Sociology & Criminology

CRIM 115 Cr.3

Criminology and Criminal Justice through the Ages

This introductory course provides an overview of the evolution of criminology and the criminal justice system tracing their roots to justice systems around the world. Students explore the historical, social, and political factors that have shaped the criminal justice system and our understanding of crime. Topics include the development of policing, courts, and correctional systems; the evolution of the discipline of criminology and our understanding of crime; and the impact of major historical events on criminal justice practices. CGER HA-PDU Humanities & Arts: Pasts that Define Us. Offered Fall, Spring.

CRIM 312 Cr.3

Courts, Crime, and Justice

This course provides an overview of the American judicial system and its relationship with crime, justice, and society. Students learn about courts at the local, state, and federal level. Different types of courts such as criminal and civil courts as well as specialized courts including family court and juvenile court are covered. Students additionally learn about the basic history of the court system to understand its larger position in society. Prerequisite: one of the following: CRIM 115, SOC 110, SOC 120, SOC 225, RGS/SOC 150, ANT 101, ANT 102, PSY 100, POL 101, POL 102, or POL 110. Offered Spring.

CRIM 313 Cr.3

Law and Society

This course examines the law as a social construction. This involves exploring the notion that the civil and criminal law, deviance and criminal behavior, and various actors in the legal and criminal justice arenas are not to be taken for granted as natural, inevitable, and objective but rather, as rooted in social and political forces. Thus, this course explores the historical development of the law, social change, inequalities in the application of the law, why we obey or fail to obey the law, and heavily debated contemporary US laws. Prerequisite: CRIM 115 or SOC 110 or SOC 120 or ANT 101. Offered Annually.

CRIM 318 Cr.3

Surveillance and Society

Surveillance is now a prominent feature in the contemporary, post-9/11 world. This course explores the concept of surveillance, its development, and the various ways that surveillance exists within the social world. This includes an examination of how surveillance intersects with, and is used by, the government and law enforcement, corporations, institutions such as the economy and schools, and you. A major organizing question of the course is this: How is the practice of surveillance changing our social life and our notions of public and private spheres? Prerequisite: CRIM 115 or SOC 110 or SOC 120. Offered Spring.

CRIM 321 Cr.3

Delinquency

This course is an overview of the sociological study of delinquency, with special emphasis on competing theoretical perspectives. In the process of learning about theoretical perspectives aimed at explaining delinquency, this course pays special attention to gender delinquency, gangs, current events regarding delinquency, and the U.S. juvenile justice system. Prerequisite: CRIM 115 or SOC 110 or SOC 120 or ANT 101. Offered Annually.

CRIM 322 Cr.3

Criminology

This course examines the sociological study of crime in the United States focusing on patterns of criminality, competing theoretical explanations, and societal responses to crime. Students explore the definitions, measurement, and patterns of criminal behavior, including homicide, hate crimes, assault, and white-collar crime. The course analyzes the roles of the victim and offender and the implications of public policy on crime and social control. Prerequisite: CRIM 115 or SOC 110 or SOC 120 or ANT 101. Offered Fall, Spring.

CRIM 323 Cr.3

Corrections and Penology

This course provides an interdisciplinary review of criminal punishment and correctional systems in the U.S. Students examine dominant punishment philosophies such as deterrence, incapacitation, retribution, and rehabilitation. Both institutional and community-based approaches to corrections are covered and particular attention is devoted to understanding the social context of current practices, the nature of correctional populations, and the management of correctional systems. Prerequisite: CRIM 115 or SOC 110 or SOC 120 or ANT 101. Offered Fall - Odd Numbered Years.

CRIM 324 Cr.3

Criminal Justice

This course provides an overview of the United States criminal justice system. Issues relating to various segments of the criminal justice system, such as the administration of justice, the police, courts, and correctional systems are explored. Prerequisite: CRIM 115 or SOC 110 or SOC 120 or ANT 101. Offered Fall, Spring.

CRIM 325 Cr.3

Juvenile Justice

This course provides an overview of the United States juvenile justice system. Issues relating to various segments of the juvenile justice system, such as the administration of juvenile justice, policing juveniles, juvenile courts, and juvenile correctional systems are explored. Prerequisite: CRIM 115, SOC 110, SOC 120, or PSY 100. Offered Annually.

