Sociology
(SOCL)
110—Human Sexuality, 3 Cr.
Human Sexuality explores the
biological, psychological, and social/cultural aspects of human sexual
behavior. Students evaluate the emotional, behavioral, and cognitive
interactions between personal values and societal expectations. (Equivalent to PSYC
110.)
125—Introduction to Sociology, 3 Cr.
This course will introduce students to
the theories and scientific methods that sociologists use to explain human
behavior and describe the organization of society. Students will acquire a
sociological perspective to analyze how individuals are products of their
social environments. Students will also examine the social patterns that
comprise systems of social inequality and major social institutions within
contemporary American society.
149—Human Service Experience, 1 Cr.
This volunteer experience requires a
minimum of 30 hours in the community. The human service agency setting is
selected by the instructor and the students in the course. SOCL 149 satisfies
the general education, community skills-service learning requirement for
criminal justice majors. Sociology majors are required to take 149 and 249 to
satisfy this requirement. Only three combined credits of 149, 249, and 349 will
count toward the sociology major. Graded CR/NC.
150—Introduction to Criminal
Justice, 3 Cr.
This course will provide students with
an overview of the criminal justice system. The structure and function of the
police, courts, and corrections, as well as the policies these agencies use to
control crime, will be examined. Students will also debate controversial issues
related to criminal justice processing and compare the ideal of justice with
the reality under this system. (Equivalent to CRMJ 150.)
210—Introduction to Social Work, 3
Cr.
This course is designed to introduce
students to the profession of social work within contemporary society including
historical background and social, economic, and political conditions influencing
its development. Students will gain an understanding of the connection between
social work and social welfare policy. Social work values and ethics, including
the profession’s commitment to social justice and valuing of diversity, will be
addressed. Students will learn about the social service delivery system, the
social system’s perspective of generalist social work, fields of social work
practice, and social work roles and functions. The course will provide
information that will assist students in considering the profession as a career
choice. (Equivalent to SOWK 210.)
223—Applied Statistics for the Social
Sciences, 3 Cr.
Applied
Statistics prepares students to understand and conduct statistical techniques
commonly employed in any discipline involving scientific research. Descriptive
techniques and related concepts include visual display of data, measures of
central tendency, and variability. Inferential techniques and related concepts
include probability, data distributions, hypothesis testing, t-tests,
correlation and regression, analysis of variance, and nonparametric tests.
Students will learn to use statistical software including spreadsheets and
SPSS. Not open to students who are enrolled in or have earned credits in MATH
130 or 230. Prerequisite: acceptable math placement score or grade of C or
higher in MATH 001 or 091. (Equivalent to PSYC 223.)
244—Social Gerontology, 3 Cr.
This
course is an introduction to the field of gerontology. It is multidisciplinary,
examining biological, psychological, and sociological issues related to the
aging process. Major theories, research methods and concepts in the field of
gerontology will be addressed. Cultural and historical changes related to the
treatment of the elderly, common stereotypes and attitudes toward aging, and
cross-cultural differences will also be addressed in this course. Future issues
and trends in Gerontology will be discussed. This course will be one of the
courses required in the gerontology minor. Restricted to students with freshman
or sophomore standing.
245—Sociology of Sport, 3 Cr.
This course will examine the social
aspects of sports and how sports are a social construction that influences how
people think, feel, and behave. This course will address various aspects of
sports such as social and cultural values, children and sports, stratification
in sports, minorities and gender issues in sports, as well as contemporary
trends in the field. Finally, this course will examine the relationship between
the various institutions and sport (family, religion, politics, economy, mass
media) as well as social problems in sport.
249—Human Service Experience, 1 Cr.
This
volunteer experience requires a minimum of 30 hours in the community. The human
service agency setting is selected by the instructor and the students in the
course. SOCL 149 and 249 satisfies the general education, community
skills-service learning requirement for sociology majors. Only three combined
credits of 149, 249, 349 will count toward the sociology major. Graded CR/NC.
250—Social Psychology, 3 Cr.
Social Psychology examines human
behavior as a function of the social environment. Students explore many
concepts including gender and culture issues, communication and persuasion,
conformity, peer pressure, aggression, prejudice and discrimination,
attraction, and altruism. Prerequisite: 125; PSYC 100 or 171. (Equivalent to PSYC
250.)
265—Sophomore Seminar, 3 Cr.
