Sociology

SOC 203. Introductory Sociology (3; F, S)
Three hours per week. Develops students’ sociological imagination to explore the complexity and diversity of social relations and explain how these and people shape each other. Critically applies theories, methods, and concepts of social science to understand: the personal and impersonal aspects of interactions in various groups, organizations and institutions in this society and others; cultural and historical variations in age, gender, class and race relations; and the living laboratory of everyday life.

SOC 211. Quantitative Methods for the Social Sciences (3; F, S)
Three hours per week. Prerequisite MATH 104 or higher. Cross-listed as GEOG 211, POL 211 and PSYC 211. An introductory course for social science majors providing brief coverage of the research methods commonly used in the social sciences along with the most common quantitative analyses used by social scientists. This includes coverage of data organization, descriptive statistics, correlational and regression analyses, and an introduction to hypothesis testing and inferential statistics.

SOC 304. Social Problems (3)
Three hours per week. A critical, topical consideration of many of the most serious problems besetting society today. The course examines causes, consequences, interconnections, and solutions to various social problems from diverse points of view. The emphasis may vary according to current issues and student interests. Common themes include: inequality and poverty; morality and sexuality; community and criminality; abuse of persons and substances; mental and physical health and care; population and ecology; changes in age, gender, class, and race relations.

SOC 305. Criminology (3)
Three hours per week. A critical, comprehensive examination of the causes and consequences of crime, the operations of the criminal justice system, and the effectiveness of crime policies. The course includes: critical analysis of research on crime and victims; consideration of biological, psychological, and sociological explanations of various kinds of crime; and comparisons of crime, law, and justice in diverse historical and cultural contexts. Through class projects, students probe inside their own and others’ criminal behavior, as well as outside the classroom into the community’s police, courts and correctional facilities.

SOC 311. Cultural Geography (3)
Three hours per week. Cross-listed as GEOG 311. A study of spatial variations among culture groups. Focus is placed upon examining and analyzing the aspects of traditional culture (language, religion, customs) and popular culture (landscapes, recreation, ethnicity).

SOC 321. Minority Relations in American Society (3)
Three hours per week. A study of the dynamics of prejudice and intergroup relations in our society. The course promotes understanding of the experiences of racial and ethnic groups, as well as the views of the white majority. It examines the impact of minority status and fosters an appreciation of difference and others’ views. The course also provides knowledge regarding the role of race as a major stratifying factor in our society.

SOC 325. Public Opinion & Survey Research Methods (3)
Three hours per week. Cross-listed as GEOG 425 and POL 425. This course will familiarize the student with the major components of survey research including sampling, questionnaire design, data collection, and data processing. The students will conduct an actual public opinion survey and analyze the data they collect.

SOC 333. Substance Abuse & Behavior (3)
Three hours per week. Prerequisite: PSYC 201 or SOC 203. Cross-listed as PSYC 333. Examines the cultural and historical context of drug use and abuse, their causes and consequences, treatment and prevention, from sociological, psychological and pharmacological perspectives.

SOC 350. Sociology of the Family (3)
Three hours per week. The course will focus upon contemporary family systems and patterns of behavior in the U.S. Subjects considered will include: parenting, family crises, the future of the family, variant family forms, dual-income families and contemporary issues affecting families. Attention will be given both to family theory and research findings.

SOC 365. The Sociology of Men & Women (3)
Three hours per week. A study of gender and gender issues in our society. This course will examine the various ways in which men and women are different and alike. This will include consideration of behaviors, attitudes, and life experiences. Both causes and effects of the differences and similarities will be explored. The students will be made aware of the benefits and liabilities attached to the changes in traditional gender roles.

SOC 379. Sociology of Aging (3)
Three hours per week. The social ramifications of aging in our society, including the consideration of factors such as the elderly in the family, institutionalization, the minority aged, death and the aged, and the examination of cross-cultural patterns of aging.

