SOCIOLOGY COURSES
SOC 111. INTRODUCTORY SOCIOLOGY 4 sh
This course provides an introduction to basic
theoretical principles and research methods
of modern sociology, including such issues as the
relationship between culture, personality
and society; the fundamental forms of social structure;
social institutions such as religion
and the family; and social processes such as deviance and
social change. Offered fall and
spring.
SOC 131. SOCIOLOGY THROUGH FILM 4 sh
This course explores sociological principles,
concepts, theories, ideas, themes and issues
as they may be illustrated in cinema, television and
commercials. Relevant sociological
readings are assigned to accompany the specifi c
sociological content being illustrated in
each session.
SOC 215. QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS 4 sh
This course examines the ways qualitative analyses
(non-numerical data) help social
scientists explore questions of meaning within specifi c
social and cultural contexts, and
historical moments. Specifi c topics include: participant
observation, focus groups, open-
ended interviewing, thematic coding, archival research and
data analysis with a qualitative
computer software program. The complementary relationship
between qualitative and
quantitative research methods will be considered, with a
sustained focus on the particular
strengths and weaknesses of qualitative research design.
Prerequisite: SOC 111 or ANT
112. Cross-listed with ANT 215.
SOC 216. QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS 4 sh
This course examines the ways quantitative analyses
(numerical data) help social scien-
tists investigate issues, problems, and relationships within
social and cultural contexts.
Specifi c topics include: discussion of the scientifi c
method, survey methodology, sampling
techniques, hypothesis testing, aggregate level analyses,
and issues of reliability, validity
and generalizability, as well as data analysis with SPSS.
The complementary relationship
between quantitative and qualitative research designs will
be considered, with a focus on
the strengths and weaknesses of quantitative research
design. Prerequisite: SOC 111 or
ANT 112. Offered spring semester. Cross-listed with ANT
216.
SOC 241. SOCIAL ISSUES AND PROBLEMS 4 sh
Students investigate social issues pertaining to
institutions and use a sociological frame-
work to discover the interconnections between national and
global problems. Study
focuses on causes, consequences and policies concerning such
problems as racism, sexism,
poverty, war, overpopulation and issues pertaining to
institutions of the family, economy,
government, medicine, religion and others.
SOC 245. NONVIOLENCE OF THE BRAVE: FROM GANDHI TO
KING 4 sh
Students are exposed to the ideas and personalities
of political philosophers and leaders
who have influenced major nonviolent social and political
movements in the 20th century.
Common themes appearing in the philosophies and action plans
of Thoreau, Gandhi, King
and others are explored and compared to the philosophies and
action plans of leaders such
as Mao Tse-tung, Malcolm X and others. The course includes
readings, feature films and
documentaries.
SOC 253. INDIGENOUS AUSTRALIA 4 sh
Students experience western Australia through
anthropological and sociological perspectives. The influence
of Aboriginal, European and Pacific migrants on Australian
culture is examined. A predominant focus of the course is an
exploration of Aboriginal peoples in relation to
Euro-Australian interests. Students are exposed to a rich
cultural milieu through orientation prior to departure,
participant-observation, focused observations, field trips,
lectures and directed self learning. Offered winter.
SOC 261. CLASSICAL SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY 4 sh
In sociological theory, students explore
conceptualization and model-building in modern
sociology and consider the emergence of sociological
traditions or perspectives. Topics
include underlying assumptions, historical and intellectual
background and the logical
consequences of these positions. This course is a writing
intensive course, meaning at least
70 percent of the grade comes from writing assignments
during the course. Prerequisite:
SOC 111. Offered spring.
SOC 262. CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL THEORY 4 sh
This course will explore how current social
conditions and new social movements have prompted a rich,
lively process of critical re-engagement and even rejection
of the “classics” of sociological theory.
Students will consider how contemporary politics of identity
and difference as well as scientific challenges to the
nature-culture dichotomy catalyze deep reflection on the
perennial issues of social theory: the possibility of social
order, the dynamics of social change and the relationship
between the individual and society. Consequently, limitations
of the classics to explain contemporary social realities will
be uncovered. Furthermore, course materials will challenge
students to identify the alternative axes of theoretical
dispute in sociology as well as to question the contributions
and consequences of social scientific knowledge. This course
is writing and reading intensive. Prerequisite: SOC
111.
SOC 311. SOCIOLOGY OF FAMILIES 4 sh
This course provides an investigation of the family
as an institution in societies, focusing
on the development and current patterns of the American
family. Specific topics include
social class differences, racial and ethnic variations,
premarital patterns, marital interaction, family problems and
the future prospects for the family. Prerequisite: SOC 111.
SOC 314. SOCIOLOGY OF SPORT 4 sh
This course focuses on sport as a major social
institution in American society. Topics
include the social organization of sport, the relationship
of sport to other aspects of
American life such as politics and education, the
experiences of African-Americans,
women and youth in sport, and the effects of sport on
culture, personality and society.
Prerequisite: SOC 111.
