SOC - Sociology

The methods, insights, and perspectives of sociology; how sociologists do their work; how individuals are influenced by society and culture; how people learn to become members of society (the socialization process), and how people interact with others in it. Review of major topics of sociological interest and concern.

A course covering material not covered by existing courses. Offered on an occasional basis.

An introduction to the place of statistics in the research process; develops understanding of statistics as a valuable tool in analyzing data. Deals with probability, sampling, tables, graphs, averages, measure of variation, measures of association, tests of significance, and multivariate statistics. Special emphasis given to analysis of survey data using computers. Note: Credit for at most one of the following courses may be applied towards a student's requirements for graduation: BUAD 200, ECON 200, EDU 200, POLI 200, SOC 200, and STAT 200.

Review of the causes, nature, dynamics, and modes of alleviating some major social problems in contemporary U.S. Among the problems which may be reviewed are poverty, deviance, crime and delinquency, discrimination (racism, sexism, ageism), ecological-environmental threats, and over population, as well as problems of vital institutions (familial, medical, political, economic).

Seeks to orient students toward a broad range of social phenomena in such a way that they can begin to systematically question, analyze, and articulate a sociological point of view.

The forms of social interaction that relate people to each other in everyday life and the consequences for individuals of their social experiences. Theoretical models applied and evaluated for their explanatory power in illuminating such issues as socialization into roles, attitude formation, development of self concept, conflict resolution, etc.

Public Health is an interdisciplinary field concerned with the physical, mental and environmental health concerns of communities and populations at risk for disease and injury. Topics examined in this course include "traditional public health" issues: infectious and chronic diseases, injuries, diet, maternal/child health and threats to the natural environment. The course will also examine "newer public health" concerns including bioterrorism/superterrorism, human-generated and natural disasters, risk communication, and public health hoaxes.

Introduction to theoretical and practical foundations of social work. Examination of values, knowledge, and skills underlying a generalist approach to social work. Analysis of role of social workers in such settings as hospitals, schools, mental health agencies, and family and child welfare agencies.

Examines the social psychology of health and illness, social epidemiology and the social correlates of illness, and the organization of health care, including the doctor-patient relationship, the health professionals, and health institutions.

Explores how communities and the social work profession respond to social problems. Traditional classroom-based learning is combined with service learning activities to increase student knowledge of the social service delivery system.

A course concerned with knowing; emphasis is placed on the evaluation of information and the research process: conceptualization, design, measurement, and data collections methods of survey, experiment and observation are discussed.

Examines the sources, forms, and consequences of social inequality, with major emphasis on social stratification in the United States. Emphasis on social class, but also includes racial and ethnic stratification, and gender inequality. Also analyses on debate over the inevitability of inequality, and examines related issues in social policy.

Description and analysis of sex and gender roles and relationships from a variety of societies at different levels of socio-cultural complexity. Note: Also listed as ANTH 300 and WOST 302.

Covers theoretical and empirical issues in the sociological understanding of deviant behavior. Research studies of several forms of career deviance analyzed and critiqued: suicide, skid row, addiction, prostitution, homosexuality, mental illness, physical handicaps.

Examination of all that behavior which has come to be identified as addiction including tobacco smoking, alcoholism, substance abuse, eating disorders and gambling. An analysis of competing theories of addiction and treatment. The political, economic and social ramifications of addiction control.

The course explores the impact of disease on human populations in terms of demographic, cultural and social changes. The rise of health care delivery systems is addressed as a response to epidemics. Examples include the bubonic plague of the 14th and 17th centuries, cholera, influenza, polio and AIDS. Note: Also listed as ANTH 301.

Study of discrimination against ethnic groups (race, religion, national origins); major groupings within the U.S. such as blacks, Jews, Native Americans, Hispanics, and Asian Americans. Ethnic relations in countries throughout the world, with an emphasis on the impact of colonialism on ethnic relations.

Overview of sociological perspectives on the family; emphasis on current state of the family in society. Topics include premarital sexual behavior and attitudes; dynamics of mate selection; marriage as an institution; marriage and sex roles; family dynamics (parenthood, childhood, family politics, violence in the family, divorce, etc.); marriage and the family as a subjective reality; alternative family forms; and the future of the family. Relationship between family and other social institutions.

