SOCY 101. Introduction to Sociology. 3 Hours.
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Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. An introduction to the study of human society. The basic concepts of society and culture and their relationships to each other are studied and then used to analyze the major social institutions.
SOCY 104. Sociology of Racism. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. The course will explore the direct and indirect ways in which racial attitudes are acquired, their effect on individuals and society, and the institutional and ideological manifestations of racism as a "faith system," as exploitation and as a form of human conflict. The central focus of interest will be on black-white relationships. Crosslisted as: AFAM 104.
SOCY 202. Foundations of Theory. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. Prerequisite: SOCY 101. An introduction to classical theoretical traditions that have guided sociological work. Classical theorists whose writings have shaped the discipline will be studied, including Karl Marx, Max Weber, Emile Durkheim, Georg Simmel, W.E.B. Du Bois and Charlotte Perkins Gilman. This course also traces the historical development of the discipline of sociology during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
SOCY 250. Confronting Climate Crisis. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Explores the many ways that people -- including students -- are confronting the climate crisis, from the local to the global. Engages with major debates in the fight to understand and address climate crisis, centering ways in which Black, migrant, Indigenous peoples and folks in the Global South are forging a path toward socially just responses. Crosslisted as: INTL 250.
SOCY 302. Contemporary Social Problems. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. The examination from a sociological perspective of contemporary social problems such as population growth, crime, racism, family problems, substance abuse and aging in terms of their impact on American social institutions and values.
SOCY 303. Sociology of Deviance. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. An analysis of the relationship between social structure, social control and patterns of social deviance; a survey and critique of present social theories in light of empirical research and application of the theories to selected problem areas.
SOCY 304. Sociology of Families. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. The family in its social and cultural context. Analysis of child rearing, marriage, kinship, family crises and family change in various societies around the world. Crosslisted as: ANTH 304/GSWS 304.
SOCY 305. Oppression, Resilience and the Black Family. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Explores the historical and contemporary experiences of Black families, with a central focus on the resilience and contributions of Black families in the U.S. Engages in intersectional analysis of systems of oppression and the full range of Black family structures. Centers Black liberation and Black joy. Crosslisted as: AFAM 305/GSWS 305.
SOCY 307. Sociology of Food. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Examines the role food plays in shaping cultures, societies and social inequalities by examining the modern food system, social inequalities surrounding food access and alternatives to the current system.
SOCY 310. Social Movements and Social Conflict. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: SOCY 101. Theory and practice of social movements, community organizing and other forms of collective behavior.
SOCY 315. Sociology of Education. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: SOCY 101. Analysis of education as a social institution in the societal context. Cross-cultural comparative perspectives on education.
SOCY 319. Adolescents in Society. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. In order to understand the important role adolescence plays for the individual and society at large, this course is taught as a dialogue between society and the individual. As such the class will explore adolescence in society through monographs that primarily use interview and ethnographic methodologies to understand the role of culture in self-construction.
SOCY 320. Research Methods in the Social Sciences. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 2 lecture and 2 laboratory hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: SOCY 101; and STAT 208 or STAT 210 with a minimum grade of C. Current methods of research in the social sciences. Includes a brief introduction to the use of SPSS for storage, retrieval and exploration of social science data.
SOCY 321. Sociology of Economic Inequalities. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Analysis of social mobility, class, status and power.
SOCY 322. Sociology of Race and Ethnicity. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. A study of the various racial, religious and ethnic minority groups. Issues of power, pluralism and assimilation are addressed as well as the relationship between subcultures and the dominant culture.
SOCY 325. Analysis of Sociological Data. 2 Hours.
Semester course; 1 lecture and 2 laboratory hours. 2 credits. Prerequisites: POLI/SOCY 320 and STAT 210. Statistical techniques used in the analysis of data from sample surveys and censuses, including tabular, graphical and inferential procedures. SPSS software will be used in the laboratory.
SOCY 326. Rural Sociology. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: SOCY 101. An introduction to rural society, culture, social interactions and systemic change. The rural regions of the United States will be covered, but emphasis will be given to Appalachia, rural Virginia and the South.
SOCY 327. Urban Sociology. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. Origin, character and significance of urban communities. Ecological and social factors are analyzed as well as changes in urban social organization and their consequences.
