100. Principles of Sociology. Open to freshmen and sophomores. Juniors and seniors must elect Soc. 400. No credit granted to those who have completed 400. (4). (SS).
Section 201 – INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY THROUGH LITERATURE. In this introduction to sociology, we will use poetry, novels, autobiographies, plays, and short stories to introduce the sociological perspective. In addition to exploring the social conditions that shape the content of good literature, we will examine a series of contemporary social issues: Why do people conform? Why do some people have more wealth than others? What is the nature of prejudice and discrimination? How is political power structured? Why and how do people rebel? What alternative futures do we face? While the amount of reading will range from moderate to heavy, the majority of the readings will be literary rather than academic. Some of the authors we will read are Jean Paul Sartre, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Albert Camus, Arthur Miller, Langston Hughes, Pablo Neruda, Carolyn Chute, John Dos Passos, Omar Cabezas, and Maya Angelou. Grades will be determined by written work and class participation. [Cost:2] [WL:4] (Wallace)
101. Person and Society: An Introduction to Sociology Through Social Psychology. (4). (SS).
Section 201 – INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY THROUGH SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY (WITH FOCUS ON MARRIAGE AND FAMILY RELATIONS). In this innovative introductory course, we will consider the ways in which people cope with, adapt to, and create the social settings in which they live. One of the major foci of our studies will be the marriage and family relationships, primarily in the United States, but other regions will not be ignored. Through lectures and discussions we will see how social interactions between beings serve as the "life force" in family relationships. And we will see how theories, developed to explain phenomena on a much larger scale, are viable and relevant in explaining relationships between parents and children, husbands and wives, and siblings. We will examine sensitive topics such as gender roles; child abuse; incest; marital rape; adultery; and the socialization of children, in a scientific manner. If you have ever wondered about any of these issues, this course might be for you. If you have never wondered about any of these issues, this course is definitely for you. [Cost:2] [WL:4] (O'Hearon)
102. Contemporary Social Issues: An Introduction to Sociology. (4). (SS). May be repeated for a total of 8 credits.
Section 201 – INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY THROUGH SOCIAL INEQUALITY. In this introduction to sociology, we will explore the pervasive influence of social and economic inequality in the United States today. We will explore inequality based on race and ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, gender, handicapping characteristics, and age. Emphasis will be placed on how these different forms of inequality intersect. We will also explore the different theories that try to account for this inequality. Finally, the ramifications of inequality for different groups of people will be explored. Thus we will look at what it means to be privileged or under-privileged in our society. Discussions, films, lectures, games, and guest speakers will be used to convey ideas and concepts. Written work will include multiple exercises and a final exam. [Cost:2] [WL:4] (Gerschick)
202. Contemporary Social Issues I. (2-4). (Excl). Credit is granted for a combined total of 8 credits elected through Soc. 202, 203, and 401.
Section 201 – SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF GENDER AND HETEROSEXUALITY. This course will discuss the social construction of reality through a focus on gender relations. We are socialized through life to be girls, boys, women, men, and heterosexual. This course will help you begin the process of critically thinking about these messages. We will explore how gender roles and sexual orientation are socially constructed. We will challenge boundaries and discuss how those outside of these boundaries have been negatively sanctioned through history. This will be done through the use of lectures, films, readings, small group discussions, and interactive games. The purpose of this class would be for students to explore some of the many elements of our society that are used as a form of stratification and barrier to equality. Historical as well as modern readings would be used, including theoretical and experiential subject matter. Class performance would be evaluated through numerous papers requiring the students to relate Sociological theories with personal life experiences. [Cost:2] [WL:1] (Ore)
397. Junior Honors in Sociology. Honors standing in sociology. (3). (Excl).
This is the first in a three-course sequence (Sociology 397, 398, 399) that will guide students through the completion of their Honors thesis. The objective of this course is to prepare junior-year honor students for the research and writing of their Honors thesis. Upon completion of the seminar, there is a strong preference that students should have a completed, and instructor approved, prospectus. In addition, initial overtures should have been made to prospective faculty mentors. Students should be in a position to begin research in earnest upon completion of the seminar. [Cost:2] [WL:3]
398. Senior Honors in Sociology. Honors standing in sociology. (3-4). (Excl). (INDEPENDENT).
This is the second course of a three-course sequence (Sociology 397, 398, 399) designed to guide the students through the completion of their Honors thesis. The focus of this seminar will be on collection and analysis of data for the thesis. Time will be spent every week sharing research experiences and problems, and doing problem-solving. [Cost:1] [WL:5, Call the Sociology Department]
399. Senior Honors in Sociology. Honors standing in sociology. (3-4). (Excl). (INDEPENDENT).
This is the third course of a three-course sequence (Sociology 397,398, 399) designed to guide the student through the completion of their Honors thesis. At this point in the sequence, students will be working primarily with their faculty mentors. The seminar will meet periodically to continue to share research experiences and problems and to do problem solving. Towards the end of the term, students will present their research papers to the seminar for feedback. [Cost:1] [WL:5, Call the Sociology Department.]
467. Juvenile Delinquency. (3). (Excl).
This course will examine juvenile delinquency in the United States. Specific topics will include the nature and extent of delinquency, biological, psychological, and sociological theories of the causes of delinquency, the history of delinquency prevention and juvenile court, the handling of delinquents by the police and juvenile court officials, and various types of prevention and treatment programs. (Burke)
561/Psych. 561. Survey Research Design. One elementary statistics course. (2). (Excl).
Research in the social sciences has increasingly come to rely on statistical concepts in the development and evaluation of research designs, as well as in the presentation and analysis of data. The application of a wide variety of research designs, including both experimental and non-experimental, requires the understanding of basic statistical concepts. This course provides a basic introduction to the concepts of research design and statistical reasoning. Topics include: concepts of research design, necessary mathematical operations, central tendency, dispersion and variance, sampling error, sampling distributions, standard errors, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, and analysis of variance. The course is open to anyone with a social science background, or with a background in survey research. No prior experience in statistics or research design is required. The course is open to Visiting Scholars, Special Auditors, as well as those seeking undergraduate and graduate credit. Grades will be based on the results of homework exercises and two exams. [Cost:2] [WL:3] (Landis)
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