Sociology (SOC)
Sociology Undergraduate Courses
SOC 1010 INTRODUCTORY SOCIOLOGY (3 credits)
An introduction to the study of human societies. The course presents the fundamental concepts and theories that make up the sociological perspective. These serve as tools for the analysis of social inequality, social institutions and social change.
Prerequisite(s): Not open to non-degree graduate students.
Distribution: Social Science General Education course
SOC 2100 SOCIAL PROBLEMS (3 credits)
An analysis of the origins of social problems in American society. Attention is given to the nature, consequences and solutions of selected social problems.
Prerequisite(s): Not open to non-degree graduate students.
Distribution: Social Science General Education course
SOC 2120 SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY (3 credits)
SOC 2120 is an intellectual history of sociology as an academic discipline surveying outstanding contributions to its body of theory. The social contexts in which a variety of classical and contemporary theoretical traditions have arisen will be considered. Stress is placed on understanding and applying different approaches to sociological analysis through detailed textual interpretation of theoretical writings.
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1010 and Sociology major or permission of instructor. Not open to non-degree graduate students.
SOC 2130 SOCIAL STATISTICS (3 credits)
An introduction to the fundamental statistical techniques used in the analysis of social data, including descriptive and inferential statistics. The focus is on the production and interpretation of statistical information in the study of social life.
Prerequisite(s): MATH 1120, MATH 1130, MATH 1220, MATH 1310, or MATH 1530 or permission of instructor.
SOC 2134 SOCIAL STATISTICS LAB (1 credit)
A computer-based laboratory course to be taken in conjunction with SOC 2130. The focus is on using computer software to produce and interpret statistical information in the study of social life.
Prerequisite(s): MATH 1120, MATH 1130, MATH 1220, MATH 1310, or MATH 1530 and SOC 2130 (taken previously or concurrently) or permission of instructor. Not open to non-degree graduate students.
SOC 2150 SOCIOLOGY OF FAMILIES (3 credits)
This course provides a description and analysis of contemporary families from a sociological perspective. A life course perspective traces the development of family life, with special attention to change, choice, and diversity. Topics such as family structure, the functions of the family as an institution, family comparisons across culture and time, and difficulties faced by families in contemporary society will also be explored.
Prerequisite(s): Not open to non-degree graduate students.
Distribution: Social Science General Education course and U.S. Diversity General Education course
SOC 2190 THE MODERN MIDDLE EAST (3 credits)
An interdisciplinary study of the social, religious, and historical dimensions of contemporary issues and events which make the Middle East cultural and geographic region a center of global tensions. After providing a background of how Islam spread in and unified the region, students will study factors which have shaped the Middle East from the late Ottoman period to the present, analyzing the principal sociocultural and political economic developments in the Middle East from the early 19th century to the early 21st century. (Cross-listed with RELI 2190, HIST 2190).
Distribution: Global Diversity General Education course and Humanities and Fine Arts General Education course
SOC 2300 SPORT & SOCIETY (3 credits)
This course provides a sociological examination of the contemporary sports world and the ways that the institution of sport both reflects and shapes society. The importance of sports to culture and socialization, the interaction between sports and other social institutions, and the unique role that sports plays in both perpetuating and contesting inequalities of race, gender, class, identity, and ability will be explored.
Distribution: Social Science General Education course
SOC 2400 SOCIOLOGY ON FILM (3 credits)
This course applies the sociological perspective to feature and documentary movies to critically explore social issues presented on film. Students will develop their sociological imaginations as they are introduced to essential sociological concepts such as culture, society, the social construction of reality, socialization, power and inequality, social institutions, and social problems as depicted in classic, contemporary, and foreign film. As social issues are serious and often controversial, the films examined may also be controversial and contain mature themes.
Prerequisite(s): Not open to non-degree graduate students.
Distribution: Social Science General Education course
SOC 2800 MAJOR SOCIAL ISSUES (3 credits)
The course examines a major social issue from a sociological perspective with content and materials designed for non-majors. The topics will vary from semester to semester, so the course can be taken more than once.
SOC 3300 SOCIOLOGY OF GENDER (3 credits)
This course critically examines the meaning, purpose, and consequences of gender, by using sociological methods and theories to explore the institutions that structure gender relationships and identities, and form the contexts that shape social life in the United States. Particular attention will be given to how social institutions like the state, the economy, family and the mass media shape the definitions of femininity and masculinity, as well as how the gender system intersects with other structures of inequality - race, class, and sexual orientation.
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1010 and sophomore standing; or permission of instructor. Not open to non-degree graduate students.