SOCY 330. Global Societies: Trends and Issues. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. An analysis of factors that are promoting the globalization of social, economic and political relations, and an inquiry into implications of these developments for individuals, localities, nations and the world community. The course will highlight the impact of culture and ethnicity, historical and emerging patterns of international business activity and their societal significance, divergent strategies for economic and social development in the world's regions, and the effects of population growth and environmental problems on public life within and among nations. Crosslisted as: INTL 330.
SOCY 331. Juvenile Delinquency. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: SOCY 101. Analysis of the biological, cultural, psychological and social factors involved in juvenile delinquency and their relation to current techniques of treatment, prevention and control.
SOCY 332. Immigration and American Society. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. An examination of the social and political dynamics surrounding U.S. immigration. Possible topics include examination of why people migrate, historical changes in U.S. immigration, policies that let some people in and keep others out, and consideration of the lives of immigrants once they have settled in the country.
SOCY 333. Gender in Society. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Explores different theoretical approaches to gender and its intersections with other sources of inequality, including sexuality, race, class and age. Possible topics include masculinities, gender and the body, and how gender operates in various institutional settings, such as the economy and the family. Crosslisted as: GSWS 333.
SOCY 334. Sociology of Women. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: SOCY 101 or consent of instructor. This course will examine the position and status of women across societies and the social forces that maintain existing patterns and arrangements. The integration of family and work in women's lives will be emphasized. Crosslisted as: GSWS 334.
SOCY 335. Sociology of Masculinities. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Examines the sociological theories and empirical studies of men and masculinities. Topics include the relational thinking of gender inequality, hegemonic masculinity, subordinated masculinities, inclusive masculinity, hybrid masculinity, toxic masculinity, female masculinity and male femininity, and intersectional masculinities. Addresses the effects and mechanisms of masculinities in social settings, such as the workplace, family, marriage, intimacy, pop culture, politics, migration, globalization and social movements, through empirical studies. Crosslisted as: GSWS 303.
SOCY 336. Violence Against Women. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: SOCY 101 or GSWS 201. An examination of violence against women from a global and local perspective with a primary focus on violence perpetrated against women in the U.S. Requires a minimum of 20 hours of community service. Crosslisted as: GSWS 336.
SOCY 340. Self and Society. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. An exploration of sociological theories of everyday life, including examination of the socialization process, as well as how thoughts, feelings and behaviors are guided by micro-level social forces that often remain just outside of awareness. Particular attention will be given to those qualities that make individuals uniquely human -- including self-awareness, identity, emotions, empathy, language and symbols.
SOCY 341. Group Dynamics. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: PSYC 101. Social and psychological principles and research related to the individual in groups. Specific topics include motivation for individuals forming and joining groups, performance and productivity of group members, group leadership and majority and minority influence. The group will be examined in relation to the larger society and as a subculture in itself. Crosslisted as: PSYC 341.
SOCY 344. Medical Sociology. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. A survey of the social, economic, cultural and social psychological factors in health and illness; the sociology of health and medical care organizations and settings; the sociology of health occupations; and the techniques of research in medical sociology.
SOCY 350. Environmental Sociology. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. An overview of the field of environmental sociology, with a specific focus on the ways in which climate change affects, and is affected by, modern society. Possible topics include environmental racism, indigenous rights and activism, cultures of waste and disposability, capitalism and ecological transformation, corporate greenwashing, global food-systems, and climate refugees.
SOCY 351. Sociology of Culture. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: SOCY 101. This course provides an overview of cultural sociology, with specific emphasis on cultural theories and understanding the ubiquity of culture and its impacts. Students will discuss how culture is both produced and consumed. Possible topics include food cultures, music cultures, taste cultures, globalization and consumption.
SOCY 353. Sociology of Sexualities. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Provides empirical and critical ways to analyze multiple forms of human sexuality, including sexual practices, identities, inequalities, desires, relationships and institutions. The course is structured according to three themes: 1) theories and methods of critical sexuality studies; 2) sexualities in social institutions; and 3) contemporary sex-related debates, trends and policies.
