Sociology Course Descriptions
SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology
Semester:
Fall of every year, Spring of every year, Summer of every year
Credits:
Total Credits: Credits: 4 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours:4
Description:
Sociological inquiry. Concepts and principles of sociology. Institutional features of modern society. Structure and dynamics of social organizations. Theoretical perspectives on key topics in society. Discussion of social inequities around core social identities (e.g., race, ethnicity, sex, gender, class, nationality, age, disability, sexuality).
Effective Dates:
FS26 - Open
SOC 161 International Development and Change
Semester:
Spring of every year
Credits:
Total Credits: Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours:3
Description:
Global issues of development and change. Population growth, poverty, structural inequalities, environmental degradation, social conflicts, social movements. Alternative development strategies and future perspectives.
Effective Dates:
SS26 - Open
SOC 214 Social Inequality
Semester:
Fall of every year, Spring of every year, Summer of every year
Credits:
Total Credits: Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours:3
Not open to students with credit in:
SOC 330
Description:
Theories of structural social inequality. Formation and change of inequalities among social classes and class structures, gender, and race. Inequalities and their interactions in modern societies. Consequences of inequalities. Current inequality trends.
Effective Dates:
FS19 - Open
SOC 215 Race and Ethnicity
Semester:
Fall of every year, Spring of every year, Summer of every year
Credits:
Total Credits: Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours:3
Description:
Racial and ethnic problems in contemporary society. Prejudice, discrimination, conflict, and racial and ethnic identity and segregation in western and non-western societies.
Effective Dates:
SS14 - Open
SOC 216 Sex, Gender, and Sexuality
Semester:
Fall of every year, Spring of every year, Summer of every year
Credits:
Total Credits: Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours:3
Description:
Social structural and social psychological perspectives on gender identity, sex category, and sexuality. Issues related to gender identity and sexuality in selected societal institutions and across cultures.
Effective Dates:
FS19 - Open
SOC 241 Social Psychology
Semester:
Fall of every year, Spring of every year
Credits:
Total Credits: Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours:3
Not open to students with credit in:
PSY 235
Description:
Relationship of individuals to their social environment. Social influences on personality, attitudes and behavior.
Effective Dates:
SS14 - Open
SOC 252 Introduction to Environmental Sociology
Semester:
Fall of every year, Spring of every year
Credits:
Total Credits: Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours:3
Description:
Relationship between unprecedented inequality and climate breakdown. How we improve quality of life for the masses while addressing environmental crises. Root causes and solutions of growing inequality and environmental crises. Theories and research findings in the field of environmental sociology.
Effective Dates:
FS26 - Open
SOC 260 Introduction to Human Migration
Semester:
Spring of every year
Credits:
Total Credits: Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours:3
Recommended Background:
SOC 100 or concurrently
Description:
Introduction to the sociological study of human migration. Historical contexts, foundational concepts, and contemporary issues and policies related to migration.
Effective Dates:
SS26 - Open
SOC 281 Social Research Methods
Semester:
Fall of every year
Credits:
Total Credits: Credits: 4 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours:3 Lab Hours: 2
Description:
Design and execution of social research. Ethics in research. Conceptualization, measurement, sampling, data collection, validity and reliability. Descriptive analysis. Presentation of conclusions. Consideration of sociodemographic characteristics (e.g., race, ethnicity, sex, gender, class, nationality, age, disability, weight/size, sexuality) in the research process.
Effective Dates:
FS26 - Open
SOC 282 Quantitative Analysis for Social Research
Semester:
Spring of every year
Credits:
Total Credits: Credits: 4 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours:3 Lab Hours: 2
Prerequisite:
SOC 281
Description:
Advanced design and execution of social research. Quantitative analysis conceptualization, measurement, sampling, data collection, validity and reliability. Bivariate analysis. Presentation of conclusions. Consideration of sociodemographic characteristics in the research process.
