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.

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 sport, minorities and gender issues in sports, as well as contemporary trends in the field. Finally, this course will examine the relationship between various institutions and sport (family, religion, politics, economy, mass media) as well as social problems in sport.

Courses on topics of interest to sociology students offered on the basis of need, interest, or timeliness. Prerequisite: 125. Restricted to students with freshman or sophomore standing. May be repeated for credit. For specific section description, click to the Section Details in VitNet.

Independent reading and/or research under the supervision of a criminal justice faculty member. Refer to the academic policy section for independent study policy. Independent study contract is required. Prerequisite: 150. May be repeated for credit.

This course provides an applied and in-depth exploration of the assessment, management, and rehabilitation of offenders, emphasizing evidence-based practices in criminal and community justice, corrections, and policing. Students will develop a strong foundation of offender rehabilitation across diverse socioeconomic and demographic backgrounds while examining strength-based approaches for working with both offenders and victims. Prerequisite: 150.

This course will introduce the major theoretical approaches to the study of criminology and the sociology of deviance. These perspectives are explored through a discussion of contemporary issues such as trends in offending and victimization, research on violent crime, property crime, public order crime, organized crime, and white-collar and corporate crime. Issues of unequal power, social division, and exclusion are also examined (e.g., age, gender, and social class etc.). (Equivalent to SOCL 351.)

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 SOCL 364.) SJE

This course provides a basic overview of the American judicial system including types of law used in our judicial system, the actors in the courts and court procedures. Federal and state courts and the appellate process will be examined. The nature, variety and sources of criminal laws will be considered in relationship to theories of punishment and control including the creation, organization, and content of criminal law. Prerequisite: 150 or SOCL 150 or junior standing.

In this course, students will examine key scholarly ideas and concepts that shape the practice of community policing, and how these concepts apply in both criminal justice and community settings. The course will focus on community engagement methods, capacity building, needs assessment, and fostering resilience within communities. As part of their final project, students will identify specific community members and groups, analyze the relationship between police and community needs, and develop a project aimed at addressing those needs. This course encourages students to explore the dynamics within their own communities and to consider the impact of community-driven change. Students will also explore the role of police as servant leaders, working collaboratively to promote positive change.

This course provides an historical and sociological examination of the models, practices and rationalizations for community based punishment and incarceration. It includes an overview of early punishment and modern day incarceration, treatment, reform, and rehabilitation of criminal offenders. The course explores the historical movement towards and away from mass incarceration to the development of probation and parole systems, de-incarceration, community corrections, and the control of criminal offenders within our society. The course addresses the concept and practice of restorative justice. These concepts are considered through societal factors such as age, gender, sexuality, social class, racial/ethnic identity, and disability, and the impact of imprisonment and community corrections on different individuals and groups.