - Soc Sci
Cultural Studies - Western
SOC 163 Social Problems credit: 3 Hours.
A study of social problems in the United States necessarily entails a discussion of global issues. To that end, this course will examine many contemporary social issues such as crime, war and terrorism, the environment, inequality, poverty, discrimination, the economic recession, and others, through a global framework. Many of the topics we will cover could motivate an entire semester's study in their own right; indeed, some scholars devote their entire careers to but one of these topics. However, this breadth allows us to think broadly about the issues that are identified as social problems and the ways in which individuals and groups attempt to resolve those problems; both processes are revealing about the time and society in which we live. One of the main objectives of this class is to learn about how sociologists examine social problems through analysis and research. Alongside that process, you will improve your critical thinking skills and become a better/more informed consumer of information.
SOC 180 Stress and Health in African American Communities credit: 3 Hours.
Using an interdisciplinary approach, students will explore the environmental and social determinants of health/wellbeing (ex. community violence), and their affects, within African American communities. Students will use the concepts of resistance and resiliency to explore factors that protect African Americans from the negative consequences of stress.
This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for:
Social & Beh Sci - Soc Sci
Cultural Studies - US Minority
SOC 196 Issues in Sociology credit: 3 Hours.
[IAI Code: S7901] Origin of problems; consequences of ameliorative strategies. Typical topics include crime, mental illness, drug use, suicide, sexual behavior, violence, and intergroup conflict. May be repeated as topics vary.
SOC 199 Undergraduate Open Seminar credit: 1 to 5 Hours.
Approved for both letter and S/U grading. May be repeated.
SOC 200 Introduction to Sociological Theory credit: 3 Hours.
This course is an introduction to the foundations of sociological theory. Topics may include the problem of social order and the nature of social conflict; capitalism and bureaucracy; the relationship between social structure and politics; and the evolution of modern societies. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing.
SOC 201 Race, Gender & Power credit: 3 Hours.
Same as GWS 201. See GWS 201.
This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for:
Cultural Studies - Western
SOC 202 Sexualities credit: 3 Hours.
Same as GWS 202. See GWS 202.
This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for:
Cultural Studies - Western
SOC 221 Latina/o Migration credit: 3 Hours.
Same as LLS 220. See LLS 220.
This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for:
Social & Beh Sci - Soc Sci
Cultural Studies - US Minority
SOC 222 Introduction to Modern Africa credit: 3 Hours.
Same as AFST 222, ANTH 222, and PS 242. See AFST 222.
This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for:
Cultural Studies - Non-West
SOC 225 Race and Ethnicity credit: 3 Hours.
[IAI Code: S7903D] Sociological and social-psychological analysis of minority groups; illustrative material drawn from representative racial, ethnic, and status groups. Prerequisite: SOC 100, SOC 101, OR SOC 163.
This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for:
Social & Beh Sci - Soc Sci
Cultural Studies - US Minority
SOC 226 Political Sociology credit: 3 Hours.
This course provides an introduction to the study of political sociology, which, broadly conceived, is concerned with the social bases of power and the social consequences of the organization of power. If politics is, as famously suggested by Howard Lasswell, "who gets what, when, how," then our primary aim is to explain the emergence, reproduction, and transformation of different forms of political ordering.
SOC 230 The Sociology of Political Polarization: Bigots and Snowflakes credit: 3 Hours.
Communicating across ideological and political divides has become increasingly difficult and conversations that touch sensitive topics (like race, gender, or immigration) often lead nowhere. This is, in part, due to a collective tendency to oversimplify problems that are anything but simple. In this course, we examine the prevalence, nature, and sources of these communication breakdowns. Our class is an informed exploration of the kind of society we want to live in, where we currently stand, and how we might get closer to where we want to be.
SOC 265 Central Asian Societies credit: 3 Hours.
Through the theoretical lens of Sociology, this course examines issues of ethnicity, religion, health, gender, demography and social stability within the nations of Central Asia (Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan). Examining these will improve our understanding of the complex nature of identity in Central Asian societies. Through a combination of texts, films, and lectures, students will gain familiarity with the region and a solid understanding of sociological theory, measures, and methods. Same as REES 265 and SAME 265.
