The Sociology Program |
Academic Requirements
Double Major in Sociology and Anthropology
Minor in Sociology | Courses | Faculty
The Sociology Program: Courses
Lower level: 1000–1999 (freshman)
Lower level: 2000–2999 (sophomore)
Upper level: 3000–3999 (junior)
Upper level: 4000–4999 (senior)
Introduction to Sociology
SOC 1500 / 3 credits / Every semester
An introduction to some basic ideas in sociology and the basic literature of the discipline. Attention is given to the interrelation of sociology and disciplines like psychology and anthropology and its relevance to public policy issues like crime.
Introduction to Criminal Law
SOC 1510 / 4 credits / Special topic (offered irregularly)
Topics include the structure of the criminal justice system; the impact of the Supreme Court on criminal justice; and the process of arrest, prosecution, and sentencing.
Human Sexuality
SOC 2020 / 3 credits / Fall
An overview of biological, psychological, and sociological approaches to understanding human sexual behavior. Topics include values in sexuality, sexuality through the life span, sexual dysfunction and therapy, sex and disability, sexual preferences, atypical sexualities, and sex and the law. Also offered as GND 2020.
Race and Politics
SOC 2130 Refer to POL 2130 in Political Science Courses for description.
Race and Ethnicity
SOC 2140 / 3 credits / Spring
An examination of the state of race relations in the United States and other industrialized nations. Topics include racial and ethnic stratification, systems of oppression, mechanisms for integration, pluralism, assimilation, and racial politics.
Culture, Consumption, and the City
SOC 2165 / 3 credits / Alternate years
An introduction to the development of consumer society and consumer culture, with emphasis on the city as a landscape of consumption. Topics include commodification, materialism, large-scale changes in cities and industries, the street as a site for identity, neighborhoods as contest spaces, and the environmental and social consequences of consumerism. Also offered as ENV 2165.
American Culture
SOC 2180 Refer to ANT 2180 in Anthropology Courses for description.
Sociology of Gender
SOC 2210 / 3 credits / Alternate years
A cross-cultural examination of social constructions and expressions of gender. Students define gender, examine ideological tensions, and explore the flexibility of gendered systems. Also offered as ANT 2211.
Computers and Culture: Sex, Circuits, and Cyborgs
SOC 2230 / 3 credits / Spring
Examines the connections between computers and culture, with a critical look at how computers may be changing and shaping culture, and how culture affects people’s use and understanding of computers. The course focuses in particular on the ways in which gender, race, and class affect people’s experiences with and understanding of computers. Both work and leisure uses of computers are considered. Offered as NME 2235 for new media majors.
Prerequisite: SOC 1500
Environmental Sociology
SOC 2255 / 3 credits / Alternate years
This course brings a sociological perspective to environmental issues, both past and present, by asking: Who is civilized? Who is savage? What is nature? By addressing questions of how human societies, animals, and land have shaped each other, students better understand the root causes and consequences of today’s environmental crisis. Topics include world hunger, water, and environmental equity for all. Also offered as ENV 2255.
Aging, Culture, and Society
SOC 2260 / 3 credits / Alternate years
Aging is studied in relation to dominant cultural perceptions, social hierarchies, public policy, and diminishing resources. Topics include theories of aging; the meanings and consequences of increasing longevity for society and the individual; cultural constructions of health and well-being; challenges for women, ethnic and sexual minorities, people with disabilities, and the poor; cross-cultural comparisons; and the effect of demographic shifts on a society.
Performing Arts in Cross-Cultural Perspective
MSA 2320 Refer to ANT 2320 in Anthropology Courses for description.
Social Movements
SOC 2340 / 3 credits / Alternate years
Introduces major theoretical approaches to the study of social movements, and explores central topics of contemporary research, including protest cycles, the social and cultural basis of movement participation, countermovements, repression and the state, the internal organization of movements, and the consequences of movements. Illustrative studies are examined to reflect on the strengths and limitations of various approaches.