CRIM 326 Cr.3

Sociopharmacology

This course examines the social structural factors related to drug use with emphasis on change at the societal level in dealing with the drug problem. Students examine the current and historical patterns of drug use in society. An emphasis is placed on understanding the sequence of initiation, use, and misuse of psychoactive drugs. This course focuses on the social problems and social policy aspects of drugs. Questions addressed include: How does society choose which drugs to treat as social problems? What are the potential versus real-life effects of current laws and policies intended to curb drug use? What are the treatment and prevention strategies used today? What kinds of programs are successful and why? Prerequisite: CRIM 115 or SOC 110 or SOC 120 or ANT 101. Offered Spring.

CRIM 327 Cr.3

Victimology

This course provides an overview of the field of victimology. Students learn the historical development of the study of crime victims, the causes and consequences of being victimized, as well as responses by the criminal justice system and social service agencies to crime victims. Specific types of victims and victimization are discussed within this context including victims of sexual assault, domestic/intimate partner violence, child abuse, and property crime. Prerequisite: one of the following: CRIM 115, SOC 110, SOC 120, RGS/SOC 150, SOC 225, PSY 100, or RGS 100. Offered Spring.

CRIM 328 Cr.3

Youth Rebellion

This course applies critical and cultural criminology to the study of youth resistance subcultures, examining how young people engage in deviant, delinquent, and criminalized forms of cultural rebellion. Students investigate how race, class, and gender shape subcultural experience, how criminal justice institutions and media construct and criminalize youth deviance, and how commercial culture absorbs oppositional subcultures. The course situates youth rebellion within criminological frameworks of deviance, social control, moral panic, and labeling theory, encouraging students to understand crime and deviance as cultural and political phenomena responding to broader social inequalities. Prerequisite: one of the following: CRIM 115, SOC 110, SOC 120, or ANT 101. Offered Annually.

CRIM 329 Cr.3

Crimes of the Powerful

This course examines crimes committed by political leaders, corporations, and nation-states, including economic exploitation, environmental destruction, war crimes, and corruption. Students analyze how laws, media, and institutions protect elites while criminalizing marginalized groups. Students critically evaluate the structures that enable powerful actors to break rules with impunity, understanding crime as a social and political phenomenon rather than solely individual wrongdoing. Prerequisite: CRIM 115 or SOC 110 or SOC 120. Offered Fall - Even Numbered Years.

CRIM 331 Cr.3

Restorative Justice

This course explores the fundamental principles and practices of restorative justice along with its theoretical and historical underpinnings. Students examine the needs and roles of key stakeholders in the criminal justice system (victims, offenders, communities, and justice systems), along with the strengths and weaknesses of restorative justice techniques in addressing those needs. Centered on secular, western understandings of justice, crime, and harm, this course teaches a practical, applied approach to conflict resolution, emphasizing strategies such as collaborative resolutions, mediations, and arbitration. Prerequisite: one of the following: CRIM 115, SOC 110, SOC 120, RGS/SOC 150, SOC 225, PSY 100, or RGS 100. Offered Annually.

CRIM 333 Cr.3

Human Rights Policing

This course analyzes the concept of human rights and the application to the field of criminal justice with a particular focus on policing. Students review the historical roles and functions of policing including its sinister beginnings in the United States to challenge mainstream thought and dominant discourses surrounding the criminal justice system. The class scrutinizes structures of power and the age of mass incarceration while exploring alternative and creative solutions to contemporary issues in policing. Ultimately, students learn to apply human rights principles to their understanding of police work and future careers as criminal justice professionals. Prerequisite: CRIM 115 or SOC 110 or SOC 120 or ANT 101. Offered Spring - Even Numbered Years.

CRIM 340 Cr.3

Corrections Administration

This course provides a comprehensive overview of the American correctional system. Both community and institutional corrections are covered, including diversion, probation, parole, jails, and prisons. Particular attention is given to the administrative and operational aspects of corrections, including the roles of community and institutional corrections employees. Prerequisite: CRIM 115, SOC 110, or SOC 120. Offered Annually.