Effective Dates:
FS26 - Open
SOC 310 Global Migration
Semester:
Fall of every year, Spring of every year
Credits:
Total Credits: Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours:3
Description:
Theory and research on the causes and consequences of human migration. Sociological, social psychological, historical, and demographic perspectives.
Effective Dates:
SS18 - Open
SOC 315 Family and Society
Semester:
Fall of every year, Spring of every year, Summer of every year
Credits:
Total Credits: Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours:3
Description:
Family development. Variation in family forms across class, race, ethnicity, and sex, gender, nationality, age, and sexuality.
Effective Dates:
FS26 - Open
SOC 316 Youth and Society
Semester:
Fall of every year, Spring of every year, Summer of every year
Credits:
Total Credits: Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours:3
Description:
Behavioral analysis of youth. Youth subcultures. Youth at risk. Social change and youth behavior. Issues shaped by social conditions that are facing young adults today, including: education, housing, family relationships, dependence and independence, forming relationships, considering parenting, mental health, identity, the nature of work in an information economy, prejudice, discrimination, and sexuality.
Effective Dates:
FS26 - Open
SOC 331 Political Sociology
Semester:
Fall of every year
Credits:
Total Credits: Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours:3
Description:
Social power theories, dynamics, and structures. The economy and the polity. Power elites and democracy. Social bases of political behavior and participation. Sociopolitical movements.
Effective Dates:
FS26 - Open
SOC 350 Society and Mental Health
Semester:
Fall of every year, Spring of every year
Credits:
Total Credits: Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours:3
Prerequisite:
Completion of Tier I Writing Requirement
Description:
Social determinants of mental health and illness. Disparities in mental health and illness. International and cross-cultural comparison of mental health and illness.
Effective Dates:
FS26 - Open
SOC 351 Gendered Violence and Intersections of Power
Semester:
Summer of every year
Credits:
Total Credits: Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours:3
Description:
Gendered violence from an intersectional perspective. Ways intersecting social statuses such as race, class, and sexuality shape gendered experiences.
Interdepartmental With:
Women's Studies
Administered By:
Women's Studies
Effective Dates:
US21 - Open
SOC 361 Contemporary Communities
Semester:
Spring of every year
Credits:
Total Credits: Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours:3
Description:
Approaches to the study of contemporary communities. Differential levels of community complexity. Social problems and dynamics of community change and development in local settings and their relation to external institutions.
Effective Dates:
SS14 - Open
SOC 362 Developing Societies
Semester:
Fall of every year
Credits:
Total Credits: Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours:3
Description:
Dynamics of agricultural and industrial transformations in developing nations. Structural problems, behavioral patterns, and institutional changes at local and societal levels. Socioeconomic interdependencies in the world system.
Effective Dates:
SS14 - Open
SOC 368 Science, Technology, and Society
Semester:
Spring of every year
Credits:
Total Credits: Credits: 4 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours:4
Recommended Background:
(LB 133) or some familiarity with basic concepts and methods in sociology.
Restrictions:
Not open to freshmen or sophomores.
Description:
Role of science and technology in social change. Values and ethics in contemporary perspectives, controversies, and cases. Science and technology as forms of knowledge.
Interdepartmental With:
Lyman Briggs
Administered By:
Sociology
Effective Dates:
SS26 - Open
SOC 375 Urban Sociology
Semester:
Fall of every year
Credits:
Total Credits: Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours:3
Description:
Social theories and research on urban development, organization, and change. Urban social life. Sociological aspects of urban planning and redevelopment.
Effective Dates:
FS26 - Open
SOC 427 Environmental Toxicology and Society (W)
Semester:
Spring of every year
Credits:
Total Credits: Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours:3
Prerequisite:
Completion of Tier I Writing Requirement
Recommended Background:
ISB 200 or ISB 202 or ISB 204 or BMB 200 or BS 161 or BS 181H or LB 145 or BS 162 or BS 182H or LB 144
Description:
Impact of environmental chemicals on health and modern society. Cellular and organ functions and their interface with the environment. Limitations of scientific investigation and environmental regulations.
