Sociology Course Descriptions

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This course introduces students to the methods and theories used by sociologists to explore the nature of society. Selected topics may include culture, socialization, social interaction, groups, social organization, deviance, social institutions, and social stratification. Credit will not be given to students who have credit for SOCI 1101H.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: ENGL 0989 (when required)

Hours:
3



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Honors Introduction to Sociology offers an enriched introduction to the methods and theories used by sociologists to explore the nature of society.  Selected topics include culture, socialization, social interaction, groups, social organization, deviance, social institutions, and social stratification.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: Permission of the Honors Program Director

Hours:
3



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This course is a theoretical and empirical analysis of selected current social problems, their social and cultural causes, consequences, and various proposed solutions. It also examines the interconnectedness of local, national, and global problems.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: ENGL 0989 (when required)

Hours:
3



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This course provides a comprehensive understanding of the diverse research methods used in the Social Sciences, including their strengths and weaknesses, and conveys the necessary practical skills required for their application. Students are taught how to analyze social and political phenomena in a rigorous and scientific manner, requiring an understanding of research design. Students learn how to discriminate among theories, pose proper research questions, construct a relevant hypothesis, make valid causal inferences, operationalize concepts, and test hypotheses. As a result of taking the course students are able to critically evaluate both quantitative and qualitative research studies and utilize data collection techniques involving questionnaires, observation and interviews, as well as database material. The course also examines the ethical principles involved in social science research and develops the skills required for both written and oral dissemination of research results. Credit toward meeting graduation requirements will only be granted for completion of SOCI 2000.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101 and ENGL 0989 (when required)

Hours:
3



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In this course, we critically examine the social construction of difference, focusing on race, class, gender and sexuality. These constructions are pivotal and interesting concepts in the analysis of social and economic inequality, laying a foundation for further investigation and insight in advanced sociology courses. The course spotlights the involvement of social institutions in the construction process and how the consequences create systems of inequality that privilege few while oppressing many.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101 and ENGL 0989 (when required)

Hours:
3



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This course involves a study of the family as a social institution in American society and is an introduction to the structure, processes, problems and adjustments of contemporary marriage and family life. Selected topics may include love, dating, marital quality, communication, sex and parenthood, conflict and power, family violence, divorce and remarriage. (Cross-list, no repeats)

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101 and ENGL 0989 (when required)

Hours:
3



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This course is an exploration of the major theoretical concepts and perspectives in classical social theory. We examine the origins and development of these perspectives in the nineteenth and early twentieth century, emphasizing their application in contemporary social research. NOTE: This course is a pre-requisite for SOCI 4100.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101

Hours:
3



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Special interest courses which may not be transferable are offered in response to student demand and interest. Topics may include but are not limited to race relations, juvenile delinquency, drugs and drug abuse, human sexuality, sociology of death, gender inequality, and family violence.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101

Hours:
3



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Special interest courses which may not be transferable are offered in response to student demand and interest. Topics may include but are not limited to race relations, juvenile delinquency, drugs and drug abuse, human sexuality, sociology of death, gender inequality, and family violence.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101

Hours:
3



View Course in Catalog

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Special interest courses which may not be transferable are offered in response to student demand and interest. Topics may include but are not limited to race relations, juvenile delinquency, drugs and drug abuse, human sexuality, sociology of death, gender inequality, and family violence.

Hours:
3



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This course introduces sociology majors to the principles and practices of sociological research. It addresses the logic and practice of research design, including the relationship between theory and research, framing a research question, and assessing the methods best suited to answer various questions, measuring concepts, using sampling procedures, data collection strategies, and data analysis. It includes an embedded lab which provides students with hands-on experiences to apply theoretical material and become familiar with the use of data analysis software packages such as SPSS and NVivo.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisites: SOCI 1101 and MATH 1401 with grades of C or higher

Hours:
4



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This course examines racial, ethnic and cultural groups in the United States from a sociological perspective. Particular attention will be paid to the political, economic, social, historic and cultural development of race as an idea; racialized opportunity in social institutions; and the historical and economic functions of racism and discrimination, as well as their implications for a pluralistic society.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101

Hours:
3



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This course explores the social context of health, illness, and the health care system in the United States. We will examine the social construction of health and illness, the experience of illness, and the effects of social inequality on health. The course offers a critical perspective on health and illness and highlights the connection between social justice, social transformation, and health and illness.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101

Hours:
3



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Explores the economic, political and social basis of stratification and inequality in the U.S. today. Attention is given to the origins and nature of social classes, as well as other social divisions such as occupation, sex, ethnicity, wealth and power.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101

Hours:
3



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The course examines formal education from pre-school through graduate and professional schools and applies the sociological theoretical paradigms to illuminate the meaning and impact of each level of institutionalized education.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101

