Courses
| Course | Course name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| SOCY 1001 | Introduction to Sociology | Examines basic sociological ideas including social relations, social interaction, social structure, and social change. Examples are drawn from societies around the world. Meets MAPS requirement for social science: general. Approved for GT-SS3. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: contemporary societies. |
| SOCY 1004 | Deviance in U.S. Society | Examines the social construction of deviance in the U.S., the process of acquiring a deviant identity and managing deviant stigma, and the social organization of deviant act, lifestyles, relationships and careers. Approved for GT-SS3. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: ideals and values. |
| SOCY 1006 | The Social Construction of Sexuality | Discusses the social determinants of sexuality. Analyzes the economic, psychological, and cultural influences on human sexuality. Interactional perspective of human sexuality is presented. Same as WMST 1006. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 27-180 credits (Sophomore, Junior or Senior) only. |
| SOCY 1016 | Sex, Gender, and Society 1 | Examines status and power differences between the sexes at individual and societal levels. Emphasizes historical context of gender roles and status, reviews major theories of gender stratification. Same as WMST 1016. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: human diversity. |
| SOCY 1016 | Sex, Gender, and Society 1 | Examines status and power differences between the sexes at individual and societal levels. Emphasizes historical context of gender roles and status, reviews major theories of gender stratification. Same as WMST 1016. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: human diversity. |
| SOCY 1021 | United States Race and Ethnic Relations | An examination of race and minority problems in U.S. society, including the psychological, social, and cultural sources of prejudice and discrimination. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: United States context. |
| SOCY 1022 | Ethics and Social Issues in U.S. Health and Medicine | Explores current ethical and policy issues in U.S. health and medical practices. Includes such issues as alcohol and drug abuse, organ transplants and substitutes, genetic engineering, contraception, abortion, occupational safety and health, and euthanasia. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: ideals and values. |
| SOCY 1841 | Independent Study in Sociology | May be repeated up to 7 total credit hours. |
| SOCY 2011 | Contemporary Social Issues and Human Values | Explores contemporary societies on a global scale. Focuses on such issues as capitalism, socialism, race and ethnic problems, sex discrimination, poverty and the concentration of wealth, crime and deviance, human rights and human values, peace and war. |
| SOCY 2021 | Nonviolence and the Ethics of Social Action | Examines nonviolence as a strategy of social action. Focuses on ethics and dynamics of nonviolent action; racial and economic justice movements; civil disobedience; and conscientious objection to war. |
| SOCY 2031 | Social Problems | Examines U.S. society from a normative perspective emphasizing theories of social change. Considers such problems as distribution of power, unemployment, poverty, racism and sexism, the changing role of the family, and drugs. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: ideals and values. |
| SOCY 2034 | Drugs in United States Society | Examines the relationship between drugs and social contexts. Lends insight into why people find consciousness alteration meaningful, what kinds of experiences and problems arise, and what types of social policies emerge to control drug use. |
| SOCY 2044 | Crime and Society | Explores issues related to crime, the criminal justice system, and crime-related public policy. It addresses what we know about crime and how we know it, how our society responds to crime, and how the institutions designed to address crime (police, courts, corrections) function. |
| SOCY 2061 | Introduction to Social Statistics | Introduces students to quantitative analysis of social phenomena. Emphasizes understanding and proper interpretation of graphs; measures of central tendency, dispersion, and association; and the concept of statistical significance. Assumes students have only limited mathematical background. |
| SOCY 2061 | Introduction to Social Statistics | Introduces students to quantitative analysis of social phenomena. Emphasizes understanding and proper interpretation of graphs; measures of central tendency, dispersion, and association; and the concept of statistical significance. Assumes students have only limited mathematical background |
