Sociology Undergraduate Courses
SOC 100—Introduction to Sociology
Study of the structures and processes of society with emphasis on American institutions.
The socio-cultural context of human behavior and its consequences. Examination of
population, urbanization, social stratification, social conflict, and social change.
3 credits.
SOC 102 — Critical Thinking: Exploring Social Issues
Training in how to construct critical thinking arguments on social issues, utilizing
sociological theory and data. 3 credits.
SOC 201 — Social Statistics
Principles and problems of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting statistical data
applied to the field of sociology. Prerequisite: 3 credits in social science. 3 credits.
SOC 203—Social Organizations
Essential concepts on social organizations, including ways in which social organizations
are shaped by the larger society, as well as ways in which social organizations impact
the larger society. Includes analysis of private, public, for-profit, and non-profit
organizations across social institutions and domains, and how organizational processes
contribute to a group's success or failure. 3 credits.
SOC 211—Social Problems in the U.S.
Analysis of major current social problems in the United States. The definition of,
causes for, and sociological theories related to such important problems as: dependency,
juvenile delinquency, criminal justice, drugs, migration, population increase, mass
communication, environmental pollution, family disruption, mental illness, and prejudice.
3 credits.
SOC 215—Women in Society
Problems of women's roles in society. Comparative perspectives on the status of women
across social institutions. An exploration of feminism and consideration of its goals
and methods. 3 credits.
SOC 216—Men's Studies
Sociological research in men's studies. Theories of masculinity, male socialization,
interactive patterns, intimacy patterns, and roles in the family. Data and discourse
on change and persistence of male roles in society. 3 credits.
SOC 218 — Sociology of American Jewry
Study of contemporary American Jewish life and society from a sociological perspective.
Pluralism, socio-historical development, religious ritual, and gender issues as shapers
of the American Jewish community. 3 credits.
SOC 219—Sociology of Modern Israel
The social factors, pre-statehood through the present, that have influenced the emergence
of Israeli society as a new social and cultural entity in the Middle East. 3 credits.
SOC 235—Environmental Sociology
Study of how social structure, behavior, attitudes and in- equalities impact the
physical environment. Topics include the environmentalist movement and its opponents,
organi- zational mobilization to alleviate environmental hazards, and future planning
for environmental protection in both urban and rural settings. 3 credits.
SOC 251—Sociology of Religion
Sociological perspectives on religion as both a persistent and changing social institution.
The role of religion in both implementing and impeding social change, policy, and
discourse; sociological explanations and studies on religious experience, identity,
affiliation, and structure; and the impact of religion on controversial public issues,
other social institutions and issues pertaining to class, race, and gender. 3 credits.
SOC 265—Self and Society
Relationship of self to others and society through exploration of micro-sociological
theory and data. An emphasis on interpersonal and organizational behavior as shaped
by social forces. 3 credits.
SOC 266—Socialization and Social Control
Study of the social mechanisms for social control, formal and informal. Emphasis
is on the socialization process, throughout the life cycle, and the development and
role in society of folkways, mores, laws and customs. Prerequisite: 3 credits of sociology
or anthropology. 3 credits.
SOC 267—Sociology of Sports
Sociological exploration of the world of sports and related leisure activities, and
how these domains reflect, reify, and change society, as well as how body image plays
a role in sports and leisure, which in turn impacts perceptions of self and society.
3 credits.
SOC 288 — Economic Sociology
Examination of the social positions of economic institutions and social factors that
effect economic outcomes. Emphases on social and organizational contexts of economic
life, social facets of market competition, the modern transition to finance capitalism,
and the social side of monopolies and monopoloid arrangements. Attention is given
to the international, social generation of poverty. 3 credits.
SOC 310—Racial and Ethnic Relations
Analysis of race and ethnicity with an emphasis on diversity and culture, intergroup
conflict and competition. Prerequisites: SOC 100, plus 3 additional credits of sociology.
3 credits.