CRIM 345 Cr.3

Race, Gender, and Crime

This course provides an examination of race and gender and the roles they play in victimization, offending, and the profession of criminal justice. This course explores contemporary criminal justice issues, criminological theory, and criminal justice policy, particularly as they relate to racial and ethnic minorities, women, and LGBTQ+ people. Additionally, this course explores the intersections of these social statuses as they relate to key issues in the criminal justice system. Prerequisite: one of the following: CRIM 115, SOC 110, SOC 120, RGS/SOC 150, SOC 225, PSY 100, or RGS 100. Offered Fall.

CRIM 399 Cr.3

Special Topics in Criminology

In this course students investigate areas and topics of current criminology interest not covered in the regular curriculum ranging from local to transnational issues. Repeatable for credit under different topics - maximum 12 credits. Offered Occasionally.

CRIM 409 Cr.1-3

Readings and Research in Criminology

In this course students engage in directed readings or research under the supervision of an instructor. Repeatable for credit - maximum six credits. Prerequisite: junior standing. Offered Fall, Spring.

CRIM 422 Cr.3

Seminar in Criminology

This course is designed to bridge academic learning with professional practice through community-engaged research and service learning. Students collaborate with local organizations to conduct research that addresses pressing issues in criminal justice, applying criminological theories and data analysis to develop evidence-based solutions. The course integrates guest speakers from various sectors, providing students with insight into the field and opportunities for professional networking. In addition to research and service work, students participate in career development activities including resume building and job market preparation workshops. Repeatable for credit - maximum six credits. Prerequisites: CRIM 115, SOC 200, SOC 250, CRIM 322, SOC 350. Consent of instructor. Offered Fall, Spring.

CRIM 423 Cr.3

Queer Criminology

In this course students learn about LGBTQ+ people across the fields of criminology and criminal justice by centering on their experiences. Instead of treating LGBTQ+ people as an afterthought or assuming they fit neatly into existing heteronormative understandings of crime and justice, this course will "queer" a variety of traditional topics within criminology and criminal justice including police, law, violence, juvenile justice, public health, and the media. Prerequisite: one of the following: CRIM 115, SOC 110, SOC 120, SOC 225, RGS/SOC 105, RGS/SOC 150, ANT 101, ANT 102, or PSY 100. Offered Fall.

CRIM 450 Cr.1-15

Internship in Criminology or Criminal Justice

This course is an academically relevant field experience for criminology majors and criminal justice minors. The field experience is supervised by the sociology staff. No more than six credits may be applied to the criminology major. Repeatable for credit - maximum 15 credits. Prerequisites: cumulative GPA of at least 2.50. Pass/Fail grading. Offered Annually.

SOC/RGS 105 Cr.3

Introduction to LGBT Studies

This course will examine the cultural, legal, and political dimensions of LGBT life in the U.S. It will begin by exploring the social invention of heterosexuality and how personal and institutional interpretations of sexuality have historically informed the lives of LGBT people. The course also addresses class, racial and gender biases that especially confront queer communities of color in the U.S. Finally, the course looks at continued instances of hate crimes and homophobia against the backdrop of rights-based activism and the role that art and politics play in this interplay. (Cross-listed with RGS/SOC; may only earn credit in one department.) Offered Annually.

SOC 110 Cr.3

Introduction to Sociology

An analysis of the complex relationship between society, the individual and the physical environment. It examines such questions as: how social patterns develop and persist over time; how the individual is shaped by social, cultural and environmental factors; why societies are constantly changing; and how individuals, through social interaction, shape their social world. Cross-cultural comparisons will be emphasized, showing how society and the physical environment affect the life choices of individuals. CGER SBS-BS Social & Behavioral Science: Social & Behavioral Studies. Offered Fall, Spring, Summer.

SOC 120 Cr.3

Social Problems

Social analysis, critical thinking, and problem solving are introduced as basic social science skills. These skills are applied to major contemporary social problems related to deviant behavior, social inequality, social change, and problems associated with major societal institutions. A variety of individual and collective responses and social policy strategies at local, national, and international levels are examined. CGER SBS-BS Social & Behavioral Science: Social & Behavioral Studies. Offered Fall, Spring.

