SOC-105 Introduction to Sociology (3 credits)

Introduces major concepts used by sociologists to understand and predict the behavior of individuals in group settings.

SOC-201 Professional Development in Sociology (1 credit)

This course is a professional orientation designed to provide an overview of various internship opportunities, career pathways, and graduate school options available in the discipline. In addition, the course serves as an introduction to academic writing, ethics, and research in sociology and social and human services. Students cannot earn credits in SOC 201, CJ 201, and PSYC 201.

SOC-210 Deviance and Crime (3 credits)

Examines deviance and crime through a number of sociological, psychological, and criminological perspectives.

SOC-230 Social Problems in the Modern World (3 credits)

Focuses on major social, economic, political, and environmental issues confronting the modern world. Covers both global and U.S. issues.

SOC-301 Special Topics in Sociology (3 credits)

Topics chosen on the basis of programmatic need or student interest. Prerequisite: Economics 101, Geography 240, Political Science 100, Psychology 121, or Sociology 105.

SOC-327 Human Behavior in the Social Environment (3 credits)

A sociological social psychology course. Explores social interaction, selective perception, human symbolic behavior, language, social structure, emotions, perceptions and memory, sexuality, development of self, identity, aging, and deviance. Prerequisite: SOC 105 or permission of instructor.

SOC-330 Community Organization (3 credits)

Explores the basics of community organization and development, with special attention to urbanized areas. Prerequisite: Prerequisite: SOC 105 or SOC 230; or permission of instructor.

SOC-335 Marriage and Family (3 credits)

Designed to give an in-depth look at changing courtship, martial, and family patterns in America over the course of the last century. Studies the history and importance of the family as a social institution, and the different forms and configurations of the family found in modern America. Prerequisite: SOC 105 or SOC 230; or permission of instructor.

SOC-337 Social Aspects of Health and Health Care (3 credits)

Examines the nonbiological aspects of health and health care. Topics include social definitions of health, professionalization in the health industry, patient-practitioner relationships, and the organization of health care systems in the United States and other countries. Prerequisite: SOC 105, SOC 230, PH 190, or PH 195; or permission of instructor.

SOC-343 Social Research Methods (4 credits)

Covers both quantitative and qualitative sociological research methods. Topics include the relationship between theory and research, conceptualization, operationalization, hypothesis, and model development and sampling. Specific data gathering techniques covered include survey designs, field studies, secondary analysis, unobtrusive measures, and experimental techniques. Discusses ethical issues and responsibilities in social science research and the limits of the scientific method in social science. Prerequisites: Sociology or criminal justice major or permission of instructor.

SOC-344 Introduction to Behavioral Statistics (4 credits)

Recommended for students desiring an introductory statistics course which emphasizes application and interpretation. Covers basic statistical techniques used in behavioral research. Studies frequently used descriptive and inferential statistics with emphasis on the interpretation of quantitative data and statistical reasoning in behavioral research. Prerequisite: SOC 343 and a major in criminal justice or sociology.

SOC-350 Popular Culture (3 credits)

Examines the sociological impact of popular culture by exploring race, class, gender, sexuality, and family through the cultural lens of film, television, and music. Topics include the changing portrayals of race, class, gender, sexuality, and family across the last century in reflecting cultural values and ideals, and their reciprocal influence on culture and American identity. Prerequisite: SOC 105 or SOC 230; or permission of instructor.

SOC-370 Advanced Topics in Sociology (1 credit)

Intensive analysis of sociological topics not covered in regular course offerings. Provides greater depth to topics of special interest or explores changing areas of sociological study. Repeatable course up to 3 credit hours; content changes each time course is offered. Prerequisites: SOC 105 and SOC 230; or permission of instructor.

SOC-371 Love and Attraction (1 credit)

Examines the theoretical frameworks and research findings on human social relationships, exploring the social norms, values, attitudes, and behaviors of love and attraction. Topics include: the social construction of love and attraction, cross-historical definitions of love, acceptable forms of love, problematic aspects of love and attraction, the development of interpersonal attraction, intimacy, and attachment styles. Prerequisites: SOC 105 and SOC 230; or permission of instructor.

SOC-372 Qualitative Interviewing Skills (1 credit)

Intensive methodological training in qualitative interviewing with a focus on skill development and experiential learning in interview techniques. Prerequisites: SOC 105, SOC 230 and junior or senior standing; or permission of instructor.

