Sociology (SOC)

This course is a contemporary cruise through the discipline of sociology. Students will develop their sociological imagination through the journey into social foundations, dynamics, and inequalities.Real world applications in the study of people and their relationsips in groups and instutions; human societies, their development and change; and the effict of social patterns on the behavior of individuals and groups will enhance the learning experience. Expected to be offered; Fall and Spring semesters

Forms, social functions, and changing roles of the family.

A descriptive course in the types of American social problems. Includes a consideration of concrete problems encountered in the process of social change, and relates these problems to the underlying dominational patterns (sexism, racism, and classism) of post-industrial, American society.

The introduction to the theoretical schools of thought that have been developed to explain the many forms, causes, and controls of deviant behavior focuses specific attention to aggresssive deviance and white collar deviants. While deviants and deviance are the central foci of the unit, normalcy or what is considered non-deviant-conforming behavior, comes into clear relief as well. While theories of causation are the overall focus, application of theory is stressed as well. Participants practice and develop theory appreciation, theory evaluation, and theory application skills.

Social behavior of the individual in the group. Attention given to linguistic behavior, social perception, learning, personality, and self from a symbolic interaction approach.

This course offers exposure to key concepts, terminologies, and activities in the field of urban sociology. Students will gain historical, geographical, ecological, social psychological, cultural, and political insight into the urban milieu. While strong in classic urban sociology, the course will give extensive attention to the "new" political economy approach to urban studies.

This introduction to the history of western thinking about the social or collective processes which humans have used in order to survive as a species begins with a brief review of the theories of human nature implicit within the Judeo-Christian theological and the Greek rationalist positions and then proceeds to a more detailed study primarily of the European thinkers who were responding to the early developments and consequences of science and capitalism The ongoing debates between the more rationalist-realist positions and the more phenomenological-idealist positions are explored.

The social-psychological forces that are responsible for the creation and maintenance of disadvantaged sub-groups in modern, nation-states are particularly evident in American society. The experiences of both the involuntary (Native and African-American) and voluntary (especially the more recent Hispanic and Asian) immigrant minorities illustrate how the dominant, European or Anglo-American groups maintain their economic, political and cultural control over the society. Attention will also be paid religious groups and the LGBTQ community as case studies of how societal beliefs legitimate the underlying economic and political functions of prejudice and discrimination. The concept of multiculturalism will be critically analyzed in light of the historical forces of centralization and bureaucratization.

Poverty is often thought of as a lack of resources such as food, shelter, clothing, and financial assets. It can also be understood as a diminished capacity to engage in society (through social relationships, cultural traditions, politics, labor and consumer markets) which can lead to social dislocation, exclusion, and alienation. This course will explore issues of poverty and inequality at the national, state, and local level and will challenge students to propose solutions through hands-on projects.

This service learning course will involve students in the sponsorship of Camp Sky Child. The camp is for children who have a parent involved in the criminal justice system. Students will be involved in the organization and planning phase of the camp as well as the day to day operations of the week long camp.

Expected to be offered:Sufficient demand

Provides field experience in the available areas of human services. Designed to integrate theory with practice in order to develop appropriate skill, knowledge, attitudes, and professional identification. Students may enroll for two semesters.

Internship in Sociology.

Review of concepts and principles of sociology.