Courses in Sociology (SOC)

COURSES

Sociology (SOC)

SOC 1 or 1S. Principles of Sociology (3-3)
Prerequisite: G.E. Foundation A2. Introduction to the principles and theoretical perspectives of sociology and their application to problems of social life. Discussion of sociological methods and findings in such areas as family, race relations, deviance. S sections include a service-learning requirement (see SCS). G.E. Breadth D3.  (Formerly SOC 1)  FS

SOC 2 or 2S. Social Problems (3-3)
Prerequisite: G.E. Foundation A2. Introduction to principles underlying human social behavior via sociological analyses of social problems and the world, such as inequality, family organization, discrimination, deviance, war, tyranny, ethnic conflict, and pollution. S sections include a service-learning requirement (see SCS). G.E. Breadth D3. (Formerly SOC 2)

SOC 3 or 3S. 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. S sections include a service-learning requirement (see SCS).  G.E. Foundation A3. (2 lecture, 2 lab hours) FS

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. FS SU

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. S odd

SOC 125. Statistics for the Social Sciences (4)
Prerequisites: completion of Math requirement in G.E. Foundation, B4; grade of C or better in SOC 1 or 1S and SOC 3 or 3S 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) (Formerly SOC 25) FS

SOC 130W or 130WS. Contemporary Social Issues (4-4)
Prerequisites: satisfactory completion (C or better) of the ENGL 5B and 10 graduation requirement; grade of C or better in SOC 1 or 1S and SOC 3 or 3S for sociology majors and minors. Examines currently debated public issues using a sociological perspective. Often, public issues involve present or proposed public policies; the course assesses the impact of these policies on different segments of society. Meets the upper-division writing skills graduation requirement. S sections include a service-learning requirement (see SCS). (Formerly SOC 130W) FS

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. FS

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 occupations, 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. FS

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. FS SU

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. F

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. S

SOC 147. Medical Sociology (3)
Prerequisites: SOC 1 or 1S and SOC 3 or 3S.  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. FS

SOC 148. Sociology of Education (3)
A sociological examination of education as an institution, including its social determinants, functions, and consequences.

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. FS

SOC 151. Social Classes and Inequality (4)
Prerequisites: C or better in Tier One courses (SOC 1 or 1S and SOC 3 or 3S) and Tier Two courses (SOC 125 and SOC 130W/WS or UDWE).  Examines classical and contemporary theoretical approaches to the sociological study of socioeconomic inequality, including the social causes and consequences of stratification. This course will also address key policy debates, major research findings, and methodological approaches to the study of inequality. FS

SOC 152. Classical Sociological Theory (4)
Prerequisites: C or better in Tier One courses (SOC 1 or 1S and SOC 3 or 3S) and Tier Two courses (SOC 125 and SOC 130W/WS or UDWE). Evolution of classical sociological theories. Consideration of their origins in society and culture.  Examination of such theorists as Marx, Weber, Durkheim, Simmel, Mead, and others.  FS

SOC 153. Contemporary Sociological Theory (4)
Prerequisites: C or better in Tier One courses (SOC 1 or 1S and SOC 3 or 3S) and Tier Two courses (SOC 125 and SOC 130W/WS or UDWE).  Survey of contemporary sociological theoretical perspectives developed after the "classical" period.  Theories covered may include: micro-sociological perspectives of phenomenology and symbolic interactionism; social behaviorism; structural-functionalism; neo-Marxian perspectives and critical theory; accounts of modernity and post-modernity; feminist theory; systems theories; and others.  FS

SOC 157. Social Change (3)
Analysis of directions, patterns, and processes of social and cultural change. S even

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 or 1S and SOC 3 or 3S). 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. FS

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. F

SOC 168. Interpersonal Relationships (3)
Exploration of the basic elements of interpersonal relationships including listening, disclosure, feedback, empathy. F 

SOC 169. Sociology of Religion (3)
Major sects, denominations, and churches; integrative and disintegrative processes in the United States; contemporary religious phenomena. F

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 (3)
An introduction to the use of widely utilized computer packages for analyzing quantitative data (e.g., SPSS) and/or qualitative data (e.g., NVIVO) in the social sciences. Prepares students for academic and empirical research. No prior knowledge of computers is necessary. S

SOC 175. Quantitative Research Methods (4)
Prerequisites: C or better in Tier One courses (SOC 1 or 1S and SOC 3 or 3S) and Tier Two courses (SOC 125 and SOC 130W/WS 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. FS

SOC 176. Qualitative Research Methods (4)

Prerequisites: C or better in Tier One courses (SOC 1 or 1S and SOC 3 or 3S) and Tier Two courses (SOC 125 and SOC 130W/WS or UDWE).   Overview of qualitative research methods in sociology, including interviews, participant observation, historical research, and content analysis of print and audio/visual media. Examines qualitative theory, ethics, proposals, choosing a site, informant relationships, collecting and analyzing data, writing reports, and disseminating research.  FS

SOC 183S. Philanthropy and Grant Making (3)
Reviews the history and evolving role of philanthropy in American society. Students investigate local social problems, research nonprofit organizations that address those issues, develop a request for proposals (RFP) to fund specific projects, and evaluate funding proposals. Includes a service-learning requirement (see SCS).  S

SOC 184S. Grant Writing and Evaluation (3)
Conceptual aspects of developing, writing, and evaluating a grant proposal. Emphasizes researching and preparing grant proposals as well as reading, discussing, and writing critiques of grant proposals and evaluating grant-funded programs. Includes a service-learning requirement (see SCS).  F

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.) FS

SOC 186S. Governance, Administrative Principles, and Financial Literacy (3)

Introduces standards of excellence for effective community benefit organizations, including governance, administration and steward leadership, and fiscal management and oversight through service-learning activities in community-based settings.  Examines elements of becoming an independent consultant to CBOs, including client assessment, contracting, reporting.  Includes a service-learning requirement (see SCS).  F

SOC 187S. Entrepreneurial Approaches to Sustainable CBOs (3)
Applies a team-centered, open-ended. problem-solving approach and assessment utilizing service-learning and entrepreneurial methodology to enhance the organizational capacity and long-term sustainability of community benefit organizations (CBOs). Includes a service-learning requirement (see SCS).  S

SOC 190. Independent Study (1-3; max total 6)
See Academic Placement -- Independent Study. Approved for RP grading. FS