SOCY 354. Sociology of Social Welfare. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Explores the field of social work through a sociological lens. Focuses on a range of social issues in the U.S. and the interplay between the two disciplines of sociology and social work. Examines how the sociological perspective strengthens social work practice and promotes social justice in the lives of individuals, families and communities.
SOCY 355. Comparative Social Justice: Forging Cultures of Resilience in South Africa and the U.S.. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. This service-learning course, in partnership with Mpophomeni, SA, links students from VCU to the Richmond community and youth in South Africa in a shared conversation, as they explore social justice movements and the nature of resilience in two communities affected by a historic transition from racial segregation to inclusive democracy.
SOCY 356. Sociology of Contemplative Practices. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. The goal of this class is to examine the relationship between individual contemplative practices and activities that engage major social issues in new and creative ways. In this course, students will examine a variety of contemplative practices and the potential that these practices have in helping to develop sociological understanding of intersections between individuals and society.
SOCY 357. Digital Cultures and Inequality. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Examines how social structures and digital spaces (social media platforms, data and information tech, gaming, etc.) function in tandem, facilitating the reinforcement of social inequalities in both physical and digital worlds. This course engages intersectional modes of sociological inquiry to grapple with how gender, race, sexuality, class, ability and location operate as overlapping categories that interact, complicate one another and (re)produce systemic power digitally and materially.
SOCY 358. Data Visualizations. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face, or hybrid). 3 credits. In this course, students will learn how to present information in an understandable, effective and visually appealing manner to explain insights in data. They will learn how to create their own data visualizations using the software, Tableau. No previous data visualization experience is required.
SOCY 360. Sociology of Religion. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. A systematic review and assessment of major sociological theories of and empirical research on religious behavior and groups. Topics include the structure of religious organizations; social correlates and functions of religion; denominationalism; religion and social class, social change and population. Crosslisted as: RELS 360.
SOCY 370. Media and Society. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. A survey of the organization and social impact of the major types of mass media. Potential topics include the media as socializing agents; the effect of media messages on cultural patterns and social values; the impact of technology on social behavior; the role of "audiences" in interpreting media content; political and economic influences on the media industry; and the media as an instrument of social change. The structure and functions of the media in different societies will be compared.
SOCY 380. Public Sociology. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. Prerequisite: SOCY 101. Examines what it means to "do sociology" in public and what it means to make sociological work accessible and to involve multiple publics. Particular attention is paid to conceptualizing the term public sociology; public sociology in practice, including on college campuses; and critical digital literacy.
SOCY 391. Topics in Sociology. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: SOCY 101. Maximum 6 credits per semester; maximum total of 18 credits in all departmental topics courses that may be applied to the major. Check with department for specific prerequisites. A discussion of specialized areas of sociological interest. See the Schedule of Classes for specific topics to be offered each semester.
SOCY 401. Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: SOCY 202 or permission of the instructor. Explores issues surrounding the disparities in morbidity and mortality experienced by racial/ethnic minority groups, including the impact of structural racism, socioeconomic status, legal status, neighborhood conditions and access to health care. Also examines potential strategies for working toward health equity. Students are required to participate in an experiential exercise designed to enhance learning.
SOCY 402. Contemporary Theory. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. Prerequisite: SOCY 202 with a minimum grade of C. Pre- or corequisite: SOCY 320. Enrollment is restricted to sociology majors. A study of the works of the major sociological theorists of the 20th century.
SOCY 403. Criminology. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: SOCY 202 or permission of instructor. Analysis of the nature, extent and distribution of crime, emphasizing theories of and research on causation, prediction and prevention.
SOCY 406. Sociology Senior Seminar. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: SOCY 202 and SOCY 320, both with a minimum grade of C; and at least 21 credit hours in sociology. Course must be taken in the student's last 30 hours at VCU. Pre- or corequisite: SOCY 402. Senior capstone class; provides students the opportunity to synthesize, integrate and apply their sociological knowledge and skills.
SOCY 410. Aging and the Life Course. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. An introduction to the study of aging and the life course. Focus will be on research specific to older adulthood in order to foster an understanding of aging and old age as a characteristic of both individuals and societies. Requires a minimum of 20 hours of community service if taken as a service-learning course.
