SOCI - Sociology

SOCI 1101. Introduction to Sociology (3-0-3) Fundamental ideas and concepts of contemporary sociology. Provides a firm background for those who plan to do advanced work in sociology, and for those who wish to have just a sampling, it is a corrective to common sense understanding of modern society. Topics include human cultures and groups, socialization, conformity and non-conformity, social stratification, structure, order, conflict and change, and the major institutions, including economy, education, family, polity, and religion.

SOCI 2293. Family and Society (3-0-3) Analysis of family life and kinship structures in the U.S. and cross-culturally; marriage, husband/wife and parent/child relations; transformations of family and kinship in industrial societies.

SOCI 3105. Society and the Individual (3-0-3)Prerequisite: SOCI 1101. Required for Sociology Majors. Emphasis on the interaction between the individual and the situation. Topics include conformity and non-conformity, cognitive and moral development, the role of language, and the development of the social self.

SOCI 3106. Sociology of Occupations and Professions (3-0-3)Prerequisite: SOCI 1101. The psychological and social implications to the individual of participation in a given occupation, the means by which occupations and professions affect societal stability and change, and the significance of professional versus nonprofessional status.

SOCI 3109. Sociology of Deviance (3-0-3)Prerequisite: SOCI 1101. Focuses on the individual who violates social and legal norms and the consequences for both the individual and the society.

SOCI 3117. Race and Ethnic Relations (3-0-3)Prerequisite: SOCI 1101. Ways in which race and ethnic factors such as religion and national origin relate to family, education, and power.

SOCI 3125. People and Cultures of Africa (3-0-3)Prerequisite: SOCI 1101. A survey of the African continent, its archaeology, prehistory, and culture history, but with a focus on the great diversity of contemporary cultures and on the political and economic developments in the post-colonial era. Current problems of political conflict, economic development, health and environment will also be highlighted.

SOCI 3126. Introduction to Social Work and Welfare (3-0-3)Prerequisite: SOCI 1101. Scope, purposes, philosophy, and problems of social welfare services and the community.

SOCI 3127. Social Problems of Globalization (3-0-3)Prerequisite: SOCI 1101. A study of modern global social problems related to the benefits, transformations, technology, and new modes of production, all of which is often grouped under the term "globalization." Special attention will be paid to the origins of Western industrial capitalism and the history of European colonialism.

SOCI 3128. Drugs and Society (3-0-3)Prerequisite: SOCI 1101. An examination of the social, psychological, and biological aspects of psychotropic drug use and abuse, with emphasis on the sociological aspects. Social aspects related to drug types and their addictive properties are also discussed. Addiction, addiction treatment, drug use prevention and various arguments related to legalization and criminal penalties are addressed.

SOCI 3129. Sociology of Gender (3-0-3)Prerequisite: SOCI 1101. This course will explore the core ideas and socially constructed concepts that create male and female gender-roles in our culture. Examines how behavior associated with gender-roles have come to be defined by the influence of social institutions. Examines the biological differences and similarities between the sexes that have helped perpetuate gender-roles.

SOCI 3135. Sociology of Development (3-0-3)Prerequisite: SOCI 1101. Overview of sociological principles, theories and practices of development and social changes in rural and urban contexts. Students examine problems associated with development programs and analyze existing human capital, social capital, and physical capital used by various population segments in the developed and developing countries.

SOCI 3508. Selected Topics in Sociology (1-3 hours)Prerequisite: SOC 1101. Various topics. May be repeated for credit with consent of the instructor and if not the same topic.

SOCI 3698. Internship (1-6 hours)Prerequisite: Approval of department. Supervised experience in the field with an approved agency or company. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credit hours. (S/U grading.)

SOCI 4105. Sociological Theory (3-0-3)Prerequisite: SOCI 1101. Introduces students to the founders of modern sociology in the 19th and early 20th centuries and to the theoretical problems with which they struggled. Describes some of the classic concepts and debates in the field including sociocultural system, social function, conflict, stratification class, and social interaction. Concludes with a brief look at the late 20th century in terms of the ideas of postmodernism and multiculturalism.

SOCI 4106. Modern Sociological Thought (3-0-3)Prerequisite: SOCI 1101 and SOCI 4105. Emphasizes key problems in sociological theory. Topics include sociological theories and models, theory and research, theory construction, and relevant problems in the philosophy of social science, such as the nature of explanation, reductionism, and emergence.

SOCI 4107. Evolution of Social Stratification and Inequality (3-0-3)Prerequisite: SOCI 1101. An examination of social stratification (class, estate, caste) systems throughout history and their overlap with social inequalities based on ethnic group, gender, or other social characteristics. Description will be supported by theoretical explanations of both stratification and equality offered by major theorists, as well as by study of some possibilities for more egalitarian solutions in the contemporary world.

SOCI 4108. Clinical Sociology (3-0-3)Prerequisite: SOCI 1101. Application of sociological knowledge to human social problems. Students distinguish and interpret current social needs which impact the lives of entire communities on a macro level. Using the campus/local town as a community, students identify a need then plan, design, and implement a change mechanism to improve the community. Through explorations and experiences, students acquire knowledge of how to initiate and implement "grassroots" interventions through community organizing.

SOCI 4405. Sociology Practicum (3-1-4)Prerequisites: Senior standing, Sociology major, 3.0 GPA in SOCI courses, and approval of the department. Provides sociology majors who plan to attend graduate school an opportunity to lead discussion groups with Introductory Sociology students. In addition, attending the Introductory Sociology course again will serve as a capstone course, Experience with leading discussion groups will be beneficial to them in graduate school.

SOCI 4899. Independent Study (1-6 hours)Prerequisites: SOCI 3102 and approval of the department. Guidance of the student through the complete research process, from formulation of a topic to data collection and analysis, to completion of a final report.

SOCI 5101. Social Research 1 (3-0-3)Prerequisite: SOCI 1101. The scientific method and the role of theory as applicable to sociological research; research Design, measurement, sampling, and research ethics. Writing research reports.

SOCI 5102. Social Research 2 (3-0-3)Prerequisite: SOCI 3101. Statistical methods; utilization of skills learned in Social Research 1; conducting original research; writing research reports; SPSS.

SOCI 5106. Sociology of Aging (3-0-3)Prerequisite: SOCI 1101. The sociological analysis of aging in modern society. The examination of aging as a social construct and the attitudes and values surrounding the aging process primarily within an American context.

SOCI 5109. Sociology of Medicine and Mental Disorders (3-0-3)Prerequisite: SOCI 1101. Sociological concepts will be used to investigate issues in health, illness, and medical care systems. Students will learn the social construction of health, illness, and mental health and explore healthcare delivery systems and community care with a focus on the relationship between the healthcare system and the elderly.

SOCI 5115. Religion, Culture and Society (3-0-3)Prerequisite: SOCI 1101 or ANTH 1105. An overview of major sociological and anthropological studies of the structure, function, and evolution of religious thought and behavior including contributions of major theorists. Religion will be studied as an aspect of human sociocultural systems that have cognitive, emotional, social, and moral components.