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Undergraduate Courses
1000 Introduction to Sociology
Nature of organization and activities of human groupings-family, community, crowd, social class, etc.; structure, function of institutions; social influences shaping personality, behavior, social change. No credit for both SOCIOL 1000 and RU SOC 1100.
1120 Population and Ecology
(same as Rural Sociology 1120)
Changes in the structure and characteristics of population groups and their relationship to both human and non-human aspects of the biophysical environment.
1360 The Female Experience: Body, Identity, Culture
(same as Women's and Gender Studies 1360)
Study of the experience of being female in American Culture. Course will focus on development of women's identities through such topics as: sexuality, reproduction, self-image, rape and health care.
1650 Social Deviance
Survey of approaches to the study of behaviors commonly regarded as deviant such as crime, sexual abuse, substance abuse, mental illness, etc.
2104 Topics in Sociology-Social Science
Organized study of selected topics. Particular topics may vary from semester to semester. Departmental consent for repetition.
2200 Social Inequalities
(same as Black Studies 2200)
Survey of inequalities based upon criteria such as race, ethnicity, sex, age, religion and social class in contemporary societies. Focus on dynamics by which privilege and inequalities are structured.
2210 The Black Americans
(same as Black Studies 2210)
Analysis of history of blacks in the United States. Assessment of contemporary black community in terms of its institutions, styles of life, patterns of work and intergroup relations.
2230 Social Perspectives on Aging
Survey of basic knowledge in social gerontology, aging and old age in American society. Analysis of changes as individuals age, differences among old people, social problems of the aged.
Prerequisites: SOCIOL 1000 or equivalent
2300 Self and Society
Analysis of the self in modern society. Topics covered include social interaction, social perception, language and learning, the sociology of emotions and the social construction of identity.
2310 Culture and Mass Media
Sociological study of modern folk, local, popular and mass cultural production and consumption; mass media, diffusion, change, differentiation.
2950 Social Research I
(same as Rural Sociology 4950)
Introduction to principles of methodology; theory and research; survey of basic research designs and perspectives; preparation for understanding and conducting social research. Required for Sociology majors.
3000 Urban Sociology
(same as Rural Sociology 3000)
Urbanism as a world phenomenon; ecological, demographic characteristics of cities; organization of urban society including status systems, occupational structure, formal and informal associations, racial and cultural relations, forms of communication, housing, city planning.
3010 Social Problems
Trends in modern societies: urbanization, occupational structure, technological change, etc. as these have produced alienation and legitimacy problems. Political, economic, health, welfare, military, justice institutions may be considered. Counter movements and policy issues.
3100 Recent Theories in Sociology
(same as Rural Sociology 3100)
Introduction to major theoretical positions and issues in contemporary American sociology. Logical and intellectual structure of major theoretical schools: functionalism, conflict, exchange, symbolic interaction, phenomenological-ethnomethodological theories.
Prerequisite: SOCIOL 2200
3200 Class, Status, and Power
Study of the structure of wealth, poverty, prestige, and power in relationship to societal, interpersonal, and individual opportunities, constraints and outcomes.
3230 Education and Social Inequalities
Examiniation of the ways in which inequalities are constructed, reproduced, maintained or transformed by and within educational institutions. Particular attention will be given to inequalities based on gender, race, and social class.
3255 Youth in Today's World
Study of what factors influence the development of youth in today's society. Examined are types of behavior such as mating, deviance and the role of schools, parents, TV and friendship groups.
3310 Social Psychology
Survey of theories and research concerned with the ways in which individuals construct social situations and are affected by them. Topics covered include self-identities, social influence, personal relationships, prejudice and discrimination. Prerequisites: 1 or 50
3320 Sociology of Sex Roles
(same as Women Studies 3320)
Study of the ways in which femininities and masculinities are constructed in American society with particular attention to gender ideologies and the gendered nature of the social structure.
3400 Politics of the Media
In this course we study critical thinking skills and use them to compare and contrst U.S. media coverage of current issues with media in other parts of the world. Graded on A/F basis only.
3410 Social Bases of War and Peace
(same as Peace Studies 3410)
Social conditions associated with and preceding war and peace; war as a social institution; international images and stereotypes; proposals for preventing war and reducing international hostilities.
3420 The Family
Families, kin and households as interacting groups; roles, socialization, problems, structural change; family in relation to other social institutions; historical, cultural and class variations.
3430 The Sociology of Sport
The role of sport in modern society. Includes violence in sport; politics and economics of sport; male, female, and racial inequalities; and international comparisons of sport structures.
3440 Sociology of Health
A survey of sociological thinking and research on health, health problems, health occupations and health services. How these are shaped by the society. Problems faced by individuals and the system. Potential solutions to problems.