SOCY 420. Environmental Racism. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Examines the sociological study of environmental racism and the rise of the environmental justice paradigm through the scholarly lenses of environmental sociology, political sociology, critical race theory and environmental justice studies. Key environmental histories, social theories and case studies of environmental racism as well as the broader problem of environmental inequality will be explored.
SOCY 421. Advanced Research. 1-6 Hours.
Methods
Semester course; variable hours. Variable credit. May be repeated for a total of 6 credits. Prerequisites: POLI 320/SOCY 320 and SOCY 325. A laboratory course providing training in the application of social research methods under laboratory and field situations to problems of mutual interest to community policy makers and professionals in the disciplines of sociology, social psychology and anthropology. This course is designed to enhance the skills of students in applied social research. With direct supervision by the instructor, individuals or small groups of students will address themselves to the tasks of defining, designing and executing research projects.
SOCY 425. Digital Sociology. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. An exploration of the sociological foundations of digital technologies including apps, platforms and social media. Focus will be on the ways in which people's use of digital technologies configures their sense of self and their embodiment of social relations, as well as the role of digital media in the creation or reproduction of social institutions and structures.
SOCY 426. Population Dynamics. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. The study of trends in fertility, mortality, population growth, distribution, migration and composition. The mutual influences of these factors and social organization.
SOCY 430. Politics, Power and Ideology. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: SOCY 202 or permission of instructor. Sociological analysis of political organization and behavior. Such subjects as distribution and uses of power, creation and management of group conflict, development and diffusion of political ideologies, and problems of bureaucracy and mass society will be considered.
SOCY 434. Sociology of Sport. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Sport will be viewed as a major social institution within many societies. The class will study the relationship between sport and society -- both in terms of sport reflecting the ideology and culture of society and sport as an active agent of change in society. Race, gender and social class will be examined within the context of sport.
SOCY 435. Sociology of Consumption. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Examination and analysis of consumption in modern society, including food, fashion, advertising and opportunities for consumer activism in a globalized world.
SOCY 436. Sociology of Work and Labor Markets. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: SOCY 202 or permission of instructor. The study of industrial plants and business organizations as social systems.
SOCY 440. Advanced Social Psychology. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 credits. Prerequisites: SOCY 202 and SOCY 340 or permission of instructor. The study of how human groups create the environment that, in turn, influences their individual behavior. The symbolic interactionist perspective will be thoroughly explored for its contribution to the study of persons, objects and meaning.
SOCY 441. Sociology of Emotions. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: SOCY 202. Exploration of the sociological forces that shape the way we define our emotions, how we communicate through emotions -- both explicitly and implicitly -- and how our emotions are guided by sociocultural norms. Attention will also be paid to the regulation of human emotions in terms of culture, gender, occupation and interpersonal relationships.
SOCY 446. Sociology of Mental Disorder. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. A survey of selected social, economic, cultural and social psychological factors in mental health and illness. Such problems as defining mental illness; social factors in the distribution, diagnosis, etiology and treatment of mental disorders; mental illness as a social role; and research methods used in the sociology of mental illness will be considered.
SOCY 450. Understanding Capitalism. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. A critical appraisal of modern capitalist society. Classical and contemporary sociological theory, focusing on comparative-historical methodologies, including historical materialism and critical political economy.
SOCY 452. Religions, Sexualities and Global Inequalities. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Offers advanced analyses of how religions, sexualities and inequalities shape local and global societies. Focusing on the sociologies of religion, women, LGBTQIA+ and transnationalism, students will explore their theoretical interactions and intersections and discuss the practical examples of religious and sexual inequalities, as well as the global inequalities produced by world religions and gender/sexual politics.
SOCY 476. Economic Sociology. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: SOCY 202. An examination of labor force participation in terms of the individual worker's experience, the work setting, the nature of occupations and labor force composition.
SOCY 491. Topics in Sociology. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: SOCY 202. Maximum 6 credits per semester; maximum total of 18 credits in all departmental topics courses that may be applied to the major. Check with department for specific prerequisites. A discussion of specialized areas of sociological interest. See the Schedule of Classes for specific topics to be offered each semester.
SOCY 492. Independent Study. 1-6 Hours.
