Sociology Courses - Bachelor of Arts

1000 level courses / 2000 level courses / 3000 level courses / 4000 level courses

1000. Sociological Principles. 3. [C2] Provides a survey of the discipline and foundation for other sociology courses. Explores major areas of interest -- ranging from small groups and families to bureaucracies and social movements. Introduces significant concepts and theories, along with tools of social research. Gives attention to contemporary American society, as well as comparative and historical material. (Offered both semesters)

1080. Introduction to Women's Studies. 3. [C1] An introduction to key issues in women’s studies. A topical examination of women’s participation in and relationship to institutions of society, such as family and school, as well as processes and activities, such as work, art and politics in historical and cross-cultural analysis. Cross listed with WMST 1080 and ENGL 1080. (Offered fall and spring semesters)

1100. Social Problems and Issues. 3. [C2] Explores various approaches to defining and identifying social problems and applies basic sociological concepts and methods to analysis of selected social problems and issues.

1350. American Indians in Contemporary Society. 3. Survey lecture course. Examines social and cultural issues and concerns of American Indians both on and off the reservations. Additionally, the status of American Indian people within the dominant society and culture will be explored. Cross listed with AIST 1350.

2070. Introductory Statistics for the Social Sciences. 4. Introductory Statistics for the Social Sciences. Presents central ideas of descriptive statistics and statistical inference, as applied to questions in social sciences. Includes graphs, averages, sampling, estimation, hypothesis-testing and relationships between variables. Introduces associated computer skills. Credit cannot be earned in more than one of STAT 2010, 2050, 2070, 4220, 5520. Cross listed with STAT 2070. Prerequisites: MATH 1000, 1400 or equivalent.

2090. Introduction to Sociological Research. 4. [M3] Surveys basic research methods relevant to scientific social research. Prerequisites: SOC 1000 and 2070 or equivalent.

2100. Social Change. 3. [C2, G1, W2] Studies causes, processes and consequences of institutional transformations in developing, as well as contemporary, industrial societies. Reviews and assesses major principles that account for institutional changes. Cross listed with INST 2100. Prerequisite: SOC 1000. (Normally offered spring semester)

2110. Human Interaction. 3. Considers social behavior at the micro level, emphasizing group processes and performance, social judgment and comparison, influence and compliance, and interpersonal exchange. Prerequisite: SOC 1000 or PSYC 1000. (Offered based on sufficient demand and resources)

2120. Fundamentals of Aging and Human Development. 3. [C2] Discusses aging as a lifelong process, involving interrelationships of the individual and his or her environment. Includes future demographic trends, family health care, social policy and mass media. Cross listed with FCSC 2110 and NURS 2110.

2135. Women and Aging. 3. [C2] Focuses on women and the aging process with emphasis given to both the problems and promises of aging. Topics to be explored within a multicultural, sociological framework include the definition of self, relationships, community, health and health care, work and service, retirement, economic realities and new perspectives on aging. Cross listed with FCSC/WMST/NURS 2135. Prerequisites: ENGL/SOC/WMST 1080 or SOC 1000 or FCSC 2110/NURS 2110 or SOC 2120.

2140. African Societies. 3. [C2, G1] Surveys African societies in their traditional and modern settings. Explores structure, function, and process in African social institutions (family, kinship, gender, economy, politics, education, law, and religion). Analyses impact of Western contact of these institutions and other internal and external processes that have culminated in the present African condition.

2200. Sociology of Human Sexuality. 3. [C2] Theoretically and empirically analyzes sexual attitudes and behaviors on the social level. Focuses on American society. Prerequisite: SOC 1000, PSYC 1000 or ANTH 1200.

2350. Race and Ethnic Relations. 3. [C2] Examines social relations among majority and minority groups by devoting particular attention to race and ethnic relations in the U.S. Encompasses sociological approach to this topic, which emphasizes power structures, economic relationships and cultural traditions historically and today. Devotes attention to social psychological issues, such as prejudice, and social structural issues, such as class inequality. Prerequisite: SOC 1000 or ANTH 1200.

2400. [3300]. Criminology. 3. Generally introduces the nature of crime, statistics on crime, types of criminal behavior and explanations of crime. Cross listed with CRMJ 2400. Prerequisite: SOC 1000 or equivalent. (Normally offered once a year.)