Hours:
3



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The course examines the role of sports in societies from local to regional, national and international. Focus will extend from youth activities to school sports, international amateur sports competition, professional sports and finally seniorhood.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101

Hours:
3



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This course is an analysis of mass movements and collective protest from an historical and behavioral perspective. Emphasis is on understanding social movements as both agents and products of social change and their relationship to various other forms of collective phenomena.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101

Hours:
3



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The purpose of this course is to examine the nature, history measurement, and environmental influences of juvenile delinquency, with particular emphasis on prevention and treatment, and philosophies and practices of the juvenile justice system.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101

Hours:
3



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The course reviews theories, concepts and categories used by sociologists to explain social change with emphasis on institutional change, social movements, and nonviolence. The course is commonly conducted with a Service Learning component. Cross-listed with ENST 3230.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101, SOCI 1160 (with a grade of C or higher), or ENST 2030 (with a grade of C or higher), or permission of instructor

Hours:
3



Cross-listed
ENST 3230 View Course in Catalog

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This 3-hour course examines violence in the family from sociological and other perspectives. It includes the types and causes of violence in families and domestic units, with special focus on those directed against more vulnerable populations (woman battering, courtship and dating conflict, and child abuse). Throughout the various types of family violence, intervention and prevention measures are examined as well as the social and legal implications of these measures.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101

Hours:
3



Notes:
This course will not be a part of the core curriculum, but will count as a 3-hour upper level elective for some four-year programs.

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This course involves a study of the family as a social institution in American society and is an introduction to the structure, processes, problems and adjustments of contemporary marriage and family life. Selected topics may include love, dating, marital quality, communication, sex and parenthood, conflict and power, family violence, divorce and remarriage. (Cross-list, no repeats).

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101

Hours:
3



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Hours:
3



Notes:
This course will not be a part of the core curriculum, but will count as an upper level elective for some four-year programs.

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This course examines popular culture, its nature, its role in our lives, and its broad effects on society, individuals, and culture from a sociological perspective. Particular emphasis will be placed on understanding how sociologists approach and study culture and mass media/popular culture; the organization of the mass media industry; the production and consumption of popular culture (including media effects); the representation and reproduction of race, class, gender and sexuality in popular culture; and new media.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101

Hours:
3



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A sociological analysis of political systems and power and their relationship to social and economic forces. Attention is given to exploring the question of "who rules America" and the process involved in maintaining and legitimating political order.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101

Hours:
3



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This course is an analysis of the size, composition, and distribution of human populations. Social consequences and policy implications of population dynamics are emphasized for the U.S., selected other countries, and the world.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101

Hours:
3



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A comprehensive exploration of the sociological relationships between technology, economic policies, natural resources, population growth, and environmental degradation. Emphasis is on understanding these problems from an ecological perspective and the seriousness of these issues for future survival.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101

Hours:
3



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An in-depth examination of the interdisciplinary field and literature of Environmental Studies to include: conflict and contradictions, societal responses to environmental problems including social adjustments to natural and technological hazards, socio-cultural aspects of technological risk, and emergence of environmental social policies and movements explored via case studies and interviews with local experts. This class also has a substantial service learning component of at least 30 hours in the field.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisites: SOCI 1101, ENST 2030, or permission of instructor

Hours:
3



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The empirical and analytical study of images as they appear as a part of material culture and as they shape human social behavior. Sociological theory and methods will be applied to existing images and the course will also explore how images are created with social content, primarily by the employment of photography.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101

Hours:
3



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Hispanics and Latinos/as/xs are considered the largest and fastest growing minority group in the United States. This course examines the incredible diversity of this population in the United States, one which includes recent immigrants from Latin America as well as communities that have been within the territorial United States for centuries. Topics include the social construction of Latino/a/x identity, colonialism, immigration and assimilation.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101 or SOCI 1101H

Hours:
3



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This course examines age as a social construct and aging as a social process. We will explore the effects of societal norms and social institutions on the aging experiences of individuals as well as the effects of qualities of generations and the age structure of a population on a society and its institutions. Students will become familiar with major sociological theories of aging. We will discuss issues of age-related inequality and its confluence with social class, race, and gender inequalities. We will analyze major contemporary issues in aging.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101 or HSDA 2100, or permission of the instructor

Hours:
3



Cross-listed
GERO 3482 View Course in Catalog

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This course is an analysis of occupations, professions, and work roles from an organizational perspective. Attention is paid to such topics as occupational inequalities, mobility, and professional ethics, as well as the effect of technology on work and job satisfaction.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101

Hours:
3



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This course examines religious theory and comparative religions, investigates contemporary American religions, and explores personal religiosities with sociological insight and imagination. Course readings and fieldwork underscore religion's role as a pivotal institution that influences and shapes societal discourse.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101

Hours:
3



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A sociological investigation of the social, cultural, and historical construction of sexual knowledge, identity, behavior, and desire.