SOC 316. SOCIOLOGY OF RELIGION 4 sh
The goal of this course is to examine the critical
importance and functions of religion in
human societies. Also, it explores the social
characteristics of world religions and religious
organizations. In addition, this course will investigate
religious behaviors such as beliefs,
rituals and experiences.
SOC 327. ENCOUNTERING THE SACRED 4 sh
Students develop an understanding of non-Western
views of the world through intellectual
and experiential study of Native American perspectives.
Anthropological concepts are
used in conjunction with non-Western methods of
understanding. The course emphasizes
the power of the oral tradition as a learning tool and
explores the continuities and diversities of the Native
American belief systems. Experiential activities include
conversations with Native American healers and leaders,
participation in powwows and a variety of outdoor activities
designed to help the students develop an animistic
perspective. Prerequisite: SOC 111 or ANT 112.
SOC 331. THE SELF AND SOCIETY 4 sh
Self and society involves the ways individuals are
influenced by social interaction with
others, with attention to the interaction processes of
socialization, developing an identity
and individual identities affecting interactions. Other
topics include the impact of social
change, increased technological developments in everyday
life and postmodernism on
the self, and the sociological perspectives of symbolic
interactionism and dramaturgy.
Prerequisite: SOC 111.
SOC 333. SOCIAL STRATIFICATION 4 sh
This study of societal patterns of inequality
includes consideration of differences in
wealth, power, prestige and knowledge. Students examine the
access levels groups have to
these resources and the subsequent effects of their access
level on educational opportunity,
housing, health care, justice before the law, self-esteem
and life satisfaction. The stratification systems of the
different societies are studied, but the primary focus is on
institutionalized inequality in the U.S. Prerequisite: SOC
111.
SOC 341. ETHNIC AND RACE RELATIONS 4 sh
Students examine the meaning of minority group
status in terms of the general patterns
and problems confronting all minorities as well as the
specific issues facing individual
minority groups such as African-Americans, Jews,
European-Americans and Asian-
Americans. Discussion emphasizes the nature of prejudice and
discrimination, the structure of minority-majority relations
and strategies toward social equality. Prerequisite: SOC
111.
SOC 342. SOCIAL DEVIANCE 4 sh
This course considers deviance and social control
in societal context. Emphasis is placed
on the ways in which deviance is defined cross-culturally
and on the different ways in
which deviants are labeled and treated. The course focuses
on sociocultural explanations
of deviance within such areas as mental and physical health,
drug use, sexual expression,
aggression and personal identity. The relationship between
deviance and social stratification is examined. Prerequisite:
SOC 111.
SOC 343. SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CHANGE 4 sh
Concern for the nature and direction of
modernization provides a foundation in this course
as students analyze patterns of social and cultural change
(especially in technologically
advanced societies such as the U.S.). Topics include
innovation, diffusion, evolution, revolution, collective
behavior and social movements with emphasis on the causes of
patterns and their effects on individual and public life.
Prerequisite: SOC 111.
SOC 345. SOCIOCULTURAL PERSPECTIVES ON GENDER 4
sh
Students use sociological and anthropological
perspectives, theories and concepts to
analyze the meaning of being female and male in American
society. Discussion emphasizes the inequities based upon
gender, particularly the problems faced by women.
Prerequisite: SOC 111 or ANT 112.
SOC 351. SOCIOLOGY OF POPULAR CULTURE 4 sh
This course studies the nature and significance of
culture as this is presented to the public
through movies, magazines, newspapers, television, music,
radio, popular fiction, spectator
events and mass-produced consumer goods. The course will
focus on patterns of production, distribution and consumption
of popular culture, thematic issues and effects on behavior.
A special concern will be the relationship of popular culture
images to “visions of the good life” in the
modern U.S. Prerequisite: SOC 111.
SOC 355. CRIMINOLOGY 4 sh
This course provides a sociological explanation of
crime with a focus on the relationship
between social structure and criminal behavior. Included in
this approach are studies
of individual criminal behavior. Both classic and
contemporary theories of crime are
explored; emphasis is placed upon the American
context.
SOC 370-379. SPECIAL TOPICS IN SOCIOLOGY 2-4
sh
This series of courses reflecting new contributions
in sociology or sociological issues.
Prerequisite: to be determined by instructor.
SOC 461. SENIOR SEMINAR IN SOCIOLOGY 4 sh
This capstone course reviews major areas of
sociology and provides further opportunity to
share research on these topics. Students conduct research
ranging from how sociological
knowledge can be applied occupationally and politically to
more basic, academic topics.
Prerequisites: senior sociology major, SOC 215, 216 and
either SOC 261 or 262.
SOC 471. SEMINAR: SPECIAL TOPICS 2-4 sh
SOC 481. INTERNSHIP IN SOCIOLOGY 1-4 sh
Teaching, research, service and occupational
internships are offered. Limited to four
semester hours credit applicable to sociology major or
minor. Prerequisites: department
permission and at least sophomore standing.