Semester course; variable hours. Variable credit. Maximum of 6 credits per semester; maximum total of 12 credits for all independent study courses. Open generally only to students of junior or senior standing who have acquired at least 12 credits in the departmental discipline. Determination of the amount of credit and permission of the instructor and department chair must be received prior to registration of the course. Cannot be used in place of existing courses.
SOCY 493. Internship. 1-3 Hours.
Semester course; 1-3 field experience hours. 1-3 credits (50 hours per credit). May be repeated for a maximum of 3 credits. Prerequisites: SOCY 101 and SOCY 202. Enrollment is restricted to sociology majors of junior or senior standing. Applications must be approved by the internship coordinator. Provides an opportunity to apply and expand sociological knowledge through actual experience in a variety of work settings. Graded as pass/fail.
SOCY 498. Honors Research Course. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 credits. Prerequisites: student must be in the honors program of the department and have achieved senior status. This course will entail the planning and execution of a major research project demonstrating a thorough understanding and use of research techniques in sociological/anthropological analysis, knowledge of relevant literature, sophisticated writing and research ability under the direction of a faculty mentor.
SOCY 500. Advanced Principles of Sociology. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. A comprehensive analysis of the concepts and techniques useful for understanding society and culture as well as the social processes and structures operant within these spheres.
SOCY 501. The Foundations of Sociological Theory. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. The foundations of theoretical explanation of the social world is addressed from an historical and philosophical perspective. The emergence of contemporary sociological theory in the 19th and 20th centuries is reviewed.
SOCY 502. Contemporary Sociological Theory. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. A critical assessment is given of such contemporary theoretical orientations as functionalism, conflict theory, exchange theory, symbolic interactionism and phenomenology.
SOCY 508. Introduction to Social Statistics. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. Introduction to statistical methods applicable in a variety of settings, with emphasis on nonexperimental data. Data description and analysis including chi-square and t-tests, using a statistical computing package. Not applicable toward M.S. in Mathematical Sciences or Computer Science. Crosslisted as: STAT 508.
SOCY 510. Domestic and Sexual Violence in Social Context. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Students will learn about the experiences of and responses to sexual and domestic violence in specific social contexts, with a focus on less visible contexts and underserved populations. Examines violence within various family structures and intimate relationships including racial/ethnic minority and immigrant groups and gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender relationships, in various community settings including college campuses and the military, and among people with disabilities. Guest lectures provided by community experts in these areas.
SOCY 515. Globalization and Transformation: Concepts and Realities. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. Examines how globalization significantly affects cultural processes at both local and national levels. Transformations of cultural understandings and practices under such circumstances will be explored. Virtual course components will bring causes, processes and consequences of the transformations of Western, Eastern and developing countries into focus.
SOCY 524. Aging and the Minority Community. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. An analysis of the relationship between the aging process and American minority communities. In addition to the sociological factors, the course will examine demographic, physiological and psychological aspects of minority aging. Attention will also focus on dominant social problems and federal policies toward the aged.
SOCY 525. Digital Social Problems. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. The study of sociological concepts and methods in the analysis of current social problems in the digital environment, including topics such as privacy, obscurity, hacking, danger, crime and war; interpersonal conflicts and harassment; stress, information overload and FOMO, among others. This course explores how individual online behaviors have the effect of reproducing inequality.
SOCY 593. Internship in Sexual and Domestic Violence Practice and Research. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 12 hours per week. 3 credits. Provides students practical experiences working in settings that address sexual and domestic violence. Students will focus on various areas including but not limited to service provision, intervention, research and program evaluation. Students will work closely with organizations/agency staff and follow their instructions.
SOCY 601. Sociological Research Methods. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. Review of sociological research methodologies, including research design, ethical issues, measurement, data collection techniques, sampling and the basic logic of qualitative and quantitative analysis.. The focus is on developing the student's abilities to critically evaluate uses of methodologies in the research literature and justify methodological choices.
SOCY 602. Applications of Sociological Research Methods. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. Prerequisites: SOCY/STAT 508 or equivalent and SOCY 601. Emphasis on applying methods for developing and executing a sociological research project, including the problem statement, theoretical framework, literature review, research design, ethics, sampling, data collection procedures, data analysis and presentation of results.
