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Social Sciences & Cultural Studies

Sociology Course Descriptions

SOC& 101: Introduction to Sociology: CD

Credits: 5.0

The study of how social forces shape human behaviors and opportunities and how individuals shape society. Topics include culture, social interaction, group relations, social change, and inequalities by race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexuality and/or disabilities. Focus on cultural diversity and U.S. society in global context. Prerequisite(s): Placement in ENGL& 101 or instructor permission.

Course Level Objectives

  1. Apply major sociological perspectives, theories, and concepts to the analysis of social issues.
  2. Identify and assess empirical research findings to critically analyze social issues.
  3. Analyze and assess the ways in which people influence social structures and processes and examine the role played by collective behaviors.
  4. Analyze and assess the impact of social forces and structures on people's lives.
  5. Explain and analyze how race and ethnicity, social class, gender, and other social identities and group relations affect people's lives and shape social structures.
  6. Explain and evaluate the ways in which individuals' social positions and identities shape their attitudes and views regarding social issues.
  7. In individual and group projects, communicate an understanding of sociological principles and their applications both orally and in writing.
  8. Apply knowledge, awareness, and/or skills to identify and analyze issues related to diversity.

SOC 115: The Sociology of Gender: CD

Credits: 5.0

The study of how gender shapes people's experiences in social institutions, such as the family, work, media, and education. Consideration of how gendered experiences differ by race, ethnicity, social class, sexual orientation, and other characteristics. Focus on cultural diversity and U.S. society in global context. Dual listed as DIVST 115. Prerequisite(s): Placement in ENGL& 101 or instructor permission. Crosslisted as: DIVST 115.

Course Level Objectives

  1. Apply major sociological perspectives, theories, and concepts to the analysis of issues related to gender.
  2. Identify and assess empirical research findings to critically analyze issues related to gender.
  3. Analyze and assess the ways in which people influence gender relations and examine the role collective behaviors play in changing these relations.
  4. Analyze and assess institutionalized gender relationships and their impact on people's lives.
  5. Describe and analyze the relationship between historical and contemporary gender inequality.
  6. Explain and analyze the intersections of gender with race and ethnicity, social class, sexuality, and other social identities.
  7. Explain and evaluate the ways in which individuals' social positions and identities shape their attitudes and views regarding gender.
  8. In individual and group projects, communicate an understanding of sociological principles and their application to issues related to gender both orally and in writing.
  9. Apply knowledge, awareness, and/or skills to identify and analyze issues related to diversity.

SOC 118: Introduction to Global Studies: CD

Credits: 5.0

Examination of global trends and social change through sociological theories. Topics include international development, global conflict and inequalities, public health, population change, and global media. Prerequisite(s): Placement in ENGL& 101 or instructor permission.

Course Level Objectives

  1. Apply major sociological perspectives, theories, and concepts to analyze international and intercultural relations.
  2. Identify and assess empirical research findings to critically analyze international relations.
  3. Analyze and assess the ways in which people influence international relations and examine the role played by collective behaviors.
  4. Analyze and assess the ways in which social structures and processes shape international relations and impact people's lives.
  5. Analyze and evaluate the roles of nationality, race and ethnicity, social class, gender, and other social positions and identities in shaping individuals' lives and the structures of international relations.
  6. Identify and assess economic, demographic, political, ecological, structural, and cultural indicators of development.
  7. Explain and evaluate the ways in which individuals' social positions and identities shape their attitudes and views regarding international relations.
  8. In individual and group projects, communicate an understanding of sociological principles and their application to international relations both orally and in writing.
  9. Apply knowledge, awareness, and/or skills to identify and analyze issues related to diversity.

SOC 125: Race and Ethnic Relations: CD

Credits: 5.0

The study of past and present relations between race and ethnic groups in North America and the effects of immigration on these relations. Focus on causes, forms, and consequences of race and ethnic inequality as well as on resistance strategies. Prerequisite(s): Placement in ENGL& 101 or instructor permission. Crosslisted as: DIVST 125.