This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for:
Cultural Studies - Non-West
Social & Beh Sci - Soc Sci
SOC 270 Global Demography credit: 3 Hours.
Critically examines the meaning and measurement of demographic change across time, levels of socio-economic development, national boundaries, and socio-cultural groups. Discussions focus on theories, trends, and measurement of mortality, fertility, migration and the relationship of these core demographic issues to macro and micro level trends in stress, inequality, infrastructure, and global warming.
This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for:
Social & Beh Sci - Soc Sci
SOC 273 Social Perspectives on the Family credit: 3 Hours.
[IAI Code: S7902] Examines the societal forces shaping aspects of stable and changing family relations in the U. S. and other countries; focuses on social-structural factors affecting marriage, divorce, co-habitation, child-bearing, the division of work and authority, and other features of life. Prerequisite: One of the following: SOC 100, SOC 101, or SOC 163.
SOC 274 Health, Illness and Society credit: 3 Hours.
What do you do when you get sick? Where do you go? Who provides your medical care? In this course we will discuss why the answers to these basic questions are actually quite complex. This course is designed to introduce students to medical sociology and will examine issues surrounding health, illness and healing from a sociological perspective. Throughout the course we will cover numerous topics including: the social construction of health and illness, healthcare providers, healthcare systems - including contemporary debates regarding healthcare reform - and the social determinants of health inequalities. Additionally, this course offers an introduction to sociological theories and concepts that may be particularly useful for those interested in pursuing medical school or any career in a health-related field.
SOC 275 Criminology credit: 3 Hours.
Nature and extent of crime; past and present theories of crime causation; criminal behavior in the United States and abroad, and its relation to personal, structural and cultural conditions; the nature of the criminal justice system and the influences of the exercise of discretion among actors in the criminal justice system. Prerequisite: One of the following: SOC 100, SOC 101, SOC 163 or equivalent.
SOC 280 Intro to Social Statistics credit: 4 Hours.
[IAI Code: M1902] An introduction to statistical methods. Statistical topics and techniques covered during this semester include: descriptive statistics, measures of central tendency and variability, probability, statistical inference, and hypothesis testing. Throughout this course, social statistics is treated as a tool for research – to investigate and explain the relationships between a set of variables. Conceptual and practical approaches to statistics will be emphasized. Same as GGIS 280. Credit is not given toward graduation for: Credit is not given towards graduation for SOC 280 if credit for a college level introductory statistics course has been earned.
This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for:
Quantitative Reasoning I
SOC 310 Sociology of Deviance credit: 3 Hours.
Study of traits, conditions, actions, and behaviors that violate social norms and elicit negative societal reactions. Explores social, cultural and individual factors in the etiology of deviance; the establishment and maintenance of deviant categories; the motivations behind deviant behavior; the identification as deviant of individuals and of particular segments of society, by formal and informal means; the effects of institutionalization and social control upon the deviant; and the efforts of deviants to eradicate the label society has placed upon them. Prerequisite: One of the following: SOC 100, SOC 101, or SOC 163.
SOC 350 Technology and Society credit: 3 Hours.
Examines the social and cultural origins of modern technology and technological innovation; the effects of technology and its change on society. Topics include the impact of technology on beliefs and values, accommodation and resistance to change, and technology and the Third World.
This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for:
Social & Beh Sci - Soc Sci
SOC 364 Impacts of Globalization credit: 3 Hours.
In this course, we seek to make sense of the impacts of globalization. Is the freer flow of trade, people, and capital around the world responsible for the world's economic, social, and political ills, or are we inclined to say that, on balance, it is still a good thing? As more people become more connected across larger distances in different ways, are they following more of the same norms and growing aware of what they share, or are they more aware of cultural differences and see integration as a threat to social cohesion? Upon completion of this course, students should be able to demonstrate content expertise using both written and verbal communication skills. They will do so by: identifying the different drivers of the phenomenon widely described as globalization; distinguishing between the social, cultural, political, and economic processes of globalization and give examples of how they interact in specific and contingent ways; analyzing the advantages and disadvantages of further global integration; combining the different aspects of globalization into a coherent narrative; designing and defending their own alter-globalization campaign. Prerequisite: One of the following: SOC 100, SOC 101, SOC 163, or consent of instructor.
