SOC120 Introduction to Social Psychology
How societies and groups affect perception of self and others; emotional climate and structure of group interaction; processes and dynamics of group leadership, interaction, and dissolution.
Credit Hours: 3

SOC130 Intimate Relations and the Family
Contemporary trends of marriage, cohabiting and partnerships; male-female relations among singles; dating and courtship; social and psychological factors in mate selection; marital adjustment; role of sex, money, and children in marriage; divorce, other crisis situations, and changing patterns of family relationships in U.S.
Credit Hours: 3

SOC135 Human Sexuality
Social basis of sexual interaction; varieties of sexual interaction; sexuality related to daily life; attitudes, contraceptive use, and fertility and fecundity; sex role controversies; relation to institutions such as family, religion, medicine, and education; social definitions as determinants of behavior.
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 200 Social Change
(Also UA 200) Change as ever-present feature of contemporary world; comparative analysis of impact of change on societies in advanced industrial world and Third World; application and critiques of social change theories and their relevance for societies throughout world; human consequences of social change.
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 220 Changing Gender Roles
Presumed biological differences; socialization differences of females and males; positions in and treatment by major institutions such as education, religion and economy; influence of gender labeling on development and lives of both genders.
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 230 Family and Kinship
Structure and dynamics of family institutions and kinship systems in cross-cultural perspective over time and space; theoretical implications of family’s relationship to social and technological environment.
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 235 Sociology of Religion
Social aspects of individual religious experience; organization of churches and sects; relationships among religion, science, and other institutions.
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 240 Family Conflict and Violence (Also UA 240)
Origins, manifestations, effects, controls, and rehabilitation aspects of family conflict and violence.
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 244: Cinema and Photography
Use of photographs, film, video, and electronically transmitted images as a way of examining and understanding society, culture, and social relationships.
Credit hours: 3

SOC 245 Contemporary Social Problems
How certain social conditions or behaviors come to be seen as social problems, why social problems persist and how they can be changed. Emphasis on understanding contemporary issues, and how diverse social groups are impacted by them. 
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 250 Race and Ethnic Relations
Various ethnic and racial groups, with emphasis on theory and research on inter-group relations; internal structure, culture, and experiences of ethnic groups.
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 260 Sociology of Work
Social organization of occupations; role and function in modern industrial society; gender and race; professionalism, occupational choice, and careers and stress; labor force composition, unemployment, and retirement.
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 275 Urban Sociology (Also UA 270)
Lifestyle changes in urban society; social and demographic characteristics of cities; benefits and problems resulting from these characteristics; urban problems compared with rural and suburban problems.
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 278 Cities of the World (Also UA 278)
Historical and contemporary patterns of world urbanization and their consequences; world system of cities; core-periphery relations and development in Third World; analysis of urban life, urban planning, and community structures in various world regions; case studies of selected world cities such as Moscow, Beijing, Baghdad, Tokyo, and New York.
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 280 Introduction to Medical Sociology
Social and cultural factors in defining health and illness; social determinants of health; health and illness behavior; health professionals; organization and delivery of health care in the U.S. (This course was formerly titled Health and Society)
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 282 Minority Health
The relationship between race, ethnicity, health, social and behavioral factors, and health policy. Health related issues specific to various racial and ethnic groups will be discussed.
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 283 The Sociology of Mental Health
Examination of mental health and illness in its social context, the social construction of mental health and illness, the interrelationships between social structure, social factors, stress, coping resources, and mental health experiences of mental health and illness
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 285 Introduction to Aging (Also GER 285)
Aging experience in modern world. Theories of aging, dimensions of aging, everyday concerns associated with aging, and future prospects of aging. May include some guest lectures by professionals in field and other faculty in gerontology.
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 290-295 Special Topics in Sociology
Varies in content. May be repeated for credit but topic may not be repeated.
Prerequisite: SOC 100
Credit Hours: 1 to 3