SOC 312 —The African American Experience
Analysis of the lives of African Americans in the United States. Emphasis on patterns
of interaction, social and economic stratification, areas of conflict, and participation
in the institutional life of U.S. society. Prerequisites: SOC 100, plus 3 additional
credits of sociology. 3 credits.
SOC 315—Sociology of Gender
Overview of women's and men's roles in society. Sociological perspectives and data
on gender role formation, interaction, conflict, and change across social institutions.
Theoretical insights on gender from a wide range of perspectives. Pre- requisites:
SOC 100, plus 3 additional credits in sociology. 3 credits.
SOC 316—Women in the Developing World
Explores the nature of the lives of women across the globe; their changing social,
economic and political roles; the impact of development, revolutionary movements,
and international feminism. Prerequisites: 3 credits in sociology or women's studies.
3 credits.
SOC 317—Women of Color in the U.S.
Exploration of major themes and issues in the history and con- temporary lives of
women of color in the United States, with an emphasis on culture, diversity, and adversity.
Prerequisites: SOC 100, plus 3 additional credits of sociology. 3 credits
SOC 318—Global Race Relations
Exploration of race and ethnicity in the social, familial, po- litical, and economic
lives of groups in nations other than the U.S. Prerequisites: SOC 100, plus 3 additional
credits of sociology. 3 credits.
SOC 320—Sociology of Children and Childhood
Examination of the social position of children and child- hood in contemporary American
and global society with recognition that children are active participants in their
world. Emphasis upon basic areas of family, education, child care, work, juvenile
justice, and peer culture. Analysis of the intersection of childhood, gender, social
class, race, and ability/disability. Methodological considerations of studying children
will also be discussed. Prerequisites: SOC 100, plus 3 additional credits in Sociology.
3 credits.
SOC 322—Sociology of the Family
Sociological theory and data on the family as a major social institution. How social
forces impact the roles, configurations, problems and needs of the family—and how
family issues, in turn, influence the larger society, and both uphold and conflict
with societal values. Includes emphasis on diversity along ethnic and lifestyle dimensions.
Prerequisites: SOC 100, plus 3 additional credits of sociology. 3 credits.
SOC 334—Probation, Parole, Pardon
Sentencing patterns and problems, social investigation, release organization, and
administrative procedures, group process, and role modification. Prerequisite: 3 credits
of sociology or a criminal justice cognate course. 3 credits.
SOC 338—Juvenile Delinquency
Examination of juvenile delinquency. Studies kinds of offenses, police reactions,
detention, court decisions, probation, rehabilitation, theories of causation and methods
of prevention. Prerequisites: SOC 100, plus 3 additional credits in sociology. 3 credits
SOC 345—Aging and the Aged
The social position of the aged in contemporary society. Emphasis upon basic areas
of family, work and community and the role of formal and informal community institutions.
Some type of community involvement by the student is required. Prerequisite: 3 credits
of sociology, anthropology or psychology. 3 credits.
SOC 350 — Drugs and the Making of the Modern World
Drug use is a constant, a phenomenon as common to the human experience as religion
and music. The use of various substances to change states of feeling and conscious
experience is woven into modern societies' conflicts about valid norms and beliefs
as well as concerns about public health. Paradoxically, the societies that have the
highest rates of illicit dependency also have the most visible anti- drug norms. In
this course we put aside the question of how our discipline can solve social problems
on which we may disagree. Instead we pursue what we can learn by examining drug use
as a phenomenon and how it continues to shape our world. Prerequisite: 3 credits in
Sociology or instructor permission. 3 credits.
SOC 360 — Social Change
Examination of a range of theoretical and practical issues about the change of American
institutions. Student participation and topics of current concern are emphasized.
Prerequisites: 6 credits in sociology. 3 credits.
SOC 361 — Urban Sociology
The growth of cities, their physical and demographic characteristics, planning and
redevelopment, and particularly the behavior patterns and social relationships of
modern urban living are considered. Prerequisites: SOC 100, plus 3 additional credits
in sociology. 3 credits.