This course is designed to assist
students in developing professional skills and career plans within the filed of
criminal justice and sociology. Students will master basic research skills and
writing for a scholarly audience. Students will also explore professional
expectations and ethical standards within these disciplines. Finally, students
will explore career options and begin preparing for the job market and/or
graduate school. (Equivalent to CRMJ 265.)
310—Sociology of Gender, 3 Cr.
This course is designed to provide
students with a sociological framework for analyzing gender arrangements in
contemporary American society. It will
examine the significance of social forces in shaping differences between men
and women as well as the social problems created by rigid gender
expectations. It will also explore
gender inequality within major social institutions, focusing on men's and
women's different experiences of and opportunities within work, family,
sexuality, and medicine. Prerequisite: 125.
320—Racial and Ethnic Groups, 3 Cr.
Major ethnic, racial, and religious
groups of the United States; majority-minority relations; conflicts and
changing relations with the dominant culture; nature of prejudice and
discrimination and their effects; alternative policies and strategies in
contemporary America; exploration of personal attitudes regarding human
relations issues.
328—Understanding and Working with Mexicans
in the United States, 3 Cr.
The objective of this course is to
begin to learn about the complex nature of the relationship between the United
States of Mexico and the United States of America through the lived experience
of Mexican people. The focus of this
course is the present day realities of Mexican people working and living in the
US. The course will offer knowledge,
values and skills necessary to understand and work with Mexicans in the US.
Students will learn about selected historical, social, cultural, political and
economic events that shape the life of today’s Mexicans as well as current
policy and political decisions that are impacting Mexican in the US. The skills
necessary to communicate with and serve Mexicans will occur through 10-15 hours
of volunteer service, enhancing students’ cross-cultural practice experiences.
(Equivalent to SOWK 328.)
330—Cultural Anthropology, 3 Cr.
Culture of pre-literate and
contemporary societies. Concept of culture; elements of culture, including
technology, economic and political organization, family and kinship,
associations, ideology, arts, and language; dynamics of culture stability and
change.
332—Social Work with the Elderly, 3
Cr.
This course surveys policies, programs,
and social work services for the older person. Students will gain an
understanding of aging persons in contemporary society, the social service
delivery system, diverse needs of aging persons, social policies and issues
impacting the elderly, and social work practice with the elderly. Restricted to
students with sophomore standing or higher. (Equivalent to SOWK 332.)
333—Child Welfare, 3 Cr.
This course surveys the field of child
welfare. Students will acquire an understanding of the issues involved in
providing services to children who have been affected by child abuse and
neglect, unplanned pregnancy, foster care, institutional care and mental health
concerns. The student will acquire knowledge relevant to working with children,
biological parents, foster parents, adoptive parents, and other systems
involved in the welfare of children. Restricted to students with sophomore
standing or higher. (Equivalent to SOWK 333.)
338—Quantitative Research Methods, 3
Cr.
This course provides an introduction to
the scientific methods of conducting social research. Students will develop
skills in measuring variables, drawing samples, designing data collection
instruments, analyzing data, and writing and presenting scholarly reports.
Students will also use this knowledge to critically evaluate the research of
others. Prerequisite: 125. Restricted to students with junior standing or
higher.
344—Social Gerontology, 3 Cr.
This course is an introduction to the
field of gerontology. It is multidisciplinary, examining biological,
psychological, and sociological issues related to the aging process. Major
theories, research methods and concepts in the field of gerontology will be
addressed. Cultural and historical changes related to the treatment of the
elderly, common stereotypes and attitudes toward aging, and cross-cultural
differences will also be addressed in this course. Future issues and trends in gerontology
will be discussed. This course will be one of the courses required in the
gerontology minor. Restricted to students with junior or senior standing.
345—Marriage and Family, 3 Cr.
Marriage-family complex as a social
institution: variations, interrelationship of family to other social
institutions, dating, marriage, child raising, divorce, death, and remarriage,
contemporary issues in marriage and family life, and future of marriage and
family. This course will empower the student to make more informed decisions
about marriage and family life choices.
349—Human Service Experience, 1 Cr.
This volunteer experience requires a
minimum of 30 hours in the community. The human service agency setting is
selected by the instructor and the students in the course. Only three combined
credits of 149, 249, 349 will count toward the sociology major. Prerequisites:
149, 249. May be repeated for credit. Graded CR/NC.
351—Crime and Delinquency, 3 Cr.
This course will examine the nature,
extent, and causes of criminal and delinquent behavior from a sociological
perspective. Trends in offending and victimization, including research on
violent crime, property crime, public order crime, organized crime, and white
collar crime will be covered. The major theoretical explanations of criminal
and delinquent behavior will also be explored. Prerequisite: 125 or 150 or CRMJ
150. (Equivalent to CRMJ 351.)