SOC/RGS 150 Cr.3

Introduction to Social Justice

Students in this course will examine the concept of social justice through an intersectional and multidisciplinary lens. Students will begin with a critical investigation of the connections between the individual, the local, and the structural as they relate to justice and inequality in society. Social justice strategies are then evaluated, in case study fashion, through the lenses of gender, race, and class structures. CGER SBS-BS Social & Behavioral Science: Social & Behavioral Studies. (Cross-listed with RGS/SOC; may only earn credit in one department.) Offered Annually.

SOC 200 Cr.3

Foundations of Social Analysis

Designed for sociology and criminology majors, this course focuses on: (1) learning to think sociologically, including deeper comprehension of core sociological perspectives and concepts; (2) understanding the scientific methods in sociology and criminology; (3) the formulation of sociological and criminological research questions; (4) the resources and skills needed to effectively write a critical literature review; and (5) professionalization including how to build a curriculum vitae/resume, careers in sociology and criminology, presenting at professional conferences, and applying to graduate school. Sociology and criminology majors should take this course as soon as possible after completing SOC 110 or CRIM 115, as the skills taught in this course benefits students in their upper division sociology and criminology courses. Prerequisite: CRIM 115 or SOC 110; sociology or criminology major. Offered Fall, Spring.

SOC 201 Cr.1

Careers in Sociology

In this course students explore the types of jobs in which sociology majors can work and the marketable skills to get them. Students research careers of interest to them in terms of job descriptions, growth and income outlooks, and the skills required. Internships and current job opportunities are investigated, and resumes, cover letters, and job applications are developed. Prerequisite: SOC 110 or SOC 120 or SOC 225 or CRIM 115. Pass/Fail grading. Offered Occasionally.

SOC 212 Cr.3

Marriage and Family

The major focus of this course is on understanding the contemporary institutions of marriage and family, and the changes that these institutions have experienced. The influences that gender, race/ethnicity, sexuality, socioeconomic class and age have on marriage and family experiences will be included in the investigation. Offered Occasionally.

SOC 216 Cr.3

Society and Schools

A social analysis and review of research on the school as a learning environment, a social organization and a societal institution. Specific topics include classroom interaction, school social climate, social inequalities in the schools, and selected educational controversies. Offered Occasionally.

SOC 225 Cr.3

Sociology of Race and Ethnicity

This course offers a critical examination of the social dynamics shaping race and ethnicity in the United States. Students will examine both historic and contemporary issues related to race and ethnicity including the social construction of race, sources of prejudice, institutional and individual-level discrimination, power relations and stratification, and strategies for addressing racial and ethnic inequality. Emphasis is placed on the use of empirical evidence to evaluate popular beliefs about race and ethnicity in the United States. CGER CP-CU Civics & Perspective: Communities of the United States. Offered Fall, Spring, Summer.

SOC 240 Cr.3

The Sociology of Sport and Leisure

An investigation of the interrelationship between sports/leisure time activities and society's social structure; its institutions and culture. Special emphasis is on the role social structure plays in the formation of values and attitudes related to sports and leisure time activities. Offered Occasionally.

SOC 250 Cr.3

Methods of Social Research I

This course introduces students to principles and procedures for the quantitative measurement of social phenomena. It emphasizes interpretation and uses of quantitative techniques in sociological data analysis. The primary goal is to provide students with skills and practical application of techniques used to understand how sociologists measure, evaluate and use individual and social indicators such as socioeconomic status, residential segregation, and crime statistics. The department strongly encourages students to take SOC 200 and SOC 250 concurrently. Prerequisite: CRIM 115 or SOC 110 or SOC 120; sociology major or criminology major. Offered Annually.

