Catalog Listing of  Sociology Courses (SOC)    

100 Introduction to Sociology 3 hrs.
Perspective methods, concepts, and general findings of the sociologist. Historical and conceptual development of sociology.

The following lower-division sociology courses listed below are open to students who have completed SOC 100.

102 Analysis of Social Problems 3 hrs.
Sociological interpretation of contemporary social problems as they relate to significant trends in complex societies.

106 Marriage and Family 3 hrs.
The family as a social institution, its structure and function in contemporary societies, dating, marital interaction, life cycle, and socialization process.

200 Introduction to Anthropology 3 hrs.
Origin and development of human ways of life with emphasis on cross-cultural variations in human behavior, belief systems, social institutions, and cultural change.

230 Mass Media in America: Theory and Criticism 3 hrs.
Mass communication theory, history of American mass media, and criticism of contemporary forms and functions of mass media of communication in the United States. (Same as CM 230). 300-level sociology courses are open to students who have taken SOC 100.

300 Research Methods 3 hrs.
Broad and balanced background in various types of social research methods. Fundamental logic and specific techniques in conducting research. Prerequisite: AHS 300. Lab Fee: $40.

306 Sociology of Gender  3 hrs.
An examination of the different perspectives used in the sociological analysis of gender and of the current research addressing gender stratification.  The analysis includes the institutional consequences of gender construction in the United States and cross-culturally, as well as the effects on women and men as members of society.

310 Sociology of Childhood 3 hrs.
Environmental influences on socialization of infants and children. Various family roles, school, peer group, and culture as they affect the growing child.

315 Cultural Change 3 hrs.
Critican exploration of the processes of modernization and globalization and their impact on cultures, economies, and environments of developing societies. Topics include history and theories of development and case studies that examine the linkages among gender, class, culture, and development.

319 Deviance and Social Control 3 hrs.
Examines several approaches to studying deviant behavior and its social control, with emphasis on the social construction of deviance and societal reactions to it. The focus is generally on deviation and control in the U.S.

325 The Sociology of Education 3 hrs.
Education as a social institution; its structure, function, and role in contemporary life. (Same as ED 325).

330 Race and Ethnicity 3 hrs.
Among other issues, examines the historical relationship between race, ethnicity, and economic class/opportunity; and the social construction of ethnicity and race. The emphasis is on race and ethnicity in the U.S. with some discussion of international issues.

333 Statistics for the Social Sciences
This course is an introduction to social statistics with an emphasis on quantitative analysis of survey and census data.  Topics covered include descriptive statistics, random sampling, estimation and hypothesis testing with an emphasis on t-tests, chi-square, correlation and regression.  This course will provide students with a working familiarity of SPSS, analysis of social science data sets, ability to read and comprehend published statistics, and write-up statistical results.  Includes laboratory.  Prerequisite:  3 hours college math.

340 Special Topics 1-3 hrs.
Nontraditional topics of current sociological interest. Title of course and number of credit hours when offered, will appear in course schedule along with prerequisites necessary for admission to course. May be taken more than once for credit as long as subtitles differ.

350 Class, Status, and Power 3 hrs.
Theoretical questions and frameworks for understanding social stratification. Comparison of different types of stratification systems across time and in different societies.

375 Social Psychology 3 hrs.
Fundamental principles of group processes, social influence, and group structure. Development of group solidarity, cohesion, intergroup conflict and cooperation, communication, leadership, opinion, propaganda, and suggestion. Prerequisite: SOC 100 or PY 101,102. (Same as PY 375).

380 The Sociology of Science and Technology 3 hrs.
Survey of the social forces that shape the nature and direction of science and technology. Involves a critical look at modern science and technology. Prerequisite: SOC 100 helpful but not required.

390 Readings and Individual Research 3 hrs.
Supervised readings or in-depth research or both in area of specialized interest to student or instructor. Permission of instructor. May be taken twice for credit with advisor's approval. The department recommends that 400-level courses be reserved for junior or senior standing or by permission of instructor.

435 Sociology of Social Movements
This coursed explores various organized movements for social change.  Emphasis will be placed on the role of movements in democratic contexts, especially in the United States.  However, there will also be ample opportunity for students to study movements in other places.  Prerequisites:   SOC 100 and junior or senior standing.

439 Complex Organization in Industrial Society 3 hrs.
Mainstream and critical sociological theories for understanding complex organization in industrial societies. Specific areas covered include: historical development, structure and processes, contradictions and conflict, and alternative forms. Prerequisite: Senior or graduate standing/permission of insstructor. (Same as PSC 639.)

440 Sociology of Religion 3 hrs.
Among other issues, examines sociological theories of religion, religious organization, religion and social change, and new religious movements, with emphasis on religion in the U.S.

444 Sociology of Culture
Explores meaning-making within the United States' social structure.  Student examine the cultural dimensions of important social processes including race, power, resistance, class, gender, family, etc.  Designed to give students skills in identifying and interpreting the cultural dimensions of everyday life, how culture is produced and the effects of such processes on cultural content, the variability of meaning, and social action.  Prerequisites: SOC100.

455 Sociology of Work and Occupations 3 hrs.
Contemporary work situations and experiences. Alienation in work, impact of technological change and bureaucratization, primary work groups and work culture, professionalization, unionization, workers' self-management experiments, and work-leisure relationship.

465 Sociological Theory 3 hrs.
Development of discipline of sociology in terms of major trends of sociological theory, past and present, and major theoretical problem areas. Nature of sociological theory in relation to other disciplines.