Interdepartmental With:
Animal Science
Administered By:
Animal Science
Effective Dates:
SS25 - Open
SOC 451 Dynamics of Population
Semester:
Fall of every year, Spring of every year
Credits:
Total Credits: Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours:3
Restrictions:
Not open to freshmen.
Description:
Size, distribution, and composition of population by demographic characteristics such as age and sex. Theories of the effect of fertility, mortality, and migration on population structures. Population policies. International comparisons.
Effective Dates:
FS26 - Open
SOC 452 Advanced Seminar in Environmental Sociology
Semester:
Fall of every year, Spring of every year
Credits:
Total Credits: Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours:3
Reenrollment Information:
A student may earn a maximum of 6 credits in all enrollments for this course.
Restrictions:
Not open to freshmen.
Description:
Environmental conditions and social organization. Social relations and connection to resource use, pollution, energy, and risks. Growth and limits to growth. Environmental attitudes, actions, movements, and regulation.
Effective Dates:
SS18 - Open
SOC 460 Advanced Seminar in Human Migration
Semester:
Spring of every year
Credits:
Total Credits: Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours:3
Prerequisite:
Completion of Tier I Writing Requirement
Recommended Background:
(SOC 100 or concurrently) or SOC 260 or concurrently
Description:
Advanced study in a specialized topic related to the sociological study of human migration.
Effective Dates:
SS26 - Open
SOC 475 Health and Society
Semester:
Fall of every year, Spring of every year
Credits:
Total Credits: Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours:3
Restrictions:
Not open to freshmen or sophomores.
Description:
Social causes of health and illness. Health disparities related to sociodemographic characteristics (e.g., race, ethnicity, sex, gender, class, nationality, age, disability, weight/size, sexuality). Organizations, professions, and institutions of health care. Medical standards and evidence. Global public health.
Effective Dates:
FS26 - Open
SOC 478 Climate Change and Society
Semester:
Spring of every year
Credits:
Total Credits: Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours:3
Prerequisite:
Completion of Tier I Writing Requirement
Description:
Climate change as a societal challenge. The nature of climate change, its role in human history, and vulnerabilities of coupled human and natural systems to climate change.
Effective Dates:
SS26 - Open
SOC 480 Advanced Research Methods in Sociology (Interim Change)
Semester:
Fall of every year, Spring of every year
Credits:
Total Credits: Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours:3
Prerequisite:
{(SOC 100 or SOC 161 or SOC 214 or SOC 215 or SOC 216 or SOC 241 or SOC 252 or SOC 260 or SOC 281 or SOC 282) OR (SOC 310 or SOC 315 or SOC 316 or SOC 331 or SOC 350 or SOC 361 or SOC 362 or SOC 368 or SOC 375)} AND (SOC 451 or SOC 452 or SOC 460 or SOC 475 or SOC 478 or SOC 481 or SOC 488 or SOC 490 or SOC 499)
Description:
Advanced training and hands-on practice in methodologies commonly used in specific subfields of sociology to address social inequities related to core sociodemographic categories (e.g., race, ethnicity, sex, gender, class, nationality, age, size/weight, disability, sexuality).
Effective Dates:
FS26 - Open
SOC 480 Advanced Research Methods in Sociology
Semester:
Fall of every year, Spring of every year
Credits:
Total Credits: Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours:3
Prerequisite:
(SOC 100 or SOC 161 or SOC 214 or SOC 215 or SOC 216 or SOC 241 or SOC 252 or SOC 260 or SOC 281 or SOC 282) or (SOC 310 or SOC 315 or SOC 316 or SOC 331 or SOC 350 or SOC 360 or SOC 361 or SOC 362 or SOC 368 or SOC 375) or (SOC 451 or SOC 452 or SOC 460 or SOC 475 or SOC 478 or SOC 481 or SOC 488 or SOC 490 or SOC 499)
Restrictions:
Not open to freshmen.