Distribution: U.S. Diversity General Education course
SOC 3450 SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY (3 credits)
Social interaction studied in situations of (1) social influences on individuals, (2) dyads or face-to-face groups, and (3) larger social systems. The concepts, theories, data, research methods and applications of varied substantive topics are examined. (Cross-listed with PSYC 3450).
SOC 3510 RESEARCH METHODS (3 credits)
This course is a basic introduction to the principles, methods and techniques of empirical social research. The common methods used by sociologists and anthropologists are addressed such as surveys, interviews, and observation.
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1010 and junior standing; or permission of instructor
SOC 3514 RESEARCH METHODS LAB (1 credit)
This is a laboratory course to be taken in conjunction with SOC 3510. The focus is on applying methodology and basic data analysis learned in SOC 3510 and the development of a sociological research proposal.
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1010, junior standing, and SOC 3510 (taken previously or concurrently); or permission of instructor.
SOC 3610 APPLIED ORGANIZATIONAL SOCIOLOGY (3 credits)
A foundational applied organizational sociology course that focuses on the understanding, analysis, and applications of basic knowledge of organizational structures and systems for solving organizational problems, enhancing organizational performance, and preparing students for leadership roles in organizations.
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1010 and sophomore standing; or permission of instructor.
SOC 3690 SOCIAL INEQUALITY (3 credits)
Considers social inequality from a sociological vantage point, introducing students to the structure of inequality, power, and privilege. Attention is paid to the intersections of various forms of inequality, including an examination of class, race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality and sexual orientation, immigration, age, ability, etc. The consequences of social inequality for life chances and social mobility are examined.
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1010 and sophomore standing; or permission of instructor.
SOC 3700 INTRODUCTION TO LGBTQ STUDIES (3 credits)
Introduces key themes and critical frameworks in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Studies. This course examines scholarly contributions from a range of academic disciplines and traces some of the ways that LGBT Studies has influenced cultural and social theory more broadly. Topics include LGBTQ histories and social movements; forms of oppression including heterosexism, homophobia, and transphobia; resistance to oppression; queer activism; intersecting identities; and representations in literature, art, and popular media.
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1010 or WGST 2010 or WGST 2020; or permission of the instructor. Not open to non-degree graduate students.
Distribution: U.S. Diversity General Education course
SOC 3800 WORK AND SOCIETY (3 credits)
This course explores the social organization of work in the United States, from pre-industrial times to the present. It addresses how and why current work structures and practices emerged historically within a global context, and the social implications of these structures for various groups (based on race/ethnicity, immigration status, sexuality, and social class). The course grapples with the big questions: "How work is organized the way it is right now, how did we get here, and what might it look like in the future?"
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1010 and sophomore standing; or permission of instructor.
SOC 3820 MEDICAL SOCIOLOGY (3 credits)
The study of the social patterning of health and illness, including inequalities in health by stratifying elements such as race, class, and gender. Examines the social definition of health, illness, and the social position of being a sick person in society. Also examines the interaction individuals have with health care providers and the structure of medicine in the U.S. and around the world. Offers a critical examination of the social institution of medicine.
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1010 and sophomore standing; or permission of instructor. Not open to non-degree graduate students.
Distribution: U.S. Diversity General Education course
SOC 3840 WORLD POPULATION AND SOCIAL ISSUES (3 credits)
This course introduces students to the scientific study of populations across the world and the social issues derived from population change. It includes basic training on demographic methods and the use of data sources. It covers concepts and theories that connect population dynamics to world economic development, global inequality, refugee and immigration issues, the status of women, intergenerational competition, and population pressure on food and the environment.
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1010 and sophomore standing, or permission of instructor. Six hours of social science, or permission of instructor.
Distribution: Global Diversity General Education course
SOC 3900 RACE AND ETHNIC RELATIONS IN THE U.S. (3 credits)
The course explores historical and contemporary meanings of race and ethnicity and introduces students to the ways sociologists think about 'race,' race relations and racism. It views current theoretical issues, and focuses on the recent histories and the current position of several major racial-ethnic populations in the U.S.: African Americans, Latino/a Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, and white/European ethnics. Emphasis is on how race/ethnicity has structured groups' experiences in relation to social institutions like health, education, culture and media, the legal system, and the economy.
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1010 and sophomore standing; or permission of instructor. Not open to non-degree graduate students.
Distribution: U.S. Diversity General Education course
SOC 4130 SOCIOLOGY OF DEVIANCE (3 credits)
This course introduces students to the sociological study of behaviors that have been labeled as "deviant" because they presumably violate social norms. The course takes a constructionist approach, critically analyzing how deviance is socially defined, organized, and managed. Students will be challenged to see the diversity and pervasiveness of deviance in society and to question the labelling of behaviors, individuals, and powerless groups as deviant. We will explore the social processes, powerful actors, and social institutions that create deviance as well as efforts to resist definitions of deviance. (Cross-listed with SOC 8136).
