Sociology (SOC)

SOC 201. Introduction to Archaeology and Physical Anthropology. 3 Hours.

The study of humanity from the perspective of two of the four main subfields of anthropology. Archaeology studies humankind through time, since the species' appearance in the evolutionary record until the historical era, and across the wide geographical range of hominins. Physical anthropology studies humandkind as evolving from biological organisms in all of our variations stretching from the tropical to the polar regions and from pre-birth to death. Students interested in learning about the other two main subfield are invited to take Sociology 202: Introduction to Cultural Anthropology and Communications.

SOC 202. Introduction to Cultural Anthropology & Communications. 3 Hours.

Taught in tandem with SOC 201, this course focuses on the study of humanity from the perspective of cultural anthropology and linguistics. Successful completion of this course satisfies the Cultures and Peoples requirements for graduation.

SOC 210. Introduction to Sociology. 3 Hours.

An introduction to the sociological perspective, focusing on the interrelations of individuals, groups, and institutions in modern society.

SOC 215. Social Problems. 3 Hours.

An examination of the question of what constitutes a social problem, along with a focus on one or two social problems such as war, poverty, inequality and consumerism.

SOC 220. Sociology of Criminal and Deviant Behavior. 3 Hours.

An application of the sociological perspective to an understanding of criminal and deviant behavior and to attempts to control such behavior.

SOC 225. Human Ecology. 3 Hours.

An ecological approach to an examination of the relationships between natural resource bases and the human societies they support. Successful completion of this course satisfies the Cultures and Peoples requirement for graduation.

SOC 230. Urban Sociology. 3 Hours.

An ecological approach to an examination of the relationships between natural resource bases and the human societies they support. Successful completion of this course satisfies the Cultures and Peoples requirement for graduation.

SOC 240. Race and Ethnic Relations. 3 Hours.

An examination of the history, major issues, and sociological dimensions of race and ethnic relations in the United States, with a view to meeting the challenges of our increasingly multicultural society.

SOC 250. Sex & Gender Across Cultures. 3 Hours.

Debates over gender and human sexuality in western societies generally assume that there are only two gender roles, male and female, and only two types of sexuality, heterosexual and homosexual. Some nonwestern culture have a far broader range of both gender roles and sexualities. This class examines gender roles and human sexuality primarily in nonwestern cultures, and explores what these cultures have to teach us about gender and sex in our society.

SOC 280. Selected Topics in Sociology. 1 to 4 Hours.

Introductory-level research or exploration in topics not offered in the regular department courses.

SOC 300. Qualitative Research Methods/Ethnography. 3 Hours.

An introduction to nonquantitative methods in sociological research, including case studies, participant observation, and unstructured interviews. Students will apply these methods in their own study of a social scene.

SOC 302. Environmental Sociology. 3 Hours.

An examination of the increasing impact of human beings on the natural world, focusing especially on how social and cultural factors affect our willingness or unwillingness to conserve and protect the natural world.

SOC 305. The Sociological Wisdom of Martin Luther King, Jr.. 3 Hours.

A thorough examination of the life and writings of Martin Luther King, Jr., emphasizing the sociological implications of his message.

SOC 306. Life & Times of Malcolm X. 3 Hours.

A sociological and historical examination of the life of Malcolm X and his place in the Civil Rights struggle.

SOC 307. W.E.B. DuBois and the Development of Black Sociology. 3 Hours.

A thorough examination of the life and work of W.E.B. DuBois and his influence on the development of a distinctly black sociology.

SOC 310. Ethnographic Film. 3 Hours.

This course in visual athropology leads the student through a series of case students about peoples around the world as they represent themselves and as they are represented by others in film and writing. To expand students' social science research skills, this course teaches students how to interpret visual documentations of culture and how to produce films. Students will explore cross-cultural patterns and differences in human societies by viewing these films about peoples from Australia, the Canadian Arctic, Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, India, Indonesia, and many other places.

SOC 311. Ecological Anthropology. 3 Hours.

Explores the ways people perceive and manage ecosystems using an evolutionary, comparative, and interdisciplinary approach. Successful completion of this course satisfies the Cultures and Peoples requirement for graduation.

SOC 312. Medical Anthropology. 3 Hours.

Explores understandings of health, disease, and the body using a comparative biocultural approach to examine medical systems throughout the world. Successful completion of this course satisfies the Cultures and Peoples requirement for graduation.

SOC 313. Cultures of Southeast Asia and Oceania. 3 Hours.

Explores the geographical, historical, cultural, religious, and ecological characteristics of the people of this region. Successful completion of this course satisfies the Cultures and Peoples requirement for graduation.

SOC 314. Prehistory and History of Native American Culture in the Southeast. 3 Hours.

Explores the prehistoric and historic Native American Cultures of Southeastern North America.

SOC 315. Sex, Gender and the Family. 3 Hours.

Examines the relationship between biological sex and gender roles in our society, and how changing gender roles are reflected in changes in the family.

SOC 320. Social Psychology. 3 Hours.

An examination of the relationship of the individual to groups and society, focusing on both experimental studies under controlled conditions and nonexperimental studies in natural settings.

SOC 330. Social Research. 3 Hours.

An introduction to the methods and techniques of collecting and analyzing social data.

SOC 340. The Development of Sociological Theory. 3 Hours.

A review and analysis of the history of social thought leading up to and focusing especially on the development of modern sociology in the 19th and 20th centuries.

SOC 450. Capstone. 3 Hours.

Designated primarily for seniors completing the major in Sociology to review and integrate what they have learned in their studies in the major and to design and execute a research project on a topic of their choice.

SOC 480. Advanced Topics in Sociology. 1 to 4 Hours.

Advanced-level independent research or exploration in topics not offered in the regular department courses.

SOC 493. Case Studies in Public Health. 3 Hours.

This course is structured by a series of case studies that contain public health principles and focus on specific public health problems, its symptoms, treatments, prevention, and solutions. Work inside and outside of class deepens the investigation of public health principles, problems, and solutions by developing questions and answers for each case study.

Prerequisite: SOC 201 with a minimum grade of D or SOC 202 with a minimum grade of D or SOC 210 with a minimum grade of D or SOC 312 with a minimum grade of D.