3450 The Sociology of Religion
Sociology of religious experience, action, organization, movements and social change; contemporary trends, including mainline and new religions, civil religion, secularization.
3510 Public Opinion and Communication
Nature of public opinion; processes of opinion formation; special publics, pressure groups; effects of communication through personal contacts and mass media; propaganda, censorship; opinion surveying.
3520 Collective Behavior
(same as Peace Studies 3520)
Analysis of crowd behavior and related phenomena: rumors, disasters, fashions. Social responses to unclear, dangerous or unjust conditions. The dynamics of conflict, consensus and change.
3600 Criminology
(same as Peace Studies 3600)
Sociology of law; constitutional, psychological, sociological theories of criminal behavior; process of criminal justice; treatment of corrections; control of crime.
3700 Organizations and Institutions
Social organization of modern societies with focus on complex organizations (corporations, bureaucracies) within institutional arrangements (economy, polity, education, religion); organizational structure; interorganizational networks; interrelations of institutional sectors.
3710 The Sociology of Work
Analysis of occupational, professional aspects of American society. Division of labor; occupational mobility; work and the self; colleagueship and informal organizations of work.
Prerequisites: SOCIOL 1000 or 1650
4100 Expert Systems
Introduction to the use of expert system shells, designed for graduate students from any department. Students create prototype expert systems under close supervision by faculty experts. Prerequisite: junior standing or instructor's consent
4110 Feminist Research and Criticism
(same as Women's and Gender Studies 4110)
Examination of both feminist critiques of traditional social research and recent, feminist-oriented research that attempts to answer these criticisms. Prerequisites: SOCIOL 2950 or equivalent
4210 Sociology of Aging
Sociological research and theories of aging and old age; historical, demographic, comparative, social psychological and structural topics are studied in depth.
Prerequisites: 6 hours of Sociology and junior standing
4220 Race and Ethnic Relations
The experience of racial and ethnic minorities; inequality, assimilation, ethnic and racial conflict, accomodation. Prerequisite: junior standing or instructor's consent
4230 Global Perspectives on Women and Development
(same as Black Studies 4230 and Women's and Gender Studies 4230)
Examines the history and structure of "development" discourse and practices. Stresses the interconnections and impact on women globally. Reviews women's strategies in defining and instituting programs to improve quality of life in communities.
Prerequisites: SOCIOL 2200, WGST 1332, BL STU 1332, or WGST 4420
4300 Death and Dying
Death and dying explored from demographic, sociological and social psychological perspectives. Topics: trends and differentials; definitions of death; dying as a social process; funerals and survivors; cultural solutions to problems of death. Prerequisite: junior standing or instructor's consent
4315 Social Demography
(same as Rural Sociology 4315)
General demographic theories; age, sex, and ethnic composition of population; fertility, mortality and migration as components of population change; social, economic and political implications of demographic trends. Prerequisites: SOCIOL 1000 or RU SOC 1100 and junior standing
4370 Environment and Society
(same as Rural Sociology 4370)
An interdisciplinary examination of domestic and international environmental issues focusing on social, cultural, and policy dimensions. Perspectives of the social sciences and humanities are included. Prerequisites: junior, senior or graduate standing
4410 Sociology of Education
(same as Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis 7458)
Contexts, structures and processes of schooling; effects on class, race, ethnicity and gender; social change, educational policy, and organizational dynamics; higher education and the economy.
Prerequisites: SOCIOL 1000 or equivalent
4500 Sociology of Social Policy
(same as Rural Sociology 4500)
Sociological theories and methodologies focused on social policy; policy as process; contextual and critical policy analyses; assessing policy effects and consequences.
Prerequisite: senior standing
4940 Internship in Sociology
(same as Rural Sociology 3940)
Independent research or professional experience under faculty supervision. Project must be arranged by student and faculty member prior to registration.
Prerequisites: junior standing and instructor's consent
4942 Service Learning In Sociology
Students participate in a variety of research-oriented, community service projects which illuminate and reinforce concepts introduced in various sociology courses. Repeatable twice for credit. Does not meet A&S general education requirements.
Prerequisite: instructor's consent
4960 Special Readings in Sociology
Extensive reading in selected area or special field.
Prerequisites: 12 hours Sociology and departmental consent
4970 Senior Seminar
Integrates perspectives, methods, substantive foci of undergraduate courses. Analysis of sociology as a discipline and profession. Discussion of opportunities for graduate study, employment.
Prerequisite: SOCIOL 2950 and 3100 and senior sociology major
4995 Honors in Sociology
Intensive work in a selected field within sociology, including readings and research. Repeatable up to 6 hours with departmental consent.
Prerequisites: for honors candidates; SOCIOL 2950 and 3100