Sociology (SOC)
SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology (3 credits)
General Education: Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing
Basic theories, concepts, and processes involved in scientific study of society; includes socialization process, social inequality, the family, religion, deviance, population, the environment, and social change. Typically Offered: Every semester.
SOC 200 (s) Seminar (1-16 credits)
Credit arranged
SOC 201 Introduction to Inequity and Justice (3 credits)
General Education: American Diversity
An interdisciplinary and historical study of social inequities and inclusion in a cross-cultural global context. The course examines multiple forms of diversity and stratification including, but not limited to, culture, class, race/ethnic, gender/sexuality, religious diversity, and political ideology in an effort to raise students' ability to interact with and understand others in our increasingly multicultural world. Courses may vary in their emphasis on United States’ or international experiences. May include service learning. Typically Offered: Fall, Spring and Varies.
Prereqs: SOC 101
SOC 203 (s) Workshop (1-16 credits)
Credit arranged
SOC 204 (s) Special Topics (1-16 credits)
Credit arranged
SOC 211 Development of Social Theory (3 credits)
Development of social theory from classical roots through contemporary schools; biographical accounts and original works in sociological theory.
Prereqs: SOC 101
SOC 230 Social Problems (3 credits)
General Education: Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing
Contemporary social issues and personal deviations; crime and delinquency, poverty and wealth, drugs, sexual variations, racism, sexism, and the environment.
SOC 299 (s) Directed Study (1-16 credits)
Credit arranged
SOC 309 Social Science Research Methods (3 credits)
This course introduces students to quantitative and qualitative research methods employed in the social sciences. It will discuss research design and ethics, data collection processes, and data analysis. Typically Offered: Fall and Spring.
Prereqs: STAT 153 or STAT 251; Junior or Senior Standing; SOC, ANTH, CRIM majors or SOC minors only
SOC 327 Sociology of the Family (3 credits)
This class is designed to help students critically evaluate and understand the ways they think about families and the role of the families. In this course we will examine families as social institutions that vary across time and culture, the ways that families shape and are constrained by structural conditions, and the interactions between the family and other social institutions.
Prereqs: SOC 101
SOC 340 Environmental Sociology and Globalization (3 credits)
This course introduces students to sociological understanding of environment and globalization, demonstrating the importance of connecting questions of environmental concern to global processes. Area emphasis within the study of environmental sociology and globalization will vary depending on instructor.
SOC 341 Science, Technology, and Society (3 credits)
This course situates science and technology in the social context. The course draws from Sociology of Science and Science and Technology Studies to examine the nature of scientific expertise, processes of knowledge creation, interrelationship between science and technology, impacts of science and technology on society, and science policy. Students will develop the ability to ask important questions about how the human world affects science and technology, and how science and technology affects the human world.
SOC 343 Power, Politics, and Society (3 credits)
Examines the relationship between political and social institutions, the distribution of power and authority in society, the origins and expansion of the modern state, social and cultural basis of political behavior, and characteristics of transnational and global governance. Recommended Preparation: SOC 230.
Prereqs: SOC 101 or Instructor Permission
SOC 344 Understanding Communities (3 credits)
Examines the growth of communities, including cities and small towns; community inequalities, politics, and social movements; built environment, ecology, and sustainability of cities and identity; global cities and immigration. Explores what it takes to practice community citizenship development, and how sociologists may enhance and build community in ways that promote fair and just distribution of resources and equitable living conditions. Typically Offered: Fall.
Prereqs: SOC 101 or Instructor Permission.
SOC 345 Extremism and American Society (3 credits)
This course explores sociological perspectives on extremism in American society. We will consider the socio-structural factors that contribute to a rise in extremist activism, that motivate people to join these organizations, and that provide political opportunity for organizational growth. The class will also explore the historical and contemporary circulation of extremist discourse and ideology in more mainstream spaces. Finally, the course will examine the impact these organizations have on broader society: culture, ideology, political discourse, etc. To accomplish this, the course will focus on case studies of past and current reactionary groups, including hate groups (KKK, neo- Nazi), militia and patriot groups (Posse Comitatus), terrorist groups, and other examples of extremism.
Prereqs: SOC 101 or Instructor Permission
SOC 346 Responding to Risk (3 credits)
This course uses risk as a paradigm for a sociological analysis of agency and structure. Students are introduced to various theories and frameworks for modeling risk. The course investigates risk in individual and group behavior, decision making in situations of risk, and risk in the workings of social institutions and social practices, within the areas of crime and deviance, science and technology, health, and the environment.
Prereqs: SOC 101 or Instructor Permission
SOC 350 Food, Culture, and Society (3 credits)
General Education: American Diversity, Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing
Cross-listed with ANTH 350
Examines the structural and cultural implications of eating and producing food in a global world. Utilizing a social scientific framework, it explores the history of particular foods and examines how food systems are racialized, classed and gendered. Primary foci include the social history of food holidays and taboos, the relationships between food and identity, the impact of agricultural production practices on food systems and food security, and forms of resistance to these impacts. Recommended Preparation: a 200-level sociology course. May include field trips. Typically Offered: Spring (Even Years).
Prereqs: SOC 101
SOC 351 Animals in Society (3 credits)
This course examines the relationships between human and more-than-human animal species in society to explore interactions, interdependence, meaning making, and policies over time and place. Typically Offered: Varies.