SOC 380. Juvenile Delinquency (3)
Three hours per week. An examination of the causes and consequences of preadult deviance and crime, the operations of the juvenile justice system, and the effectiveness of delinquency policies. The course includes: critical analysis of delinquency research; consideration of biological, psychological and sociological explanations of delinquency; and comparisons of delinquency, juvenile law and justice in various historical and cultural contexts. Through class projects, students probe into their own and others’ delinquency, as well as outside the classroom into the community’s police, juvenile courts and correctional facilities.

SOC 390. Human Sexuality (3)
Three hours per week. A study of patterns of sexual behavior. The course examines sexual behavior, including sexual development, premarital and marital behaviors, minority practices, social issues and legal concerns, the development of sex research, and cross-cultural patterns of sexual behavior. The relationship between sexuality and social institutions is explored, along with the role of society in determining sexual behavior.

SOC 400. Special Topics in Sociology (var. 1-3)
One to three hours per week. Prerequisite: SOC 203 or consent of the instructor. May repeat the course as long as the topic is different. An in-depth study of selected contemporary subjects in the growing field of sociology. Topics will be indicated in advance.

SOC 410 Green Societies (3)
This course explores the social components of environmental concerns and strongly highlights the role of community.  Specific topics include population, social structures, technology, food systems, fuel & transportation, environmental disasters, environmental racism, scarcity and the environmental justice framework.   Students apply major theoretical perspectives from the field of sociology to these topics.  

SOC 420WI. Methods of Social Research (3)
Three hours per week. Prerequisites: SOC 203 and SOC 211. Cross-listed as GEOG 420 and POL 420. The application of research methods within sociology. A study of research design and methods including survey research, experiments, observation, and secondary data analysis. As part of the course, students will write and present their own research proposal.

SOC 430 – Social Deviance (3)
The purpose of this course is to study deviant behavior from a sociological perspective. Topics to be covered in the course include definitions of deviance, various approaches to the study of deviance, and an examination of various forms of deviant behavior. Specific attention is given to the idea of deviance as a social construction.

SOC 435 Organized Crime (3) 
The purpose of this course is to facilitate an understanding of organized crime. Course study includes the history of organized crime, theories explaining organized crime, and the various businesses of organized criminal enterprises. Several criminal groups, such as outlaw motorcycle gangs, drug cartels, street gangs, among others, are explored.

SOC 440 Personality and Culture (3)
In this course students examine some of the key macro-sociological factors that shape personal and collective identities.  Some of the questions that are considered in this course include: Is individualism inherent?  What role does social and historical context play in determining individual goals?  What is the role of language in individual development?  What is the relationship between freedom, equality, and individualism?

SOC 445 Conflict and Nonviolence (3)
This course is intended as an engaged learning experience that focuses on psychological and interpersonal conflicts in order to demonstrate how individuals in their everyday lives contribute to social violence or may choose to at least not participate in the continuation of social conflict.  Course readings and exercises stimulate reflection on the relationships among personal, interpersonal and societal conflicts.

SOC 450. Sociological Theory (3)
Three hours per week. A critical exploration and explanation of classical and contemporary social theory. The course includes consideration of the historical and cultural contexts in which social theorists lived and how their life experiences shaped their explanations, in an effort to understand how and why our social theories and concepts emerge and change. Students will develop an appreciation of the integral, ongoing role of theorization and conceptualization in their own everyday lives, as well as practical, critical-analytical skills in applying social theory to the personal and professional lives of themselves and others.

SOC 490. Internship (var. 1-12)
Prerequisites: junior or senior status; 2.5 cumulative GPA and at least 2.5 GPA in the major; approval of the Division of Social Sciences chair and the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. A maximum of six hours credit will be allowed toward the major. The student will work a minimum of three hours per week for each hour of credit. An opportunity for students to apply what they have learned in sociology courses through work in public agencies. The work experience will be evaluated by a member of the sociology department.