The sociological approach not only asks questions about social phenomena, but also provides a set of methods for their systematic analysis. A sociological education goes beyond informing students about the structure of societies and social relations, to encourage the development of critical and analytical thinking abilities.

201. Introductory Sociology (3)
Overview of structure and dynamics of human societies. Topics include culture, social organization, institutions, communities, social stratification, population, and social change.

206. Social Problems (3)
Problem areas in our society, including medical care, poverty and dependency, crime, alcoholism, sexual deviancy, race relations, and environmental concerns. (Spring)

207. Introduction to Anthropology (3)
Study of people as cultural being. Includes recent findings of physical anthropology and archaeology as well as in-depth study of selected non-literate societies.

258. Special Topics (1-6). See page 37 in Book of Majors.

302. Marriage and the Family (3) (Prereq: SOC 201 or consent of the instructor)
A sociology of the family, including those in other cultures. A functional study of marital problem-areas, including sexuality, parenthood, and aging. (Spring)

303. Sociology of the Contemporary South (3) (Prereq: SOC 201 or consent of the instructor)
An examination of continuity and change in the subculture of the American South. Consideration will be given to regional identity, stereotypes, and images and to institutions found in the contemporary South. Also includes discussion of the South’s future as a distinctive region. (Fall, alternate years)

305. The Sociology of Religion (3) (Prereq: SOC 201 or consent of the instructor; cross-listed with religion)
A sociological approach to the study of religion, its institutional forms, aims, and impact on society. Attention is given to the theories of the sociology of religion and the interaction of religion and society, especially the impact of social change upon religion. Special emphasis is given to religion in contemporary America. (On demand)

307. Classical Sociological Theory (3) (Prereq: SOC 201 or consent of the instructor)
An examination of the major theorists of the classical period of sociology, including Comte, Spencer, Marx, Durkheim, Weber, Simmel, Mead, and Schutz. (Fall)

308. Contemporary Sociological Theory (3) (Prereq: SOC 201 or consent of the instructor)
An examination of the major social theories of the second half of the twentieth century, including structural functionalism, symbolic interactionism, phenomenology, exchange theory, critical theory, structural Marxism, world-systems theory, feminist theory, and postmodernism. (Spring)

309. Criminology (3) (Prereq: SOC 201 or consent of the instructor)
Crime, delinquency, and correction in American society. Police and legal problems. (Spring)

310. Urban Sociology (3) (Prereq: SOC 201 or consent of the instructor)
The human community as unit of social organization. Topics include historical development of cities, development of suburbs, urbanism as a way of life, metropolitan dynamics, and urban problems. Consideration of urban areas throughout the world. (Fall, alternate years)

312. Social Psychology (3) (Prereq: SOC 201 or PSYC 201; cross-listed with psychology)
A study of the relation of the individual to the social group. Emphasis on social factors in perception, motivation, emotion, crowd behavior, and prejudice. (Spring)

318. Medical Sociology (3) (Prereq: Soc 201 or consent of the instructor)
A study of health and illness from a sociological perspective. The course addresses such topics as public health and illness, roles of health professionals and paraprofessionals, health care structures and costs, comparative health care systems, and ethical issues facing the medical community. (Not currently offered)

325. Sociology of Aging and the Life Course (3) (Prereq: SOC 201)
A study of the social phenomenon of aging. Special attention is given to social roles of the elderly in the family, economy, community, and religion. Further consideration will be given to special problems facing the elderly such as health, care giving, and poverty and to exploring the role of the state in helping older adults. (Fall)

326. Sociology of Work and Occupations (3) (Prereq: SOC 201)
A study of sociological perspectives on the changing nature and organization of work and the economy within American society and globally. Inequalities on the basis of gender, age, race, and social class are explored. Work structures, types of occupations, and global capitalism are also considered. (Spring)

360. World Population Issues (3) (Prereq: SOC 201 or consent of instructor)
Analysis of human population, its size, distribution, structure, and change from the social demographic perspective. Topics include fertility, mortality, migration, population trends, and population issues and policies. (Spring)

361. Sociology of Formal Organizations (3) (Prereq: SOC 201 or consent of instructor)
Study of the processes, goals, internal structures, management, and environmental relations of large organizations including corporations, bureaucracies, and voluntary associations. Includes review of research findings, theory, and applications pertaining to formal organizations. (Not currently offered)

362. Social Inequality (3) (Prereq: SOC 201 or consent of instructor)
Examination of social inequality in American society from a sociological perspective. Topics include class divisions, unequal access to goods and services, means utilized to maintain social inequality and the dynamics of gender inequality. (Fall, alternate years)

363. The Sociology of Gender (3) (Prereq: SOC 201)
A sociological analysis of the development and role of gender in human society. The course addresses how gender is socially constructed and the key issues for men and women that emerge in diverse social environments such as the home and workplace and in educational, religious, and political institutions. (Fall)

364. Race and Ethnic Relations (3) (Prereq: SOC 201 or consent of the instructor)
An examination of sociological perspectives on majority-minority relations and of the histories and cultures of particular racial and ethnic groups in the United States, including Afro-Americans, Native Americans, Mexican-Americans, Puerto Ricans, Chinese-Americans and Japanese-Americans. (Fall, alternate years)

366. Social Movements (3) (Prereq: SOC 201 or consent of instructor)
A study of the general characteristics of social movements. Two or more particular movements such as the African-American movement, Third World national liberation movements, the women’s movement, and the ecology movement will be discussed. (Spring, alternate years)

370. Third World Underdevelopment and Politics (3) (Prereq: SOC 201 or PLSC 200 or consent of instructor; cross-listed with political science)
An examination of the political, economic, and social factors that have led to the present state of underdevelopment in the Third World. Social scientific theories of underdevelopment and the role of the political system in the process of development are analyzed. The particular cases of Central America and East Africa are examined. (Spring)

398. Honors Research (3-6). See page 44.
Available for students during the junior and senior years with approval of the departmental faculty. Students with a 3.20 GPA in all courses and a 3.40 GPA in major courses may undertake an honors research program. Oral and written presentations of the results of the project will be required. Students who successfully complete the departmental honors research program will graduate with honors in the major discipline. (Fall or Spring, or Fall and Spring)

423. Research Methods (3) (Prereq: Consent of instructor)
Research methods in the social sciences including causal analysis, sampling, scale construction, research designs, data analysis, and research proposals. (Fall)

424. Field Inquiry in Sociology (3) (Prereq: SOC 423)
Students design and execute research projects under supervision. Introduction to data analysis and computer usage. Final paper must be presented orally. (Spring)

442. Directed Studies. See page 36.
444. Internships. See page 37.
446. Reading. See page 37.
448. Research. See page 37.
450. Seminar. See page 37.
452. Special Projects. See page 37.
458. Special Topics. See page 37

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