Prerequisite: SOC 1500
Self and Society
SOC 2365 / 3 credits / Alternate years
Introduces microsociology from a social-interactionist perspective. Concepts covered include self; social construction of reality and the symbolic environments; culture and subculture; and identity, social location, and socialization. The interconnectedness of selves and societies is explored by examining the ways in which (a) social arrangements shape individuals and (b) individuals shape the social order of which they are a part.
Class, Power, Privilege
SOC 2440 / 3 credits / Special topic (offered irregularly)
“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” The inequalities in status and class are examined. Literary, philosophical, and sociological works are used to explore the nature and morality of inequality and to provide composite pictures of the different social classes.
Urban Sociology
SOC 2500 / 3 credits / Alternate years
An introduction to the study of cities in the U.S. and other countries. Using a “social problems” approach, the development of urban communities and the associated issues are explored. Topics include gentrification, poverty, housing, and public transportation. This course is designed to further develop students’ writing ability and capacity for critical thinking, research, and analysis. Also offered as ANT 2500.
America on Film
SOC 2610 Refer to POL 2610 in Political Science Courses for description.
Birth and Death
SOC 3035 / 4 credits / Alternate years
An exploration of different sociological renderings of birth and death in contemporary societies. Understanding the concepts from a sociological perspective offers an opportunity to explore the intersections of race, class, gender, spirituality, and age. This course also focuses on recent biomedical technological innovations and their implications for birth and death representations. Students conduct an independent field trip and do extensive reading and writing. Also offered as GND 3035.
Prerequisite: SOC 1500 or ANT 1500 or GND 1520
Sex, Politics, and Health
SOC 3045 Refer to POL 3045 in Political Science Courses for description.
Social Entrepreneurship
SOC 3145 / 4 credits / Alternate years
A theoretical and practical introduction to social entrepreneurship. Students explore the larger political and social context of social entrepreneurship, the possibilities for creating social change through innovation, and how to measure social impact. Students also gain practical experiences through a semester-long project addressing a local social problem. Topics include product design and development, community engagement, and business development. Field trips and group presentations are included.
Science, Medicine, Culture
SOC 3175 / 4 credits / Alternate years
How is scientific and medical knowledge researched and developed? What is the relationship between science and medicine? What are the hidden premises or values that lie within different scientific and medical approaches? How is scientific and medical knowledge culturally represented? Additional topics include alternative medicine, epidemiology, and everyday lived experience of medicine and the relation to social inequality.
Introduction to Teaching
SOC 3203 / 4 credits / Fall
What is teaching like? Would you make a good teacher? Designed to familiarize students with the profession of teaching, this course helps students consider whether they want to pursue a teaching career. In addition to addressing the motivation, training, and status of teachers, the course also provides an overview of educational policies and professional organizations. A child-observation component is included.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor
Social Organizations
SOC 3235 / 4 credits / Alternate years (Fall)
Focuses on what is meant by organizations, how organizations are shaped by their environment, and how organizations affect societies and individual lives. The World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), and schools are among the organizations covered.
Prerequisite: SOC 1500
Minorities and Science
SOC 3286 / 4 credits / Alternate years (Fall)
Examines the factors affecting minority participation in scientific careers and the experience of minorities in academic science, industry, and government. Comparisons are made between the experiences of women and minorities in other countries and the majority experience. Selected students have the opportunity to participate in a research project sponsored by the National Science Foundation.
Science, Technology, and Queer Theory
SOC 3287 Refer to GND 3287 in Lesbian and Gay Studies Courses for description.
Research Methods
SOC 3405 / 4 credits / Fall
Classical experimental research design and alternative designs for non-experimental research, combined with hands-on experience with a variety of data collection techniques and writing about research. Includes development of a research design as well as exercises in both interview- and observation-based techniques.
Rebels, Freaks, and Prophets: Deviance Revisited
SOC 3430 Refer to ANT 3430 in Anthropology Courses for description.
