Department of Sociology

Sociology: SOC

Lower-Division Courses

SOC 101C. Introduction to the Department of Sociology.

The discipline of sociology as taught at the University. One lecture hour a week for one semester. Recommended for all sociology majors within one year of declaring the major.

SOC 302 (TCCN: SOCI 1301). Introduction to the Study of Society.

The nature of human societies, social processes, social interaction, and the sociological approach. Three lecture hours or two lecture hours and one discussion hour a week for one semester.

SOC 308 (TCCN: SOCI 1306). Topics in Introductory Sociology.

A review of contemporary social topics from a sociological perspective, with the instructor selecting one topic for emphasis. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Sociology 308 (Topic: Ethnicity and Gender: La Chicana) and 308D may not both be counted. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary.

Topic 2: Women's Reproductive Health for Nonscience Majors. Same as Nursing 307 (Topic 1: Women's Reproductive Health for Nonscience Majors) and Women's and Gender Studies 301 (Topic 7: Women's Reproductive Health for Nonscience Majors). Overview of contemporary women's reproductive health issues, with emphasis on historical, physiological, psychosocial, and cultural influences that affect the reproductive health of women during adolescence, the childbearing years, and midlife. Only one of the following may be counted: Pharmacy 318W, Nursing 307 (Topic 1), Sociology 308 (Topic 2), Women's and Gender Studies 301 (Topic 7). Prerequisite: One year of high school biology, or Biology 301L or 309D or the equivalent.
Topic 3: Life-and-Death Decisions. Covers a range of ethical questions related to issues of life and death, with emphasis on four main areas: general value and definitional issues, issues of creation, issues of termination, and a comparative summary.

SOC 308C. Peace and Conflict.

Theories of conflict, violence, and war; nonviolence and peace movements; arms control and conflict resolution; alternative security systems. Three lecture hours a week for one semester.

SOC 308D. Ethnicity and Gender: La Chicana.

Same as Mexican American Studies 319 (Topic 1: Ethnicity and Gender: La Chicana) and Women's and Gender Studies 301 (Topic 6: Ethnicity and Gender: La Chicana). Three lecture hours a week for one semester.

SOC 309. Chicanos in American Society.

Same as Mexican American Studies 310. Introduction to the study of American character and its bearing on the Chicano experience. Three lecture hours a week for one semester.

SOC 313K. Introduction to the Sociology of Religion.

Introduction to sociological methods in the study of religion. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: Asian Studies 301M (Topic 5: Introduction to the Study of Religion), Religious Studies 310, Sociology 313K.

SOC 317L. Introduction to Social Statistics.

Restricted to sociology majors. Measures of central tendency and dispersion, the binomial and chi-square distributions, tests of hypotheses and parameter estimation, and simple correlation and regression. Three lecture hours and one laboratory hour a week for one semester. Required of all sociology majors.

SOC 317M. Introduction to Social Research.

Students may not enroll in Sociology 317M more than twice. To enroll for the second time, students must receive consent of the undergraduate adviser. The logic of scientific research, general methods of data collection and analysis, and computer applications. Two lecture hours and two laboratory hours a week for one semester. Required of all sociology majors. Prerequisite: Sociology 317L.

SOC 318 (TCCN: SOCI 2339). Juvenile Delinquency.

Environments in which juvenile delinquency develops; delinquent subcultures and peer groups; societal reactions in schools, courts, and other agencies. Three lecture hours a week for one semester.

SOC 319. Introduction to Social Demography.

Social consequences of changes in fertility, mortality, migration, population growth and composition. Three lecture hours a week for one semester.

SOC 119S, 219S, 319S, 419S, 519S, 619S, 719S, 819S, 919S. Topics in Sociology.

This course is used to record credit the student earns while enrolled at another institution in a program administered by the University's Study Abroad Office. Credit is recorded as assigned by the study abroad adviser in the Department of Sociology. University credit is awarded for work in an exchange program; it may be counted as coursework taken in residence. Transfer credit is awarded for work in an affiliated studies program. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary.

Upper-Division Courses

SOC 320K. Political Sociology.

A survey of approaches to the study of the state as a social structure; political power and power systems; ideology; political parties and elites. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

SOC 321J. Religion, Violence, and Nonviolence.

