Sociology

Sociology is the systematic study of human society and social interaction. This course will employ the major theoretical perspectives to examine culture; the process of socialization; social structure; the problems of stratification, particularly in the areas of social class, race and ethnicity, and gender; social institutions, such as the family and religion; and social change.
Pre/Co-requisites: ENGL 101; waiver by placement testing results; or departmental approval.

Topics include the historical, political and social forces involved in the development of crime theory, and critique of the most prominent crime theories referenced in criminal justice and related fields. Attention will be given to major categories of criminal behavior, and current theoretical and research developments in regards to explaining various criminal behaviors in our society.
Prerequisites: SOCI 104 Principles of Sociology or departmental approval.

This course will provide an analysis of deviant behaviors, attitudes, and characteristics through examination of theories and current research in the field. Attention will be given to the role that society plays in defining and responding to deviance. While a variety of topics will be discussed, emphasis will be placed on drug and alcohol abuse, sexual deviance, mental disorders, organizational deviance, and unconventional beliefs.
Prerequisites: SOCI 104 Principles of Sociology or departmental approval.

This course includes a presentation of the structural principles necessary in all kinship systems with brief treatment of the most important ranges of variations and a survey of marriage and the family in various societies. The main emphasis will be on courtship, marriage, and the family in the United States and their structural characteristics, trends of change, and practical problems insofar as sociology can illuminate them.
Pre/Co-requisites: ENGL 101; waiver by placement testing results; or departmental approval.

This course offers an introduction to the sociological study of urban life and urban development. Students will develop an understanding of how structural forces and social interactions shape both cities and the experiences of people and groups within them. Topics include urban social theory, residential segregation, gentrification, suburbanization and urban sprawl, inequality, and contemporary urban social issues.
Prerequisites: SOCI 104 Principles of Sociology; or departmental approval.

This course utilizes a sociological perspective to explore the experiences of racial and ethnic groups in the United States. Drawing on sociological concepts and theoretical perspectives regarding minority-majority relations among racial ethnic groups, this course focuses on the role of power, privilege, and access to resources in the social construction of race and ethnicity. The course will explore the dynamics of institutionalized racism and address a variety of contemporary policy debates in order to better understand the roles that race and ethnicity play in shaping American society and culture.
Prerequisites: SOCI 104 Principles of Sociology; or departmental approval.

This course involves independent work on a selected topic under the direction of members of the Sociology faculty. Limited to two courses per student.
Prerequisite: approval of the Department Chair and Division Dean.