Requirements and Curriculum
Note: This information reflects the 2007-08 course catalog.
Requirements
Required for a major
101, 301, 350, and five additional courses in the discipline, one of which must be a 400-level seminar. Students who contemplate graduate study should participate in research opportunities with the faculty and should complete 376. Students interested in teaching should see education department for secondary education minor requirements.
Required for a minor
101, 301, and three additional courses, one of which must be numbered above 350.
Required for a second teaching area
Twenty-four hours in sociology including 101 and 301, or completion of a 30-hour major in another social science plus 15 hours in sociology.
Curriculum
101 Introduction to Sociology 4 hours
Introduction to the sociological perspective, utilizing concepts from sociology, anthropology, and social psychology, together with the philosophy and methodologies of the behavioral sciences. Prerequisite to all other sociology courses. (HBSSM)
139, 239, 339, 439 Special Topics Credit arr.
185 First-year Seminar 4 hours
A variety of seminars for first-year students offered each January term.
242 Sociology of Gender 4 hours
Examines the gendered structure of our everyday lives; makes gendered assumptions and practices explicit; and uncovers the impact of gender in the social world. Emphasis on historical and cross cultural constructions of gender that provide alternatives to gender inequality and a basis for social change. Prerequisite: 101. (Same as women’s studies 242.) (HBSSM)
253 Sociology of Criminal and Deviant Behavior 4 hours
A theoretical analysis of the relationship of deviant behavior and subcultures to community standards of conventional behavior as expressed in law and norms, as well as an analysis of the extent, distribution, and character of crime and delinquency. Prerequisite: 101. (HBSSM)
261 Social Conflict 4 hours
Course will examine the origin, escalation, and resolution of social conflict at three levels: interpersonal, intergroup (e.g. ethnic group, economic class), and international. Focuses on major causes of conflict including: ethnic identity, competition for material resources, and ideological differences. Expressions of conflict will be examined including: hatred, electoral action, labor union activity, violence, war, and terrorism. Interventions to minimize the negative social impacts of conflict will be considered for each level of conflict. Prerequisite: 101. Offered alternate years. (HBSSM)
301 Research Methodology 4 hours
Examines the process of conducting and evaluating sociological research. Areas of emphasis include: research design, techniques of sampling, methods of data collection, principles of measurement, basic methods of data analysis, and ethical considerations. Prerequisite: 101 and junior standing. (HBSSM, W)
345 Race, Class, and Gender in Contemporary Society 4 hours
An assessment of how race, class, and gender influence the attainment of societal honors, rewards, and power in the United States today. Similarities and differences in social structures and ideologies of modern society are emphasized for race, class, and gender. Prerequisite: 101. (HBSSM, Intcl)
347 Sociology of the Family 4 hours
Consideration of the historical and cultural foundations of the institution of marriage and the family. Emphasis on cross-cultural trends as they relate to the family, including socialization practices, changing status of women, and dating patterns. Prerequisite: 101. (HBSSM)
350 Social Statistics 4 hours
A first course in applied statistics that focuses on interpretation of quantitative data about the social world. Students will use statistical software for data analysis. Prerequisite: 101, math 110 or above. (HBSSM)
351 Women and Crime 4 hours
Examines women’s experiences as both victims and perpetrators of crime and deviance, in the U.S. and internationally. Analyzes the history and theory of women’s criminal activities, the social construction of women’s victimization, and the impact of culture, structure, and inequality on women’s behavior. Prerequisite: 101. (Same as women’s and gender studies 351). (HBSSM)
356 Environmental Sociology 4 hours
Examines how cultural, social, and economic forces shape the relationships between societies and their natural environments. Environmental dynamics such as pollution and natural resource use are connected with social dynamics of human population, industrial production, poverty, urban planning, and consumer culture. Examination of environmental movements and counter-movements illustrate how understandings of the natural environment change over time and are often in contention. (HBSSM)
358 Social Psychology 4 hours
A study of the relationship between the individual and society and the interactions produced. Emphasis on research in the areas of self, identity, symbolic interaction, and social movements. Prerequisite: 101. (HBSSM)
376 Social Theory and Praxis 4 hours
This course gives students knowledge of and experience with the classical and contemporary perspectives on human social behavior. Students will study the original works of theorists, critically analyze their ideas, and apply these perspectives to current events, media artifacts, and sociological topics. This course is highly recommended for students considering further study in graduate school. Prerequisite: 101. Offered alternate years. (HBSSM)
395 Independent Study 1, 2, or 4 hours
453 Seminar: Law and Human Rights 4 hours
Examines the construction and application of law by various societies, with a particular focus on international and human rights law. Studies the people and groups who create law, the development of human rights, the effects of race, class, gender and nationality on legal standards, and the impact of globalization on international law. Prerequisite: 101. Offered alternate years. (HBSSM, Intcl)
468 Seminar: Gender, Globalization and Development 4 hours
In this course we will examine the phenomena of globalization and development from a sociology of gender perspective. We will focus on the global intersections of contemporary societies and cultures, and the gendered dynamics therein. Questions we will raise include: How does globalization affect women’s and men’s lives? How is power distributed, and how does this impact development processes? What impact do gender dynamics play in the social institutions of development: economic, political, and cultural? (Same as women’s and gender studies 468.) Prerequisite: 101. (HBSSM, Intcl)
469 Seminar: Mental Health and Mental Illness 4 hours
An examination of abnormal mental behavior in terms of both causes and treatment. A particular focus will be on how group, cultural, and societal factors influence causality and treatment approaches. Prerequisite: 101. (HBSSM)
472 Seminar: Social Institutions 4 hours
An examination of selected major social institutions in American society (family, education, religion, politics, or industry). Prerequisite: 101. (HBSSM)
475 Seminar: Social Movements 4 hours
Explores theoretical issues related to social movements—why they emerge, how they evolve, how they are organized, why people join them, what factors determine their success—while learning about various historical and contemporary social movements such as the Black civil rights, environmental, religious right, and gay rights movements. Prerequisite: 101. Offered alternate years. (HBSSM)
490 Senior Project 1, 2, or 4 hours
493 Senior Honors Project 4 hours
A year-long independent research project. Applications are completed on the “Honors Program” form available at the registrar’s office, requiring the signatures of a faculty supervisor, the department head, the honors program director, and the registrar. Interdisciplinary projects require the signatures of two faculty supervisors. The project must be completed by the due date for senior projects. The completed project is evaluated by a review committee consisting of the faculty supervisor, another faculty member from the major department, and a faculty member from outside the major department. All projects must be presented publicly. Only projects awarded an “A-” or “A” qualify for “department honors” designation. The honors project fulfills the all-college senior project requirement. (HBSSM)