SOC-Sociology Courses

SOC 100. Introduction to Sociology. 3 Hours.

Human social life, its forms and consequences for everyday life. Social inequality and differentiation by race, ethnicity, class and gender. Assessment of the competency is through performance on course examinations, quizzes, and written assignments. This course meets Blazer Core Humans and their Societies with a Flag in Justice.

SOC 120. Introduction to Social Psychology. 3 Hours.

How societies and groups affect perception of self and others; emotional climate and structure of group interaction; processes and dynamics of group leadership, interaction, and dissolution.

SOC 130. Intimate Relationships and the Family. 3 Hours.

Contemporary trends of marriage, cohabiting and partnerships; dating and courtship; social and psychological factors in mate selection; marital adjustment; role of sex, money, and children in marriage; divorce, other crisis situations, and changing patterns of family relationships in U.S. including the increase in LGBT families.

SOC 135. Human Sexuality. 3 Hours.

Social basis of sexual interaction; varieties of sexual interaction; sexuality related to daily life; attitudes, contraceptive use, and fertility and fecundity; sex role controversies; relation to institutions such as family, religion, medicine, and education; social definitions as determinants of behavior.

SOC 200. Social Change. 3 Hours.

Understanding social change helps us to better anticipate, prepare for, and shape the future. Examination of how and why human societies have changed so profoundly since prehistoric times; focus on information and technology as catalysts for change; patterns of change in contemporary societies from world system and comparative perspectives. This course meets Blazer Core Humans and their Societies with a flag in Global/Multicultural Perspectives.

SOC 210. Sociological Literacy. 3 Hours.

Focus on the sociological imagination and critical understanding of social research. This class will advance an understanding of the development, production, and interpretation of social research, including statistical analysis. The goal of the course is to provide students with the tools they need to become better consumers of social science research.

SOC 220. Sociology of Sex and Gender. 3 Hours.

This course discusses the presumed biological differences; socialization differences of females and males; positions in and treatment by major institutions such as education, religion and economy; influence of gender labeling on development and lives of individuals. This course meets Blazer Core Humans and their Societies with a Flag in Justice.

SOC 222. Sociology in the City. 3 Hours.

SOC 222: Sociology in the City A special topics class using sociological and interdisciplinary approaches to investigate a timely topic within the city, metropolitan area, state, or region, focusing connecting the student to the course material, through high impact practices (experiential learning and/or student research, or collaboration with stake holders, etc.). This course meets Blazer Core City as a Classroom with a flag in Justice.

SOC 235. Sociology of Religion. 3 Hours.

Social aspects of individual religious experience; organization of churches and sects; relationships among religion, science, and other institutions; Major faith groups: religion and global conflict.

SOC 245. Contemporary Social Problems. 3 Hours.

How certain social conditions or behaviors come to be seen as social problems, why they persist and how they can be changed. Emphasis on understanding contemporary issues, and how diverse social groups are impacted by them. This course meets Blazer Core Humans and their Societies with a Flag in Justice.

SOC 250. Sociology of Race and Ethnicity. 3 Hours.

Various ethnic and racial groups, with emphasis on theory and research on intergroup relations; internal structure, culture, and experiences of ethnic groups, with empahsis on contemporary American society. This course meets Blazer Core Humans and their Societies with flags in Justice and Global/Multicultural Perspectives.

SOC 255. Intersecting Realities: Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality. 3 Hours.

This course is an overview of a social sciences approach to intersectionality.This course explores key questions social scientists ask about intersectionality, including 1) What is intersectionality? 2) How should we define the dimensions of intersectionality – that is, race/racism; gender/sexism; class/capitalism; sexuality/homophobia, and others? And 3) How do intersecting modes of domination influence individual experiences, social interactions, and social institutions?.

SOC 275. Urban Sociology. 3 Hours.

Lifestyle changes in urban society; social and demographic characteristics of cities; benefits and problems resulting from these characteristics; urban problems compared with rural and suburban problems.

SOC 278. Our Interconnected World: International Sociology. 3 Hours.

Globalization is a pervasive feature of contemporary social life. A world economy, a world polity, and a world culture are rapidly expanding. This course examines globalization’s aspects and impacts to begin understanding its causes, effects, and implications for our own lives. This course meets Blazer Core Curriculum Humans and their Societies with a flag in Global/Multicultural Perspectives.