An introduction to social demography, the course provides an overview of the three basic demographic processes: fertility, mortality, and migration. It evaluates the relationships among these population processes and their interaction with population structures and characteristics, such as age, sex, marital status, race/ethnicity, social class and religion. It also examines contemporary social issues associated with the population processes, including equality, aging, urbanization, women and household structure, economic development and environmental concerns.

An examination of the background conditions producing utopias and an ethnographic/historical analysis of selected utopian ventures (e.g. Amish, Shakers, Counterculture Communes).

Introduction to sport as a social institution; social function of sport; sport and culture, schools, and socialization; sport and women, race, and ethnic groups; sport and mass media; sport and stratification and social change.

In-depth overview of social gerontology, focusing on aging in modern societies. How major institutional changes affect the aged. Review of major problems: status as a minority, retirement adjustment, income, social attitude towards the aged, kinship and other roles.

Examines the growing body of sociological and social psychological literature on humankind's last major status passage. Institutions which structure death are considered and the processes accompanying dying are investigated. Cross-cultural as well as American death phenomena are included.

This course offers a critical look at the role of foodways in human prehistory, history, and contemporary life. Food is examined as an integral part of culture in terms of creating social bonds, identity, economies, and political systems. These issues are explored through diverse topics such as gender, food taboos, ethnicity, industrialization, human health, and the environment. The course includes discussion of attempts to address problems related to food by looking at policy, technologies, and movements towards sustainable food systems.

Examines ways in which health and illness for women are defined and managed. Topics include the medicalization of pregnancy and birth, adolescence and sexuality, addiction, mental health, menopause, body image, and, women as health care providers.

Special topics in sociology not covered in detail by regular courses and not offered on a regular basis.

Compares criminal law and justice systems of a variety of contemporary societies. Details characteristics of common law, civil law, and socialist law legal systems as contexts to explore the practices of specific countries. Examines crime patterns across countries.

Introduction to the study of victim-criminal relationships. Issues of conceptual and empirical interest covered include: history of the status of victims of crime in Western criminal justice systems; sociological characteristics of victims; victim-risk; victim-precipitated crimes; and victim compensation programs.

An examination of delinquent behavior and its distribution in society. Topical issues discussed include the juvenile justice system, theories of delinquency, and methods of social control of this behavior.

The variety of forms of family violence child abuse, partner abuse, and elder abuse are examined with regard to its range and scope as well as legal and cultural issues. Explanations of and societal responses to the phenomena are detailed and evaluated. Junior standing required.

The evolution of sociological theory is traced from the traditions established by Marx, Durkheim, Weber, and Mead through contemporary phenomenological, critical, feminist, postmodern, and late modern schools of thought in order to understand the different assumptions and claims about what human beings are like, what society is, and what society can know about the two that have arisen in different social contexts.

A capstone course required for senior sociology majors designed to provide the opportunity to engage in an intensive examination of a topic of broad and enduring social and sociological significance. The topic will be of sufficient breadth to raise theoretical, methodological, and substantive issues, some of which may have been already encountered in other courses. The seminar format and the senior status of its members will provide a context in which these issues can be examined in greater depth and integrated into a more developed and coherent sociological perspective through extensive reading and writing. The seminar format also demands that students assume greater responsibilities for their own learning and that of their fellow members.

In-depth exploration of selected topics in public health, with special emphasis on epidemiological investigations and applications. Major focus varies from semester to semester depending on interests of students and instructor. The general goal of the course is to help students (a) further develop their skills in epidemiology, the science of public health; and (b) integrate course topics and themes from disciplines comprising the Public Health minor, so that they can use this knowledge to explore jobs, careers and graduate education in public health. Students must have completed 15 hours of course work in the Public Health minor, including Introduction to Public Health. Permission of instructor required.

One to 3 credit hours of credit for individualized study under guidance of a member of the faculty. Permission of instructor.

Supervised placement with a public or private organization. A limited number of opportunities to observe and participate in sociology-related endeavors in the workplace. Permission of department.