| Sociology |
SOC 815 - Criminological Theory
Credits:
4.00
Introduces graduate students and advanced
undergraduates to the major theoretical literature in crime
and delinquency. Covers both classical and
contemporary theory, with empirical assessments of
theories, including marco- and micro-level control, strain,
and learning theories as well as recent developments in
biosocial, deterrence, labeling, and critical/feminist
theories.
SOC 820 - Sociology of Drug Use
Credits:
4.00
Examines licit and illicit drug use from a sociological
perspective. Draws primarily from the sociology of mental
health and criminology to explore a variety of drug-related
topics including: historical and current U.S. drug trends,
dominant theoretical approaches about the initiation into,
and continued use of drugs, drug-related crime, therapeutic
use of drugs, prevention and treatment of drug problems, and
drug-related policies.
SOC #830 - Political Sociology
Credits:
4.00
Contemporary issues in political sociology with emphasis on
the relationship between social class structure and
political power. Seminar explores various perspectives
on the nature and distribution of power, theories of the
state, class structure and political participation, and the
politics of policy making.
SOC #835 - Complex Organizations
Credits:
4.00
Comparative study of the structure and dynamics of complex,
formal organizations (business, military, political and
governmental, educational, medical). Power and social
control in formal systems; organizational processes,
performances, and effectiveness; effect of complex,
formal organizations on persons and societies.
SOC 840 - Sociology of Mental Health
Credits:
4.00
Introduces students to different sociological approaches for
studying and understanding mental health and illness.
Students examine the social distribution of mental illness
in the United State and the social-structural factors that
help to explain mental health variations. Also addresses
issues surrounding mental health treatment, systems, and
policies for the mentally ill.
SOC 845 - Race, Ethnicity, and Inequality
Credits:
4.00
Sociological perspectives on race and ethnic relations for
graduate and advanced undergraduate students. Topics include
the creation of racial and ethnic identities; the nature and
extent of segregation; education, employment, and wealth
inequalities; and the effects of state policy. Course
emphasizes both theoretical and empirical assessments.
SOC 860 - Aging and Late Life Family
Credits:
4.00
Using a life-course perspective, this course focuses on
family relationships and social role transitions in later
life. Addresses impact of the empty nest stage,
grandparenthood, retirement, care giving, and
widowhood on the well-being and relationships
of older people.
SOC 873 - Sociology of Childhood
Credits:
4.00
This course will expose students to a variety of
sociological perspectives on childhood in American society.
Focus will be on the analysis of how social institutions,
like the modern American family, school, economic system,
justice system and communications media affect children.
Assumes a prior understanding of important sociological
concepts, critical thinking skills and social science
writing ability.
SOC 880 - Social Conflict
Credits:
4.00
Analysis of the social conditions associated with the
major forms of conflict management in human societies:
discipline, rebellion, vengeance, negotiation, mediation,
law, therapy, supernaturalism, and avoidance.
SOC #890 - Applied Sociology
Credits:
4.00
(1) Current level of use of sociological knowledge;
(2) the advocate, consultant, and researcher roles in
applied settings; (3) techniques of applied research; (4)
implications of applied sociology, including ethical
problems. Each student focuses on a social problem and
writes a paper covering the above issues. Applied projects
where possible. Prereq: methods of social research.
SOC #892 - Research Internship
Credits:
4.00
For students who want practical experience applying social
research methods in a program or policy setting. Placements,
arranged jointly by student and faculty and faculty member,
include community development agencies, social service
agencies, non-profits, research centers, and companies.
Students meet bi-weekly to discuss their internship
experiences. A major report on the research undertaken is
required. Prereq: Sociological Methods I: Intermediate
Social Statistics, Sociological Methods II: Research Design
and permission.
SOC 894 - Evaluation of Social Programs
Credits:
4.00
Evaluation research defined: purposes of evaluation;
design of evaluation studies; setting of programs;
utilization of evaluation results. Examination of case
studies of evaluations of social programs. Students are
responsible for designing an evaluation study in their
chosen substantive area. Prereq: methods of social research.
SOC 897 - Special Topics
Credits:
4.00
Occasional or experimental offerings. May be repeated for
different topics.
SOC 899 - Master's Thesis
Credits:
1.00 to 10.00
Usually 6 credits but up to 10 credits when the problem
warrants. Cr/F.
SOC 900 - Proseminar
Credits:
2.00
An introduction to the discipline of sociology and to the
graduate program. Topics include writing for professional
audiences, publishing, applying for support, TA workshop,
writing a thesis or dissertation. Meetings with faculty
members throughout the semester. Cr/F.
SOC 901 - Sociological Methods I: Intermediate Social Statistics
Credits:
4.00
Application of statistical methods to the analysis of
social data, with particular emphasis on multiple regression
and related topics.