SOC 372 Love and Liberation (3 credits)
The word “love” is considered important yet stubbornly difficult to experience in contemporary society. But what exactly does love mean? We examine the sociology of love, emotion, and social reproduction to review the various meanings of love that have evolved in different societies over time and across the world. As we investigate the social and global history of love, we will also consider the possibility that love is a radical political and economic principle. In fact, perhaps love has been the fundamental goal that gives life to liberation movements and revolutions. Typically Offered: Spring (Even Years).
SOC 416 Qualitative Social Science Methods (3 credits)
Cross-listed with ANTH 416
Joint-listed with ANTH 516
This course introduces students to social science research methods that collect qualitative data. It will discuss research design and ethics, data collection processes, and data analysis. Additional work required for graduate credit. Typically Offered: Varies.
SOC 417 Social Data Analysis (3 credits)
Cross-listed with ANTH 417
Joint-listed with ANTH 517
This course introduces students to social science research methods that collect quantitative data. It will discuss research design and ethics, data collection processes, and data analysis.
SOC 420 Sociology of Law (3 credits)
The course examines law creation and law enforcement in their social, political, and economic context. Discussions include the major theories of the role of law and functioning of the modern state, and through the use of historical and contemporary case studies students will evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of these theoretical perspectives.
SOC 423 Economic (In)Justice in the United States (3 credits)
This course investigates how United States’ institutions create and maintain conditions of economic inequality and injustice. Various angles of inquiry include the unequal distribution of wealth amongst different social groups, the rising power of financial institutions, the prevalence of housing insecurity, the causes and consequences of consumer indebtedness and bankruptcy, and unequal community development.
Prereqs: SOC 101 or Instructor Permission
SOC 424 Sociology of Gender (3 credits)
Historical and comparative analysis of the various roles, statuses, and life opportunities of men and women; emphasis on how gender roles develop in society and their effect on social structure, social institutions, and interpersonal interaction.
SOC 427 Racial and Ethnic Relations (3 credits)
Examination of the social construction of racial categories and meanings; theories of race relations; historical and contemporary experiences of racial/ethnic groups in the U. S. ; contemporary issues and debates.
SOC 444 Health, Illness, and Society (3 credits)
Cross-listed with ANTH 444
Joint-listed with ANTH 544
This course examines the various cultural events, biological processes, and socio-structural forces that contribute to health and disease of modern populations. Taking a holistic perspective, the course examines how communicable and genetic pathological conditions originate, how they have been handled throughout history and the lengths to which science, medicine, and other social institutions go to keep us healthy. The course also investigates how we perceive health and explores how various issues, such as genetics, social inequality, culture, and ideology influence how we promote well-being and care for the sick. Additional projects/assignments required for graduate credit. Typically Offered: Spring.
SOC 460 Capstone: Sociology in Action (3 credits)
General Education: Senior Experience
Sociology in Action is designed to provide the resources and guidance necessary for sociology seniors to complete an independent or collaborative research project.
Prereqs: SOC 101 and Senior standing and major in Department of Sociology and Anthropology; or Permission
SOC 462 Senior Practicum (3 credits)
General Education: Senior Experience
This course will involve an applied, on-site experience with an organization or group. The applied experience will be the basis for a thesis that will analyze the applied experience by incorporating theory, methods and knowledge gained from previously-taken sociology classes. In addition, the practicum will include class meetings covering topics related to the applied experience and career paths for majors in Sociology. Typically Offered: Varies.
Prereqs: SOC 101
SOC 465 Environmental Justice (3 credits)
This course surveys the history of environmental justice in the United States and globally, and it explores the different sociological perspectives surrounding environmental justice cases and movements. Courses will slightly differ in emphasis depending on the instructor, allowing opportunities to explore more deeply the social philosophies and policies that inform this course topic. Typically Offered: Spring (Odd Years).
SOC 466 Climate Change and Society (3 credits)
This course introduces students to social, economic, political, and cultural dimensions of climate change. It considers the global nature of climate change, its causes and effects, and key issues related to climate change communication, adaptation, and mitigation. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to identify several key sociological issues related to climate change (e. g. , human impact on climate change, institutional and political responses, public opinions and skepticism, impact on marginalized communities, challenges to communication, role of emotions in climate change, potential avenues for mitigating negative effects).
Prereqs: SOC 101
SOC 498 (s) Internship (1-6 credits, max arranged)
Supervised professional field experience in human service organizations. Graded P/F.
Prereqs: SOC 101, major in Department of Sociology and Anthropology, and Permission
SOC 499 (s) Directed Study (1-16 credits, max arranged)
Credit arranged. Intended to accommodate a wide variety of sociological topics.
Prereqs: SOC 101 and Permission
SOC 501 (s) Seminar (1-16 credits, max arranged)
Credit arranged. Subjects normally offered: sociological research, social problems, and social theory.
Prereqs: Permission
SOC 502 (s) Directed Study (1-16 credits, max arranged)
Credit arranged. Subjects normally offered: sociological theory, human ecology, and race relations.
Prereqs: Permission
SOC 504 (s) Special Topics (1-16 credits)
Credit arranged
SOC 599 (s) Non-thesis Master's Research (1-16 credits)
Credit arranged