Course Descriptions

SOC 100 - Introduction to Gender and Sexuality Studies
This course will provide students with an interdisciplinary approach to the study of gender and sexuality. The course will introduce students to key concepts, theoretical perspectives and analytical tools developed by social scientists and feminist scholars in diverse fields of study. Through this course, students will examine historical movements and contemporary debates, especially as they pertain to the social construction of gender, structural inequalities, and the intersectionality of gender and sexuality with race, class, nationality and dis/ability. 3 Credits.

SOC 101 - Introduction to Sociology
This survey course studies human social behavior with an emphasis on sociological theory; research methods; and key concepts such as society, culture, socialization, social interaction, institutions, deviance, social stratification, and social change. We will define and analyze how social inequality including, but not limited to, the dimensions of race, class, and gender shapes our understanding of society and impacts us on both an individual and institutional level. 3 Credits.

SOC 102 - Social Problems
This survey course studies major social problems in contemporary society, their nature, development, social causes, and possible solutions with an emphasis on the intersection of social identities including, but not limited to race, class, gender, and sexuality. Various topics include the impact of poverty, crime, drug addiction and prejudice on the individual and society. 3 Credits.

SOC 201 - Sociology of Race and Ethnicity
This course engages students in an academic and personal exploration of the experience, performance, and implications of race and ethnicity in the United States. Incorporating a sociological lens, this course begins with the assumption that race and ethnicity are constructed phenomena that reflect social, political, economic, and cultural forces. In this class, we will examine structural origins of racial inequality in the U.S. We will apply an intersectional lens to explore systemic inequalities created by the co-constructions of race, class, gender and their impact on a personal and institutional level. We explore the ways in which racial social justice movements have transformed our culture over time as well as examining the ways in which we can instigate social change in the future 3 Credits.

SOC 202 - Urban Sociology
This course focuses on the social, political, economic, and cultural factors associated with development of urban communities, the characteristics of urban institutions, trends in urban planning, ecological processes, and the effects upon urban communities of development and migration. Special attention is paid to unequal access to power and resources, and to outcomes based on race, class, gender, and sexuality. Students learn about the major perspectives of social justice and apply them throughout the course. 3 Credits.

SOC 203 - Criminology
The course emphasizes the historical and contemporary theories of crime causation. Problems involving attempts to develop a scientific and objective approach to the phenomena of crime are analyzed. Issues such as the role of law, the political and economic institutions and the social structure which generate crime are investigated. 3 Credits.

Prerequisite(s): SOC 101 or SOC 102

SOC 204 - Sociology of the Family
A sociological analysis of the family as a social institution: its origin, structure and variations, and patterns of intimate relationships. Examines family organization through analysis of mate selection, sexuality, gender and family roles, race, ethnicity & social class, marriage and divorce, parenthood, and the diversity of family composition. Investigates key concerns for contemporary American families including communication and power, the balance of work and family obligations, the impact of social inequality and social change, and current social policy issues. 3 Credits.

SOC 209 - Environmental Sociology
An introduction to the key theoretical approaches and research within the field of environmental sociology, and an examination of the ongoing research on how environmental problems have roots in social processes, such as culture, community, social inequality, social organization and social structure. Students will examine how ideologies about the environment are socially constructed, as well as how political and institutional forces impact how we interact with the environment and respond to environmental problems. The class will examine contemporary environmental concerns and debates with a specific focus on how structural inequalities based on race, class, and gender impact access to environmental resources and exposure to environmental hazards. Students will develop a working knowledge of sociological research methods and theoretical perspectives in their analyses of the relationship between human societies and the physical environment. 3 Credits.

SOC 210 - Introduction to Global Studies
Individuals, local communities, business enterprises, and nation-states are today inextricably involved in and affected by global relationships. This course provides an overview of the emergence and characteristics of global, social, economic, political, and ecological interdependence. In analyzing global problems, students evaluate and consider alternative strategies to address global inequities including class, gender and global racism. Students also assess their individual needs in the context of human survival and global interdependence. 3 Credits.

SOC 216 - Special Topics in Sociology
This course is designed to address specific topics of interest in sociology. Offerings are more specific and focused than the introductory surveys. Examples of potential offerings could include Sociology of the Body, Sociology of Deviance, or Sociology of Pop Culture. Topics may change from semester to semester based on faculty and student interest. The classes will be primarily lecture and discussion based. 3 Credits.