SOCY 603. Seminar in Population Studies. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. Analysis of fertility, mortality and migration from a sociodemographic perspective. Special attention will be paid to sociological determinants of demographic processes and their interrelationships.
SOCY 604. Sociology of Work in Industry. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. Analyses of work relations and the social structures and mechanisms that govern and arise out of them and examination of the social problems that are inherent in the characteristics that make a society an industrial society.
SOCY 605. Survey Research Methods. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: SOCY 601, SOCY 602 and SOCY/STAT 608, or permission of instructor. Examines all major areas of survey research methodology including sampling, design, data collection methods, questionnaire design, data analysis and data processing. Addresses problems specific to survey research, such as telephone interviewing, constructing large representative samples and nonresponse rates. Crosslisted as: PADM 605.
SOCY 607. Seminar in Racial and Ethnic Relations in America. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. A study of intergroup relations in such areas as busing and school desegregation, racism, minority and athletics, the emergence of white ethnic groups in the political systems, and the position of minorities in legal, economic and medical institutions.
SOCY 608. Statistics for Social Research. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. Prerequisite: STAT/SOCY 508 or SOCY 214 or permission of instructor. Statistical methods applied in social research. Topics include analysis of variance, correlation and regression, including stepwise methods, and the analysis of discrete data. Study of a statistical package, emphasizing manipulation of survey data sets. Not applicable toward M.S. in Mathematical Sciences or Computer Science. Crosslisted as: STAT 608.
SOCY 609. Seminar in the Family. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. Analysis of contemporary family life with an emphasis on the influence of social change. Consideration of current family crises and problems.
SOCY 610. Complex Organizations. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. A study of complex organizations in society with emphasis on the determinants and effects of organizational structure and process.
SOCY 611. Studies in the Community. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. The organization of the community with emphasis on major trends in urban development and growth. The interdependence of political, social and economic geographic units. The need for cooperative planning and control.
SOCY 612. Seminar in the Sociology of Deviant Behavior. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. The nature and functions of deviance. Theories and problems of social control.
SOCY 613. Social Stratification. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. An in-depth analysis of status differentials in society (e.g., social class, prestige and power).
SOCY 614. Seminar in the Sociology of Education. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. A sociological analysis of education as a social institution with an emphasis on methodological issues and policy implications.
SOCY 615. Seminar in Mass Communications. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Some theoretical background in sociology is recommended. A sociological analysis of contemporary media and their interrelationships with social systems, media and national development. Special emphasis on media as instruments of social and cultural change.
SOCY 616. Digital Sociology. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. This course covers the sociological underpinnings of apps, likes, shares, profiles and swipes. Many of the digital tools used in society have become critical points of access for education, health care, government and work. Not all groups have the same access to, experience of and returns to using these tools. Digital sociology is emerging from classic social theory and methods to consider these new technologies and how groups interact with them.
SOCY 620. Seminar in Criminology. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Examination and analysis of social, psychological, and economic theories and correlates of criminal behavior. Typologies of offenders. Crosslisted as: CRJS 620.
SOCY 622. Theory Construction. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. A consideration of recent social theorists in which emphasis is placed on the logic of theory construction.
SOCY 624. Community and Community Services for the Elderly. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. A conceptual/theoretical overview of community focusing on the ecological, psychological and social dimensions of community and on communities of the aged. Crosslisted as: GRTY 624.
SOCY 625. Urban Sociology. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: graduate standing. A detailed analysis and examination of the social and ecological structures and processes of the modern city with primary emphasis on the macro-level organization of urban life.
SOCY 630. Social Psychology. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Discussion and investigation of selected social psychological issues in sociology, as well as traditional and innovative methodology applied to these issues.
SOCY 631. Battered Women in the Criminal Justice System. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Provides students with an understanding of (1) the major developments and trends in the law related to battered women in the criminal justice system; (2) the role of the various players in the criminal justice system; (3) how child abuse and sexual abuse are treated in the criminal justice system; and (4) battered women who kill and the defense of battered woman syndrome. Introduces the stages of the criminal justice system as it relates to battered women and their children.
SOCY 632. Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence: Medical Practice and Policy. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Provides an overview of the sociological perspective on intimate partner and sexual violence as it relates to women’s health. Also covers practical responses to violence such as screening, assessment, treatment and referral behaviors of medical providers, as well as policy in the health care setting.