Religion, Culture, and Society
SOC 3435 / 4 credits / Alternate years
The role of religious institutions in the modern American social context. Topics include the role of religious influence on other institutions (especially the political), religious styles, new sectarian and revivalist movements, and conflict within the major religious traditions.
Prerequisite: SOC 1500
Conflict Management and Mediation
SOC 3455 / 4 credits / Alternate years
Conflict can signal either a disruption in an organization’s operations or an opportunity for change and growth. This course examines the causes, processes, costs, and benefits of social conflict, and methods for conflict resolution. Using sociological theory and research, the relationship of social issues to organizational and institutional conflict is also addressed. Students are given a broad perspective on making conflict an asset organizationally and interpersonally, including 25 hours of coursework needed for conflict-mediation certification. Provides the foundation for an apprenticeship with a conflict-mediation or dispute-resolution center.
Human-Centered Design: Theories, Methods, and Ethics
SOC 3465 / 4 credits / Fall
In this course, people are considered as both subjects and users of new media. Students learn how to gather information about people, incorporate it in their designs, and integrate social science theory with their work. They also acquire skills that will be used in their senior projects and are encouraged to think about the human element in new media and how new media fit into people’s lives. Offered as NME 3465 for new media majors.
Added Spring 2009 (9/22/08):
To Enjoy Our Freedom: African-American History Since 1865
SOC 3466 Refer to HIS 3466 in History Courses (School of Humanities) for description.
Censorship: Sociological and Legal Perspectives
SOC 3480 / 4 credits / Special topic (offered irregularly)
Sociologists have long understood that the study of censorship can yield an understanding of the structure and values of a society. Modern societies define and enforce limits on expression by defining certain forms of expression as “obscene,” “pornographic,” “subversive,” etc. Censorship in film, literature, and theatre is the major focus. Also offered as POL 3481.
Sociology of Education
SOC 3500 / 4 credits / Alternate years
An examination of the special relationship of education to other American institutions. Topics include the declining support for public education, attempts to privatize public education (vouchers), and race and class issues in public and private education.
Prerequisite: SOC 1500
Public Sociology
SOC 3535 / 4 credits / Alternate years
Public sociology takes sociology out of the classroom and laboratory to directly impact social change, social justice, and decision making in the public sphere. As training for careers in community organizing, policy analysis, nonprofit management, and social advocacy, this course serves the interests of students seeking to apply sociology’s theories and methods to practical projects. Students review debates on the definition of public sociology, assess national and international models of public sociology, and design and test a public sociology project.
Society and Public Policy
SOC 3565 / 4 credits / Alternate years (Fall)
An analysis of public policy processes in the U.S. Students examine who is involved in policy formation and implementation, the tools used by governments to implement public policy, and why some policies are successful and others are not. This course specifically focuses on education, immigration, and welfare policies. Also offered as POL 3565.
Sociology of the Family
SOC 3605 / 4 credits / Alternate years
The intersections between families and other U.S. social institutions, with emphasis on recent social/political debates about the meaning of the family. Examines issues of race, ethnicity, class, gender, and sexualities, and connections between these issues and the experiences and understandings of family life. Other topics include previous U.S. family forms, historical relationships between the government and families, and current economic stresses, especially tensions between work and family life.
Prerequisite: SOC 1500
Masculinities: Feminist Perspectives
SOC 3705 / 4 credits / Special topic (offered irregularly)
Considers experiences and images of men in U.S. society. Recent feminist theory and research concerning men are studied, with attention to the various meanings of masculinity in American culture. This course provides a sociological understanding of gender and society, with attention to race, class, and other aspects of identity that shape men’s lives, including media representations of masculinity. Also offered as GND 3705.