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1010 and junior standing; or permission of instructor.
SOC 4140 URBAN SOCIOLOGY (3 credits)
This course examines classical and contemporary sociological theories on city formation, the urbanization process, and the interaction of society and the built environment. Topics covered include suburbanization, gentrification, residential segregation, social networks, crime, housing, city culture, and public policy. The focus is on U.S. cities with selected comparisons to other world regions. Students will also get basic knowledge and exposure to research methods to study urban areas locally. (Cross-listed with SOC 8146).
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1010 and junior standing, or permission from the instructor.
SOC 4150 AMERICAN FAMILY PROBLEMS (3 credits)
This course explores the problems and issues faced by contemporary American families, such as racism and sexism; the challenges of childhood and adolescence; divorce and remarriage; work and family conflict; and family violence. The difficulty of defining both "family" and "problems" is addressed throughout the course. (Cross-listed with SOC 8156)
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1010 and Junior standing, or permission of instructor. Not open to non-degree graduate students.
Distribution: U.S. Diversity General Education course
SOC 4170 SOCIOLOGY OF FATHERHOOD (3 credits)
This course examines the existing social science research on fatherhood, exploring topics such as the evolution, history, demography, and politics of fatherhood; father involvement and its relationship to both children's and men's well-being; the effects of diversity and family structure on fatherhood; and public policy surrounding fatherhood. (Cross-listed with SOC 8176)
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1010 and junior standing, or permission of instructor. Not open to non-degree graduate students.
SOC 4180 OCCUPATIONS & CAREERS: FULFILLMENT AND CHALLENGES AT WORK (3 credits)
This course examines what makes individuals and groups happy and satisfied with their jobs, and the factors that can turn "a dead-end job" into a meaningful pursuit that lasts decades. The course utilizes a life course approach and covers early socialization experiences to retirement transitions. It also employs a sociological lens to explore how individual experiences in the work realm are affected by stratification (such as race/ethnicity, gender, sexuality, social class, and parental status) and as well as by occupational norms and structures, workplace relationships, and culture and practices at the organizational and societal levels. (Cross-listed with SOC 8186).
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1010 and junior standing, or permission of instructor
SOC 4200 SOCIOLOGY OF THE BODY (3 credits)
This course offers an overview of contemporary sociological theories of the body and uses these theories to explore substantive issues pertaining to the discourses, practices, and politics of the body in modern societies.
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1010 and junior standing; or permission of instructor. Not open to non-degree graduate students.
SOC 4210 DISABILITY AND SOCIETY (3 credits)
This course takes a sociologically grounded but interdisciplinary look at the past, present, and potential future of disability. Along the way, competing models and theories of disability are critically explored and substantive issues pertaining to the social experiences and social responses to people with disabilities are discussed. (Cross-listed with SOC 8216)
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1010 and junior or senior standing; or permission of instructor. Not open to non-degree graduate students.
SOC 4240 SOCIAL TRANSFORMATIONS IN LATIN AMERICA (3 credits)
The course reviews the main social, economic, and political forces that have shaped Latin American societies, and the sociological theories used to understand Latin American development and underdevelopment. Race, ethnicity, gender and class in Latin America, as well as the region's position in the global economy are examined. (Cross-listed with SOC 8246, LLS 4240, LLS 8246).
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1010 and junior standing or permission of instructor
Distribution: Global Diversity General Education course
SOC 4250 CRISSCROSSING THE CONTINENT: LATIN AMERICAN MIGRATIONS (3 credits)
In this course we will use an interdisciplinary lens to study the changes and continuities of migration in the Americas. The course starts with an overview of immigration to the Americas during the first era of mass migration (1850-1920) to explore the relevance of European migrations for national and identity constructions in the Southern Cone of America. Students then will be introduced to the impacts of social and political change on emigration flows, both regionally and beyond the region. They will also explore migration related policies at the national and regional level. We will also study the changes and continuities in the migration system of the Americas. Lastly, we will analyze the new North-South migration, as well as immigration to Latin America from Asia (recent and historical), Europe, and Africa. (Cross-listed with SOC 8256, LLS 4250, LLS 8256).
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1010 and junior standing; or permission of instructor.
