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SOCI 103 Sociology of the Family (3)
Consideration of the family as a social institution and a special form of small group. Examination of theoretical and empirical research focusing upon mate selection, marital interaction, and child socialization. Topics include contemporary demographic trends and cultural practices.
SOCI 106 Urban Sociology (3)
The social patterns, processes, and institutional structure of urban life.
SOCI 108 Deviant Behavior (3)
Examines forms of human behavior that have been defined as “deviant” by the larger society. An emphasis is placed on understanding the social construction of such definitions, especially their cross-cultural variations, as well as motivations and social implications for those whose behavior is judged as deviant.
SOCI 109 Social Problems (3)
Examination of critical contemporary social problems and social policy options. Emphasis is placed on understanding the multidimensional sources of crisis, unrest, and instability as well as policy options and tradeoffs associated with ameliorative efforts. Topics vary by semester and instructor.
SOCI 115 Introduction to Social Work (3)
Introduces students to the profession and practice of social work. Examines principles, functions, knowledge base, and history of social work. Topics include the change process, levels of practice, and social problems affecting clients and practitioners.
SOCI 121 Sociology of Religion (3)
Introduces students to sociological study of religious phenomena, including religious beliefs, practices, and behaviors as conditioned by sociological factors. A key emphasis is the relationship between religious systems and other social institutions, e.g., politics, family, economy, and social stratification.
SOCI 130 Criminology (3)
Emphasizes the public’s perception of “the crime problem” and various sociological measures of amounts and trends of criminal behavior in society. Causal and noncausal theories of criminality, and the sociological implications of various selected offenses are explored.
SOCI 140 Sociology of Sport (3)
An analysis of the structure and functions of sports in contemporary American society. Topics include the relationship between sports, socialization, ideology, sports and totemism, the organization of sports, and the economics of sports.
SOCI 147 Global Social Change (3)
Examines global change and its implications for individuals and groups via exploration of issues of globalization of the economy, international development, urbanization, immigration, social movements, changing gender relations, etc. Emphasis will be placed on how such changes have come about and course focus will be international in scope with emphasis on Latin America, Asia, and/or Africa.
SOCI 160 Environmental Sociology (3)
This course examines political and economic aspects of global and local environmental problems. Topics include how societies and the environment interact, why some environmental risks have gained most attention, how support for environmental concerns can be measured, responses by environmental social movements, and visions of sustainable societies in the First and Third Worlds.
SOCI 201 Foundations of Sociology (3)
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 249 Latin American Social Structure (3)
Prerequisite: SOCI 201 or approval of instructor
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)
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 Mind, Self, and Society (3)
Prerequisite: SOCI 201 or approval of instructor
Introduction to sociological perspectives on social psychology. Individuals, groups, society, and their interrelationships. Formation and measurement of identity, norms, attitudes, cognition, affect/emotion, perceptions, and group processes.
SOCI 303 Introduction to Research Design (3)
Prerequisite: SOCI 201 or approval of instructor
Logic and techniques of social research, the relationships between theory and method, and alternative strategies in data collection.
SOCI 304 Introduction to Research Analysis (3)
Prerequisite: SOCI 303 or approval of instructor
Basic training in descriptive and inferential statistics with social science applications. Topics include measurement, tabular and graphic displays of data, central tendency, dispersion, probability, estimation, hypothesis testing, and linear regression.
SOCI 322 Social Theory (3)
Prerequisite: SOCI 201 or approval of instructor
An introduction to classical and contemporary sociological theory.
SOCI 389 Service Learning (1)
Prerequisite: approval of department
Students complete a service activity in the community in conjunction with the content of a three-credit corequisite course.
SOCI 614 Problems in the Sociology of Deviance (3)
Prerequisites: SOCI 304 and SOCI 322 or approval of instructor
Consideration in depth of one or more current problems of theory and research in the sociology of deviance: societal reaction theory, organizations for management of deviance, the design of prevention. Independent student research projects encouraged.
SOCI 625 Sociology of Childhood (3)
Prerequisites: SOCI 304 and SOCI 322 or approval of instructor
This course examines theories, methods, and empirical research in several areas of the sociology of childhood. Major themes are (1) how social structure constrains children’s lives, (2) how children negotiate, share, and create culture, and (3) how children’s experiences vary within and across societies. Topics include historical trends in thinking about children, cultural reproduction in early childhood, children’s social worlds, contemporary attitudes toward children, and social policies for children. Students will design and carry out original research projects.
SOCI 640 Sociology of Criminal Justice (3)
Prerequisites: SOCI 304 and SOCI 322 or approval of instructor
Various aspects of the criminal justice system are examined with special attention devoted to organizational and decision-making features. The discretionary powers of criminal justice agencies are explored in light of their effect on the composition and size of this society’s criminal population. Discussed are the legislature, police, courts, and corrections agencies.
SOCI 656 Social Movements and Collective Behavior (3)
Prerequisites: SOCI 304 and SOCI 322 or approval of instructor
An advanced theoretical and empirical analysis of the determinants of organized non-institutionalized forms of collective action. Topics include the interplay of structural conditions and volunteeristic actions, the logic of collective action, culture, and ideology as they shape social movement outcomes. The specific types or dimensions of collective action examined may vary from semester to semester.
SOCI 670 Sociology of Law (3)
Prerequisites: SOCI 304 and SOCI 322 or approval of instructor
An examination of the implications of law in the persistence and change of social systems, the relation of sociological theory and research to legal institutions, and law as an organization and profession.
SOCI 695 Migration in the Americas (3)
Prerequisites: SOCI 304 and SOCI 322 or approval of instructor
From the colonization of the continent up to the present, countries in North and South America have been receiving communities for migrants from all over the world. Course focus on 20th century international migration flows to and within the Americas with three main themes: (1) theories of international migration, (2) immigrant adaptation, assimilation and incorporation, and (3) international migration policies.
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