2016 Fall Term
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PRINCIPLES OF SOCIOLOGY (GS)
This course introduces students to the ways in which sociologists use theory and research to study human group behavior and the processes by which people build, maintain, and change their institutional arrangements and relationships with one another. The course will focus on five areas of inquiry: social structure, interaction, and change; inequality and diversity; family and health; crime, criminal justice, and law; and global comparative.
SOCIAL PROBLEMS (GS)
This course examines various theoretical explanations of contemporary social problems such as crime, drug use, poverty, discrimination and environmental pollution. The impact of social problems on different groups in society and the role of social movements, government, and social policy are considered.
INTRODUCTION TO FAMILY STUDIES (GS)
This course emphasizes the influence of gender, race/ethnicity, and class on family and marriage in comtemporary U.S. society. It introduces students to theories and research that explain social forces affecting family commitments, and familiarizes them with varying social and cultural patterns of family formation.
RACE AND ETHNIC RELATIONS (DV)(GS)
This course examines relationships between racial minorities and the majority group in the United States in their socio-historical contexts. Early histories of relations between minorities and the majority as well as present relations will be addressed. Questions raised include whether American society should attempt to minimize differences between minorities and the majority, whether to blend or maintain group identities, and how we should address existing barriers and inequalities. Relationships and differences among minority groups will also be examined.
THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY: A SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE (DV)(GS)
This course provides lower level undergraduate students with systematic sociological understanding of the historical and current experiences of African American people.
INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY (GS)
An introduction to the field of criminology through examination of theories and patterns of criminal behavior, the operation of the criminal justice system, and the politics of crime control policy.
ASIAN AMERICANS (DV) (GS)
The course examines the intersection of Asia and United States through peoples who migrated from Asia. It reviews issues of race and ethnicity and provides an overview in Asian cultures so that students can understand Asian American diversity and Asian cultures of orgin. It examines the diverse experiences of the various Asian peoples who have migrated to the U.S.
BASIC SOCIAL STATISTICS
Introduction to basic statistical methods and their utility in sociology including statistical concepts, frequency distribution, measures of central tendency and variability, correlation analysis, OLS regression analysis, and including the logic of hypothesis testing. In addition, introduction to basic operations of PASW (formally SPSS) statistical software in social data analysis.
CULTURE, MEDICINE AND HEALTH
Medical anthropologists apply critical concepts and ethnographic methods to understand the lived experience of illness and suffering; differing medical practices; and the various ways modern healthcare impacts societies. This course is an introduction to the field and designed for students in the social sciences, humanities, and biological/health sciences.
SOCIOLOGY OF DISABILITY
Sociology of Disability is an examination of the social construction of disability, including its historical and cross-cultural variations, institutional and organizational contexts, and interactional and emotional dimensions. Particular attention is given to the experience of living with various biomedical conditions and the ways in which the social status of disability is related to other forms of social inequality and difference.
This course examines the economic and political structures that have induced natural environmental degradation throughout the world and highlights the impact of collective social actors mobilizing to influence the process of environmental policy formation in order to address environmental and technological risks.
SOCIOLOGY OF NATURAL DISASTERS
This course examines the impact of natural events from a sociological perspective, including hurricanes and earthquakes in which a relatively self-sufficient community undergoes severe physical destruction and incurs in financial loses and the loss of community. Agency and governmental response to disaster emergencies will also be considered.
SOCIAL MOVEMENTS AND COLLECTIVE BEHAVIOR
An examination of the causes and consequences of social movements and collective behavior, including such phenomena as riots; fads; panic; trade unions; reform, revolutionary, and liberation movements; utopian communities.
SOCIOLOGY OF GENDER
This course will analyze gender as a process and as a social institution. It will examine how we can experience gender in ways that maintain existing gender relations or in ways that challenge them.
CONTEMPORARY JAPANESE SOCIETY
This course examines contemporary Japanese society. It includes a study of social institutions, processes, and culture of Japan. the course examines following areas: (a) culture (beliefs, customs, social identity); (b) social institutions (family, religion, education, work, media); (c) societal processes (socialization, deviance, urbanization); (d) inequalities (gender, income, race-ethnic, region); and (e) the politics, economy, and international position of Japan.
