Sociology (SOC)

Introduces concepts and methods of sociology including investigation of socialization, group processes, social inequality, social institutions, and social change.Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours).

Explores the fundamental sociological and social psychological processes underlying human interaction. Focuses on the dynamics of symbolic exchange, the social context and processes shaping it, and examines its effects on the formation and maintenance of social and personality systems. Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours).

Examines selected social problems of the day from a sociological perspective. Topics may include family, poverty, education, crime, race, housing, population, health care, industrial development, and power. Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours).

Sexualities and Social Issues. (3 credit hours) A.Cross-listed as WGS 205. An examination of the diversity of sexuality and related social issues in the United States and globally. Topics include culture, history, law, mass media, politics, and religion. Credit will not be awarded to students who have credit for WGS 205 or WGS 302. Gen. Ed. E-6 [GE]. Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours).

Examines social organization and process in modern communities, both rural and urban; social techniques of community improvement. Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours).

Continues the nature of societal rules, rule enforcers, and rule breakers. Investigates social issues and research in crime, delinquency, drug addiction, alcoholism, mental illness, pornography, sexuality and other forms of deviance with an emphasis on theoretical explanations and social consequences. Lecture: 3 credit hours (45 contact hours).

Analyzes the nature, development, and persistence of inequality in various societies. Diverse dimensions of inequality are viewed as the basis for a number of specific social problems in Western and non-Western societies. Social origins of inequality are emphasized. Policy implications are addressed. Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours).

Examines the interplay between media, culture, and society. Lecture: 3.0 credits (45 contact hours).

Explores the development and social significance of various non-elite cultural forms in the U.S., such as music, comic books, movies, and novels. Examines the development of the distinction between "highbrow" and "lowbrow" culture in race, ethnic and other subcultures, deviance, the role of gender differences in popular culture, and recent theories and debates about the relation of culture, society and their impact on social institutions. Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours).

Examines the relationship between human social and cultural systems and their environment. Perception, definition and policy responses to environmental, resource and population issues are explored. Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours).

An introductory study of a selected topic in sociology. Topics may include, but are not limited to, industrial sociology, sociology of aging, gender issues, criminology, social inequalities, sociology of families, and rural sociology. Lecture: 3 credits (45 contact hours).