Hours:
3



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Current sociological perspectives on death and the experience of dying are explored with special attention to the psycho-social needs of the terminally ill and their families.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101 or HSDA 2100, or permission of the instructor

Hours:
3



Cross-listed
GERO 3530 View Course in Catalog

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A study of the causes and consequences of behaviors labeled problematic and reactions to them on the part of American society.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101

Hours:
3



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The subject of drug use transcends many fields and disciplines: Biology, counseling, history, law, criminal justice, political science, psychology, sociology, and social work. The literature is massive and diverse. This course explains the place of the sociological perspective within that body of work. Students will gain an understanding of US drug policy, its evolution, its current status, and alternatives in place around the world. New data on prevention and treatment are explored, the historical progression of law enforcement approaches are traced, and drug use in popular culture is reflected upon. Students will acquire greater understanding of the lived experience of drug users across race, gender, age, and social class via analytical reviews of ethnographic fieldwork publications.

Hours:
3



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Ethnography is the systematic study of social groups primarily by direct observation. The sociological paradigm of symbolic interactionism is frequently employed. This methodology emphasizes use of qualitative analysis, but quantitative analysis will be utilized when appropriate.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101

Hours:
3



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This course will investigate contemporary military institutions using sociological theory, concepts, and methods. It looks at the changing social organization of the military, civil-military relations, military recruitment and socialization, the military as a profession, modern warfare, and the role of the military in various nations.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101

Hours:
3



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A theoretical evaluation of self-creation, reviewing major sociological theories from a micro-perspective.

Hours:
3



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This course considers issues of gender from a sociological perspective. Gender plays an important part of our lives as individuals, but also structures life within U.S. society. We will focus on gender socialization, practices, and inequalities in the contemporary United States. Specifically, we will examine the influence of gender in interpersonal relationships, at work, in education, in families, and in other areas of social life. Although this course is primarily about gender, we will examine how masculinities and femininities are shaped by other social factors such as race, class and sexual orientation.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101

Hours:
3



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Intensive directed study in selected topics in Sociology. The course is repeatable for up to 6 hours of degree credit.

Hours:
3



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This course is organized as a seminar which is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the origins, nature, legal status, mission, functions, funding, leadership, management and operations of nonprofit organizations and their impact on and relations with the communities they serve. Participants will gain insights into the donors, members, employees, board members, beneficiaries, volunteer management and fund raising of these organizations. The seminar will serve the needs of students who are working, volunteering or training with nonprofit organization now or in the future. Through readings, case studies, discussions, lectures, group projects, service learning attachments and presentations from nonprofit managers, students will develop practical and theoretical understanding of nonprofits and their role in the community.

Hours:
3



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This course serves as a study into the category of "animal" as a social construct and the relationship between humans and non-human animals, which produces consequences of difference and subsequent inequality. We will be utilizing different sociological perspectives to examine the social patterns, processes, and institutions that establish our lived experiences with non-human animals.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101

Hours:
3



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This course examines the social dimensions of the HIV/AIDS pandemic within the United States and around the world. We will consider the social forces that impact and determine the course and experience of the pandemic, and also explore the impact that the pandemic has had on communities and cultures worldwide.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101

Hours:
3



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This course questions the extent and limits of social influences on people's knowledge and their ability to exercise power through knowledge.

Hours:
3



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The course examines three forms of sociological practice: public, clinical, and applied sociology. Students will be exposed to the ways in which sociological skills can be, and have been, applied in real world scenarios. They gain a strong understanding of what sociological practice is and how it is carried out across a variety of professional and civic contexts. Students communicate their skills and accomplishments in the form of a final professional portfolio.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101 or SOCI 1160

Hours:
3



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This course familiarizes students with the genealogy of punishment in the US context and the causes and consequences of mass incarceration. The course focuses on the social-structural drivers of punishment and the impact that mass incarceration has on individuals, communities, and institutions. Students learn how intersecting inequalities and systems of power are embodied in approaches to punishment and criminal justice-related social reforms are examined.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101 or SOCI 1160

Hours:
3



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Exploration of the major theoretical concepts and perspectives in contemporary social theory. Course examines the modern and postmodern forms of theorizing from the mid-twentieth century to the present, focusing on the innovative ways in which social theorists establish critical concepts and perspectives as essential and relevant to the challenges of living in the 21st century.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 2400

Hours:
3



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A study of basic communication skills and how they may be used effectively in a wide array of situations.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101

Hours:
3



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The Internship Program in the Department of Sociology and Human Services is intended to provide students with an applied experience relevant to their coursework and career prospects. Students in good standing while attaining the status of Junior or Senior, majoring in Sociology are eligible to enroll. This course is repeatable for 6 hours of degree credit.

Prerequisite/Corequisite:
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101 with a grade of C or higher

Hours:
3



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