SOCY 633. Application of the Policy Process to Issues of Violence. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Offers an interdisciplinary approach to understanding different models of decision-making and the policy process found at all levels of American government. The focus is on the public sector with application to private and nonprofit settings. A six-stage model of policy initiation, selection, implementation, evaluation and termination is presented and explored through the use of case studies and examples of policy initiatives related to domestic violence, sexual assault and youth violence. Prepares students to recognize and understand the key stages of and influences on the policy process and apply them in their current and future work settings.
SOCY 634. Social Contexts of Childhood and Violence. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Course will increase awareness and knowledge of children and adolescents as victims of violence, “absorbers” of violence and perpetrators of violence, as well as the victim-perpetrator dichotomy. Course is informed by an interdisciplinary framework to include neuroscience, trauma-informed practice, socioecological model, child development and resiliency. Topics include children and adolescents’ experience with domestic violence, sexual violence, physical abuse, neglect, human trafficking, teen-dating violence, violence against LGBTQ youth, school violence, neighborhood/community violence and violence in the media. This highly interactive course will also consider innovative intervention and prevention strategies and discuss relevant policy issues.
SOCY 635. Theorizing Gender Violence. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Teaches students to think sociologically and structurally about gender and violence. Familiarizes students with sociological and feminist scholarship and explanatory theories related to preventing and responding to gender violence. Students will learn about the experiences of and responses to sexual and domestic violence in specific social contexts, with a focus on less visible and underserved populations. Guest lectures provided by community experts in these areas. Also examines social policy and research implications of various approaches.
SOCY 640. Seminar in Political Sociology. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. Analysis of structures and processes of political organization. Examination of the creation and management of power, diffusion and regulation of conflict, and the politics of modernization and bureaucratization.
SOCY 645. The Sociology of Health and Illness. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. An examination of sociocultural factors in health and illness and the influence of social factors on recovery and rehabilitation. Special attention will be paid to the methodology found in current studies.
SOCY 646. Seminar in the Sociology of Mental Health and Disorder. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. Seminar in social organizational causes of clinical depression, schizophrenia, neurosis and personality disorders. Focus is on prevention through social engineering and social policy. Impact of social change, sex roles and socialization processes on rates of mental disorder emphasized.
SOCY 650. Theories of Social and Institutional Change. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. A study of social change with emphasis on institutional settings. Topics examined include alternative theoretical perspectives on change, structural sources of change, approaches to planned change, and the role and function of change agents.
SOCY 652. Environmental Sociology. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. Exploration of the social and political dimensions of human-environment relationships through the lens of environmental sociology and human geography. The course focuses on large-scale, planetary transformations often referred to as climate change, a diverse range of effects that are becoming increasingly salient parts of our everyday lives.
SOCY 654. Political Economy. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. A rigorous introduction to historical and theoretical modes of inquiry that are foundational to a wide range of critical sociology. An exploration of the major sociological paradigms for analyzing relations among state, economy and society. Topical focus will vary each term, but will include a critical evaluation of liberal political economy, an investigation of 20th century capitalism and the rise of neoliberalism, and the intersections of race, gender and class in the modern world-system.
SOCY 656. Social Network Analysis. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. Enrollment is restricted to graduate students or with permission of the instructor. Provides a solid introduction to the theoretical foundations, basic measures and common applications of Social Network Analysis. Begins with overview of what it means to practice SNA and discusses the implications and use of SNA as social science methodology. Using online discussions and standard SNA methodological tools, students will engage in peer discussions and complete a series of practica designed to introduce the SNA methodology. Course will also take a broad look at how SNA has been used in understanding social mobility, interpersonal violence and terrorism/gangs. By course end, students will have an understanding of the theories and basic measures and methods of SNA.
SOCY 660. Seminar in the Sociology of Gender. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. An analysis of the social construction of gender, the social forces that create and maintain gender hierarchy, and how the gender hierarchy intersects with other systems of inequality such as race, class and sexuality.