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SOC 315 The Sociology of Terrorism
Examination of the social and social psychological explanations of the phenomenon, with particular emphasis given to the
theories of social construction.
Prerequisite: SOC 100
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 316 Popular Culture
Relationship between popular culture, our cultural heritage, and present cultural identity. Connections with big business, music, sports, politics, film and mass media. Analyze cultural objects (movies), compare past mindsets with the present. 
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 317 Social Impacts of  Information and Communication Technologies
Communication and information technology as a product of social, economic, political, cultural forces. Its impact on everyday life. Focus on the Internet and how individuals use it to gather, distribute, and convey information.
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 318 Passion in Action: U.S. Social Movements
Theoretical and substantive examination of social movements, including reform, status, equality, and new social movements.
Prerequisite: SOC 100
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 320 Sociology Through Fiction
Sociological theories and concepts as illustrated in contemporary fiction. Classes will vary in terms of the fictional genre explored.
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 323 Social Structure and Personality
Interaction of social structure and personality; motivation, cognition, and impact of family, social class, and other institutions on personality development and mental illness. 
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 327 Sociology of Organization
Organizations as bureaucracies; authority, decision making, goals, communication, and informal relationships in organizations.
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 335 Sexual Identity and Diversity
Sexual identity from a sociological perspective. Topics include: theories of sexual orientation, social movements related to sexual identity, development of sexual identity over the life course, and relationship to social institutions such as the family, medical community, and legal system. 
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 336 Sport and Society
Sociological analysis of sport in contemporary societies. Sport as microcosm of society and modern institution; socialization process, problems of racial and sexual inequality, aggression and violence, mass media, and societal change.
Prerequisite: SOC 100
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 340 Deviant Behavior
How and why certain behaviors, thoughts, and characteristics are labeled deviant; how and why certain individuals are labeled; consequences of being labeled; individual and group conflict; socialization to deviance; education; law enforcement; institutions; influence on family and friends.
Prerequisite: SOC 100
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 350 Sociology of Hip Hop
Sociological examination of the emergence and impact of Hip Hop music and culture from historical, aesthetic, and
sociopolitical perspectives.
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 360 Sociology of Work
Social organization of occupations; role and function in modern industrial society; gender and race; professionalism,
occupational choice, and careers and stress; labor force composition, unemployment, and retirement.
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 370 Population Problems
Scope and method of population analysis; analysis of growth, distribution of characteristics, and changes of population of U.S.; impact of changes in population structure on American and world society.
Prerequisite: SOC 100
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 383 Drugs and Society
Variety of legal and illegal drugs in use in our society, their history, their social effects, and strategies for control and prevention of their abuse.
Prerequisite: SOC 100
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 385 Social Psychology of Aging (Also GER 385)
Behavioral and structural relationships of aged population in America. Aging and interpersonal behavior, aging and social structure, and aging and social intervention. 
Credit Hours: 3

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SOC 404 Survey Research Methods
Current best practices in survey research and applied experience in designing, administering, and analyzing data from surveys. Useful for marketing, polling, etc. 
Prerequisite: SOC 410
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 405 Mind, Self and Society
Symbolic interaction as major theoretical perspective of sociological social psychology; origins of approach in Mead, Blumer, and Goffman. Significance of concepts such as role-taking, impression management, self, identity and symbolic interaction. 
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 407 Development of Sociological Theory
Social thought from earliest classic thinkers to current sociological models; interrelationship between sociological theory and logic of social science; critical analysis of contemporary sociological theories. 
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 410 Social Statistics
Elementary techniques and analysis; preparation and use of graphs and tables; measures of central tendency and dispersion; probability and sampling; tests of significance and measurements of association. Lecture and laboratory.
Prerequisite: MA 102 or MA 110
Credit Hours: 4