SOC 308 Cr.3

Disability and Society

In this course students study sociological understandings of disability and explore the experiences of people with bodily and mental differences. The sociological study of disability examines the commonalities of social life that exist and persist despite the presence of biological differences. Additionally, this course encourages critical evaluation of the influence of social systems, institutions, professional understandings of disability, and our own assumptions about the disability experience on the well being of people with disabilities and members of their families. Students examine disability through understandings of identity (personal and collective), inequalities, social movements, social experience, sexualities, gender, race, class, intersectionalities, and physical and mental variation. Students examine the ways in which people with bodily and mental differences construct personal and collective identities and develop, support, and maintain communities; the effects of stigma on experiences of disability; and how disability is constructed by the cultural and structural demands of global capitalist societies. Students explore the ways in which the experience of disability and disability studies can be used to further sociological understandings and to reexamine and reconceptualize taken-for-granted ideas about social life and experience, the social structure, and sociological theories and methodology. Prerequisite: one of the following: CRIM 115, SOC 110, SOC 120, SOC 225, RGS/SOC 150, ANT 101, ANT 102, PSY 100, or PSY 200. Offered Annually.

SOC 310 Cr.3

Social Stratification

Students examine the nature, study, theories, and types of social stratification systems along with the forces contributing to their maintenance and disruption. Prerequisite: ANT 101 or CRIM 115 or SOC 110 or SOC 120. Offered Spring - Odd Numbered Years.

SOC 315 Cr.3

Religion and Society

This course explores the social and cultural context in which religion functions; the effects of religion upon behavior and attitudes; the social organization of denominations, sects, cults and movements; the relationships between religion and other social institutions; religion and social inequality; social change and the future of religion. Special attention is given to world religions and ethical and public policy issues concerning religion, society, and the individual. Prerequisite: CRIM 115 or SOC 110 or SOC 120 or ANT 101. Offered Occasionally.

SOC/RGS 316 Cr.3

Gender, Sexuality, and Social Change in Religion

This course examines the various gender roles, norms, mobility, restrictions and empowerment that people experience within religious traditions, for example: Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. Global case studies and engaging narratives focused on the intersections of gender, sexuality, race, and religion are considered. Special attention is paid to feminist laypersons and religious leaders who are reformulating traditional understandings and practices, and in turn, negotiating their agency within secular and spiritual spaces. Prerequisite: one of the following: RGS 100, RGS 150, SOC 110, SOC 120, EDS 206. (Cross-listed with RGS/SOC; may only earn credit in one department.) Offered Occasionally.

SOC 317 Cr.3

Sociology of Media

This course critically examines the relationship between media, culture, and society. Students examine the impact of media in society across multiple areas including the history and structure of media organizations, media economics, methods used in media research, the relationship between political power and the media, and the distinction between news and entertainment. Students give special attention to theoretical approaches used to examine media in each of these substantive areas. Multiple forms of media are examined including printed presses, radio, television, electronic news, virtual and online communities, film, and social networking platforms. Prerequisite: CRIM 115 or SOC 110 or SOC 120 or ANT 101. Offered Occasionally.

SOC 319 Cr.3

Sociology of City Life

This course explores the political, social, cultural, economic, and religious aspects of city life, examining the metropolis as a site of unique social worlds, identity formation, creativity, and struggle. Students investigate how the city has changed through accelerated gentrification, rising inequality, segregation, and shifting demographics. Students explore the depths of urban life to understand both its endless possibilities and its enduring social challenges. Prerequisite: CRIM 115 or SOC 110 or SOC 120. Offered Spring - Odd Numbered Years.

SOC 320 Cr.3

Demography

This course is designed as a basic survey of the field of demography. Sources of population data are explored along with causes and consequences of population growth, composition, and distribution. This course focuses on the concepts, measurements, trends, and theories of the major demographic processes of fertility, mortality, and migration. Prerequisite: CRIM 115 or SOC 110 or SOC 120 or ANT 101. Offered Spring - Even Numbered Years.

SOC 325 Cr.3

Sociology of Mental Illness

In this course students examine mental health and illness, and mental health care systems in the U.S. and other industrialized and non-industrialized societies. This includes the processes involved in identifying and recruiting patients into the mental health care system; a social analysis of psychotherapy, including talk therapies, medications, electro-convulsive treatment and psychosurgery; and social organization of mental hospitals and of community mental health centers; socio-legal issues related to mental illness; and a review and synthesis of social psychological and sociological theories relevant to understanding mental health and illness. Prerequisite: CRIM 115 or SOC 110 or SOC 120 or ANT 101 or PSY 100. Offered Occasionally.