Prerequisite: SOC 1500
Innovation, Change, and Society
SOC 3715 / 4 credits / Alternate years
Explores innovation and change in the social and organizational world. What conditions foster an environment for invention and experimentation? How do innovative practices, technologies, and cultural forms affect society, culture, organizations, and professions? What is the role of social interaction and/or physical context in relation to innovation? Students examine the social and organizational relationships and networks necessary for creative work, obstacles to change, the diffusion of innovation, new technologies, changing institutions and shifting contexts, and the consequences of innovation for everyday social life.
Globalization, Culture, Social Change
SOC 3725 / 4 credits / Alternate years (Fall)
A global sociological examination of the contemporary debates and studies concerning the social organization of cultures that transcends national boundaries. This course examines the highly debated concept of globalization by studying transnational social organizations and the distinctive dynamics of global political economy and culture. Topics include colonialism and postcolonialism, social movements and social change, social inequality, labor, human rights, democracy, global capitalism, urbanization, and cultural identity.
Mass Media and Society
SOC 3830 / 4 credits / Spring
The structure and role of the mass media in contemporary society. Topics include the development of mass media forms, social structure of audiences, formation of public opinion, and the development of popular culture and its impact on society. Special attention is paid to “effects” research and organizational theories. Also offered as MSA 3830.
Prerequisite: SOC 1500 or MSA 1530
Activism and Social Change
SOC 3835 / 4 credits / Special topic (offered irregularly)
There is a long tradition in the social sciences of combining research and professional activity with political activism. Issues addressed include capital punishment, forms of economic activity, racial and ethnic discrimination, and militarism. This course also addresses the legitimacy of joining study with political activity, and examines some famous examples of this tradition (e.g., Marx, DuBois, Mills, Dewey, Skinner).
Film and Society
SOC 3840 / 4 credits / Special topic (offered irregularly)
Film as depiction and analysis of society. Popular, avant-garde, documentary, and social science genres are examined. The social basis of film production is a major focus.
Prerequisite: SOC 1500
Sociological Theory
SOC 3850 / 4 credits / Fall
The meaning of theory, and the major theoretical perspectives in social science. Primary attention in reading and discussion is given to the works of Marx, Weber, and Durkheim. These thinkers have been chosen because of their seminal, interdisciplinary contributions to political, economic, sociological, and anthropological theory.
Prerequisite: SOC 1500
Sociology Junior Seminar
SOC 3885 / 4 credits / Spring
In preparation for the senior project, sociology majors conduct an in-depth critical review of research and learn how to plan and write a research proposal within a particular area of interest. The goal is to develop critical-thinking skills and the ability to do close reading of primary sources and write in the style of the discipline.
Prerequisite: Junior standing and permission of instructor
Internship in Sociology
SOC 3980 / 4 credits / Every semester
A supervised work experience in both on- and off-campus organizations where sociologists or social psychologists are employed. Organizations for community planning, mental health, legal aid, and local government are included.
Special Topics in Sociology: Globalization and Society
SOC 4872 / 4 credits / Special topic (offered irregularly)
Selected topics from among the special interests of faculty. Offered on an irregular basis as interest warrants.
Prerequisite: SOC 1500
Sociology Senior Seminar I
SOC 4890 / 1 credit / Fall
Students meet weekly to present and discuss their senior project proposals and progress on their literature reviews. Grading is on a pass/no credit basis.
Corequisite: SOC 4990
Sociology Senior Seminar II
SOC 4895 / 1 credit / Spring
Students meet weekly to present and discuss their senior projects. Grading is on a pass/no credit basis.
Corequisite: SOC 4990
Sociology Senior Project
SOC 4990 / 4 credits (per semester) / Every semester
A year-long project developed in consultation with advisors that usually involves empirical or library research, but may also include practical, applied, photographic, or creative efforts. Students are encouraged to speak with a member of the faculty regarding a possible project in the second semester of their junior year. Must be taken for two semesters (8 credits total).
Prerequisite: SOC 1500, PSY 2320, and SOC 3405
Corequisite: SOC 4890 (Fall), SOC 4895 (Spring)
Updated Sept. 22, 2008