Distribution: Global Diversity General Education course
SOC 4310 SOCIOLOGY OF SEXUALITIES (3 credits)
This class focuses on the social construction of sexualities - especially heterosexual sexualities, bisexual sexualities, and homosexual sexualities. A primary focus of the class will be LGBT/Queer Studies. The class examines how sexual desires/identities/orientations vary or remain the same in different places and times, and how they interact with other social and cultural phenomenon such as government, family, popular culture, scientific inquiry, and race, gender, and class. (Cross-listed with SOC 8316)
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1010 and Junior standing; or permission of the instructor. Not open to non-degree graduate students.
Distribution: U.S. Diversity General Education course
SOC 4350 WORK & FAMILY (3 credits)
This course examines the contemporary problems that individuals, families and communities in the U.S. have in integrating work and family/personal life. (Cross-listed with SOC 8356)
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1010 and junior or senior standing; or permission of instructor.
SOC 4440 HUMAN CONNECTION, LONELINESS, & HEALTH (3 credits)
This course examines the "loneliness epidemic" through a sociological perspective and is based on the premise that loneliness is a public health issue, as research consistently shows it is associated with a vast array of physical and mental health outcomes. After discussing the extent of loneliness and how to define it by distinguishing it from other types of social pain, the course covers: 1) the extent and nature of loneliness and its cultural/social sources; 2) the pathways from loneliness to health outcomes; and 3) possible interventions to reduce loneliness and improve public health. (Cross-listed with SOC 8446).
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1010 and junior standing; or permission of the instructor.
SOC 4470 SOUTH AFRICA & THE SOCIO POLITICS OF APARTHEID (3 credits)
South Africa and the Socio Politics of Apartheid examines the lived experiences of South African people under the Apartheid system, and their long struggle against European colonial oppression and racial segregation throughout the 20th century. Students will examine the laws, tools, and strategies that developed and sustained Apartheid, and the anti-Apartheid movements and international pressure that led to its repeal and South African democratic elections. (Cross-listed with BLST 8476, BLST 4470, PSCI 8476, PSCI 4470, SOC 8476).
Prerequisite(s): Junior standing or permission of instructor
Distribution: Global Diversity General Education course
SOC 4550 ORGANIZATIONAL DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION (3 credits)
This course provides advanced-level knowledge of the structural understanding, assessment, analysis, and management of social diversity as well as successful inclusion strategies in the workplace. Concepts and theories dealing with structural basis of the creation of difference, consequences of difference, inclusion, affirmative action, and diversity consulting skills are fully examined in this course. This course will prepare students for successful leadership in diverse organizational environments. (Cross-listed with SOC 8556)
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1010 and junior standing; or permission of instructor.
SOC 4620 APPLIED FORMAL ORGANIZATIONS (3 credits)
An advanced-level applied organizational sociology course that uses organizational theory, concepts, research, and practice to examine the structural bases of organizational effectiveness, efficiency, survival, and actions of organizational members. The course is designed to prepare students for organizational leadership using advanced knowledge and skills of organizational sociology. (Cross-listed with SOC 8626).
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1010 and junior standing; or permission of instructor.
SOC 4700 WOMEN'S HEALTH AND ISSUES OF DIVERSITY (3 credits)
This course provides a critical understanding of the inter-relationship between socio-cultural, economic, and political factors and women's physical and mental health. The aim is to provide an overview of the experience with the health care system. Emphasis will be on critically examining recent scholarship from a sociological, behavioral, health policy perspective. (Cross-listed with SOC 8706, PHHB 4700, PHHB 8706)
Distribution: U.S. Diversity General Education course
SOC 4740 SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL CHANGE (3 credits)
This course investigates the economic, political and social constraints on equality present in local, national and global arrangements. Students will gain a theoretical understanding of these conditions as well as those that lead to social change, spanning from day-to-day resistance techniques to large scale social movements. Students will participate in a service learning or applied project as they explore contemporary social justice issues and learn both theoretical and practical tools needed to become successful change makers, activists, or community organizers. Examples of social justice movements or campaigns form the basis for understanding injustice at a local, national, and global level. (Cross-listed with SOC 8746)
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1010 and junior standing; or permission of instructor.
SOC 4760 ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIOLOGY (3 credits)
This course is an introduction to environmental sociology, a field of sociology that explores the interaction between the environment and society. Environmental sociologists consider how political, social, and economic factors have come to shape our patterns of interaction with the natural and built environment. Students will be expected to use the sociological perspective to understand the landscape of environmental problems, focusing on such issues as environment and health, disaster, environmental policy, climate change, environmental risk, human and animal interactions, sustainability, environmental justice and social movements. (Cross-listed with SOC 8766).