3050. Japanese Society. 3. [C2, G1] Studies cultural traditions of Japan from historical literature. Reviews and assesses influence of cultural values upon social, political and economic structures and behavioral patterns. Prerequisite: SOC 1000, ANTH 1100 or equivalent social science course. (Offered once a year)

3100. Chinese Society. 3. [C2, G1] Reviews origins and consequences of Chinese revolution in comparative and cultural perspectives. Discusses influence of historical traditions and social structure on individual lives and behavioral patterns. Prerequisite: SOC 1000. (Offered spring semester of odd-numbered years)

3150. Collective Behavior and Social Movements. 3. Analyzes and explains fads, fashions, rumors, riots and mass behavior in light of theoretical frameworks. Studies social movements including blacks, women, labor, religious and students. Assesses meaning of contemporary revolutionary movements in Third World countries against sociological interpretations of historic French, Russian and Chinese Revolutions. Prerequisite: SOC 1000 or equivalent. (Offered based on sufficient demand and resources)

3200. Sociology of Religion. 3. Introduces various ways sociologists interpret religion. Explores the nature of relationships between religion and society. Prerequisite: SOC 1000 or equivalent.

3250. Juvenile Delinquency. 3. Considers the nature of delinquency, including analysis of treatment methods and juvenile justice system. Prerequisites: SOC 1000 or PSYC 1000 and PSYC 2300. (Normally offered spring semester)

3320. Family Violence. 3. [C2] Prevalence, types and causes of family violence are examined with an emphasis on a sociological understanding. Theories of violence are applied to the conflict that exists within the family institution such as woman battering, courtship conflict and child abuse. Prerequisite: 6 hours of sociology or equivalent social science (including SOC 1000).

3350. The Correctional Process. 3. Encompasses contemporary practice in area of corrections, including study of police, courts and correctional institutions. Prerequisites: SOC 1000 or PSYC 1000 and 2300. (Normally offered fall semester)

3400 [4200]. Deviant Behavior. 3. [C2]. Examines theory and research relevant to understanding deviant behavior in general and specific types of individual and subculture deviancy. Cross listed with CRMJ 3400. Prerequisite: SOC 1000 or equivalent.

3500. Gender and Society: Social Science Focus. 3. [W2, C2] Investigates causes and consequences of gender construction within social institutions such as family, government, education, religion, and economy. Analyzes social structural factors affecting support for gender differentiation, e.g. social values, position in hierarchies of control, access to paid employment, and gendered life experiences. Examines differences by race, social class and sexuality. Cross listed with ANTH 3500, POLS 3500 and WMST 3500. Prerequisite: WMST 1080 or cross listed equivalent; or SOC 1000.

3550. Medical Sociology. 3. Considers sociological contributions to diagnosis and treatment of illness. Studies social organization of health professions and agencies. Prerequisite: SOC 1000 or equivalent. (Offered based on sufficient demand and resources)

3650. The Community. 3. [C2] Analyzes structure, functions and trends of the community. Prerequisite: SOC 1000 or equivalent. (Offered based on sufficient demand and resources)

3670. African Diaspora. 3. [C2, G1] Examines the process through which aspects of African culture have endured in Diaspora. Analyzes the social relations between Diaspora Africans and non-African populations in North and South America, the Caribbean, Britain, Asia and the Mediterranean. Discusses cultural hybridization ("creolization") as a product of culture contact. Cross listed with AAST 3670. Prerequisites: AMST 2110, ANTH 1200, ENGL 2190, SOC 1000, SOC 2140, any AAST course, or junior/senior standing.

3700. History of Social Theory. 3. [C2] Introduces intellectual social history from eighteenth to early twentieth centuries. Studies selected works of social theorists, including Marx, Weber, Freud and Durkheim, within their historical context. Prerequisite: SOC 1000. (Normally offered fall and spring semesters)

3750. Contemporary Sociological Theory. 3. Considers theoretical orientations (e.g. functionalism, Marxism, interactionism and power-exchange theory) used in studying social phenomena. Examines works of several contemporary sociologists. Emphasizes development of students’ ability to apply sociological analysis to questions of their interest. Prerequisite: SOC 3700 or consent of instructor. (Normally offered spring semester)

4000. Social Inequality. 3. [C2] Focuses on structure and consequences of unequal access to political, economic and prestige benefits in American society and the world. Critically examines institutional arrangements that perpetuate and are supported by inequality, as well as patterns of social mobility. Prerequisite: SOC 1000 or equivalent.

