You are in the official 2000-2001 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
Department of Sociology
COURSES
Sociology (SOC)
1. Principles of Sociology (3)
Introduction to the principles and theoretical perspectives of sociology
and their application to the fundamental problems of social life. Discussion
of sociological methods and findings in such areas as family, race relations,
deviance. G.E. Breadth D3. (CAN SOC 2)
2. Social Problems (3)
Introduction to major sociological perspectives on social problems. Analysis
of causes and possible solutions to such problems as poverty, discrimination,
crime, delinquency, alcoholism, drug abuse, suicide, family disorganization,
and pollution. G.E. Breadth D3. (CAN SOC 4)
3. Analysis of Social Life (3)
Theory and practice in basic skills of critical thinking and sociological
analysis. Skills demonstrated by oral and written performance including
analysis of computerized data sets. Topics covered and assignments vary
with instructor. G.E. Foundation A3. (2 lecture, 2 lab hours) (Computer
lab fee, $15)
25. Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences (3)
Introduction to quantitative methods as an aid to the understanding of research
in the social sciences. Application of basic descriptive and inductive statistics
to the social sciences. (2 lecture, 2 lab hours)
111. Sociology of Race and Ethnicity (3)
Dominant and minority group relations historically, cross-culturally, and
in contemporary American society. Primarily, the bases examined are in terms
of ethnicity-race, religion, nationality, country-of-origin, nativity, and
language. G.E. Multicultural/International MI.
122. Social Movements (3)
Theory of nonviolent direct action in the pursuit of social justice and
social change. Discussion of goals, ideology, norms, organizational structure,
leadership, strategy, tactics, and social roots of social movements.
130W. Contemporary Social Issues (3)
Prerequisite: satisfactory completion (C or better) of the
ENGL 1 graduation requirement. A sociological perspective is used to examine
currently debated public issues. Often, public issues involve present or
proposed public policies; the impact of these policies on different segments
of society is assessed. Meets the upper-division writing skills requirement
for graduation.
131. Sociology of Sex Roles (3)
(Same as W S 131.) The roles of women and men in contemporary social life,
socialization, and adult life -- work roles, nuclear family, and other roles.
132. Women and Work (3)
(Same as W S 132.) An examination of women and work in contemporary society,
including housework, labor force participation, employment in various oc
cupations, and career planning.
142. Sociology of Popular Culture (3)
Impact of popular culture on modern society. Includes movies, television,
fiction, and other forms of popular culture. The meaning, the creation and
production, and the future of popular culture.
143. Deviance and Control (3)
Rule-breaking behavior (such as crime, delinquency, mental illness) and
responses to it. Examines deviance as a social phenomenon, its causes and
consequences, and formal and informal social control activities.
144. Social Policy Analysis (3)
Interdisciplinary social science methods for approaching local and national
social problems. Analysis of selected public issues emphasizing evaluation
of social costs and benefits of alternative policies.
145. Social Organization (3)
Prerequisite: SOC 1. Study of the nature of social organizations, their
types and varieties, and the factors producing their different forms. Causes
of the growth and decline of social organizations. Problems of centralization,
authority, communication, and conflict in organizations.
147. Medical Sociology (3)
Political and economic organization of American medical health care system
and cross-cultural comparisons. Analysis of social relations and interactions
among members of the health professions affecting designations of persons
as ill and their subsequent treatment.
148. Sociology of Education (3)
A sociological examination of education as an institution, including its
social determinants, functions, and consequences.
149. Sociology of Business (3)
The social origins and development of business as an institution. Comparative
studies of diverse impacts of business on society. Analysis of resulting
ideologi cal, political, and regulatory reactions to business.
150T. Special Topics Seminar (1-3; max total 9)
Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Topics include those areas of advanced
theoretical and empirical studies that will orient the student to contemporary
sociological endeavors.
151. Social Classes and Inequality (3)
Prerequisite: SOC 1. Analysis of evaluational differentiation leading to
social stratification. Criteria for differentiation, bases for evaluation,
types of stratification, composition of strata and status systems, mobility,
consequences of stratifications, and methods of studying stratification.
152. Classical Sociological Theory (3)
Prerequisite: SOC 1. Evolution of classical sociological theories. Consideration
of their origins in society and culture. Examination of such theorists as
Marx, Weber, Durkheim, Comte, St. Simon, and Simmel.
153. Contemporary Sociological Theory (3)
Prerequisite: SOC 1. Processes of theory construction. Major current sociological
theories such as functionalist and conflict, interaction and interpretive,
and behaviorist and exchange theories.
157. Social Change (3)
Analysis of directions, patterns, and processes of social and cultural change.
161. Population Analysis (3)
Population theories and history; demographic processes and variables in
contemporary society. Analysis of census data.
162. Social Psychology (3)
Social factors affecting the development of social personality, attitudes
and behavior. Basic social processes involved in interpersonal interaction.
Demonstrations and student observations to increase an understanding of
social processes in everyday life.
163. Urban Sociology (3)
The urban concept; form and development of urban areas; scientific study
of urban places and populations; effect of urbanization on social institutions
and social relations.
164. Political Sociology (3)
The social causes and effects of political phenomena. The roles of social
classes, movements, and institutions in shaping the political process; examination
of political behavior and attitudes.
165. The Family (3)
The family in historic and contemporary society, theoretical frameworks
for analyzing the family, family dynamics; changes in family functions,
structures, and roles.
166. Social Gerontology (3)
(Same as GERON 166.) Aging and the aged with special emphasis on urban American
society; demographic dynamics; problems of the aged; gerontological research
methodology.
168. Interpersonal Relationships (3)
Exploration of the basic elements of interpersonal relationships including
listening, disclosure, feedback, empathy. (Formerly SOC 150T section)
169. Sociology of Religion (3)
Major sects, denominations, and churches; integrative and disintegrative
processes in the United States; contemporary religious phenomena.
170T. Research Topics (1-3; max total 6)
Content of course will vary from semester to semester. Topics include an
introduction to computer data analysis, a more in-depth discussion of computer
data analysis, survey research, observational techniques, measurement, sampling.
172. Computer Applications (3)
No prior knowledge of computers is necessary. Introduction to computer applications
in the social sciences, spreadsheets, database management, statistical applications,
Email, data archives, Internet, Lexis-Nexis. (2 lecture, 2 lab hours) (Computer
lab fee, $15) (Formerly SOC 170T section)
174. Computer Data Analysis (1)
An introduction to the use of one of the most widely utilized computer packages
in the social sciences -- SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences).
No prior knowledge of computers is necessary. CR/NC grading only.
175. Sociological Research Methods (3)
Prerequisite: SOC 25. The research process with special emphasis on measurement,
sampling, data collection, data analysis, and report preparation. Basic
assumptions and dilemmas of social science research.
185. Service Learning (1-6; max total 6)
Prerequisite: permission of instructor and sponsoring agency. Individually-planned
service learning experience relating classroom studies in sociology with
practical experience in community service. Hours to be arranged. CR/NC grading
only. (Minimum of 3 field hours per week per credit unit.)
190. Independent Study (1-3; max total 6)
See Academic Placement -- Independent
Study. Approved for SP grading.