Course Level Objectives

  1. Apply major sociological perspectives, theories, and concepts to the analysis of issues related to race and ethnicity.
  2. Identify and assess empirical research findings to critically analyze issues related to race and ethnicity.
  3. Analyze and assess the ways in which people influence racial and ethnic relations and examine the role collective behaviors play in changing these relations.
  4. Analyze the ways in which race and ethnicity are part of social institutions and assess the impact of racialized institutions on people's lives.
  5. Describe and analyze the relationship between historical and contemporary inequality with respect to race and ethnicity.
  6. Explain and analyze the intersections of race and ethnicity with gender, social class, sexuality, and other social identities.
  7. Explain and evaluate the ways in which individuals' social positions and identities shape their attitudes and views regarding race and ethnicity.
  8. In individual and group projects, communicate an understanding of sociological principles and their application to race and ethnicity both orally and in writing.
  9. Apply knowledge, awareness, and/or skills to identify and analyze issues related to diversity.

SOC 130: Sociology of The Environment: CD

Credits: 5.0

Introduction to the origins of, and solutions to, environmental problems. Topics include sustainability, environmental justice, ecological diversity, economic forces, consumer behavior, technology, population trends, and social change. Prerequisite(s): Placement in ENGL& 101 or instructor permission.

Course Level Objectives

  1. Apply major sociological perspectives, theories, and concepts to the analysis of issues related to the environment.
  2. Identify and assess empirical research findings to critically analyze issues related to the environment.
  3. Analyze and assess the ways in which people influence their environment and examine the role collective behaviors play in bringing about environmental changes.
  4. Analyze and assess the ways in which social structures and processes shape issues related to the environment and impact people's lives.
  5. Analyze the roles of nationality, race and ethnicity, social class, gender, and other social identities in producing differential outcomes related to the environment at both the individual and structural levels.
  6. Describe and explain the relationship between historical and contemporary attitudes regarding consumption and its effect on the environment.
  7. Explain and evaluate the ways in which individuals' social positions and identities shape their attitudes and views regarding the environment.
  8. In individual and group projects communicate an understanding of sociological principles and their application to the environment both orally and in writing.
  9. Apply knowledge, awareness, and/or skills to identify and analyze issues related to diversity.

SOC 150: Health in Society: CD

Credits: 5.0

Introduction to social factors shaping health and illness. Disease patterns by social positions (e.g., social class, gender, race, nationality); causes, consequences, and prevention of illness; healthcare systems, settings, and providers. Focus on cultural diversity and U.S. society in global context. Dual listed as DIVST 151. Prerequisite(s): Placement in ENGL& 101 or instructor permission. Crosslisted as: DIVST 151.

Course Level Objectives

  1. Apply major sociological perspectives, theories and concepts to the analysis of issues related to health.
  2. Identify and assess empirical research findings to critically analyze issues related to health.
  3. Analyze and assess differences in patterns of health and illness related to nationality, race and ethnicity, social class, gender, and other social identities.
  4. Explain and analyze the ways in which conceptualizations of health and illness differ according to cultural groups and socioeconomic backgrounds.
  5. Explain and analyze how illness and its spread can be prevented or reduced in ways that are sensitive to cultural and economic differences between social groups.
  6. Compare and contrast healthcare systems across nations.
  7. Explain and evaluate the ways in which individuals' social positions and identities shape their attitudes and views regarding health.
  8. In individual and group projects communicate an understanding of sociological principles and their application to health both orally and in writing.
  9. Apply knowledge, awareness, and/or skills to identify and analyze issues related to diversity.

SOC& 201: Social Problems: CD

Credits: 5.0

Origins of, and solutions to, problems in society. Topics may include work, family, healthcare, crime, environment, media, social inequality, and social change. Focus on cultural diversity and U.S. society in global context. Prerequisite(s): Placement in ENGL& 101 or instructor permission.

Course Level Objectives

  1. Apply major sociological perspectives, theories, and concepts to the analysis of social problems.
  2. Identify and assess empirical research findings to critically analyze social problems.
  3. Analyze and assess the ways in which people influence social structures and processes and examine the role collective behaviors play in changing social issues.
  4. Analyze and assess the impact of social forces and structures on people's lives.
  5. Explain and analyze the roles of nationality, race and ethnicity, social class, gender, and other social positions and identities in both influencing and producing social problems.
  6. Explain and evaluate the ways in which individuals' social positions and identities shape their attitudes and views regarding social problems.
  7. In individual and group projects, communicate an understanding of sociological principles and their application to social problems both orally and in writing.
  8. Apply knowledge, awareness, and/or skills to identify and analyze issues related to diversity.