4020. Sociology of Work. 3. [C2] Examines social organization of work--especially in response to change in technology, demands for equal opportunity, size and goals of firms and desires for meaningful work. Historically and comparatively analyzes work-life experiences shaping of labor markets and role of collective action. Explores impact of the labor process on distribution of society's material and symbolic rewards. Dual listed with SOC 5560. Prerequisite: SOC 1000, MGT 3210 or ECON 1010. (Offered once a year)

4070. Causal Models. 3. Applications of least-squares and iterative maximum-likelihood methods for drawing cause and effect conclusions from non-experimental data. Topics include regression-based path analysis, reciprocal causation, confirmatory factor analysis, measurement error, and structural equation models with unmeasured (latent) variables. Prerequisites: one of STAT 3050, 4010, 5050, 5060, 5070, 5080 or equivalent (regression methods).

4110. Sociology of International Development. 3. [C2, G1, W3] Surveys development studies and rural change, including case studies of deliberate change efforts toward industrialization. Includes peasant modes of food production, daily life in subsistence agriculture, shifts to commercial agriculture and global economy, ethical and critical issues of induced change and different approaches to development process and outcomes. Cross listed with INST 4110. Prerequisite: SOC 1000 or ANTH 1200; SOC 2100 recommended. (Offered once a year)

4140. The Family. 3. [C2] Two major themes of the course are change experienced by the family institution and the centrality of the family in America today. Subjects that are covered include: a brief history of the family in the U.S., kinship, family structure, mate-selection, marriage, divorce and socialization. Dual listed with SOC 5140. Prerequisites: 6 hours of sociology (including SOC 1000) and junior standing. (Offered spring semester of odd-numbered years)

4150. Comparative Family Systems. 3. [C2] Compares family structures in different industrialized societies throughout the world. Dual listed with SOC 5150. Prerequisite: SOC 1000, ANTH 1200 or equivalent.

4160. Sociology of Aging. 3. [C2] The process of aging from the individual to the societal level is the focus of the course. Consequences of this process such as the increase in the number of elderly, retirement and health are examined for the major social institutions, the relationships between these institutions and American society as a whole. Dual listed with SOC 5160. Prerequisite: 6 hours of sociology (including SOC 1000) and at least junior standing. (Normally offered fall semester)

4250. Sociology of Law. 3. [C2, W3] A consideration of sociological concepts such as inequality, stratification, social control and social change in an analysis of the law and legal institutions. Topics include: the role of the police, lawyers, judges, and juries; race, sex, age, and sexuality discrimination and civil rights; free speech, and toxic torts. Cross listed with CRMJ 4250. Prerequisites: SOC 1000 and upper division status. (Normally offered fall semester)

4270. Discrimination and the Law. 3 (Max. 6). A sociological examination of specific examples of discrimination and justice within the law and the legal system. Topics will routinely vary and may include race, gender, religion, cultures, or sexuality. Class may be repeated for credit when topics differ. Cross listed with CRMJ 4270. Prerequisites: SOC 1000 and junior standing.

4280. Comparative Criminal Justice. 3. [W3, C2, G1] Compares the incidence, trends, control, treatment and prevention of crime across nations using mainstream criminological theories. Examines criminal justice systems from an international perspective and draws lessons for the American society. Explores forms of international cooperation and difficulties in the control of transnational crimes. Cross listed with CRMJ 4280. Prerequisites: CRMJ 2120 or CRMJ 2400 or SOC 1000 or SOC 3400.

4300. The World System. 3. [G1] Analyzes structure of political and economic interdependence among nation-states. Reviews and assesses theoretical approaches to explaining changing structure of inequality, power, war and peace. Dual listed with SOC 5300. Cross listed with POLS 4300 and INST 4300. Prerequisite: SOC 1000, ANTH 1100 or equivalent social science course.