SOC 373 Social Inequality credit: 3 Hours.
Who gets what, and why? How are power, privilege, and prestige distributed across individuals and groups, and why is it that some enjoy more than others? We consider how different dimensions of inequality have evolved over time, with special focus on inequalities across race, class, and gender. We assess how inequality shapes the lives of individuals in society, how and why inequality persists, and how people have worked to both challenge and reproduce their places in society. We approach social inequality from a variety of angles, developing an understanding of how inequality works in and through schooling, labor markets, employment, identity and prejudice, social mobility, and the role of major social institutions such as work, family, education, politics and law. We examine core statements of social stratification from sociology and engage with contemporary theories from sociology, psychology, political science, and economics. By the end of this course, you will have a clearer understanding of the types of inequality that exist in society, how inequality operates through the broader social context, and the constraints and opportunities faced by individuals in different positions in society. Prerequisite: One of the following: SOC 100, SOC 101, or SOC 163.
This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for:
Social & Beh Sci - Soc Sci
SOC 375 Criminal Justice System credit: 3 Hours.
Exploration of the actors, institutions, and processes that make up the criminal justice system. We review sociological and other social scientific research on topics including the police, prosecutors, the courtroom work-group, forensic evidence, juries, sentencing, and the impact of mass incarceration. Grades are based on exams, research exercises, and ethnographic observations of criminal courtrooms. Prerequisite: SOC 275 is recommended.
SOC 380 Social Research Methods credit: 4 Hours.
Introduction to the foundations of social research and to the major types of research methods employed in sociology. Provides exposure to the major tools and terminology of social research, including the use of computers in sociology. Topics include: research design, finding and using sociology literature, measurement, sampling, survey research, field methods, use of available data, quantitative data analysis and presentation, and computer resources for research. Prerequisite: SOC 280 and one of the following: SOC 100, SOC 101, or SOC 163.
This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for:
Quantitative Reasoning II
SOC 390 Individual Study credit: 1 to 6 Hours.
Individual study or research project. May be repeated. Prerequisite: Six hours of sociology; written consent of instructor on form available in the Sociology Department Office.
SOC 392 Chicanas&Latinas: Self&Society credit: 3 Hours.
Same as GWS 392 and LLS 392. See LLS 392.
This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for:
Advanced Composition
SOC 396 Topics in Sociology credit: 3 Hours.
Explores topics not covered in regularly scheduled Sociology courses. See Class Schedule for topics. May be repeated if topics vary. Prerequisite: One of the following: SOC 100, SOC 101, SOC 163, or consent of instructor.
SOC 400 Internships credit: 0 to 3 Hours.
Selected internship opportunities in which student and faculty member develop a program of study and research related to internship. Consult departmental undergraduate advisor. 0 to 3 undergraduate hours. No graduate credit. Approved for Letter and S/U grading. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours in separate terms, if topics vary. Prerequisite: SOC 100 or SOC 101 or SOC 163; SOC 200 plus 3 additional hours in SOC coursework. Department approval required. Restricted to Sophomore, Junior or Senior Sociology majors.
SOC 447 Environmental Sociology credit: 3 or 4 Hours.
Examination of historical and modern consequences of environmental alteration and pollution and resource limitations on human populations in the context of various social change theories. Explores the environmental movement, population explosion, the "limits to growth debate," and the impacts of environmental change on food production, land, and water quality. Same as ENVS 447. 3 undergraduate hours. 3 or 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite: SOC 380 or equivalent; and one of the following: SOC 100, SOC 101, SOC 163, RSOC 110, or equivalent; or consent of instructor.