SOC 902 - Sociological Methods II: Research Design
Credits:
4.00
Systematic investigation of each step in the design and
implementation of sociological research. Selected techniques
of data collection and analyses are pursued. Prereq: methods
of social research; social statistics;/or their equivalents
or permission.
SOC 903 - Sociological Methods III: Advanced Social Statistics
Credits:
4.00
Multivariate statistical methods for the analysis of social
data. Topics include problem-solving with multiple
regression, categorical-variable models, dynamic models, and
others.
SOC 904 - Sociological Methods IV: Qualitative and Historical Research Methods
Credits:
4.00
An introduction to qualitative and historical methods of
data gathering and analysis in the social sciences. The
seminar is intended as an intensive workshop training in
such techniques as participant observation, in-depth
interviewing, content analysis, and archival exploration.
Students conduct qualitative and/or historical research and
are responsible for designing an individual project,
collecting and analyzing appropriate data, and writing a
research paper.
SOC 911 - Sociological Theory I
Credits:
4.00
The content, presuppositions, and implications of the body
of classical sociological theory, exemplifying the full
range of sociological inquiry.
SOC 912 - Sociological Theory II
Credits:
4.00
The content, presuppositions, and implications of
contemporary sociological theory. Students engage in
theory construction and analysis and in this endeavor are
encouraged to develop their particular interests in
substantive areas. Prereq: SOC 911.
SOC 921 - Crime and Conflict
Credits:
4.00
Serves as the core course for the Crime and Conflict
concentration. Theories and patterns of crime; the social
origins of violent and nonviolent conflict; the role of
social factors in the justice system; alternative forms of
crime control and conflict management.
SOC #942 - Sociology and Social Policy
Credits:
4.00
Social policy and public policy defined: description of the
policy making process. The political sociology of the
policy-making process; who makes policy and who
influences policy, under what conditions, and with what
effect. Definition of social policy research and the various
roles social scientist can adopt for policy-relevant work.
Students are responsible for critiquing the readings and
for preparing a substantial research paper.
SOC #954 - Sociology of Religion
Credits:
4.00
The reciprocal relationship of religion and culture; the
function of religion in society; the contributions of
sociological research; the relationship between religion and
other social institutions; religion and social change; the
problem of church and state.
SOC #970 - Social Stress and Health
Credits:
4.00
Focuses on social stress processes and their relation to
physical and mental health. Sources, moderators, and
outcomes of stress are examined within various
social-structural contexts. Specific topics include the
measurement and conceptualization of stress, social
support and coping practices, self concept, and the role
of gender, race, and social class in the stress process.
SOC 975 - Sociology of the Family
Credits:
4.00
Major approaches in the sociological study of
families. Individuals in families, family relationships,
and families as groups and the interrelationships among
these levels. Interactional and systemic properties of
marriage, parent-child relations, and extended family
relations.
SOC 976 - Violence in the Family
Credits:
4.00
Analysis of abusive relationships within the family,
especially physical and sexual abuse of children and
spouses. The primary focus is on the design of research
to test theories purporting to explain intrafamily violence,
consequences of violence for family members and society,
and research on prevention.
SOC 980 - Social Stratification
Credits:
4.00
Introduces students to the core of theoretical,
methodological, and substantive issues in social
stratification. Readings include classical and contemporary
theories of stratification and work exploring the sources
and consequences of stratification. Inequalities based on
class, race, and gender examined.
SOC 988 - Medical Sociology: Health, Healing, and Society
Credits:
4.00
Social context of wellness, illness, and healing;
stratification and health; mortality and morbidity in
relation to class, race, ethnicity, religion, gender,
and age; social control functions of medicine:
medicalization and de-medicalization; interaction
of physicians and patients; medical occupations;
mental health and mental illness; stress and illness;
medical care systems in various countries.
SOC 990 - Teaching Sociology Seminar
Credits:
4.00
Helps graduate students explore teaching techniques and
improve their teaching skills. Topics include: setting
course goals, designing lectures, evaluating student course
work, leading discussion, and experimenting with innovative
teaching techniques. (Also offered as GRAD 974.)
SOC 995 - Reading and Research
Credits:
2.00 to 8.00
A student prepared by training and experience to do the
independent work under the guidance of an instructor may
register. Prereq: 16 graduate hours of sociology and
permission. Hours and credit to be arranged. May be
repeated for different topics.
SOC 996 - Reading and Research
Credits:
2.00 to 8.00
See description for SOC 995.
SOC 997 - Advanced Special Topics
Credits:
2.00 or 4.00
Occasional or experimental offerings.
SOC 999 - Doctoral Research
Credits:
Cr/F.