| SOCY 2077 | Environment and Society | Examines how both natural and built environments influence human behavior and social organization. Focuses on microenvironments and their influence on individuals; the impact of macroenvironments on societal organization; and environmental movements. Credit not granted for this course and SOCY 3091. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: ideals and values. |
| SOCY 2091 | Topics in Sociology | Variety of courses taught by visiting and regular faculty. See current semester Special Topics page and departmental announcements for specific content. Students may receive credit for this course up to three times for different topics. |
| SOCY 3001 | Classical Theory | In-depth study of classical sociological theorists, particularly Marx, Durkheim, and Weber. Examines their roles in defining the discipline of sociology. Prereq., SOCY 1001. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 27-180 credits (Sophomores, Juniors or Seniors) Sociology (SOCY) majors only. |
| SOCY 3002 | Population and Society | Examines population, its structure and processes, andits relationships to selected areas of the social structure. Examines Malthusian, neo-Malthusian, and Marxist perspectives. Restricted to SOCY majors. Prerequisites: Restricted to Sociology majors only. |
| SOCY 3010 | Sociology Capstone Course: Professional Writing | Builds on previous coursework in survey or field methods to result in an original, article-length research paper analyzing sociological data. Students will hone their writing skills through in- and -out-of-class writing exercises, and read and analyze models of quantitative and qualitative sociological articles to develop sociological writing skills. Prereq., SOCY 3301 or SOCY 3401. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: written communication. |
| SOCY 3011 | Contemporary Theory | Continuation of SOCY 3001. In-depth study of modern and post-modern theories of the 20th century, including structural-functionalist, conflict, symbolic interactionist, feminist, and world system theories. Prereq., SOCY 1001. Restricted to junior/senior SOCY majors. |
| SOCY 3012 | Women and Development | Investigates the status of women in the context of globalization and social and economic development. Prereqs., SOCY 1001, and SOCY 3001 or 3011. Restricted to junior/senior SOCY majors. Same as WMST 3012. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: human diversity. |
| SOCY 3016 | Marriage and the Family in U.S. Society | Comparative and historical examination of marriage and the family within the U.S. Emphasizes changing family roles and family structures. Also considers alternatives to the nuclear family and traditional marriage exploring new definitions of family. Prereqs., SOCY 1001, and SOCY 3001 or 3011. Restricted to junior/senior SOCY majors. Same as WMST 3016. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: United States context. |
| SOCY 3041 | Self and Consciousness | Explores human development from a psychosocial perspective, focusing on the interplay between psychological patterns and social forms. Issues such as self-image and social consciousness are studied within the larger context of individual and collective forces leading to transformation. Prereqs., SOCY 1001, and 3001 or 3011, or instructor consent. Same as INVS 3041. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Junior or Senior) Sociology (SOCY) majors only. |
| SOCY 3042 | Topics in Population and Health | A variety of courses in population and/or health will be taught, usually by visiting lecturers. See current semester Special Topics page and departmental announcements for specific content. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours for different topics. Prereq., SOCY 1001. |
| SOCY 3044 | Race, Class, Gender, and Crime | Overview of race, class, gender, and ethnicity issuesin offending, victimization, and processing by the justice system. Examines women and people of color employed in the justice system. Prereq., SOCY 1001or 1004. Same as WMST 3044. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Junior or Senior). |
| SOCY 3046 | Topics in Sex and Gender | Faculty present courses based on their area of expertise and specialization in the field of sex and gender. Students should check current sociology department notices of course offerings for specific topics. Students may receive credit for this course up to three times for different topics. Prereqs., SOCY 1001, and SOCY 3001 or 3011. Restricted to junior/ senior SOCY majors. Same as WMST 3046. |
| SOCY 3141 | Social Movements in the U.S. | Considers theory and research about American social movements. Emphasizes leadership, ideology, recruitment, strategy, organizational dynamics, public response, and reasons for success or failure. Prereqs., SOCY 1001, and SOCY 3001 or 3011. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Junior or Senior) Sociology (SOCY) majors only. |
