You are in the official 2001-2002 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
Department of Sociology
COURSES
Sociology (SOC)
1. Principles of Sociology (3)
Introduction to the principles and theoretical perspectives of
sociology and their application to the fundamental problems of
social life. Discussion of sociological methods and findings in
such areas as family, race relations, deviance. G.E. Breadth D3.
(CAN SOC 2)
2. Social Problems (3)
Introduction to major sociological perspectives on social problems.
Analysis of causes and possible solutions to such problems as
poverty, discrimination, crime, delinquency, alcoholism, drug
abuse, suicide, family disorganization, and pollution. G.E. Breadth
D3. (CAN SOC 4)
3. Analysis of Social Life (3)
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. G.E. Foundation A3. (2 lecture,
2 lab hours) (Computer lab fee, $15)
25. Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences (3)
Prerequisite: completion of Math requirement in G.E. Foundation,
B4. 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)
111. Sociology of Race and Ethnicity (3)
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.
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.
130W. Contemporary Social Issues (3)
Prerequisite: satisfactory completion (C or better)
of the ENGL 1 graduation requirement. A sociological perspective
is used to examine currently debated public issues. Often, public
issues involve present or proposed public policies; the impact
of these policies on different segments of society is assessed.
Meets the upper-division writing skills requirement for graduation.
131. Sociology of Sex Roles (3)
(Same as W S 131.) Introduces students to the sociological study
of sex and gender. Looks at how men and women experience differently
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.
132. Women and Work (3)
(Same as W S 132.) An examination of women and work in contemporary
society, including housework, labor force participation, employment
in various oc cupations, and career planning.
142. Sociology of Popular Culture (3)
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.
143. Deviance and Control (3)
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.
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.
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.
147. Medical Sociology (3)
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.
148. Sociology of Education (3)
A sociological examination of education as an institution, including
its social determinants, functions, and consequences.
149. Sociology of Business (3)
The social origins and development of business as an institution.
Comparative studies of diverse impacts of business on society.
Analysis of resulting ideologi cal, political, and regulatory
reactions to business.
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.
151. Social Classes and Inequality (3)
Prerequisite: SOC 1. Analysis of evaluational differentiation
leading to social stratification. Criteria for differentiation,
bases for evaluation, types of stratification, composition of
strata and status systems, mobility, consequences of stratifications,
and methods of studying stratification.
152. Classical Sociological Theory (3)
Prerequisite: SOC 1. Evolution of classical sociological theories.
Consideration of their origins in society and culture. Examination
of such theorists as Marx, Weber, Durkheim, Comte, St. Simon,
and Simmel.
153. Contemporary Sociological Theory (3)
Prerequisite: SOC 1. Processes of theory construction. Major current
sociological theories such as functionalist and conflict, interaction
and interpretive, and behaviorist and exchange theories.
157. Social Change (3)
Analysis of directions, patterns, and processes of social and
cultural change.
161. Population Analysis (3)
Population theories and history; demographic processes and variables
in contemporary society. Analysis of census data.
162. Social Psychology (3)
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.
163. Urban Sociology (3)
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.
164. Political Sociology (3)
The social causes and effects of political phenomena. The roles
of social classes, movements, and institutions in shaping the
political process; examination of political behavior and attitudes.
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.
166. Social Gerontology (3)
(Same as GERON 166.) Aging and the aged with special emphasis
on urban American society; demographic dynamics; problems of the
aged; gerontological research methodology.
168. Interpersonal Relationships (3)
Exploration of the basic elements of interpersonal relationships
including listening, disclosure, feedback, empathy. (Formerly
SOC 150T section)
169. Sociology of Religion (3)
Major sects, denominations, and churches; integrative and disintegrative
processes in the United States; contemporary religious phenomena.
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.
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) (Computer lab fee, $15)
174. Computer Data Analysis (1)
An introduction to the use of one of the most widely utilized
computer packages in the social sciences -- SPSS (Statistical
Package for the Social Sciences). No prior knowledge of computers
is necessary. CR/NC grading only.
175. Sociological Research Methods (3)
Prerequisite: SOC 25. The research process with special emphasis
on measurement, sampling, data collection, data analysis, and
report preparation. Basic assumptions and dilemmas of social science
research.
185. Service Learning (1-6; max total 6)
Prerequisite: permission of instructor and sponsoring agency.
Individually-planned service learning experience relating classroom
studies in sociology with practical experience in community service.
Hours to be arranged. CR/NC grading only. (Minimum of 3 field
hours per week per credit unit.)
190. Independent Study (1-3; max total 6)
See Academic Placement -- Independent
Study. Approved for SP grading.
Sociology Degrees