Schmutz, 10-11:20 daily, 2nd session. Max: 40
Content: Sociology, the study of human behavior in social context, is an ever developing science, with contesting theories, multiple methodologies and many insightful observations on the human condition in various times and places. This introductory course will present to the students the basic assumptions of the discipline, and discuss some of the main topics that interest sociologists today, among them: groups, organizations, social change, stratification, class and mobility, deviance, development and under‑development, ethnicity, gender and politics. Main theories shall be presented, with special focus on questions of the macro and micro‑sociology, the self and the collective, and the role sociology can play in society. The course will conclude with a discussion on contemporary, late‑modern and global society
SOC 101: Introduction to General Sociology
Crabtree, 2:30-4:45, TuWTh, 1st session. Max: 40
Content: Sociology, the study of human behavior in social context, is an ever developing science, with contesting theories, multiple methodologies and many insightful observations on the human condition in various times and places. This introductory course will present to the students the basic assumptions of the discipline, and discuss some of the main topics that interest sociologists today, among them: groups, organizations, social change, stratification, class and mobility, deviance, development and under‑development, ethnicity, gender and politics. Main theories shall be presented, with special focus on questions of the macro and micro‑sociology, the self and the collective, and the role sociology can play in society. The course will conclude with a discussion on contemporary, late‑modern and global society
SOC 201: Organizations and Society
Rankin, 11:30-12:50, daily, 1st session. Max: 40
Content: Modern society is an organizational society. We are born in organizations, and we die in them. In between, our lives are shaped by organizational entities, such as schools, universities, business firms, the music and entertainment industry, government agencies, prisons, labor unions, social movement organizations, and political parties. This course provides an introduction to the central authors and themes in the sociology of organizations. Many sociologists try to answer the question: What is the role of organizations is in our society? Throughout this course we will examine this question and come up with answers of our own by reading many different texts. For example, we will investigate topics as diverse as the decisions surrounding the launching of the Challenger space craft, Mary Kay and her role as a leader of her organization, Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath, the HP and Enron scandals, Warren Buffet's donation to the Bill Gates Foundation, and rebuilding during the Iraq war. These topics will inform our understanding of the unique sociological perspective of organizations.
SOC 214: Class, Status and Power
Freeman, 11:30-12:50 daily, 1st session. Max: 40
Content: The title of this course is derived from the notion that society is stratified into groups according to class, status, and power. We will study sociological explanations of a variety of social phenomena related to the question of who gets what and why. Topics include: Patterns of wealth and income inequality in the U.S.; theories of why inequality exists; the class structure of the U.S.; elites and power; poverty; the intersection of class, race/ethnicity, and gender; privilege and oppression; the role of education in stratification; global inequality; human agency and social change. The material covered in this course will encourage you to think critically as you continuously try to make sense of inequality in the world around you.
SOC 225: Sociology of Sex and Gender (Same as WS 231)
Friedman, 11:30-12:50 daily, 2nd session. Max: 40
Content: Sociologists distinguish between biological sex and socially constructed gender. This means that we are not born knowing how men and women are supposed to behave, but instead that we learn "appropriate" gender roles through socialization. In the first section of this course, we will address perspectives and theories on gender, raising questions such as: How is sex different from gender? How do we learn what is feminine and what is masculine? What is the relationship between gender roles and gender inequality? These questions and theories will form the basis for the remainder of the course, in which we will examine the relationship between gender and a range of issues including: race, class, education, the family, work, sexuality, crime/violence, media, public policy, and social movements. While the primary focus of the course will be on contemporary U.S. society, historical and global examples will be included to understand how gender is inherently shaped by the societal context.
SOC 247: Racial and Ethnic Relations (Same as AAS 247)
Werum, 2:30-4:45, TuWTh, 2nd session. Max: SOC=20; AAS=20; Total=40
Content: "This course will introduce students to sociological concepts and to empirical studies in the field of race/ethnic relations. My goal is to enable students to better understand patterns of inequality and mobility as well as relationships between racial and ethnic groups. Understanding the nature of these relations requires an explicitly historical and international-comparative focus."While the bulk of material in this course deals with the U.S., we will spend a considerable amount of time on race and ethnic relations in other countries. This will help us better understand the extent to which patterns of race and ethnic relations have similar causes in different societies. Among the topics we will cover are: race and ethnicity as a social construct; slavery and its effects on race and ethnic relations; the relationship between race, class, and gender; social movements organized on the basis of race/ethnicity; immigration, genocide, poverty; and segregation. For this purpose students will read a course packet of selected articles as well as a few assigned books.
Particulars: Three exams (partly multiple choice and partly essay) and, of course, regular attendance and participation.
SOC 266: Global Change
Lechner, 10-11:20, daily, 1st session. Max: 40
Content: We experience globalization when we watch a reality show invented in Europe or enjoy the play of foreign stars in the NBA, when we cultivate a taste for sushi or join an NGO that wants to save the rain forest. Globalization connects more and more people in many different ways across larger distances. By describing how local lives and global trends intertwine, this course examines the pervasive, significant, and contentious effects of globalization. It shows that global change makes the world smaller and more similar, but also creates new conflicts and differences. The course covers global aspects of topics ranging from sports and religion to business and law.
SOC 337S: Social Movements
Archibald, 1-2:20, daily, 1st session, Max: 20
Content: This course will introduce upper-division sociology students to the theoretical and empirical literature on social movements. Using an historical framework to investigate various research paradigms such as rational choice, resource mobilization, political process, and identity/NSM, we examine the development of theories linked to a variety of issues related to social movements and social movement outcomes (e.g., emergence of the first national social movements, growth of the social movement sector, mobilization and participation, social movement success and failure). We focus on U.S. and European social movements which include but are not limited to: civil rights, student, anti-war, new Christian right, anti-abortion/pro-choice, feminist, latino/latina, environmental, disability, nuclear freeze, gay and lesbian, new age, self-help/mutual-aid, survivalist, temperance (new and old), anti-tax, white supremacist and men's movement. While time constraints preclude covering the field of social movements in all its varied contexts, students will develop a general understanding of its theoretical development, as well as an appreciation for this unique sociological perspective.
SOC 355WR: Social Research I
Michalec, 1-2:20, daily, 2nd session. Max: 20
Content: The overall goal of this course is to provide an understanding of the basic mechanics of social science research. Therefore, this course takes an original approach to three substantive areas: 1.) The nature of social research, 2.) Methods for collecting Afacts@, and 3.) Sampling techniques and analyzing the Afacts@ to make claims. Students will actively participate in conducting a small-scale research project from the ground up and will be encouraged to think creatively regarding the nature of research methodology.
SOC 390: Health Care and Society Seminar Abroad -- Summer study abroad in London, England
Scott and Archibald, June 8-July 19, 2007, Max: 20, 8 credit hours (counts as 2 Sociology electives).
Content: Explore the issues and problems surrounding health care delivery in Great Britain and the United States by comparing the social organization of the two health care systems. In addition to lectures from British professors, students observe London health care settings, such as emergency rooms and general medical offices, through a short internship. The program takes excursions to relevant academic and cultural sites in London and surrounding locations, such as Oxford and Cambridge. Residence hall accommodations are provided at University College London.
You must apply to this program through the Center for International Programs Abroad (CIPA)