Historical examination of religious beliefs and practices regarding warfare and violence. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Religious Studies 373 (Topic 1: Religion, Violence and Nonviolence) and Sociology 321J may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

SOC 321K. Contemporary Issues in Sociology: Special Topics.

Three lecture hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Varies with the topic and is given in the Course Schedule.

Topic 1: Post-Soviet Societies. Only one of the following may be counted: Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies 345 (Topic 1: Post-Soviet Societies); Sociology 321K (Topic 1); Women's and Gender Studies 345 (Topic: Post-Soviet Societies).
Topic 4: Women and Socialism. Same as Women's and Gender Studies 345 (Topic 25: Women and Socialism). The origins of socialism, its relationship to gender issues, and the role women have played in existing socialist states as revolutionaries and citizens. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topic 5: Sociology of Intentional Community. Literary, historical, and contemporary records of utopian ventures to create the perfect society, and how these attempts shed light on the nature of the less-than-perfect human societies in which we live. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topic 9: Race, Gender, and Social Movements. Exploration of social movements related to racial minorities in the United States. Focuses on Asian Americans, with comparisons drawn between them and African Americans and Latinos. Only one of the following may be counted: Asian American Studies 330 (Topic: South Asian American Experience), Sociology 321K (Topic 9), 321K (Topic: South Asian American Experience), Women's and Gender Studies 340 (Topic: South Asian American Experience). Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topic 10: Gender, Work, and the Labor Force. Critical issues pertaining to workplaces and labor markets in industrial societies. Includes gender inequality in the labor market, social organization of work, types of work and employment, and changes in the labor force in industrial societies. Uses examples from East Asian countries to illustrate how the institutional context shapes women's employment behavior and economic conditions. Only one of the following may be counted: Asian Studies 361 (Topic: Work and Labor Markets), Sociology 321K (Topic 10), 321K (Topic: Work and Labor Markets), Women's and Gender Studies 322 (Topic: Work and Labor Markets). Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

SOC 321L. Sociology of Education.

Same as African and African Diaspora Studies 321L and Women's and Gender Studies 345 (Topic 23: Sociology of Education). Education as a societal institution, with emphasis on the United States educational system: how the system works; the effects of the system; recent changes. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

SOC 321M. Race and Popular American Culture.

Same as African and African Diaspora Studies 321M and Radio-Television-Film 359 (Topic 2: Race and Popular American Culture). The intersection of African American racial politics and the changing popular media industry, especially film, music, and television. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: For radio-television-film majors, upper-division standing and the following coursework, with a grade of at least C in each course: Radio-Television-Film 305, either 314 or 316, and six additional semester hours of lower-division coursework in radio-television-film; for others, upper-division standing.

SOC 322R. Race, Sport, and Identity.

Same as African and African Diaspora Studies 374D (Topic 5: Race, Sport, and Identity). Explores the sociological significance of sport in relation to the construction of racialized identities. Focuses primarily but not exclusively on the black experience in sport, and examines the changing meanings given to sport throughout the twentieth century. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: African and African Diaspora Studies 374 (Topic: Race, Sport, and Identity), 374D (Topic 5), Sociology 321K (Topic 8: Race, Sport, and Identity), 322R. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing and Sociology 302.

SOC 322S. The Sociology of Sport.

Examines the place of sport within social theory, with particular emphasis on the understanding of sport and society found in functionalist, Weberian, Marxist, figurational, feminist, and postmodernist accounts. This theoretical framework is used to explore key social issues in sport, including gender and representation, violence and deviancy, commercialization and college sport, race and inequality, and nationalism and identity. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Sociology 321K (Topic 7: The Sociology of Sport) and 322S and may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing and Sociology 302.

SOC 322V. Race, Gender, and Surveillance.

Provides an overview of theories in the sociology of social control, with a focus on risk, power, ethics, and surveillance. Examines historical transformations in social control and the distributions of power in U.S. and global contexts, with attention to race, gender, and class. Topics include: the transatlantic slave trade; prisons and punishment; the gaze, voyeurism and reality television watching; the Internet; travel and state borders; privacy; biometrics and the body. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Sociology 321K (Topic: Surviellance and Social Control) and 322V may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

SOC 323. The Family.

The American family in historical and comparative perspective; emphasis on recent changes and prospects for the future. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

SOC 324K. Social Change in Developing Nations.

