School of Liberal Arts: Sociology
2008-2009 Academic Year
484
SOCI 201 Foundations of Sociology (3)
Staff. Prerequisite: three credits of sociology at the 100 level or approval of
instructor. To provide substantive exposure to basic sociological concepts,
theories, methods, and tools.
SOCI 205 Population and Society (3)
Staff. Prerequisite: SOCI 201 or approval of instructor. An examination of the
dynamic relationship between population and society. The course focuses on the
contemporary demography of developed and developing countries, with an
emphasis on societal problems linked to population.
SOCI 210 Special Topics in Sociology (3)
Staff. Special topic announced each semester. May be repeated for credit provided
it's a different topic.
SOCI 218 Wealth, Power and Inequality (3)
Staff. Prerequisite: SOCI 201 or approval of instructor. Survey of theoretical and
empirical literature on the distribution of wealth, power, and prestige within and
across societies and historical periods. Emphasis is placed on the impact of social
change on stratification systems.
SOCI 245 Society through Cinema (3)
Staff. Examination of social organization, interaction, issues, and problems via the
depiction of these issues and themes in selected commercial and documentary
cinematic statements as illustrative material. Weekly class meetings are divided
into lecture, screening, and discussion. Specific topical foci differ by semester.
SOCI 249 Latin American Social Structure (3)
Staff. An historical examination of the human condition in Latin America
emphasizing three primary spheres of social relations: political, economic, and
ideological. Within each sphere the following themes are addressed: national-
international relations, urbanization, rural social structure, demographic trends,
cultural change, and stability.
SOCI 250 Organizational Behavior (3)
Staff. Prerequisite: SOCI 201 or approval of instructor. An introduction to the
sociological study of organizations in the private and public sectors. Topics
include models for studying organizations, organization processes
(communication, decision-making, negotiation, leadership), the impact of
structural culture, and environmental factors on organizational behavior.
SOCI 270 The Social Psychology of Everyday Life (3)
Staff. An examination of issues involved in everyday social interactions, this
course focuses on dimensions of interpersonal behavior against the background of
sociological roles and role-playing, Emphasis is placed on the nature and process
of interpersonal relationship, encounters, and public behavior against the
backdrop of societal assumptions, norms, practices and beliefs. Related issues of
affect/emotion, attitudes, cognition and perception will be discussed.