SOC 328 Cr.3

Environmental Sociology

This course provides a framework for understanding the relationship between human societies and their physical environment. This course focuses on how environmental sociologists explain the social origins of environmental degradation, how environmental harms are unequally distributed among different communities and nations, and the role of environmental movements in protecting the physical environment. Prerequisite: CRIM 115 or SOC 110 or SOC 120 or ENV 101. Offered Fall.

SOC 330 Cr.3

Social Psychology

This course explores social psychology from a sociological perspective. The course focuses on social behavior and communication patterns in terms of their genesis and change in the context of social groups and social relationships. Prerequisite: CRIM 115 or SOC 110 or SOC 120 or ANT 101 or PSY 100. Students may only earn credit in SOC 330 or PSY 241. Offered Occasionally.

SOC 332 Cr.3

Environmental Justice

Environmental Justice has two distinct meanings. The first refers to the study of how and why environmental problems are experienced differently according to race, gender, class, and nationality. The second describes a social movement that works to fight unequal access to clean, healthy environments, and the services that they provide. This course focuses on both aspects of environmental justice, examining the social dynamics that lead to environmental harms being distributed unequally among different communities and nations as well as the role of the environmental justice movement in fighting environment inequalities and injustices. Prerequisite: CRIM 115 or SOC 110 or SOC 120 or ENV 101. Offered Spring.

SOC 335 Cr.3

Collective Behavior

In this course students examine social processes which emerge in unstructured social situations as well as principles of behavior as expressed in crowds, mobs, fads, fashions, and especially in social movement activities. Prerequisite: CRIM 115 or SOC 110 or SOC 120 or ANT 101. Offered Fall.

SOC 336 Cr.3

Sociology of Popular Culture

This course examines popular culture as a socially organized field shaped by institutions, power relations, and systems of inequality. Students analyze how cultural forms are organized by social forces, how access to cultural production and participation is unevenly distributed, and how distinctions of taste and value are socially constructed. Drawing on sociological theory and research, the course explores how popular culture contributes to the reproduction and transformation of social hierarchies, identities, and everyday practices. Offered Spring.

SOC/RGS 337 Cr.3

Globalization, Women, and Work

This course examines the global and often exploitative experiences of women, migrating from one part of the world to another for work. As women leave their countries of origin, many find themselves working as nannies, sex workers, house cleaners and modern-day slaves in sweatshops. These work environments often create vulnerability, discrimination, and abuse of women within the private and public institutions of their host countries. The course also uses in-depth personal narratives and a focus on grassroots social movements to witness how women resist workplace policies and domestic laws to campaign for their rights, despite cultural and political constraints. Prerequisite: RGS 100 or RGS 150 or EDS 206. (Cross-listed with RGS/SOC; may only earn credit in one department.) Offered Alternate Years.

SOC 338 Cr.3

Sociological Aspects of Work and Life

In this course students explore the sociological impact of work and life demands in contemporary American society. Special emphasis is given to how gender, sexual orientation, social class, race and ethnicity, and family structure affect individuals' ability to balance the demands of work and life. Prerequisite: CRIM 115 or SOC 110 or SOC 120 or ANT 101. Offered Occasionally.

SOC 350 Cr.3

Methods of Social Research II

An overview of the issues and methods involved in the process of scientific investigation of social phenomena. The limitations of, and ethical issues involved in, social research are examined. Data collection methods, both quantitative and qualitative, including surveys, observation, and secondary data analysis are investigated. Students propose and complete a research project, applying material learned in Sociological Research Methods I, including student application of various research techniques and computer-assisted data analysis. Prerequisite: SOC 200, SOC 250. Offered Fall, Spring.

SOC 369 Cr.3

Sociology of Sexualities

This course uses a sociological perspective to examine human sexuality. Although biological explanations are often used to understand sexuality, this course focuses on how sexual attitudes and behaviors are shaped by society. Students focus on the methodological and theoretical approaches that are used in sociological studies of sexuality. This includes a brief overview of historical perspectives on sexuality; contemporary debates about sexual identity; sexual practices and behavior; and how sexuality relates to issues of power and politics, of morality and social control. Prerequisite: CRIM 115 or SOC 110 or SOC 120 or RGS 100 or ANT 101. Offered Occasionally.