Description:
Advanced training and hands-on practice in methodologies commonly used in specific subfields of sociology to address social inequities related to core sociodemographic categories (e.g., race, ethnicity, sex, gender, class, nationality, age, size/weight, disability, sexuality).
Effective Dates:
FS26 - Open
SOC 481 Social Movements and Collective Identities
Semester:
Fall of every year
Credits:
Total Credits: Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours:3
Restrictions:
Not open to freshmen.
Description:
How social movements emerge, change, and are challenged by others. Identity issues within social movements with consideration of sociodemographic characteristics such as race, ethnicity, sex, gender, class, nationality, age, disability, weight/size, sexuality. Effective strategies for social change.
Effective Dates:
FS26 - Open
SOC 488 Sociological Theory (W)
Semester:
Fall of every year, Spring of every year
Credits:
Total Credits: Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours:3
Prerequisite:
Completion of Tier I Writing Requirement
Recommended Background:
12 credits in sociology.
Description:
Development of sociological theory. Problems of theory construction. Current theoretical perspectives.
Effective Dates:
SS14 - Open
SOC 490 Special Topics in Sociology
Semester:
On Demand
Credits:
Total Credits: Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours:3
Reenrollment Information:
A student may earn a maximum of 9 credits in all enrollments for this course.
Prerequisite:
(SOC 100 or SOC 161 or SOC 214 or SOC 215 or SOC 216 or SOC 241 or SOC 252 or SOC 260 or SOC 281 or SOC 282) or (SOC 310 or SOC 315 or SOC 316 or SOC 331 or SOC 350 or SOC 360 or SOC 361 or SOC 362 or SOC 368 or SOC 375) or (SOC 451 or SOC 452 or SOC 460 or SOC 475 or SOC 478 or SOC 480 or SOC 481 or SOC 488 or SOC 499)
Restrictions:
Not open to freshmen.
Description:
Experimental and cutting-edge sociological topics.
Effective Dates:
FS26 - Open
SOC 496 Individual Readings
Semester:
Fall of every year, Spring of every year, Summer of every year
Credits:
Variable from 1 to 3
Reenrollment Information:
A student may earn a maximum of 6 credits in all enrollments for this course.
Recommended Background:
9 credits in Sociology.
Restrictions:
Approval of department.
Description:
Supervised individual readings and study in sociology.
Effective Dates:
SS14 - Open
SOC 497 Individual Research
Semester:
Fall of every year, Spring of every year, Summer of every year
Credits:
Variable from 1 to 3
Reenrollment Information:
A student may earn a maximum of 6 credits in all enrollments for this course.
Recommended Background:
9 credits in Sociology.
Restrictions:
Approval of department.
Description:
Supervised individual research in sociology.
Effective Dates:
SS14 - Open
SOC 498 Sociology Internship
Semester:
Fall of every year, Spring of every year, Summer of every year
Credits:
Variable from 1 to 3
Recommended Background:
9 credits in Sociology.
Restrictions:
Approval of department.
Description:
Practical experience with a public, private, or nonprofit organization.
Effective Dates:
FS14 - Open
SOC 499 Social Issues and Change in Contemporary Society (W)
Semester:
Fall of every year, Spring of every year
Credits:
Total Credits: Credits: 3 Lecture/Recitation/Discussion Hours:3
Prerequisite:
Completion of Tier I Writing Requirement
Restrictions:
Not open to freshmen.
Description:
Selected major social problems in contemporary societies. Sources and consequences of social change. Application of sociological theory to selected cases for the purpose of exploring effective social change strategies. Professional opportunities in sociology and engagement in professional development activities, including exploring opportunities for graduate education, learning job search skills, and resume/CV, personal statement, and cover letter development.
Effective Dates:
FS26 - Open