Overview of changing social structure in the Third World. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Latin American Studies 325 (Topic 2: Social Change in Developing Nations) and Sociology 324K may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

SOC 325K. Criminology.

An investigation into the nature of criminal events, including homicide, rape, robbery, property crimes, and white-collar crimes. Also examines the United States criminal justice system. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing and completion of six semester hours of coursework in sociology.

SOC 325L. Sociology of Criminal Justice.

Police, courts, and prisons: how they work; their impact on those who pass through them. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

SOC 329. Social Stratification.

The types and levels of social inequality; the institutional and group processes that generate inequality; the interplay of social, organizational, economic, and political forces that affect the degree of differential opportunities and rewards in society. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing. Completion of Sociology 317L or another statistics course is recommended, but not required.

SOC 129S, 229S, 329S, 429S, 529S, 629S, 729S, 829S, 929S. Topics in Sociology.

This course is used to record credit the student earns while enrolled at another institution in a program administered by the University's Study Abroad Office. Credit is recorded as assigned by the study abroad adviser in the Department of Sociology. University credit is awarded for work in an exchange program; it may be counted as coursework taken in residence. Transfer credit is awarded for work in an affiliated studies program. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

SOC 330C. Death and Dying: Sociological Perspectives.

Sociological perspectives on definitions of death; group differences in mortality rates and causes of death; social meanings of death and dying; treatment of the dying and the dead; and grief and bereavement. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

SOC 330P. Sociology and Social Psychology.

Examines how individuals perceive, interact with, and affect other individuals from the perspectives of both psychology and sociology. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Sociology 321K (Topic: Sociology and Social Psychology) and 330P may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

SOC 333K. Sociology of Gender.

Same as Women's and Gender Studies 322 (Topic 1: Sociology of Gender). Inequality between the sexes; men's and women's changing roles in society. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

SOC 335. Society of Modern Mexico.

Same as Latin American Studies 325 (Topic 1: Society of Modern Mexico) and Urban Studies 354 (Topic 2: Society of Modern Mexico). Family, community, industrialization, and urbanization in modern Mexico. Three lecture hours a week for one semester.

SOC 336C. American Dilemmas.

Examines a variety of critical American social problems, including problems in the economic, political, and health care systems, as well as inequities based on income, gender, and race. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

SOC 336D. Race, Class, and Health.

Designed to introduce students to the complex relationships among race, class, gender, and health status. Investigates how health is linked to individual behaviors and to the interaction between people and their social, cultural, and physical environments. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: African and African Diaspora Studies 374 (Topic: Race, Class, and Health), Sociology 321K (Topic: Race, Class, and Health), 336D. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

SOC 336G. Gender Politics in the Islamic World.

Study of the Islamic world and major sociological concepts such as gender, social organizations, culture, and politics. Examines how culture is mediated by politics, resulting in diverse interpretations of Islam and in different policies with respect to women's rights. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Sociology 321K (Topic: Gender Politics in the Islamic World) and 336G may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

SOC 336L. Global Gender Inequality.

Patterns of gender inequality and women's movements in different cultural contexts, with emphasis on the interface between gender and social organization, and between culture and politics. Includes the legacy of colonialism, the effect of globalization, and the interaction between local and national movements and the international discourse on women's rights. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Only one of the following may be counted: European Studies 361 (Topic: Global Gender Inequality), Middle Eastern Studies 322K (Topic: Global Gender Inequality), Sociology 321K (Topic: Global Gender Inequality), 336L, Women's and Gender Studies 345 (Topic: Global Gender Inequality). Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

SOC 336P. Social Psychology and the Law.

How courts make use of social science, as well as how social scientists study the legal system. Considers the uses of social science across multiple types of legal domains, such as eyewitnesses to crime, jury trials, punishment, children in the courts, and a variety of public policy issues. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Sociology 321K (Topic: Social Psychology and the Law) and 336P may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

SOC 338M. Politics and Culture of Contemporary Mexico.

Same as Mexican American Studies 374 (Topic 28: Politics and Culture of Contemporary Mexico), Government 337M (Topic 5: Politics and Culture of Contemporary Mexico), and Latin American Studies 325 (Topic 3: Politics and Culture of Contemporary Mexico). Introduction to the contemporary Mexican political system and the ways in which political change and democratization are recasting the political and civic culture of contemporary Mexico. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing and six semester hours of lower-division coursework in government.