An examination of the process and results of human interaction with an emphasis on attitudes and attitude change, society and personality, inter-group relations and processes of socialization.
A study of the development of world population and the social significance of different population sizes and growth rates; emphasis on the social determinants of fertility, mortality and migration.
A study of the incidence of delinquency, theories and findings regarding causation, and the policies designed for treatment and prevention of delinquency.
SOCIOLOGY OF VIOLENT CRIME
This course will provide an in-depth look at homicide and other violent crimes as a social and legal category and at the social psychological variables that affect them. Various types of criminal violence will be examined in American society and in a global context. Forensic issues will be addressed along with political and social issues.
SOCIOLOGY OF POLICE AND COURTS
A sociological analysis of the development and behavior of the police, lawyers, prosecutors and judiciary in society and their role in social control.
SOCIOLOGY OF PUNISHMENT AND CORRECTIONS
The critical analysis of probation, parole, halfway houses, jails and prisons. Their origins in and possible function for the larger society will also be examined. Field trip is required.
WOMEN AND CRIME
This course examines the frequency and nature of female offending and female victimization; the frequently blurred boundaries of female victimization and criminalization; and the role of criminal law, police, and courts in the processing of female victims and offenders.
ORGANIZATIONS AND SOCIETY
An examination of the growth and role of organizations in society with specific attention to American society.
RACIAL & ETHNIC INEQUALITY: BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
Readings in theoretical, empirical, and policy literature will offer an in-depth study of racial and ethnic inequality in criminal justice, housing, poverty, health, education and immigration. The class features an experiential component through field trips across the region to thematically orientated site visits with experts in the field of inequality.
MINORITY AND MULTIRACIAL FAMILIES (DV)
This course will examine the "traditional" definition of family throughout American history as well as how more and more families challenge this definition. We will discuss how political, economic and social factors have shaped the experiences, structure and dynamics of families; and we will analyze trends in family formation patterns. (Offered jointly with Race and Ethnic Studies).
This course is an in-depth investigation of criminological theories with an emphasis on sociological criminology. Students will compare-contrast the assumptions, principles and concepts of major theories, examine empirical research relevant to the theories, and consider the policy applications of theoretical perspectives.
SOCIAL THEORY: CLASSICAL AND CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES
An examination of classical and contemporary social thought. The connections between early major European and contemporary U.S. and international theorists will be emphasized to analyze key areas of sociological inquiry. The course will map important theoretical camps in sociology as well as conduct analysis of contemporary and historical issues using social theory. Unreq: SOCIOLGY 420, ANTHROPL 420
METHODS OF SOCIAL RESEARCH
To acquaint the student with research methods in sociology and the social sciences; the foundation of sociology in science; the role of theory in research; construction of the research design; sampling, data gathering techniques, and analysis and interpretation of data.
SUPERVISED TEACHING AIDE
This course provides selected undergraduates with teaching experience in a college classroom. Students learn from a teaching aide experience in which the student assists an instructor in preparing, delivering, and overseeing lab, review or discussion sessions or by tutoring students. The student will attend the class sessions for a second time, meet weekly with the instructor, and is under the direct supervision of a faculty mentor.
This course involves a supervised internship in a public or private organization. Through on campus seminars and written assignments on the intern experience, students learn how sociology can be applied to solve social problems. Repeatable for a maximum of 6 credits in degree. Prereq: Consent of internship coordinator.
SEMINAR IN SOCIOLOGY
Variable topics. Group activity. An advanced course of study in a defined subject matter area emphasizing a small group in intense study with a faculty member. Repeatable.
Variable topics. Group activity. Not offered regularly in the curriculum but offered on topics selected on the basis of timeliness, need, and interest, and generally in the format of regularly scheduled Catalog offerings. Repeatable.
Repeatable, in combination with SOCIOLGY 498R, for a maximum of 6 units in major or minor, and 12 units in degree. Cannot substitute for SOCIOLGY 476 or SOCIOLGY 473 or SOCIOLGY 472. Cannot use S/NC grading.
INDEPENDENT STUDY- UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Study of a selected topic or topics under the direction of a faculty member. Repeatable.