You are in the official 2004-2005 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
Department of Sociology
COURSES
Sociology (SOC)
1. Principles of Sociology (3)
Prerequisite: G.E. Foundation A2. 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)
Prerequisite: G.E. Foundation A2. 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. Critical Thinking about Society (3)
Prerequisite: grade of C or better in SOC 1 for sociology majors and minors.
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)
25. Introductory Statistics for the Social Sciences (3)
Prerequisites: completion of Math requirement in G.E. Foundation, B4; grade
of C or better in SOC 1 for sociology majors and minors. 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)
Prerequisites: G.E. Foundation and Breadth Area D. 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)
Prerequisites: satisfactory completion (C or better) of the ENGL 1 graduation
requirement; grade of C or better in SOC 1 for sociology majors and minors.
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 and Gender (3)
Prerequisites: G.E. Foundation and Breadth Area D. Introduces students to
the sociological study of sex and gender. Looks at how men and women differently
experience such social structures as work and the economy, family and courtship,
and media. Examines the evidence for the persistence of gender differences
and their importance. G.E. Integration ID.
132. Women and Work (3)
(Same as WS 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)
Prerequisites: G.E. Foundation and Breadth Area D. 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. G.E. Multicultural/International MI.
143. Deviance and Control (3)
Prerequisites: G.E. Foundation and Breadth Area D. 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. G.E. Integration ID.
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)
Prerequisites: Tier One courses (SOC 1, 3, 25, and SOC 130W or UDWE). 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. Sociological Theory (3)
Prerequisites: Tier One courses (SOC 1, 3, 25, and SOC 130W or UDWE) Survey
of classical and contemporary sociological theory. Major sociological theories
presented include functionalism, conflict, rationalism-utilitarianism, and
symbolic interactionism, as well as their origins in the thought of Marx,
Weber, Durkheim, Comte, Saint-Simon, and others.
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)
Prerequisites: Tier One courses (SOC 1, 3, 25, and SOC 130W or UDWE). 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)
Prerequisites: G.E. Foundation and Breadth Area D. 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. G.E.
Integration ID.
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)
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)
Prerequisites: Tier One courses (SOC 1, 3, 25, and SOC 130W or UDWE). 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. Field Experience in Sociology (1-6; max total 6)
Prerequisites: 2.75 minimum cumulative GPA, junior/senior standing in
sociology, and completion of Tier 1 courses. Individually-planned field
experience relating sociology coursework with applied community-based experience.
Hours to be announced. 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 RP grading.
Sociology
Degrees