Department: Sociology

CodeNameDescription
SOC 101Foundations of Society: Introduction to Sociological AnalysisFundamental concepts and principles of sociology. Culture, socialization, social structure, stratification, social control, institutions, population, and social change.
SOC 207Crime and Justice in a Post-Modern SocietyPrevalence and distribution of crime, theories of crime, forms of criminal behavior, overview of the criminal justice system.
SOC 209Social ProblemsSociological examination of major social problems. Emphasis is on the structural causes, manifestations, patterns, consequences, and policy dimensions of social problems.
SOC 211Sociological Research MethodsIntroduction to the major methods of conducting sociological research with a primary emphasis on quantitative data collection and analysis.
SOC 216Social InequalitiesExamination of how class, race, and gender structure everyday life experiences and social institutions.
SOC 218Sociology of the Black ExperienceFocuses primarily on understanding the social realities of people of African descent living in the United States. Examines historical, social, and cultural issues that connect them to their Diaspora counterparts from the Caribbean islands.
SOC 221Sociological TheoryHistory of sociological thought; major theoretical perspectives, both classical and contemporary.
SOC 231Across the Pond: Europe vs. USAAn examination of social structures, social identities, political cultures, and economies in contemporary Europe. Focuses on the interaction between variation among European countries and the creation and operation of the European Union. Compares str...
SOC 232Postsocialism in Russian and Eastern EuropeExamines issues in postsocialism in Russia and Eastern Europe, including historical context and legacies of Soviet socialism, collapse of the USSR and East Europe, logics and policies of economic reform, political and social change, and a brief compa...
SOC 250Social Organizations and InstitutionsExamines the nature of organizations and institutions, how they emerge, and how they operate and change. Topics include organizations, institutions, and power; states and the organizational basis of social class; cross-national variation in corporate...
SOC 252Race and CrimeFocuses substantively on policing and prisons, while also covering related subjects: the war on drugs, the war on terror, educational institutions, and the production of knowledge through social structures. Reveals the deep impact of poverty, disposs...
SOC 255Sport in SocietyFoundation for critical understanding and appreciation for centrality and importance of sport in contemporary society.
SOC 279Selected Topics in SociologyVarious topics in the field of sociology. Course may be repeated for credit if topics are different.
SOC 302Social MovementsExamination of various types of social movements and theoretical perspectives that explain them. Includes movement origins, structure and organization, goals and strategies, how movements change, and how they affect the larger society. Analysis of so...
SOC 304Power, Control and ResistanceExamines the many facets of the structure and operation of power, using case studies to illuminate such issues as the three dimensions of power, the construction of and challenge to authority, the relation between power and discourse, power and the b...
SOC 305Conformity, Deviance and Institutions of Social ControlInformal and formal pressures to conform to, as well as deviate from, societal norms; social control institutions.
SOC 306Social Change in a Global PerspectiveAddresses the processes and forces underpinning the rise of modern nation-states and capitalist economies in the developed and developing worlds. Topics include: the coming of European modernity; dependency and development in Latin America and East A...
SOC 308Sociology of WarExamines the relationship between social structures and war, including democracy and civil rights (e.g. gender and ethnic rights), economic development, social reform, and political identity.
SOC 311Juvenile DelinquencyMeaning of juvenile delinquency; measurement, prevalence and distribution of juvenile delinquency; theories of delinquency; police actions; court actions; and juvenile institutions.
SOC 316Race and Ethnicity in AmericaNative peoples; immigration and settlement of U.S.; racial and ethnic groups; prejudice and discrimination; race relations in a racially and culturally diverse society.
SOC 319Social Construction of Gender and SexualityAdvanced course serving as an introduction to the sociology of gender and sexuality. Draws from a social constructionist perspective to understand how gender and sexuality are shaped, influenced, and regulated by society in general, as well as partic...
SOC 320Race, Class, and SchoolingDeepens students' understanding of the various ways in which race and class inequality manifest in schools and shape the educational experiences of students.
SOC 321MasculinitiesWhat does it mean to be a man or male-identified in the United States? This course will explore how literature and scholarly research address manhood and masculinity. Is there only one way to be a man socially or culturally? Does masculinity differ b...
SOC 326Directed Independent StudyIntensive study of a specific topic within sociology under the direction of a member of the faculty. Requires approval by the department chair.
SOC 327Directed Independent StudyIntensive study of a specific topic within sociology under the direction of a member of the faculty. Requires approval by the department chair.
SOC 330Science, Technology and SocietySociologically investigates science as a social institution that intersects with other social institutions, with an emphasis on exploring how social inequalities affect the use of technology and the construction of scientific knowledge.
SOC 335Feast or Famine: Inequalities in the Global Food SystemAnalyzes the socio-economic, political, and cultural construction of food systems. Topics include global institutions that impact the flow of food around the world; regional relationships pertaining to food trade; and local relationships between prod...
SOC 340Sociology of Health and IllnessAdvanced course serving as an introduction to the sociological study of health and illness. Draws upon a critical sociological perspective to understand how society shapes health and health disparities. Investigates social factors that harm our healt...
SOC 341Malcolm X and Black InternationalismApproaches Malcolm X as a theoretician, a mobilizing force in his generation and after, and as a tour guide through the discourses and institutions of his time. Studies Black internationalism through Malcolm X as a window into understanding large-sca...
SOC 379Selected TopicsVarious topics in the field of sociology. Course may be repeated for credit if topics are different.
SOC 388Individual InternshipSupervised independent field work. Requires permission of a supervising faculty member and approval by the department chair. No more than 1.5 units of internship in any one department and 3.5 units of internship overall may be counted toward required...
SOC 389Research PracticumFor junior- or senior-level majors. Work closely with professor on research project: design, data collection, data analysis. Requires permission of a supervising faculty member and approval by the department chair.
SOC 401Senior Capstone ExperienceSenior capstone experience to complete sociology major. Builds upon what students have learned about sociology as a discipline: its central themes, theoretical perspectives, research methods, and substantive research findings. Examines various topics...
SOC 406Summer Undergraduate ResearchDocumentation of the work of students who receive summer fellowships to conduct research [or produce a creative arts project] in the summer. The work must take place over a minimum of 6 weeks, the student must engage in the project full-time (at leas...
SOC 490Honors Independent StudyStudents work one-on-one with faculty advisor in constructing a research design and collecting data for a senior thesis for the Sociology Honors program.
SOC 491Honors ThesisStudent work individually with a faculty advisor in analyzing data and writing up results for a senior thesis for the Sociology Honors program.