| SOCY 3151 | Self in Modern Society | Explores how modern social institutions and culture shape our personal experiences, how personal experiences can affect the nature of those, institutions and culture, and how strategies can be developed for achieving balance between the individual and society. Prereqs., SOCY 1001 and SOCY 3001 3011. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: United States context or ideals and values. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Junior or Senior) Sociology (SOCY) majors only. |
| SOCY 3161 | Sociological Perspectives on Race and Ethnicity | Addresses three subtopics of race from a sociological perspective: ethnic and racial identities, immigration, and race and ethnicity in Latin America. Recommended prereq., SOCY 1001. |
| SOCY 3171 | Whiteness Studies | Uses the conceptual framework of the sociology of race and ethnic relations to explore whiteness as a racial category that is centered and privileged in American society. Investigates the development of whiteness from past white supremacy, current colorblindness, to possible future multiculturalism. Analyzes the consequences of whiteness as a racial identity and a social structure. Prereqs., SOCY 1001 and 1021. |
| SOCY 3301 | Survey Methods | Teaches quantitative research methods and, particularly, methods of survey research. Topics include sampling, interviewing, schedule construction, data analysis, computer methods, index construction, and statistical analysis. Students participate in a survey project, design, collect data, and prepare a research paper on the basis of collected data. Prereqs., SOCY 1001, 2061, and SOCY 3001 or 3011. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Junior or Senior) Sociology (SOCY) majors only. |
| SOCY 3314 | Violence Against Women & Girls | Focuses on aspects of the victimization of women and girls that are "Gendered" - namely, sexual abuse and intimate partner abuse. Also explores the importance of race, class, and sexuality in gendered violence. Same as WMST 3314. |
| SOCY 3401 | Field Methods | Skill development prepares students to conduct qualitative sociological research. Emphasizes ethnographic techniques, including intensive interviewing, direct observation, coding, participant observation, and report writing. Students conceive and execute a field research project with data collection, analysis, and a report. Prereqs., SOCY 1001 and SOCY 3001 or 3011. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Junior or Senior) Sociology (SOCY) majors only. |
| SOCY 4000 | Gender, Genocide, and Mass Trauma | Studies the persistence of genocide and the effects of mass trauma on women and girls. Within the framework of political and social catastrophe, the course examines cataclysmic world events and the traumatic consequences for women of religious persecution, colonialism, slavery, and the genocides of the twentieth and twenty first centuries. Prereq., SOCY 1016 or WMST 2000. SOCY 4000 and WMST 4010 are the same course. |
| SOCY 4002 | Sociology of Aging | Studies present and future roles of the aged in the family, the community, and the larger society. Considers economic, political, and health consequences of various retirement systems. Prereqs., Socy 1001, and Socy 3001 or 3011. Restricted to junior/senior Socy majors. |
| SOCY 4004 | Advanced Topics in Criminology | Variety of courses in criminology. See current semester Special Topics page and departmental announcements for specific content. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours for different topics. Prereq., SOCY 1001 or 1004. Restricted to junior/senior SOCY majors. |
| SOCY 4007 | Global Human Ecology | Examines global environmental issues from sociological perspectives. Focuses on such problems as overpopulation, world hunger and poverty, pollution, resource shortages, environmental impact of technology and population dynamics, public policy, and strategies for change. Credit not granted for this course and SOCY 1002 or SEWL 2000. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Junior or Senior) Sociology (SOCY) majors only. |
| SOCY 4014 | Criminology | Scientific study of criminal behavior with special attention to development of criminal law, definition of crime, causes of law violation, and methods of controlling criminal behavior. Prereq., SOCY 1001 or 1004. |
| SOCY 4016 | Sex, Gender, and Society 2 | Studies status and power differences between the sexes at individual, group, and societal levels. Examines empirically established sex differences, and reviews biological, psychological, and sociological explanations for gender differences. Prereqs., SOCY 1016 or WMST 2000. Restricted to junior/senior SOCY majors. Same as WMST 4016. |