SOC 340C. Globalization.

A sociological analysis of the interrelated economic, political, and cultural aspects of globalization. Examines the consequences of globalization for nations around the world and for groups within these nations. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Sociology 321K (Topic: Globalization) and 340C may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

SOC 340D. Violence.

An overview of the different theories of interpersonal and group violence. Includes criminological theories of violent crime, as well as feuding, ethnic and nationalist violence, political violence, and aggression in intimate relations. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Sociology 321K (Topic: Violence) and 340D may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

SOC 340G. Sociology of Sexualities.

Review of sociological perspectives on sexuality. Examines how social institutions in U.S. society shape sexual values, beliefs, and practices. Topics include changing cultural images of sexuality, sexual identities, and social movements. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Sociology 321K (Topic: Sociology of Sexuality) and 340G may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Sociology 302, and either Sociology 333K or three semester hours of coursework in women's and gender studies.

SOC 340L. Aging and the Life Course.

The biological, social, and psychological aspects of human aging from adolescence until death, with special emphasis on cultural norms and the social and demographic context in which aging occurs. Includes the challenges and problems of adjustment at each life stage, and the social, political, and economic consequences of increased longevity and changes in the age structure of the populations of modern societies. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Sociology 321K (Topic: Aging and the Life Course) and 340L may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

SOC 340R. Religion and Global Change.

The global spread and transformations of the major world religions, the interactions between them, and the different social impacts these traditions have on society. Focuses mainly on Christian traditions, but includes various schools of Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Sociology 321K (Topic: Religion and Global Change) and 340R may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

SOC 343. Religion and Society.

Same as Religious Studies 337. The growth and decline of religious groups and traditions; "cults" and new religions; comparative sociology of religion; the United States religious landscape; religion and individual health and well-being; spirituality and other aspects of social life. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

SOC 344. Racial and Ethnic Relations.

Contemporary racial and ethnic problems; emphasis on minority groups in the United States. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

SOC 346. The City and Urbanization.

Same as Urban Studies 354 (Topic 6: The City and Urbanization). Examination of urbanization from a cross-national perspective: discrimination and racial inequality in urban labor markets. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

SOC 350M. Sociology Internship Seminar.

Restricted to students in the College of Liberal Arts. Students serve as supervised, unpaid interns in an agency, organization, or business. Provides an opportunity for students to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in sociology and other liberal arts courses. Three lecture hours and at least nine hours of fieldwork a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing and credit or registration for six semester hours of coursework in sociology.

SOC 350N. Research Internship.

Fieldwork in research and analysis on sociological problems and institutions. About ten hours of fieldwork a week for one semester. Additional lecture hours may be required. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Nine semester hours of coursework in sociology, a University grade point average of at least 3.00, upper-division standing, and consent of the faculty undergraduate adviser.

SOC 352. Social Movements.

Characteristics of crowds, publics, and social movements; their role in social organization and social change. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

SOC 352M. Topics in Interdisciplinary Social Science.

An interdisciplinary analysis of significant social, economic, and political issues. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Some topics are offered on the letter-grade basis only. May be repeated for credit when the topics vary. Prerequisite: Varies with the topic and is given in the Course Schedule.

Topic 3: Language and Speech in American Society. Same as American Studies 321 (Topic 2: Language and Speech in American Society), Anthropology 325N, and Linguistics 373 (Topic 2: Language and Speech in American Society). Prerequisite: Upper-division standing, and Anthropology 302, 305, 307, or Linguistics 306.
Topic 4: Language in Culture and Society. Same as Anthropology 325M and Linguistics 373 (Topic 3: Language in Culture and Society). Language as a cultural resource; functions of language in society; survey of language communities. Prerequisite: Anthropology 302, 305, 307, or Linguistics 306; or consent of instructor.
Topic 5: Family Policy Issues. Same as Women's and Gender Studies 345 (Topic 12: Family Policy Issues). Consideration of liberal, conservative, and centrist views concerning the major family policy issues facing the United States and other advanced industrial societies.
Topic 7: Contemporary European Social Theory. Same as Government 335M (Topic 8: Contemporary European Social Theory) and Philosophy 365 (Topic 4: Contemporary European Social Theory). Prerequisite: Upper-division standing and six semester hours of lower-division coursework in government.
Topic 8: Contemporary American Social Theory. Same as Government 335M (Topic 9: Contemporary American Social Theory) and Philosophy 365 (Topic 5: Contemporary American Social Theory). Only one of the following may be counted: Government 335M (Topic: Social Theory), 335M (Topic 9), Philosophy 365 (Topic 5), Sociology 352M (Topic 8). Prerequisite: Upper-division standing and six semester hours of lower-division coursework in government.
Topic 10: Sociology of South Asia. Same as Asian Studies 361 (Topic 19: Sociology of South Asia). A broad overview of South Asian society and culture from a sociological perspective. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.
Topic 12: Australian Society and Politics. Same as Government 365N (Topic 10: Australian Society and Politics). Prerequisite: Six semester hours of lower-division coursework in government.

