Sociology

Study of the structures and processes of society with emphasis on American institutions and the socio-cultural context of human behavior and its consequences. Examination of population, urbanization, social stratification, social conflict, and social change.

Training in how to construct critical thinking arguments on social issues, utilizing sociological theory and data.

Principles and problems of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting statistical data applied to the field of sociology.

Essential concepts on social organizations, including ways in which social organizations are shaped by the larger society, as well as ways in which social organizations impact the larger society. Includes analysis of private, public, for-profit, and non-profit organizations across social institutions and domains, and how organizational processes contribute to a group’s success or failure.

Analysis of major current social problems in the United States. The definition of, causes for, and sociological theories related to such important problems as: dependency, juvenile delinquency, criminal justice, drugs, migration, population increase, mass communication, environmental pollution, family disruption, mental illness, and prejudice.

Problems of women’s roles in society. Comparative perspectives on the status of women across social institutions. An exploration of feminism and consideration of its goals and methods.

Sociological research in men’s studies.Theories of masculinity, male socialization, interactive patterns, intimacy patterns, and roles in the family. Data and discourse on change and persistence of male roles in society.

Study of contemporary American Jewish life and society from a sociological perspective. Pluralism, sociohistorical development, religious ritual, and gender issues as shapers of the American Jewish community.

The social factors, pre-statehood through the present, that have influenced the emergence of Israeli society as a new social and cultural entity in the Middle East.

Study of how social structure, behavior, attitudes and inequalities impact the physical environment. Topics include the environmentalist movement and its opponents, organizational mobilization to alleviate environmental hazards, and future planning for environmental protection in both urban and rural settings.

An examination of how apocalyptic predictions in this new millennium shape human organization and activity in the U.S. The culture of fear pervading American society as it relates to apocalyptic prophecies, messages, and catastrophic threats is a key theme in the course. Both secular and religious apocalypse is examined making historical and global comparisions.

Sociological perspectives on religion as both a persistent and changing social institution. The role of religion in both implementing and impeding social change, policy, and discourse; sociological explanations and studies on religious experience, identity, affiliation, and structure; and the impact of religion on controversial public issues, other social institutions and issues pertaining to class, race, and gender.

Logic of scientific investigation of social phenomena: analysis of theoretical statements, problem formulation, and selection of indicators. Survey of major procedures and principal techniques of empirical work, and practical experience with some phases of the research process.

Classic and contemporary macro and micro sociological theories. Emphasis on theory construction as applied to social issues.

Relationship of self to others and society through exploration of micro-sociological theory and data. An emphasis on interpersonal and organizational behavior as shaped by social forces.

Study of the social mechanisms for social control — formal and informal. Emphasis is on the socialization process, throughout the life cycle, and the development and role in society of folkways, mores, laws and customs.

Sociological exploration of the world of sports and related leisure activities, and how these domains reflect, reify, and change society, as well as how body image plays a role in sports and leisure, which in turn impacts perceptions of self and society.

Examination of the social positions of economic institutions and social factors that effect economic outcomes. Emphases on social and organizational contexts of economic life, social facets of market competition, the modern transition to finance capitalism, and the social side of monopolies and monopoloid arrangements. Attention is given to the international, social generation of poverty.

Analysis of race and ethnicity with an emphasis on diversity and culture, intergroup conflict and competition.

Analysis of the lives of African Americans in the United States. Emphasis on patterns of interaction, social and economic stratification, areas of conflict, and participation in the institutional life of U.S. society.

A critical examination of the social construction of gender. Analysis of the impact of gender’s traditionally binary treatment. Theoretical insights on gender and its intersectionality with sexuality, race and ethnicity, social class and (dis)ability.

Examination of the social position of children and childhood in contemporary American and global society with recognition that children are active participants in their world. Emphasis upon basic areas of family, education, child care, work, juvenile justice, and peer culture. Analysis of the intersection of childhood, gender, social class, race, and ability/disability. Methodological considerations of studying children will also be discussed.

Sociological theory and data on the family as a major social institution. How social forces impact the roles, configurations, problems and needs of the family — and how family issues, in turn, influence the larger society, and both uphold and conflict with societal values. Includes emphasis on diversity along ethnic and lifestyle dimensions.

Sentencing patterns and problems, social investigation, release organization, and administrative procedures, group process, and role modification.

Examination of juvenile delinquency. Studies kinds of offenses, police reactions, detention, court decisions, probation, rehabilitation, theories of causation and methods of prevention.

Examination of the influences of social factors such as race, class, and gender on health and illness of individuals and groups in society. Included are discussions about ethical issues in health care research and application of sociological theories, as well as the review of global health issues such as AIDS, and the structure and outcomes of different health care systems including the U.S.

The social position of the aged in contemporary society. Emphasis upon basic areas of family, work and community and the role of formal and informal community institutions. Some type of community involvement by the student is required.

The use of various substances to change conscious experiences is woven into modern societies beliefs norms, and concerns about crime, deviance and public health. Paradoxically, societies that have high rates of illicit drug use also have the most visible anti-drug policies as exemplified by the US War on Drugs. This course examines drug use as a phenomenon and how perceptions of drug use shape policy.

The growth of cities, their physical and demographic characteristics, planning and redevelopment, and particularly the behavior patterns and social relationships of modern urban living are considered.

Analysis of the formulation of criminal law, major types of crime, theories of criminal behavior, social organization of law enforcement, the courts, and the prisons. Theoretical emphasis on social construction of crime.

Explores social stratification in the U.S., including social class as well as aspects of race, ethnicity, and gender, along with its causes and consequences.

Analysis of the definition and punishment of the offender in relation to social structure and historical context; the rise of the prison and possible alternatives to current methods of incarceration.

Examination of social stratification in the application of law enforcement, judicial process, and correctional agencies and the impact of these processes on marginalized groups.

The relationship of law, society, and the individual. The origin, evolution, and function of law. The legal profession, criminal justice system, and social change.

Logic of scientific investigation of social phenomena: analysis of theoretical statements, problem formulation, and selection of indicators. Survey of major procedures and principal techniques of empirical work, and practical experience with some phases of the research process.

Classic and minority theorists of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, their fundamental principles, and their contributions to the field. An emphasis on theory construction as applied to social issues.

Topics vary.

Survey course for the non-law student. Basic overview of the American legal system with emphasis on 19th and 20th century case law affecting women, including constitutional protections for equity, Title VII (including sexual harassment and comparable worth) and Title IX (including Educational and Sports equivalents).

Seminar on recent feminist thought, including sexual rationalism, socialist and radical feminism, and analysis of the patriarchal state. Relationship to other sociological, psychological, and political thinking.

The application of statistical methods applied to problem situations typical of the social and behavioral sciences. Emphasis is placed upon the statistical analysis of problem situations and interpretation of statistics using the computer to perform standard statistical routines.

Fundamental techniques and principles of qualitative research. Strategies for observation and interviewing, analytic induction, analysis of material culture, and ethics in social research. Students will complete an ethnographic study.

Sociological theories from the mid-20th century to the present, their fundamental principles, and their contributions to the field. An emphasis on applying theory to social issues.

Selected problems in sociology in which theory and research are integrated. Seminar presentation and a research paper are required.

The internship is a basis for performing sociological research. Work assignment to a governmental or private agency and a related research project explicitly grounded in sociology. Joint supervision by agency representative and departmental faculty.