| SOCY 4017 | Animals and Society | Examines the role of non-human animals in human society. Investigates the social construction of the human/animal boundary. Challenges ideas that animals are neither thinking nor feeling. Examines the many ways humans rely on animals. Considers the link between animal cruelty and other violence. Explores the moral status of animals. Prereq., SOCY 1001. |
| SOCY 4021 | Conflict Management in Social Systems | Explores conflict resolution theory and method as applied to interpersonal, intergroup, and interorganization conflict. Prereqs., SOCY 1001, and SOCY 3001 or 3011. |
| SOCY 4024 | Juvenile Delinquency | Examines the history, incidence and prevalence of delinquent behavior, as well as why children become involved in criminal activity. Prereq., SOCY 1001 or 1004. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: contemporary societies. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Junior or Senior) Sociology (SOCY) majors only. |
| SOCY 4027 | Inequality, Democracy and the Environment | Focuses on the structural forces affecting environmental degradation and environmental behaviorby examining the relationships between (a) inequality and democratic decision making and (b) undemocratic decision making; U.S. and corporate food and energy policy; and global environmental degradation. The course also focuses on the role that global inequality plays in fostering environmental degradation. Restricted to juniors/seniors. Same as ENVS 4027. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Junior or Senior). |
| SOCY 4031 | Social Psychology | Studies individuals in social context. Reviews philosophical and sociological treatments of the relation between the individual and society. More specific topics include the socialization process,theories of human development and personality formation, language acquisition, conformity, aggression, sex differences in personality and gender identity, and the relation between attitudes and overt behavior. Prereqs., SOCY 1001, and SOCY 3001 or 3011. Restricted to junior/senior SOCY majors. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Junior or Senior). |
| SOCY 4037 | Hazards, Disasters and Society | Explores the societal dimensions of hazards and disasters, emphasizing disaster theory and research, key issues in the sociological study of disasters, social vulnerability, the impacts of disasters in the U.S. and worldwide, and the U.S. Emergency Management System. Prereq., SOCY 2077. Same as SOCY 5037. |
| SOCY 4042 | Economic Sociology | Defines relationship between economy and society; sociological approach to study of economic activity and organization; difference from the theoretical and methodological assumptions orienting the discipline of economics; tackles these questions in two ways: studies foundations as established in works of Smith, Marx, Weber, Polanyi, and Schumpeter, and considers current research in economic sociology, focusing on concepts of markets, networks, and embeddedness. Prereq., SOCY 1001. Restricted to sophomore, junior, senior SOCY majors. |
| SOCY 4047 | Topics in Environment and Society | Variety of courses taught by visiting and regular faculty. See current semester Special Topics page and departmental announcements for specific content. May be repeated up to 9 credit hours for different topics. |
| SOCY 4052 | Social Inequalities in Health | Focuses on social inequalities in health in both U.S.and international contexts. Reviews the link between health status and various types of social statuses, including but not limited to socioeconomic status, gender, race, and ethnicity. Explanations for the relationships between these factors and various health outcomes are discussed. The class focuses on multiple levels of analysis, from the physician-patient interactions to health care systems and social policies. Students have the opportunity to develop their own specific research interests in this field. Prereq., SOCY 1001. Restricted to junior/senior SOCY majors. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Junior or Senior). |
| SOCY 4071 | Social Stratification | Studies theories of class, ethnic, sex, and age stratification. Examines social inequality in the United States and analyzes the resulting conflicts. Prereqs., SOCY 1001, and SOCY 3001 or 3011. Restricted to junior/senior SOCY majors. Same as SOCY 5071. |
| SOCY 4081 | Sociology of Education | Analyzes the school as a social organization. Among topics considered are power and control in the school; classroom interaction and its relation to learning and personality development in students; roles of educators; and reciprocal relations of school andcommunity. Prereqs., SOCY 1001, and SOCY 3001 or 3011. Restricted to junior/senior SOCY majors. |
| SOCY 4084 | Punishment, Law and Society | Places the current state of punishment in the U.S. inhistorical and cross national context. It examines key features of penal systems, and key sociological theories about the relationship between punishmentand society. Prereqs., SOCY 1001 or 1004. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Junior or Senior) Sociology (SOCY) majors only. |