SOC 353. Industrial Sociology.

The work setting; the formal organization of work; individual and collective adaptation in industrial organizations; bureaucracy as a social problem. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

SOC 354K. Sociology of Health and Illness.

Application of sociological concepts and principles to the study of health professions, medical institutions, community medical organization, and the distribution of illness. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

SOC 358C. Sociology of Entrepreneurship.

Same as African and African Diaspora Studies 358C and Management 337 (Topic 16: Sociology of Entrepreneurship). Examines the creation of entrepreneurial activities in the United States, including those of all racial and ethnic groups. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: For management majors, one of the following courses with a grade of at least C, or two of the following courses with a grade of at least C in each: Management 336, 336H, Operations Management 335, 335H; for others, sixty semester hours of college coursework.

SOC 358D. Health Policy and Health Systems.

Covers the essentials of health policy and law, including the ways that policy and legal issues impact health care and public health systems. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Public Health 358D and Sociology 358D may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

SOC 359. Labor and Labor Movements.

Overview of work organizations in the United States, with emphasis on globalization, inequality, and labor movements. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

SOC 362. Social Change.

Theories of how and why society changes, with special emphasis on technological innovations, social movements, and demographic transitions. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

SOC 366. Deviance.

Analysis of social norms, conformity, and reactions to norm violations. Topics include behavioral forms of deviance such as suicide and drug abuse and nonbehavioral forms of deviance such as physical abnormality. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

SOC 368D. Social Context of Public Health.

An introduction to the social and behavioral theories that inform the discipline of public health, including practical examples of the ways that these theories are used to understand health-related behaviors and health promotion. Includes data on population distributions of mortality and morbidity, health inequalities, and how underlying social structures impact the health of individuals and communities. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Public Health 368D and Sociology 368D may not both be counted. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

SOC 369K. Population and Society.

The study of populations, including their growth, age structure, and patterns of fertility, mortality, and migration; the social causes and consequences of these phenomena. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing.

SOC 369L. Analytical Demography.

Formal demography; stable population theory; life tables and techniques of mortality estimation; estimates and projections. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing and college algebra or the equivalent.

SOC 679H. Honors Tutorial Course.

An individual conference course to provide training in sociological research and writing. Conference course for two semesters, with additional meeting times to be arranged. Prerequisite: For 679HA, upper-division standing and admission to the Sociology Honors Program; for 679HB, Sociology 679HA.

SOC 379M. Sociological Theory.

Restricted to sociology majors. Critical examination of major sociological theories and their relevance to current research and social conditions. Three lecture hours a week for one semester. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing, and six semester hours of coursework in sociology or consent of instructor.

SOC 379N. Conference Course.

Supervised individual study of selected problems in sociology. Conference course. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing, Sociology 302 or the equivalent, nine semester hours of upper-division coursework in sociology or related fields, a University grade point average of at least 3.00, and consent of the faculty undergraduate adviser.

SOC 379P. Undergraduate Research Opportunity.

Restricted to sociology majors. Students participate in research-related activities with faculty members in the Department of Sociology. Activities may include collecting interview or survey data, analyzing statistics, synthesizing research literature, and coding qualitative data. Five to seven hours a week for one semester. May be repeated for credit but may only be taken once on the letter-grade basis. Prerequisite: Upper-division standing, Sociology 302 or the equivalent, nine semester hours of upper-division coursework in sociology or related fields, a University grade point average of at least 3.00, and consent of the faculty undergraduate adviser.