SOC 362 — Criminology
Study of who makes laws, who breaks laws, and people's reaction to the breaking of
laws. Analyzes the formulation of criminal law, major types of crime, theories of
criminal behavior, social organization of law enforcement, the courts, and the prisons.
Prerequisite: 6 credits SOC, PSC and/or ANT. 3 credits.
SOC 363—Social Inequality in the U.S.
Explores social stratification in the U.S., including social class as well as aspects
of race, ethnicity, and gender, along with its causes and consequences. Prerequisites:
SOC 100, plus 3 additional credits of sociology. 3 credits.
SOC 366 — Penology
Analysis of the definition and punishment of the offender in relation to social structure
and historical context; the rise of the prison and possible alternatives to current
methods of incarceration. Prerequisite: 6 credits in sociology or political science.
3 credits.
SOC 367—Criminal Justice and Cultural Pluralism
The impact of law enforcement, judicial process, and correctional agencies on racial,
ethnic, socio-economic, and other subcultural groups. Prerequisite: 3 credits in sociology.
3 credits.
SOC 368—Sociology of Law
The relationship of law, society, and the individual. The origin, evolution, and
function of law. The legal profession, criminal justice system, and social change.
Prerequisite: SOC 100. 3 credits.
SOC 370—Methods of Social Research
Logic of scientific investigation of social phenomena: analysis of theoretical statements,
problem formulation, and selection of indicators. Survey of major procedures and principal
techniques of empirical work, and practical experience with some phases of the research
process. Prerequisite: 12 credits in social sciences. 3 credits.
SOC 380 — Foundations of Sociological Theory
Classic and minority theorists of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, their
fundamental principles, and their contributions to the field. An emphasis on theory
construction as applied to social issues. Prerequisite: 12 credits of sociology, or
junior or senior status. 3 credits.
SOC 404—Gender and the Law
Survey course for the non-law student. Basic overview of the American legal system
with emphasis on 19th and 20th century case law affecting women, including constitutional
protections for equity, Title VII (including sexual harassment and comparable worth)
and Title IX (including Educational and Sports equivalents). Prerequisite: Any 300
level course in history, political science, sociology, or women's studies. 3 credits.
SOC 415 — Contemporary Feminist Theories
Seminar on recent feminist thought, including sexual rationalism, socialist and radical
feminism, and analysis of the patriarchal state. Relationship to other sociological,
psychological, and political thinking. Prerequisite: HIS 213 or PSC 320 or SOC 215.
3 credits.
SOC 440 — Quantitative Analysis of Social Science Data
The application of statistical methods applied to problem situations typical of the
social and behavioral sciences. Emphasis is placed upon the statistical analysis of
problem situations and interpretation of statistics using the computer to perform
standard statistical routines. Prerequisite: SOC 370. 3 credits.
SOC 473—Qualitative Research Methods
Fundamental techniques and principles of qualitative re- search. Strategies for observation
and interviewing, analytic induction, analysis of material culture, and ethics in
social research. Students will complete an ethnographic study. Prerequisite: SOC 370.
3 credits.
SOC 480—Applied Contemporary Theory
Sociological theories from the mid-20th century to the present, their fundamental
principles, and their contributions to the field. An emphasis on applying theory to
social issues. Prerequisite: SOC 380. 3 credits
SOC 490—Seminar in Sociology
Selected problems in sociology in which theory and research are integrated. Seminar
presentation and a research paper are required. Prerequisites: 18 credits of sociology
including SOC 370 and 380. 3 credits.
SOC 497—Sociology Internship
The internship is a basis for performing sociological research. Work assignment to
a governmental or private agency and a related research project explicitly grounded
in sociology. Joint supervision by agency representative and departmental faculty.
Prerequisites: departmental permission, plus SOC 370 and 380. 3 credits.
SOC 499—Independent Study
Prerequisite: Departmental permission. 1, 2, or 3 credits.