SOC 450 Senior Capstone Seminar credit: 3 Hours.
Over the course of the semester, students will conceive and execute an original sociological research project, using their knowledge of the sociological literature developed in substantive courses and their skills in data collection and analysis developed in methods courses. In parallel, students will explore professional opportunities in sociology and engage in professional development activities, including exploring opportunities for graduate education and learning skills in job search, and resume, c.v., personal statement and cover letter development. 3 undergraduate hours. No graduate credit. Prerequisite: One of the following: SOC 100, SOC 101 or SOC 163; and SOC 380. For Sociology majors only.
SOC 470 Social Movements credit: 2 to 4 Hours.
Origins and development of groups in promoting and resisting change, resource mobilization, strategies and tactics, individual and social consequences. 3 undergraduate hours. 2 or 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite: One of the following: SOC 100, SOC 101, SOC 163, or six hours of anthropology, social geography, political science, or sociology.
SOC 479 Law and Society credit: 3 or 4 Hours.
Examination of the social and political organization of the legal system, including the development of disputes, the role of gatekeepers to the legal system, and the political significance of litigation. Examines the role of law in sustaining and dismantling structural forms of inequality, as well as the relationship between law and social change. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Credit is not given for both SOC 477 and SOC 479. Prerequisite: One of the following: SOC 100, SOC 101, SOC 163, or six hours of anthropology, social geography, political science, or sociology.
SOC 480 Methods of Field Research credit: 2 to 4 Hours.
Instruction, training, and supervised practice in methods of field research as a basic tool of sociology; emphasis on the role of the field researcher as participant, observer, and interviewer in various kinds of research settings, and on approaches to and applications of field data. 3 undergraduate hours. 2 or 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite: SOC 380 or consent of instructor.
SOC 483 Middle Eastern Societies & Cultures credit: 3 or 4 Hours.
Overview of the contemporary Middle East from social, political, and cultural perspectives. Explores how the internal dynamics together with the forces of globalization shape the societies of the Middle East today. Topics include social structure, political dynamics, family, gender, urban life Islam, social and religious movements. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite: One of the following: SOC 100, SOC 101, SOC 163, or six hours of Anthropology, Social Geography, Politics, or Sociology.
SOC 490 Advanced Independent Study credit: 3 Hours.
3 undergraduate hours. No graduate credit. May be repeated. Prerequisite: Open only to seniors in the sociology major who have an overall GPA of 3.25 or higher and therefore may be eligible for departmental distinction; obtain written consent of instructor on form available in the Sociology Department Office.
SOC 495 Senior Honors Seminar credit: 3 Hours.
Intensive scrutiny of current literature on one selected topic. Critical reading and discussion followed by writing essays and research proposals. Subject will shift yearly. There may be community work as an aspect of this course; consult the Class Schedule for details. 3 undergraduate hours. No graduate credit. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 hours. Prerequisite: For sociology majors only. Student must have at least 3.5 grade-point average in sociology courses and consent of instructor.
SOC 496 Advanced Topics in Sociology credit: 3 Hours.
Explores topics not covered in regularly scheduled Sociology courses. See Class Schedule for topics. 3 undergraduate hours. No graduate credit. May be repeated if topics vary. Prerequisite: One of the following: SOC 100, SOC 101, SOC 163, or consent of instructor.
SOC 500 Classical Sociological Theory credit: 4 Hours.
Analysis of major classical sociological theorists of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, stressing the social, historical, and philosophic foundations of sociological theory; primary emphasis on Marx, Durkheim, and Weber. Prerequisite: SOC 200 or equivalent.
SOC 501 Contemp Sociological Theory credit: 4 Hours.
Major theorists and schools of thought since World War I with emphasis on the contemporary period; includes functionalism, exchange theory, conflict theory, symbolic interaction, and phenomenology. Prerequisite: SOC 500 or equivalent.
SOC 510 Professionalization Seminar credit: 2 Hours.
