You are in the official 2005-2006 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
Department of Sociology
COURSES
Sociology (SOC)
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)
SOC 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)
SOC 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)
SOC 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)
SOC 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.
SOC 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.
SOC 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.
SOC 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.
SOC 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.
SOC 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.
SOC 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.
SOC 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.
SOC 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.
SOC 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.
SOC 148. Sociology of Education (3)
A sociological examination of education as an institution, including
its social determinants, functions, and consequences.
SOC 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.
SOC 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.
SOC 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.
SOC 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.
SOC 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.
SOC 157. Social Change (3)
Analysis of directions, patterns, and processes of social and
cultural change.
SOC 161. Population Analysis (3)
Population theories and history; demographic processes and variables
in contemporary society. Analysis of census data.
SOC 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.
SOC 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.
SOC 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.
SOC 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.
SOC 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.
SOC 168. Interpersonal Relationships (3)
Exploration of the basic elements of interpersonal relationships
including listening, disclosure, feedback, empathy. (Formerly
SOC 150T section)
SOC 169. Sociology of Religion (3)
Major sects, denominations, and churches; integrative and disintegrative
processes in the United States; contemporary religious phenomena.
SOC 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.
SOC 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)
SOC 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.
SOC 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.
SOC 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.)
SOC 190. Independent Study (1-3; max total
6)
See Academic Placement -- Independent
Study. Approved for RP grading.
Sociology
Degrees