SOC 370 Cr.3

Sociology of Gender

This course explores the social construction, variation and consequences of gender categories across time and space. Students examine how gender identities are developed and how gender structures our experiences in education, work, families, the media, and other institutions. Prerequisite: one of the following: CRIM 115, SOC 110, SOC 120, SOC 225, RGS 100, RGS/SOC 105, or RGS/SOC 150. Offered Fall.

SOC 380 Cr.3

Fat Studies and Body Politics

The purpose of this course is to explore the social construction, medicalization, and pathologization of fat in the United States. Fat is examined as a social justice issue that intersects with race, class, gender, sexuality, and ability status. This course explores the body politics behind attempts to redefine fat identity, including body positive and fat positive movements. This course also examines fat activism as a means of addressing fatphobia and size discrimination. Emphasis is placed on the use of historical and empirical evidence to evaluate common myths about fat bodies. Prerequisite: one of the following: CRIM 115, RGS/SOC 105, SOC 110, SOC 120, RGS/SOC 150, ANT 103, ANT 195, PSY 100, or RGS 100. Offered Occasionally.

SOC 381 Cr.3

Bodies in Society

This course investigates how bodies become sites where social meanings, identities, and inequalities are produced, experienced, and contested. Through sociological research and theory, students analyze how bodies are shaped, regulated, and interpreted across social contexts. Topics include beauty standards, medicalization, gendered and racialized bodies, disability, reproduction, aging, and sexuality, as well as emerging issues such as body surveillance, digital representations of the body, and the growing influence of health, wellness, and biotechnology. Drawing on contemporary sociological research and evidence-based analysis, the course equips students with the analytical tools needed to critically examine how social forces shape embodied experiences in contemporary society. Prerequisite: one of the following: RGS/SOC 105, SOC 110, SOC 120, RGS/SOC 150, ANT 103, ANT 195, PSY 100, or RGS 100. Offered Annually.

SOC 390 Cr.3

Sociological Theory

Sociological theory is a lens that is constructed based on detailed examinations of the world around us, and then used for viewing, studying, and understanding the social world in which we live. Beginning with early attempts to explain society, this course provides a critical survey of social theory and theorists over time, and traces the themes of sociological inquiry into the modern era. Theories covering society, groups, interactions and the human self will be summarized, explored, compared, contrasted, and, most important, applied to help better understand contemporary social conditions and life in modern societies. Prerequisite: SOC 200. Offered Fall, Spring.

SOC 399 Cr.3

Special Topics in Sociology

Investigation of areas and topics of current sociological interest not covered in the regular curriculum ranging from local to transnational issues. Repeatable for credit - maximum 12. Offered Occasionally.

SOC 404 Cr.3

Global Inequality

This course explores explanations for inequality between countries. Macro-sociological theories and comparative methods are used to analyze cross-cultural and cross-national differences and similarities in basic institutions, including family, education, and political economy. The main course objective is that students develop an understanding of the consequences of living in a world of global inequality. Prerequisite: CRIM 115 or SOC 110 or SOC 120 or ANT 101 or ANT 103. Offered Occasionally.

SOC 405 Cr.3

Quantitative Social Research Seminar

This course guides students through the completion of an independent quantitative sociological research project. Students conduct research on a topic related to their own interest within the field of sociology or criminology using standard quantitative methods such as survey research, evaluation research, or secondary data analysis. Each student formulates a sociologically relevant research hypothesis, designs the appropriate research methodology, reviews relevant theoretical and empirical literature, and gathers and analyzes data in a step-by-step process. The results of the research process are presented in a formal research paper. Prerequisite: SOC 350; CRIM 322 or SOC 390. Offered Fall, Spring.

SOC 409 Cr.1-3

Readings and Research in Sociology

Directed readings or research under the supervision of an instructor. Repeatable for credit - maximum six. Prerequisite: junior standing. Consent of instructor. Offered Fall, Spring.