Introduction to the graduate program in Sociology and to graduate study in the discipline of Sociology. Approved for S/U grading only. May be repeated in separate terms to a maximum of 4 hours. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Sociology and consent of the Director of Graduate Studies.
SOC 561 Development Theories credit: 4 Hours.
Discussion of major trends in development thinking and policy, and development theories from the classics in political economy through modernization theory, dependency, alternative development, neoliberalism, human development and post-development. Addresses ongoing challenges and debates such as globalization and democratization, and trends in social science, such as discourse analysis. Enables participants to assess development theories in a historical context and from the viewpoint of sociology of development knowledge.
SOC 563 Global Social Movements credit: 4 Hours.
Why do people rebel when they do? Why some succeed and others fail? And how do such collective actions change people’s lives and their societies? The course navigates through the ‘everyday resistance’, ‘social movements’, and ‘social revolutions’, human endeavors that have fundamentally transformed our modern societies. Going beyond the Eurocentric perspectives, the course takes a global outlook both conceptually and geographically to engage critically and productively with the sociology of resistance.
SOC 564 Global Religion and Politics credit: 4 Hours.
Explores the reasons behind the world-wide rise of religion as a key player in the public sphere, and the implications for politics in the contemporary world. The major religions of the world are considered, but with a focus on the Islamic revival and Muslim societies. Students will learn about the secularization debate, religious revivals and globalization, global fundamentalisms, religion and democracy, and post-secular and post-Islamist societies. Same as REL 564 and SAME 564.
SOC 565 Megacities of Global South credit: 4 Hours.
Exploration of the dynamics of urban life in the megacities of the Global South. Studies the ways in which the global, social, and economic restructuring is affecting urban space and people and how urban inhabitants respond to these merging circumstances. Focuses on the way in which politics is articulated in the megacities of the Global South. The course discusses cases from the Middle East, Latin America, Africa and South Asia. Prerequisite: Consent of the instructor.
SOC 583 Qualitative Research Methods credit: 4 Hours.
Introduction to field and qualitative methods in social science research, in terms of both the practical issues of conducting this type of research and the conceptual debates in the field. Methods include interviewing, participant observation, unobtrusive observation, historical/archival methods, content analysis, and/or global ethnography. May be repeated in separate terms up to 4 hours, as topics vary.
SOC 586 Adv Social Statistics I credit: 4 Hours.
After a brief review of the linear regression model, the course examines social science applications of generalized linear models including binary logit/probit, ordinal logit/probit, multinomial logit, and Poisson/negative binomial regression models. It further examines panel data analysis applying many of these models. The statistical package Stata is the primary software used in lab sessions. Credit is not given for both SOC 586 and PSYC 506. Prerequisite: SOC 485 or equivalent.
SOC 590 Individual Topics in Sociology credit: 1 to 8 Hours.
Supervised individual investigation or study of a topic not covered by regular courses; topic selected by the student and the proposed plan of study must be approved by the adviser and the staff member who supervises the work. Approved for letter and S/U grading. May be repeated.
SOC 596 Recent Developments in Soc credit: 4 Hours.
Intensive study of selected topics based on contemporary works of major importance in the development of sociological theory. May be repeated if topics vary.
SOC 597 Readings in Sociology credit: 2 to 12 Hours.
Individual guidance in intensive readings in the literature of one or more subdivisions of the field of sociology, selected in consultation with the student's advisor, in preparation for the specialization examination. Approved for S/U grading only. May be repeated in separate terms to a maximum of 12 hours. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Sociology and consent of advisor.
SOC 598 Thesis Proposal credit: 2 to 12 Hours.
Individual guidance in designing a doctoral research project and writing a thesis proposal. Focuses on developing a cogent theoretical framework, articulating significance of the project, identifying appropriate research methods, and considering ethical issues. Approved for S/U grading only. May be repeated in the same or separate terms to a maximum of 12 hours. Prerequisite: Graduate standing in Sociology and consent of advisor.
SOC 599 Thesis Research credit: 0 to 16 Hours.
Approved for S/U grading only. May be repeated in the same term or in separate terms. Prerequisite: SOC 598.