SOCY 673. Public Sociology. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. Provides students an opportunity to reflect on public sociology and develop skills in disseminating their sociological insights to a broader public. Some of the major questions addressed include: What is public sociology? What/who is the sociological audience? What is the relationship between academia and public intellectual life? How does the internet influence the availability of publics? How does style of writing determine our relationship to different publics?.
SOCY 676. Digital Research Methods and Design. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. To engage with both the possibilities and the critiques of digital data, this course speaks two languages -- sociology and data science. The course introduces the tools needed for analyzing "native-born" data in order to explain how human behavior both shapes and is shaped by digital data. Methods taught in this course are digital ethnography, digital content analysis, data sampling from social media and Twitter hashtag sampling. Students should be prepared to learn basic Python programming language in order to evaluate the science behind the internet.
SOCY 677. Digital Data Visualization and Analysis. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. This course is specifically designed for students using digital data to understand and explain social phenomena. The goal of the course is to introduce students to data visualization including both the principles and techniques. Students will learn how to present information in an understandable, effective and aesthetic manner for the purposes of explaining insights and messages found in the data. While the emphasis of this course is on the motivation for the visualization method chosen, students will also explore common visualization tools.
SOCY 681. Equity, Diversity and Social Justice. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. This course is designed to increase students’ awareness, knowledge and critical skills related to diversity, equity and social justice (health, economic, housing, education, etc.) in research and practice. The interdisciplinary approach to diversity and equity will cover the intersections of disability, race, gender, sexual orientation, social class, age, poverty and other social statuses and will draw on interdisciplinary research across multiple fields. The topics of this course include developing a framework for engaging diversity, equity and social justice in research and advancing human rights and social justice. Students will explore the knowledge base that underlies skills needed to work toward justice, including types and sources of power, multiple social locations, social constructions, social processes, social identities, conflicts, and how all these interact. Students will explore the nature of diversity and power relations and how social norms shape individual identity. A major emphasis is on developing skills in critical contextual thinking, research and analyses, and in praxis, learning to use knowledge and theory to recognize and critique underlying assumptions and paradigms, and inform working for change. Multiple kinds of boundaries are especially important — across groups, between organizations and system levels, and within and between people, related to intersecting social locations.
SOCY 690. Practicum in the Teaching of College Sociology. 1 Hour.
Semester course; 1 credit. Enables students to develop skills in the design and conduct of undergraduate courses in sociology through observation and supervised experiences. Credits not applicable toward the B.S. in Sociology.
SOCY 691. Special Topics. 3 Hours.
Semester course; 3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 3 credits. Seminars on current specialized areas of sociological and anthropological interest.
SOCY 692. Independent Study. 1-6 Hours.
Semester course; 1-3 credits. A maximum of 6 credits may be submitted toward the master's degree. Prerequisites: permission of instructor and graduate program committee.
SOCY 693. Internship. 1-6 Hours.
Semester course; variable hours (50 contact hours per credit). 1-6 credits. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits. Permission of the internship coordinator and graduate director required for enrollment. A graduate-level internship that allows students to explore professional opportunities as related to the discipline of sociology. Students will be required to write a professional paper applying sociological concepts and methodologies to their experiences in the setting, as appropriate.
SOCY 694. Practicum in Sociology. 1-6 Hours.
Semester course; variable hours. 1-6 credits. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits. Provides opportunities for training experiences in sociological applications under faculty supervision leading to progressively greater degrees of skill development. Specific experiences offered vary from semester to semester.
SOCY 698. M.S. Thesis. 1-6 Hours.
1-6 credits. May be repeated.
SOCY 699. Seminar in Sociological Practice. 1-3 Hours.
Semester course; 1-3 lecture hours (delivered online, face-to-face or hybrid). 1-3 credits. May be repeated for a maximum of six credits. Enrollment is restricted to graduate students in the M.S. in Sociology program who have completed 18 credit hours in graduate-level (500 and above) sociology courses. The purpose of this course is to professionalize students pursuing multiple forms of sociological practice through interactions with the course instructor and student peers who are undertaking thesis, practicum and internship projects. Students will meet regularly with the course instructor to discuss progress/issues/insights with regard to their projects and topics relevant to sociological practice. Students will make progress on their individual projects in a structured format and present their work at the end of each semester. Graded as S/U/F.