353—Social Stratification, 3 Cr.
This course will examine the social
class structure within contemporary American society. Students will study the
distribution of income, wealth, power, and prestige, as well as the systems
that legitimize and maintain this inequality. Students will also explore the
differing opportunities experienced across social class groups within the
economy, politics, education, and medicine. Prerequisite: 125.
354—Social Change and Social
Movements, 3 Cr.
This course provides an introduction to
the field of collective behavior. It will examine contemporary and historical
social movements, particularly those used to address social injustices.
Theoretical perspectives used to explain and predict movements will be
examined. Topics may include movements of the 1960s (e.g., Civil Rights, Black
Power, American Indian, Women, Gays and Lesbians, etc.), as well as more contemporary
movements (e.g., Environmental, the New American Right, Global Justice, etc.)
364—Juvenile Justice, 3 Cr.
This course is designed to
give students an introduction to the field of juvenile justice. It will focus
of the relationship between youth as victims and as offenders, the role of the
juvenile justice system, delinquents’ rights, and traditional and alternative
ways of dealing with juvenile crime. It will briefly examine the social and
etiological features of delinquency. (Equivalent to CRMJ 364.)
366—Community Based Mental Health
Services, 3 Cr.
Social
workers and other helping professionals perform critical roles in mental health
treatment teams, community support programs, and as advocates for mental health
issues. This course provides an introduction to the community based mental
health care delivery system. The strengths perspective is stressed with an
emphasis on biopsychosocial aspects of mental health, social constructionist
perspective of mental illness, and generalist practice. Psychological diagnosis
for common mental illness is introduced for the purpose of working in
interdisciplinary teams and in supportive roles with families. Evidence-based,
best practice approaches are reviewed. Prerequisites: 125; 210 or SOWK 210;
PSYC 171. Restricted to students with sophomore standing or higher. (Equivalent
to SOWK 366.)
370—Homelessness, 3 Cr.
The
study of homelessness in America. The course will address homelessness as a
social problem and as a critical essay on society, and homeless people as
theological, humanistic, and experienced realities. Learning experiences will
include sleeping outside in a cardboard box and living for several days in a
homeless shelter. Prerequisite: 160, 342, VUSM 126, or 127. (Equivalent to RLST
370.)
395—Social Problems in the
Workplace, 3 Cr.
This course presents an analysis of
major contemporary social problems, especially in the U.S. Particular attention
is given to the problems of poverty, racism, sexism, drug and alcohol abuse,
and illiteracy, and their impact on the contemporary workplace. Consideration
is given to diverse sociological perspectives regarding the causes, consequences,
and solutions to these problems. (Equivalent to MGMT 395.)
430—Sociological Theory, 3 Cr.
The study and critique of sociological
theory from Comte to the present: major theorists and schools of thought.
Prerequisite: 125. Restricted to students with junior standing or higher.
448—Organizational Behavior and
Development, 3 Cr.
A study of individual and group
behavior in organizations covering topics such as social styles, personality,
work-related attitudes, job satisfaction, motivation, networking, teams,
communication, decision making, leadership and culture. Prerequisite: MGMT 341.
(Equivalent to MGMT 448.)
456—Capstone Seminar in Gerontology, 3
Cr.
This course will apply an
interdisciplinary perspective to understand aging focusing on the topics of
quality of life, diversity in aging populations, values and ethics in working
with elders, impact of aging on the family, and preparing communities and
organizations for this growing segment of the population. The challenges of
aging will be viewed through a multidisciplinary approach applying knowledge
from various disciplines such as nursing, nutrition, sciences, humanities,
sociology, psychology, social services, criminal justice and religion. Students
will examine issues from the perspective of their own discipline and discuss
multidisciplinary perspectives to address the challenges of aging. This course
is intended to be a capstone course for the gerontology minor and should be
taken as one of the last courses in the minor sequence. Prerequisite: 244 or
344. Restricted to students with junior standing or higher. (Equivalent to SOWK
456.)
465—Seminar, 3 Cr.
This course is designed to facilitate
the transition from the college classroom to the professional world or graduate
school. Students will synthesize and apply the knowledge they have attained
through their coursework, reflect on their academic experience and career goals
to design a job search and prepare graduate school applications, and execute an
original research project and disseminate the results in a poster presentation.
Restricted to students with senior standing. (Equivalent to CRMJ 465.)