SOC 410 Cr.3

Sociology Honors Project

The development and completion of an honors research project under the supervision of a faculty member. Prerequisite: acceptance into the Sociology Honors Program. Consent of department. Offered Annually.

SOC 416 Cr.3

Qualitative Explorations

In this course students develop and conduct a field research project. The course explores and employs the major techniques of qualitative data collection and analysis that is used by sociologists and other social scientists. These include feminist methods, participant observation, in-depth interviewing, biographical methods, content analysis, archival research, and a variety of nonreactive techniques. Also addressed are the links among theory, data, and methods and an appreciation for the qualitative tradition in social sciences. The course follows a seminar format that, along with the research project, emphasizes reading, group discussion, in -and out - of class exercises, and both oral and written presentations. Prerequisite: SOC 350; CRIM 332 or SOC 390. Offered Fall, Spring.

SOC 420 Cr.3

Health Care and Illness

This course introduces students to the social, political, and economic context of health and illness in society. The course is divided into four parts. First, students focus on social factors of illness with a particular focus on the role of inequality in shaping health risks. Students discuss how to measure and quantify mortality and morbidity and the effect of social context. In the second part of the course students focus on the meaning and experience of illness with a particular focus on how different kinds of social deviance become categorized as medical, criminal, or personal issues in different societies and at different times. Next the course focuses on health systems and technologies, especially the political and economic configurations of health care provision in different countries. Finally, the course considers the role of health professionals and issues of bioethics. Prerequisite: CRIM 115 or SOC 110 or SOC 120 or ANT 101. Offered Fall.

SOC/PSY 422 Cr.3

Death, Dying, and Bereavement

In this course students explore the psychological and social dimensions of death, dying, and bereavement, including the ways in which individual factors, intersectionality, family, community, society, culture, and policies influence how we live, die, and grieve. An emphasis is placed on identifying one's own values as they relate to topics within death and dying. Topics are explored throughout the life-course from theoretical, research, and practical perspectives. Prerequisite: PSY 100 or CRIM 115 or SOC 110 or SOC 120 or ANT 101 or gerontology certificate; junior standing. (Cross-listed with PSY/SOC; may only earn credit in one department.) Offered Annually.

SOC 429 Cr.3

Sociology of Deviance

This course provides an overview of the sociological study of deviance, focusing on how societies define, label, and respond to behaviors, groups, and individuals considered deviant. Students examine various theoretical perspectives of deviance, the social construction of norms, and the social control systems established to enforce them. The course explores a variety of forms of deviance, including mental illness, substance use, sexual deviance, and suicide to analyze the development and maintenance of deviant identities and careers. Prerequisite: CRIM 115 or SOC 110 or SOC 120 or ANT 101. Offered Alternate Years.

SOC 450 Cr.1-15

Internship in Sociology

This course provides an academically relevant field experience for majors and minors in sociology that is supervised by the sociology staff. No more than six credits may be applied to a major in sociology and no more than three credits toward sociology minor. Repeatable for credit - maximum 15 credits. Prerequisite: cumulative GPA of at least 2.50. Consent of instructor. Pass/Fail grading. Offered Annually.

SOC 485 Cr.1-2

Research Apprenticeship

In this apprenticeship the student assists a faculty member in any phase of the research process including literature searches, research design, data gathering, and data analysis. Repeatable for credit - maximum four credits. Prerequisite: SOC 200, SOC 250. Consent of instructor. Pass/Fail grading. Offered Fall, Spring.

SOC 486 Cr.1-2

Teaching Apprenticeship

This course provides preparation and experience in a variety of instructional practices, strategies, and techniques. Students study theory and research on teaching and practice teaching skills under the guidance of faculty members. Repeatable for credit - maximum four credits. Prerequisite: SOC 200, SOC 250; junior standing; minimum 3.25 GPA. Consent of instructor. Pass/Fail grading. Offered Fall, Spring.

SOC 499 Cr.3

Seminar in Sociology

Intensive study of some specific area or problem of sociology. Repeatable for credit - maximum six. Prerequisite: SOC 350 or SOC 390. Consent of instructor. Offered Occasionally.