SOC 410L Social Statistics Lab
Credit Hours: 0

SOC 415 Social Stratification (Also UA 415)
Inequality of wealth, prestige, and power distribution examined as caste-class differences; effect of stratification on individuals and their behavior, lifestyle, and life chances. 
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 416 Sociology of the South
Focus on the South as a unique region. Race relations are the organizing principle. Examines areas such as history, politics, religion, music, personality, social types and collective behavior.
Prerequisite: SOC 100
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 417 Political Sociology
The relationships between political ideas, government structures, social life, and the never-ending efforts of individuals and groups to modify these relationships to achieve their best notions of the good life.
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 420 - Sociology of Emotions
Sociological approaches and issues in the study of emotions including; emotional socialization and control, emotion work, emotion management, feeling restless, and the relationship of macro, meso and micro social structures and processes to emotions.
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 444 Visual Sociology
Theoretical and methodological uses of cinema and photography in sociological inquiry; visual media as unique representations of society and sociological processes.
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 450 Minority Peoples
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 455 Minority Aging (Also GER 455)
Cross-racial/ethnic exploration on national level of special problems of minority aged groups such as Latinos, Blacks, Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, Pacific-Asians, and American Indians. Family, church, health care, housing, adult education, retirement, income, and recreation.
Prerequisite: SOC 100 or permission from instructor
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 456 Death and Dying (Also GER 456)
Death, dying, and bereavement from sociological and social psychological perspectives. 
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 457 The Aging Family
Changes in family structure; status of aging in family in various societies; intra- and inter-generational relations; family-related role transitions. 
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 459 Aging: Policy and Programs
Analysis of American social policies on aging and aged. Survey of related legislation, programs, and services. Special focus on evaluating effects of policies and programs for aged.
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 469 Sociology of Aging (Also GER 469)
How roles and statuses change with age in relation to major social institutions; adjustments people make to such changes. Aging population’s impact on society and effect of society on aged.
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 470 Urban Ecology
Spatial distribution of social, demographic, and physical factors in urban environment; distribution of population by age, race and class; competition for land between businesses and home owners; consequences of local ecology for poverty, health, etc. 
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 472 Homelessness: Causes and Consequences
Current problems of homelessness in U.S. history, health, mental health, poverty, public attitudes, and government policy. 
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 480 Sociology of Health and Illness
Critical evaluation of medical care system and health policy; social consequences of current health issues; social causes of health and illness; alternative practitioners and self-help groups.(This course wwas formerly titled Medical Sociology) 
Prerequisite: SOC 100
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 482 - Gender and Health
Sociological, psychological and biological explanations of gender differences in mental and physical health across the life course.
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 488 Sociological Practice (Also GER 488)
Students will be involved in community research and/or service-learning projects related to a substantive area of sociology or gerontology. Placement in community organizations to focus on research or practice related to social policy.
Prerequisite: SOC 100 and 6 more credits of sociology or gerontology, or permission of instructor
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 489 The Research Experience
Application of the basic tools of inquiry in sociological research; basic ethical issues in research. Forming the research question; hypothesis testing; measurement, sampling, validity and reliability; data gathering techniques; research design; data management; disciplinary standards for writing the research proposal and reporting findings. For students in their last 30 hours of coursework.
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 489L The Research Experience Lab
Credit Hours: 0

SOC 490 Independent Study:  Sociology
Individually designed programs for semi-independent research or guided readings in areas and subjects otherwise unavailable. Irregularly offered courses on special topics in sociology. Varies in content. May be repeated for credit but topic may not be repeated.
Prerequisite: SOC 100
Credit Hours: 1 to 3

SOC 491 – Courageous Conversation
Peer-facilitated, structured dialogues on topics related to social identity in a diverse society. Separate topics on gender, race, religion, sexualities. May be repeated for credit but topic may not be repeated.
Credit Hours: 1 to 3

SOC 492 - Independent Study: Sociology
Individually designed programs for semi-independent research or guided readings in areas and subjects otherwise unavailable. Irregularly offered courses on special topics in sociology. Varies in content. May be repeated for credit but topic may not be repeated. Prerequisite: SOC 100
Credit Hours: 1 to 3

SOC 493 - Independent Study: Sociology
Individually designed programs for semi-independent research or guided readings in areas and subjects otherwise unavailable. Irregularly offered courses on special topics in sociology. Varies in content. May be repeated for credit but topic may not be repeated. Prerequisite: SOC 100
Credit Hours: 1 to 3

SOC 494 - Independent Study: Sociology
Individually designed programs for semi-independent research or guided readings in areas and subjects otherwise unavailable. Irregularly offered courses on special topics in sociology. Varies in content. May be repeated for credit but topic may not be repeated. Prerequisite: SOC 100
Credit Hours: 1 to 3

SOC 495 - Independent Study: Sociology
Individually designed programs for semi-independent research or guided readings in areas and subjects otherwise unavailable. Irregularly offered courses on special topics in sociology. Varies in content. May be repeated for credit but topic may not be repeated. Prerequisite: SOC 100
Credit Hours: 1 to 3

SOC 498 Sociology Honors Seminar
Special seminar for sociology honors students.
Prerequisite: admission to the Sociology Honors Program and permission of the Undergraduate Director in Sociology.
Credit Hours: 3

SOC 499 Sociology Honors Thesis
Sociology Honors Thesis.
Prerequisite: SOC 498
Credit Hours: 3

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