SOC 214: Sociology of the Family: CD

Credits: 5.0

Study of the family as a social institution. Examination of how it responds to and is shaped by other institutions (e.g., the economy, education, politics, the media) and how family forms and experiences differ by race, ethnicity, social class, sexual orientation, and other characteristics. Focus on cultural diversity and U.S. society in global context. Prerequisite(s): Placement in ENGL& 101 or instructor permission.

Course Level Objectives

  1. Apply major sociological perspectives, theories, and concepts to the analysis of issues related to families.
  2. Identify and assess empirical research findings to critically analyze issues related to families.
  3. Analyze and assess the ways in which people actively create and shape families in society.
  4. Analyze and assess the ways in which social forces and structures affect families and how the institution of the family interacts with other social institutions.
  5. Explain and analyze how family relations and conditions vary by race and ethnicity, gender, social class, sexuality, and other social positions and identities.
  6. Explain and evaluate the ways in which individuals' social positions and identities shape their attitudes and views regarding issues related to families.
  7. In individual and group projects, communicate an understanding of sociological principles and their application to families both orally and in writing.
  8. Apply knowledge, awareness, and/or skills to identify and analyze issues related to diversity.

SOC 220: Sociology of Deviance: CD

Credits: 5.0

Course covers theory and research about patterns, causes, consequences, and methods of social control of behaviors defined as deviant. Topics may include crime, mental illness, substance abuse, sexual behaviors, or intergroup conflicts. Focus on cultural diversity and U.S. society in global context. Prerequisite(s): Placement in ENGL& 101 or instructor permission.

Course Level Objectives

  1. Apply major sociological perspectives, theories, and concepts to the analysis of issues related to deviance and social control.
  2. Identify and assess empirical research findings to critically analyze issues related to deviance and social control.
  3. Analyze and assess the ways in which people actively construct deviance as well as their responses to it.
  4. Analyze and assess the impact of social forces and structures on the creation of deviance and its control.
  5. Explain and analyze how race and ethnicity, social class, gender, and other social identities and group relations affect how deviance is created, interpreted, and controlled.
  6. Explain and evaluate the ways in which individuals' social positions and identities shape their attitudes and views regarding issues related to deviance and social control.
  7. Apply knowledge, awareness, and/or skills to identify and analyze issues related to diversity.
  8. In individual and group projects, communicate an understanding of sociological principles and their applications both orally and in writing.

SOCSC 155: Special Topics in Social Science

Credits: Maximum of 5.0 possible

Topics of current interest in Social Science.

Course Level Objectives

  1. Examine and evaluate social science information and arguments from different source forms.
  2. Express their findings in formal and informal writing, classroom discussion, online discussion, research projects, and/or oral presentations.

SOCSC 198: Individual Project in Social Science

Credits: 1.0 to 5.0

Selection, design and completion of student-selected project at beginning level of social science. Student consults with faculty member in all aspects of the projects.

Course Level Objectives

  1. Produce work through independent exploration and expression on a focused area of interest or need.
  2. Demonstrate learning objectives as determined by the supervising instructor.

SOCSC 255: Special Topics: Social Science

Credits: Maximum of 5.0 possible

Topics of current issues in Social Science.

Course Level Objectives

  1. Demonstrate learning objectives as determined by the supervising instructor.
  2. Examine and evaluate social science information and arguments from different source forms.
  3. Express their findings in formal and informal writing, classroom discussion, online discussion, research projects, and/or oral presentations.

SOCSC 298: Individual Project in Social Science

Credits: 1.0 to 5.0

Selection, design and completion of student-selected project at intermediate or advanced level of social science. Student consults with faculty member in all aspects of the projects.

Course Level Objectives

  1. Demonstrate learning objectives as determined by the supervising instructor.
  2. Demonstrate capability in the development, implementation, and completion of a total project adhering to established procedures and due dates.
  3. Express their findings in formal and informal writing, classroom discussion, online discussion, research projects, and/or oral presentations.
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