SOC-380 Applied Research Lab (1 credit)

Provides opportunities for collaborative undergraduate applied research using sociological research techniques to gather project-based information. This research is conducted with the guidance and supervision of a faculty member. Prerequisite: Sociology or criminal justice major, sponsorship by the supervising faculty member, and junior or senior standing; or permission of instructor.

SOC-386 Death and Dying (3 credits)

Explores thanatology - the study of death - using a sociological lens. Examines how American society shapes attitudes and behaviors toward dying, death, and bereavement. Topics of study include: cultural traditions, rituals, practices, and attitudes toward death, self-awareness and value identification concerning death and dying, grief and bereavement, the impact of death and dying across the life span, and end-of-life planning. Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing and SOC 105 or SOC 230; or permission of instructor.

SOC-390 Principles of Sociological Theory (3 credits)

Examines classical and contemporary sociological theories, as well as micro- and macro-sociological approaches. General theoretical frameworks include constructionism, functionalism, conflict theory, feminism, symbolic interactionism, postmodernism, network analysis, and integrated theories. Prerequisites: SOC 105 or SOC 230; junior or senior standing; or permission of instructor.

SOC-415 Globalization and the Environment (3 credits)

Examines the changing demographics of our world and how they impact the social, economic, environmental, and political relationships between countries. Explores the transformation to a global society and the basic concepts of globalization, as well as how the relationships between human societies and the larger natural environment are affected by demographic pressures and global needs. Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing; or permission of instructor.

SOC-435 Sex, Gender, & Sexualities (3 credits)

This course explores the social norms, values, and expectations that influence - and are influenced by - attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors regarding gender and sexuality. The course examines the different and changing cultural understandings of gender roles and sexuality, and the social construction of both. Prerequisite: SOC 105 or SOC 230, junior or senior standing; or permission of instructor.

SOC-438 Race and Ethnic Relations (3 credits)

Studies the sociology of United States and global minority and ethnic relations. Examines class, ethnic, gender, and racial stratification, and power and inequality. Analyzes patterns of ethnic integration and multiculturalism. Details the social and psychological dimensions of discrimination and prejudice, as well as racial and ethnic conflict and accommodation. Prerequisite: SOC 105 or SOC 230; or permission of instructor.

SOC-450 Senior Seminar in Sociology (3 credits)

Capstone educational experience in sociology, offering students the opportunity to use their substantive and methodological training to complete and present an original research project. Prerequisites: SOC 343, 344 and sociology or criminal justice major.

SOC-460 Aging and Society (3 credits)

Recommended for any student desiring a thorough introduction to gerontology. Examines the social response to aging in American society and in other countries. Emphasis on the roles of elders in the familial, religious, political, and economic institutions. Prerequisite: SOC 105 or SOC 230, junior or senior standing; or permission of instructor.

SOC-480 Undergraduate Research in Sociology (1-2 credits)

Provides opportunities for undergraduate research that involve literature review, data collection, analysis, and formal reporting. This research is conducted with the guidance and supervision of a department faculty member. May be repeated for a maximum of 2 hours. Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing; or permission of instructor; sponsorship by the supervising faculty member.

SOC-494 Directed Study (3 credits)

Provides opportunity for specialized advanced study. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

SOC-496 Internship (1-6 credits)

Internships available to majors of junior or senior standing who have completed core courses. GPA requirements must be met and student must file an internship application with advisor.

SOC-497 Internship in Teaching Sociology (1-2 credits)

Provides majors of junior or senior standing with a comprehensive, supervised field experience in teaching and sociological pedagogy. Designed for students who are preparing for graduate study in the social sciences. GPA requirements must be met and students must file a teaching internship application with advisor. Prerequisites: Sociology major, sponsorship by the supervising faculty member, junior or senior standing, or permission of instructor. (1-2 credits).

SOC-560 Aging and Society (3 credits)

Recommended for any student desiring a thorough introduction to gerontology. Examines the social response to aging in American society and in other countries. Emphasis on the roles of elders in the familial, religious, political, and economic institutions. Prerequisite: SOC 105 or SOC 230 and junior or senior standing; or permission of instructor.

SOC-586 Death, Dying, Bereavement (3 credits)

This graduate course explores thanatology - the study of death - using a sociological lens. Examines attitudes and behaviors toward dying, death, and bereavement from a variety of theoretical and comparative perspectives. Topics of study include: cultural traditions, rituals, practices, and attitudes toward death; self-awareness and value identification concerning death and dying; grief and bereavement; the impact of death and dying across the life span; and end-of-life planning.