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1010 and junior standing or permission of instructor
SOC 4770 POLITICAL SOCIOLOGY (3 credits)
This course explores political sociology, focusing on political processes and power. Political sociologists investigate relationships between political institutions and various other institutions, including but not limited to the economy, education, media, and religion, and the impacts that these relationships have on society and the individuals that comprise the society. This course will explore the concepts, theories, and knowledge that comprise this field such as power, legitimacy, the state, networks, stratification, and collective action. (Cross-listed with PSCI 4770, PSCI 8776, SOC 8776).
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1010, junior standing or permission from instructor
SOC 4780 URBAN LATIN AMERICA (3 credits)
This course examines the experience of Latin American urbanization, attending to its contributions to urban sociology, social movements, and policymaking. Topics include urban transitions (e.g. pre-Hispanic to colonial, post-colonial to industrial, and the neoliberal turn), socio-spatial configurations (e.g. plazas, squatter settlements), urban marginality debates, urban politics, and planning as well as governance innovations (e.g. bus rapid transit systems, participatory budgeting). Students will compare city case studies across the region and to urban life in the United States. (Cross-listed with SOC 8786, LLS 4780, LLS 8786, CACT 8186).
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1010 and junior standing or permission of instructor
Distribution: Global Diversity General Education course
SOC 4800 CONTEMPORARY TOPICS IN SOCIOLOGY (3 credits)
This course reviews research and writing in an area of current interest in the field of sociology. The specific topic(s) to be covered will be announced at the time the course is being offered. Since the topics will vary, students may elect to take this course more than once. (Cross-listed with SOC 8806)
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1010 and junior standing; or permission of instructor.
SOC 4830 SOCIOLOGY OF MENTAL HEALTH & ILLNESS (3 credits)
This course will apply the sociological perspective to various topics regarding mental health and illness. The course will cover topics such as the social construction of mental illness, the social epidemiology of mental illness, labeling and stigma of those with a mental illness, and mental health policy/treatment. (Cross-listed with SOC 8836)
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1010, and junior standing¿ or permission of the instructor.
SOC 4850 SOCIOLOGY OF RELIGION (3 credits)
This course looks at religion as a social and cultural phenomenon, examining how religious beliefs, practices, institutions and movements shape and are shaped by their social context. Topics include: sociological theories and explanations of religion and spirituality; definitions of religion and the distinction between religion and other ideologies or worldviews; the measurement of religiosity and the scientific study of religion; trends in religiosity, spirituality, and the religious landscape historically and globally; sociological insights gained from the study of new religions, secularization, fundamentalism, and other issues related to contemporary religious experience. (Cross-listed with SOC 8856)
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1010 or permission of instructor.
SOC 4880 CONTEMPORARY TOPICS IN SOCIOLOGY (1 credit)
This course reviews research and writing in an area of current interest in the field of sociology. The specific topic(s) to be covered will be announced at the time the course is being offered. Since the topics will vary, students may elect to take this course more than once. (Cross-listed with SOC 8886).
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1010 and junior standing; or permission of instructor.
SOC 4890 CONTEMPORARY TOPICS IN SOCIOLOGY (2 credits)
This course reviews research and writing in an area of current interest in the field of sociology. The specific topic(s) to be covered will be announced at the time the course is being offered. Since the topics will vary, students may elect to take this course more than once. (Cross-listed with SOC 8896).
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1010 and junior standing; or permission of instructor.
SOC 4900 SENIOR THESIS (4 credits)
This is a capstone research and writing course designed for Sociology majors who are in their senior year. The major purpose of the course is to produce an original thesis of 20-25 pages, which will be developed through a series of assignments. Students will choose their own thesis topics with the purpose of reflecting on and synthesizing knowledge about sociological concepts, theories, and research methods. This course meets the University requirement of a third writing course.
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1010, 2120, 2130, 2134, 3510, 3514, Sociology major, and senior standing; or permission of instructor. Not open to non-degree graduate students.
Distribution: Writing in the Discipline Single Course
SOC 4910 INTERNSHIP IN SOCIOLOGY (1-3 credits)
This course offers students an opportunity to experience sociology and/or anthropology through direct involvement in non-profit, for profit, government, or other organization. The host organization must be approved in advance in consultation with the internship coordinator. This course may be repeated for a maximum of six credit hours.
Prerequisite(s): Senior standing and permission of instructor.
SOC 4990 INDEPENDENT STUDY IN SOCIOLOGY (1-3 credits)
Guided readings and/or independent research in a special sociological topic under the supervision of a Sociology faculty member. A formal contract specifying the nature of the work to be completed must be signed before enrolling in the course. May be taken for a maximum of six hours.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor. Not open to non-degree graduate students.