SOC 280. Introduction to Medical Sociology. 3 Hours.

Social and cultural factors in defining health and illness; social determinants of health; health and illness behavior; health professionals; organization and delivery of health care in the U.S. (This course was formerly titled Health and Society). This course meets Blazer Core Humans and their Societies with a flag in Wellness/Well-being.

SOC 282. Minority Health. 3 Hours.

The relationship between race, ethnicity, health, social and behavioral factors, and health policy. Health related issues specific to various racial and ethnic groups will be discussed.

SOC 283. The Sociology of Mental Health. 3 Hours.

Examination of mental and illness in its social context the social construction of mental health and illness the interrelationships between social structure, social factors, stress, coping resources and mental health experiences of mental health and illness.

SOC 285. Introduction to Aging. 3 Hours.

Aging experience in modern world. Theories of aging, dimensions of aging, everyday concerns associated with aging, and future prospects of aging.

SOC 290. Special Topics in Sociology. 1-3 Hour.

Irregularly offered courses on special topics in sociology. Varies in content. May be repeated for credit but topic may not be repeated.
Prerequisites: SOC 100 [Min Grade: C]

SOC 291. Special Topics in Sociology. 1-3 Hour.

Irregularly offered courses on special topics in sociology. Varies in content. May be repeated for credit but topic may not be repeated.
Prerequisites: SOC 100 [Min Grade: D]

SOC 292. Special Topics in Sociology. 1-3 Hour.

Irregularly offered courses on special topics in sociology. Varies in content. May be repeated for credit but topic may not be repeated.
Prerequisites: SOC 100 [Min Grade: D]

SOC 293. Special Topics in Sociology. 1-3 Hour.

Irregularly offered courses on special topics in sociology. Varies in content. May be repeated for credit but topic may not be repeated.
Prerequisites: SOC 100 [Min Grade: D]

SOC 294. Special Topics in Sociology. 1-3 Hour.

Irregularly offered courses on special topics in sociology. Varies in content. May be repeated for credit but topic may not be repeated.
Prerequisites: SOC 100 [Min Grade: D]

SOC 295. Special Topics in Sociology. 1-3 Hour.

Irregularly offered courses on special topics in sociology. Varies in content. May be repeated for credit but topic may not be repeated.
Prerequisites: SOC 100 [Min Grade: D]

SOC 310. Sociological Literacy. 3 Hours.

Focus on the critical understanding the sociological imagination through social research. This class will advance an understanding of the development, production, and interpretation of social research, including statistical analysis. The goal of the course is to provide students with the tools they need to become better consumers of social science research.

SOC 315. The Sociology of Terrorism. 3 Hours.

Examination of the social and social psychological explanations of the phenomenon, with particular emphasis given to theories of social construction of terrorism.

SOC 316. Popular Culture. 3 Hours.

Relationship between popular culture, our cultural heritage, and present cultural identity. Connections with big business, music, sports, politics, film and mass media. Analyze cultural objects (movies), compare past mindsets with the present.

SOC 317. Sociology of Social Media. 3 Hours.

Communication and information technology as a product of social, economic, political, cultural forces. Its impact on everyday life. Focus on the Internet and how individuals use it to gather, distribute and convey information.

SOC 318. Passion in Action: Social Movements in America. 3 Hours.

Theoretical and substantive examination of social movements, including reform, status, equality, and new social movements.

SOC 319. Sociology of The South. 3 Hours.

Focus on the South as a unique region. Examing areas such as history, politics, race relations, religion, music, personality, social types and collective behavior.
Prerequisites: SOC 100 [Min Grade: C]

SOC 320. Sociology Through Fiction. 3 Hours.

Sociological theories and concepts as illustrated in contemporary fiction. Classes will vary in terms of the fictional genre explored.

SOC 323. Social Structure and Personality. 3 Hours.

Interaction of social structure and personality; motivation, cognition, and impact of family, social class, and other institutions on personality development and mental illness.

SOC 335. Human Sexuality: A Comparative Approach. 3 Hours.

Sexual identity from a sociological perspective. Topics include: theories of sexual orientation, social movements related to sexual identity, development of sexual identity over the life course, and relationship to social institutions such as the family, medical community, and legal system.

SOC 336. Sport and Society. 3 Hours.