4360. American Indian Women. 3. Explores the lives of American Indian women in a variety of contexts through time. The complexity and diversity of Indian women's experiences throughout history are emphasized. Much of the class concerns Indian women's lives within the reality of European American colonization and its consequences for Indian peoples. Cross listed with AIST/WMST 4360. Prerequisites: 6 hours of 2000-level AIST classes.

4400. Women and Work. 3. [C2,W3] Surveys general patterns of women's paid and unpaid work in the U.S. and abroad. Offers reconceptualizations of work’s meaning in women's lives, as well as debates surrounding comparable worth, pay equity, women's work experience and women in the world economy. Cross listed with WMST 4400. Prerequisite: 6 hours of women's studies or sociology. (Offered once a year)

4500. Sociology of Organizations. 3. Considers questions of organizational structure, decision-making, work situation and organizational environment across various types of industrial settings and cultures. Emphasizes transactions between organizations and their various environments and effects of these transactions for program implementation, as well as understanding of organizational effectiveness in terms of rational, institutional and societal perspectives. Prerequisite: SOC 1000, CMJR 1030 or 1040. (Offered based on sufficient demand and resources)

4540. Women, Crime and the Law. 3. [W3, C2] Addresses status of women as offenders and as victims in society and in the criminal justice system. Considers special role of women as professionals in the criminal justice system. Cross listed with WMST 4540. Prerequisite: WMST/ SOC 1080, WMST/SOC 3500, WMST/SOC 4550 or SOC 3300.

4580. Women and Third World Development. 3. [C2, G1] Women's contributions to development of third world countries and the effects of development projects on women, their work and their families are examined in this course. Dual listed with SOC 5580. Cross listed with WMST 4580. Prerequisite: SOC 1080, 3500 or cross listed equivalents. (Normally offered once a year)

4600. Global Population Issues. 3. [G1, M3] Analyzes U.S. and world populations, emphasizing implications of population trends. Dual listed with SOC 5600. Cross listed with INST 4600. Prerequisites: SOC 1000 or equivalent and SOC 2070 or STAT 2070 or equivalent. (Normally offered once a year)

4650. Urban Sociology. 3. [C2] Considers growth of metropolis and its impact upon modern life. Dual listed with SOC 5650. Prerequisite: SOC 1000 or equivalent. (Offered based on sufficient demand and resources)

4700. Science and Modern Society. 3. [W3, C2] Leads students to consider how science is a social phenomenon in its practice and in its knowledge by examining the history, culture and methods in science. Prerequisite: 6 hours of social science or consent of instructor.

4800. Research Seminar in Women's Studies. 3. [W3] Presents opportunity for advanced students to engage in women's studies research. Includes major readings and writings in feminist theory and methodology followed by extensive revisions based on peer and faculty critique. Identical to WMST 4800 and ENGL 4800. Prerequisites: WMST 1080 (or cross listed equivalent) and 3 hours of a 3000-level women's studies course. (Offered based on sufficient demand and resources)

4850. Conference. 1-6 (Max. 6). Considers topics of current sociological interest in consultation with a faculty member. Prerequisites: senior standing and 15 hours of sociology. (Normally offered every semester)

4890. Special Topics in____. 1-3 (Max. 6). Accommodates seminar series and/or course offering by visiting faculty whose subject matter is not included in other courses. Prerequisites: junior standing and consent of department. (Offered based on sufficient demand and resources)

4900. Seminar. 3-6 (Max. 6). Considers special topics of current sociological interest. May be repeated for maximum of 6 hours credit when topic of seminar is different. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. (Offered based on sufficient demand and resources)

4950. Seminar. 3-6 (Max. 6). Considers special topics of current sociological interest. May be repeated for maximum of 6 hours credit when topic of seminar is different. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. (Offered based on sufficient demand and resources)

4970 Sociology Internship. 3. Students gain practical experience in the application of principles learned in sociology courses. Students work with the internship coordinator to select a site and faculty supervisor; intern approximately six hours per week in the host organization; and complete readings and written assignments which reflect the student's work. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Only. Prerequisites: sociology major or minor with a minimum of junior standing and the completion of SOC 1000, SOC 2090, and two additional sociology courses.

Sociology Courses - Bachelor of Arts

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