| SOCY 4086 | Family and Society | Studies the changing relationship between family and social structure. Examines variations in family organization and considers political, social, ideological, demographic, and economic determinants of family formation. Prereqs., SOCY 1001, and SOCY 3001 or 3011. Restricted to junior/senior SOCY majors. Same as WMST 4086. |
| SOCY 4111 | Nonviolent Social Movements | Explores theories of democracy and development in relation to movements for nonviolent social change. Focuses on means and ends, spirituality, leadership, decision--making, civil society, cooperative economics, ecology, and decentralized power. Prereqs., SOCY 1001, and 3001 or 3011. Restricted to senior SOCY or PSCI majors. Same as INVS 4402. |
| SOCY 4121 | Religion and Society | Examines complex interactions between religious and other social structures, such as the economy, government, and the family, and how globalization is affecting religious traditions across the globe. Includes discussion of how various religions are used or misused to justify terrorism and other acts of violence. Prereqs., SOCY 1001, and SOCY 3001 or 3011. Approved for arts and sciences core curriculum: ideals and values. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Junior or Senior) Sociology (SOCY) majors only. |
| SOCY 4131 | Advanced Topics in Sociology | Variety of advanced specialty courses taught by visiting and regular faculty designed for upper division sociology majors. See current semester Special Topics page and departmental announcement for specific content. May be repeated up to 9 total credit hours for different topics. Prereq., SOCY 1001. Restricted to junior and senior SOCY majors. |
| SOCY 4141 | The Social Psychology of Friendships | Studies friendships between individuals and groups, applying social psychological theories of interaction and group processes. Examines the effects of hierarchies of status and power and of norms and social pressure on friendships. Attempts to answer questions like how social categories like gender, race, and class affect friendships, what are the unwritten rules of behavior among friends in different situations, and what happens when we violate them. Prereq., SOCY 1001. Restricted to junior/senior SOCY majors. |
| SOCY 4441 | Senior Honors Seminar 1 | Helps students design and initiate an honors thesis based on original sociological research. Prereqs., SOCY 1001, and SOCY 3001 or 3011, and instructor consent. Restricted to Sociology majors with a minimum grade point average of 3.30. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Junior or Senior) Sociology (SOCY) majors only. |
| SOCY 4451 | Senior Honors Seminar 2 | Helps students complete an honors thesis based on original sociological research. Emphasizes analyzing data, writing research reports, and presenting results. Prereqs., SOCY 1001, and SOCY 3001 or 3011, and instructor consent. Restricted to Sociology majors with a minimum grade point average of 3.30. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Junior or Senior) Sociology (SOCY) majors only. |
| SOCY 4461 | Critical Studies in Sociology | Examines a sociological topic in depth, covering such issues as class structure, race relations, gender roles, criminal justice, and political conflict, with an emphasis on writing, reading, and critical thinking. Prereqs., SOCY 1001, and SOCY 3001 or 3011. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 87-180 credits (Senior, Fifth Year Senior) Sociology (SOCY) majors only. |
| SOCY 4841 | Independent Study | Upper-division variable credit. May be repeated up to 8 total credit hours. Prereqs., SOCY 1001, and SOCY 3001 or 3011, and instructor consent. Restricted to SOCY majors. Prerequisites: Restricted to Sociology majors only. |
| SOCY 4911 | Teaching Sociology | Students participate in a teaching seminar under the supervision of a faculty member. Includes pedagogical strategies for implementing concrete educational goals and encouraging higher levels of creativity and analysis in a large, lower-division class. Emphasizes mentorship and personal development. Prereqs., SOCY 1004 and instructor consent. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Junior or Senior) Sociology (SOCY) majors only. |
| SOCY 4931 | Internship in Sociology | Provides an academically supervised opportunity for junior and senior sociology majors to work in publicor private organizations. Focuses on opportunities in criminal justice system, education, non-profits, health care, etc. May be repeated up to 6 total credit hours. Prereqs., SOCY 1001 and 3001 or 3011. Prerequisites: Restricted to students with 57-180 credits (Junior or Senior) Sociology (SOCY) majors only. |