Sociological analysis of sport in contemporary societies. Sport as microcosm of society and modern institution; socialization process, problems of racial and sexual inequality, aggression and violence, mass media, and societal change.

SOC 340. Deviant Behavior. 3 Hours.

How and why certain behaviors, thoughts, and characteristics are labeled deviant; how and why certain individuals are labeled; consequences of being labeled; individual and group conflict; socialization to deviance; education; law enforcement; institutions; influence on family and friends.

SOC 350. Sociology of Hip Hop. 3 Hours.

Examines the emergence and impact of Hip Hop music and culture from historical, aesthetic, and sociopolitical perspectives.

SOC 370. Population Problems. 3 Hours.

Scope and method of population analysis; analysis of growth, distribution of characteristics, and changes of population of U.S.; impact of changes in population structure on American and world society.

SOC 383. Drugs and Society. 3 Hours.

Variety of legal and illegal drugs in use in our society, their history, their social effects, and strategies for control and prevention of their abuse.

SOC 395. HIV/AIDS and Society. 3 Hours.

This course explores the social impact of HIV/AIDS in local, national, and international contexts, focusing on how society has responded to and changed as a result of HIV/AIDS, including public health surveillance and interventions, policies and funding for prevention/research, and broader cultural changes.

SOC 405. Mind, Self and Society. 3 Hours.

Symbolic interaction as major theoretical perspective of sociological social psychology; origins of approach in Mead, Blumer, and Goffman. Significance of concepts such as role-taking, impression management, self, identity and symbolic interaction.

SOC 407. Social Theory and Modern Life. 3 Hours.

In this class, we examine multiple theoretical frameworks that scholars use in sociology, ranging from the earliest social theories to postmodernism. The readings are challenging, but they contain a treasure trove of useful tools that we will use to better understand age-old questions about human nature and social life, as well as contemporary social problems in the U.S.

SOC 408. Medical Sociological Theory. 3 Hours.

This course provides a basic introduction to the use of sociological theory in medical sociology. The course begins with an examination of the relevant work of classical theorists, such as Marx, Durkheim, and Weber, and extends to contemporary theory. Each body of theory is applied to pressing questions in medical sociology.
Prerequisites: SOC 310 [Min Grade: C]

SOC 410. Social Statistics. 4 Hours.

Elementary techniques and analysis; preparation and use of graphs and tables; measures of central tendency and dispersion; probability and sampling; tests of significance and measurements of association. Quantitative Literacy is a significant component of this course.
Prerequisites: MA 102 [Min Grade: D] or MA 110 [Min Grade: D]

SOC 410L. Social Statistics Laboratory. 0 Hours.

Laboratory component of SOC 410. Required for all sociology majors. Cross listed as SW 321L. Quantitative Literacy is a significant component of this course.

SOC 415. Social Stratification. 3 Hours.

Inequality of wealth, prestige, and power distribution examined as caste-class differences; effect of stratification on individuals and their behavior, lifestyle, and life chances.

SOC 417. Political Sociology. 3 Hours.

Political sociology traces the relationships between political ideas, government structures, social life, and the neverending efforts of individuals and groups to modify these relationships to achieve their best notions of the good life.

SOC 431. Environmental Sociology. 3 Hours.

Examines the interaction between the biophysical environment and human society, how social processes, define, construct, and alter the environment, and human causes and consequences of environmental problems.

SOC 445. Biology and Society. 3 Hours.

This course introduces students to the basic techniques and theoretical models through which modern sociologists and other social scientists incorporate genetic and biological information and processes into their understanding of society.

SOC 456. Death and Dying. 3 Hours.

Death, dying and bereavement from sociological and social psychological perspectives.

SOC 457. Family Relations over the Life Course. 3 Hours.

This course examines family relationships from middle to late adulthood from a sociological perspective. We examine issues such as caregiving, preparing for retirement, family relationships and how they vary depending on family structure, effects of divorce and remarriage, parenting at older ages and assisted reproductive technologies, transfers and saving, family ties etc. Much of the class is oriented towards how later life experiences are guided by earlier life situations.

SOC 460. Sociology of Work. 3 Hours.

Social organization of occupations; role and function in modern industrial society; gender and race; professionalism, job choices, and careers and stress; labor force composition, unemployment, and retirement. This class often does a field trip to a local business.

