Sociology Undergraduate Courses

This course introduces students to the basic theories and concepts associated with the study of society. Within this framework students will explore the following questions: Why are people poor? What are the dynamics of group behavior? Has modern society lost its traditional values? Do men and women think differently? What is environmental racism? What explains the achievement gap in American education? These questions and more will be discussed and analyzed through a sociological lens. 4 cr.   [ 4 cr.]

Offered: Spring 2010

Scientific method, measurement, experimentation, survey research, observational methods, projective techniques, and content analysis used in social science research.   [ 4 cr.]

Offered: Spring 2010

An introduction to the major theoretical perspectives used in sociological inquiry and how they apply to contemporary social life. Special emphasis on nineteenth-century European theorists such as Marx, Weber, and Durkheim.   [ 4 cr.]

Offered: Spring 2010

Relationship between individual and society in the postindustrial world. Problems in areas of work, education, cities, inequality, sexism, medicine, and law. Broad coverage of concepts dealing with alienation, institutional malaise, and societal ills.   [ 4 cr.]

Offered: Spring 2010

The nature of the American family and its ethnic and class variants throughout the family life cycle. Topics include courtship, mate selection, sexual behavior, reproduction, marital stability and divorce, social policies affecting family life, and the interrelationships of the family with other institutions.   [ 4 cr.]

Offered: Spring 2010

Relations among various racial, national, cultural, and religious groups, emphasizing the development of black-white relations in American society. Also covers the problems of contemporary minority peoples in America and other societies.   [ 4 cr.]

Offered: Spring 2010

  [ 4 cr.]

Offered: Spring 2010

Analysis of criminal and delinquent behavior. Evaluation of current theories and research into causes and sociological implications of these behavior patterns. Examination of criminal justice systems, including police, courts, and corrections.   [ 4 cr.]

Offered: Spring 2010

Analysis of occupations, professions, and their social setting in modern corporations, government offices, and non-profit organizations. An examination of the role of complex organizations in structuring the demand for certain types of workers and skills. An evaluation of how workers themselves alter their own work settings.   [ 4 cr.]

Offered: Spring 2010

This class analyzes Third World women's lives within the context of a political-economic world system. It examines the critical role of international economic relationships in shaping the structure of women's status in developing nations. Using this framework the class explores the following issues: fertility and family planning, militarization and human rights, the refugee experience, women's changing role in agriculture, and community development. Four geographical areas will be targeted for in-depth study: Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa.   [ 4 cr.]

Offered: Spring 2010

Examines current issues directly related to the health experiences of women in America and around the world. Topics include an historical overview of women’s health and examine in depth issues such as: gender specific medicine; puberty, body image and eating disorders; contraception and the abortion issue; infertility and technology; pregnancy, childbirth and breast feeding; violence against women; incarcerated women and the female brain. Provides a framework to integrate the social variables involved in exploring the roles played by men and women as medical consumers and its affects on overall health and attitudes.   [ 4 cr.]

Offered: Spring 2010

This course will look at American family violence across the life span including child abuse, teen dating violence, wife battering and elder abuse. Physical, emotional and sexual abuse will be examined. We will consider how family violence differs by class and ethnic group and its differential impact on women. Institutional responses to family violence in the legal, medical and social service systems will be included as well as the role played by the women's shelter movement. Ideological supports for family violence in gender expectations, religious teaching and the media will also be studied.   [ 4 cr.]

Offered: Spring 2010

Sociological issues related to aging in the contemporary world. Life cycle issues of health, medicine, benefits, leisure, and social policy. Review of measures designed to improve conditions for elderly here and abroad.   [ 4 cr.]

Offered: Spring 2010

Examination of current theories and research bearing on relationship between personality and social structure; contributions and convergent developments in psychology, anthropology, and sociology.   [ 4 cr.]

Offered: Spring 2010

  [ 4 cr.]

Offered: Spring 2010

The role of business in the world of politics, economics, and society.   [ 4 cr.]

Offered: Spring 2010

The interrelationships of religious and social structures: denominations and social institutions, secular and sacred cultures, group behavior, ideology, and religious beliefs.   [ 4 cr.]

Offered: Spring 2010

  [ 4 cr.]

Offered: Spring 2010

Sociological theory and research techniques applied to sports. Emphasis on the study of sports in their social contexts as they reflect and reinforce economic, political, and cultural patterns of society.   [ 4 cr.]

Offered: Spring 2010

  [ 4 cr.]

Offered: Spring 2010

Relationship between technology, environment, and social life. Impact of actual cases of technological development and environmental degradation. Emergence of social problems, and strategies for their solution.   [ 4 cr.]

Offered: Spring 2010

  [ 4 cr.]

Offered: Spring 2010

Introduction to the sociology of a wide range of legal and illicit drugs. Examines social definitions of drugs and conditions of their use. Considers deviant drug use and effects of social control on definitions and use.   [ 4 cr.]

Prereq: MET SO 106; or consent of instructor.

Offered: Spring 2010

  [ 4 cr.]

Offered: Spring 2010

  [Var cr.]

Offered: Spring 2010

  [Var cr.]

Offered: Spring 2010

  [ 4 cr.]

Offered: Spring 2010

  [ 4 cr.]

Offered: Spring 2010

Community re-integration following imprisonment has long been recognized as a significant problem. Longer sentences and rapid changes have created new problems for both returning inmates and those who provide services both inside and outside the criminal justice system. This course will examine ehabilitation philosophy in theory and practice. Lectures and seminars will address such issues as: the special problems in providing rehabilitation and education in the correctional system, the effect of inmate subculture on rehabilitation, and balancing demands for custody and rehabilitation.   [ 4 cr.]

Offered: Spring 2010

Research and substantive findings in the sociology and social psychology of health, disease, and medical practice; particular reference to institutional provision for health.   [ 4 cr.]

Offered: Spring 2010