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. (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. (CAN SOC 4)
3. Analysis of Social Life (3)
Introduction to critical thinking and sociological analysis. Evaluation
of popular and sociological interpretations of social phenomena. Analysis
of computerized data sets. Topics covered and assignments vary with instructor.
(2 lecture, 2 lab hours)
25. Quantitative Methods in the Social Sciences (3)
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) (Computer lab fee, $15)
111. Sociology of Minority Relations (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 -- and secondarily the bases are non-ethnic such as age and gender.
112. Collective Behavior (3)
An examination of types of collective behavior: crowds, mobs, panics, publics,
fashion, fad, social movements, and transient and anonymous relationships;
their increasing importance in modern society where violence, conflict,
and social unrest are common.
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: Engl 1. 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.) The roles of women and men in contemporary social life,
socialization, and adult life -- work roles, nuclear family, and other roles.
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 media 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.
146. Sociology of Work (3)
Work in modern industrial society, employment and unemployment, formal and
informal characteristics of work, the relationship between work and leisure,
and the investigation of work satisfaction and alienation.
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.
159. Social History of Crime (3)
Impact of social changes on crime and social control. Focus on United States
and Western Europe. Topics include incidence and types of crime, rule-making
and vindication, and organization of criminality.
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.
167. Seminar in Self and Society (3)
Prerequisite: Soc 1, 162, or Psych 134. Analysis of the relation of
the self-system to society; symbolic interaction theory; role identity and
social interaction; types of self development under varying social conditions.
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 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.
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.
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. (2 lecture, 2 lab hours)
181. Small Groups (3)
Small groups as basic social units. Description of the types of groups,
how they operate, and the important variables affecting them. Observation
and participation to increase understanding of the many small groups to
which we all belong.
190. Independent Study (1-3; max see reference)
See Academic Placement -- Independent Study.