SOC 470. Population Dynamics. 3 Hours.

Scope and method of population analysis; analysis of growth, distribution of characteristics, and changes of population of U.S.; impact of changes in population structure on American and world society.

SOC 472. Sociological Internship. 1-3 Hour.

Students will participate in an internship related to a substantive area of sociology. Combines hands-on work experience with academic training by applying sociological principles to the real world. Contact the Sociology Internship Director for information, including deadlines for applying. May be repeated up to a maximum of 6 credit hours. Prerequisites: 12 credit hours in Sociology (Min Grade: C). Instructor Permission Required.

SOC 480. Sociology of Health and Illness. 3 Hours.

Critical evaluation of medical care system and health policy; social consequences of current health issues; social causes of health and illness; alternative practitioners and self-help groups. (This course was formerly titled Medical Sociology).

SOC 482. Gender and Health. 3 Hours.

Sociological, psychological and biological explanations of gender differences in mental and physical health across the life course.

SOC 484. Quantitative Research Methods. 3 Hours.

Comprehensive introduction to quantitative research in the social sciences, with an overview of the scientific method and the philosophy of science. Detailed study of quantitative research designs, sampling techniques, and measurement.
Prerequisites: SOC 310 [Min Grade: C]

SOC 486. Qualitative Research Methods. 3 Hours.

Learn methods for conducting qualitative sociological research including participant observation, interviews, and content analysis; ethics of qualitative research; ethnographic field strategies; preparing for and conducting in-depth interviewing and focus groups; analyzing the interrelationships between research and thinking theoretically; reading and evaluating qualitative research; proposing own research projects using appropriate qualitative methods.
Prerequisites: SOC 310 [Min Grade: C]

SOC 488. Sociological Practice/SL. 1-3 Hour.

Students will be involved in community research and/or service-learning projects related to a substantive area of sociology or gerontology. Placement in community organizations to focus on research or practice related to social policy.

SOC 489. The Research Experience. 4 Hours.

Capstone includes application of the basic tools of inquiry in sociological research; basic ethical issues in research; forming the research question; hypothesis testing; measurement, sampling, validity and reliability; data gathering techniques; research design; data management; disciplinary standards for writing the research proposal and reporting findings. For students in their last 30 hours.

SOC 489L. The Research Experience Laboratory. 0 Hours.

Laboratory component of the Capstone course, required of all Sociology majors.

SOC 490. Independent Study: Sociology. 1-3 Hour.

Individually designed programs for semi-independent research or guided readings in areas and subjects otherwise unavailable. Irregularly offered courses on special topics in sociology. Varies in content. May be repeated for credit but topic may not be repeated. This is a designated service-learning course integrating academic learning, civic learning and meaningful service to the community.

SOC 491. Independent Study and Special Courses in Sociology. 1-3 Hour.

Peer-facilitated, structured dialogues on topics related to socail identity in a diverse society. Separate topics on gender, race, religion, sexualities. Mat be repeated for credit but topic may not be repeated.

SOC 492. Independent Study and Special Courses in Sociology. 1-3 Hour.

Individually designed programs for semi-independent research or guided readings in areas and subjects otherwise unavailable. Irregularly offered courses on special topics in sociology. Varies in content. May be repeated for credit but topic may not be repeated.

SOC 493. Independent Study and Special Courses in Sociology. 1-3 Hour.

Individually designed programs for semi-independent research or guided readings in areas and subjects otherwise unavailable. Irregularly offered courses on special topics in sociology. Varies in content. May be repeated for credit but topic may not be repeated.

SOC 494. Independent Research in Sociology. 1-3 Hour.

Individually designed programs for semi-independent research. Irregularly offered course on research topics in sociology. Varies in content. May be repeated for credit and continued topic with advancement.

SOC 495. Independent Research in Sociology. 1-3 Hour.

Individually designed programs for semi-independent research. Irregularly offered course on research topics in sociology. Varies in content. May be repeated for credit and continued topic with advancement.

SOC 498. Sociology Honors Seminar. 3 Hours.

Special seminar for sociology honors students. Prerequisite: admission to the Sociology Honors Program and permission of the Undergraduate Director in Sociology.

SOC 499. Sociology Honors Thesis. 3 Hours.

Sociology Honors Thesis.