Department of Sociology
Why study sociology?
The study of sociology provides valuable insights into the social institutions and processes that shape human behaviors, histories, and opportunities. Sociologists focus on the actions, beliefs, values, norms, organizations, institutions, and other social forces that characterize a society and shape people's lives. It directs attention to how the parts of society fit together as well as the causes and consequences of social change. The insight gained from the study of sociology leads to a greater understanding of how formal and informal rules of society contribute to different opportunities and constraints for different groups of individuals, and how these change over time. As a scientific discipline, sociology teaches students how to use empirical data to understand current social realities and act effectively on the central issues of our time. Few academic disciplines have such a broad scope and relevance.
Undergraduate Programs
The department educates sociologists for careers in teaching, research, and some applied fields. Undergraduate course work in sociology can contribute to professional training in architecture, business, education, journalism, law, medicine, public health, and social work.
Sociology majors can earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of General Studies (BGS). Both the BA and the BGS require a generous sampling of courses in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Because of its compatibility with other majors, many of our students earn double majors. For example, many sociology undergraduates also major in history, philosophy, political science, or anthropology, or earn a second degree in journalism.
Students majoring in a wide range of disciplines will find a minor in Sociology enhances their perspective on their field. Sociology is often the minor of choice for students majoring in Psychology, Anthropology, American Studies, Economics, Applied Behavioral Science, History, Political Science, and Global and International Studies and those in professional schools such as Journalism, Business, or Education.
Graduate Programs
The department offers a full graduate program in sociology leading to the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees, educating sociologists for careers in teaching and research and for fields of practical application. It also contributes to professional education in such fields as social welfare, social policy, architecture, education, journalism, personnel administration, business, and medicine. Aside from professional interests, the department offers instruction to assist students in deepening their understanding of social relations and, hence, of the social context of their own lives.
Students who are interested in enrolling in graduate level coursework in the Department of Sociology without formal admission to a graduate program at KU are encouraged to apply for graduate non-degree seeking student status. See the department’s non-degree seeking webpage for further details.
Courses
The study of social life, including how human groups are organized, how they change, and how they influence individuals. Consideration is given to a variety of human organizations and social institutions and how these groups and institutions both determine, and are determined by, human beings. This course may not be taken for credit by those who have taken SOC 304.
The study of social life, including how human groups are organized, how they change, and how they influence individuals. Consideration is given to a variety of human organizations and social institutions and how these groups and institutions both determine, and are determined by, human beings. Open only to students on dean's honor roll or enrolled in Honors Program, or consent of instructor. May not be taken by those who also have credit for SOC 304.
SOC 120. Crime and Society. 3 Credits.
This course examines crime in societies and the theoretical explanations for existing crime trends. The scholarly field of criminology is an interdisciplinary social science that is grounded in sociology. As such, this course considers crime and conflict through a sociological lens and, in doing so, often focuses on public perceptions, media portrayals, and the social construction of crime. We will examine types of crime defined as illegal, as well as types which are deviant but not illegal, and adopt a research emphasis. Therefore, students will learn the basic skills necessary for social scientific thinking that can translate easily to other social science courses and will be introduced to topics that are critical to the development of a comprehensive understanding of research on crime. The course is divided into two parts: 1) the measurement of crime and victimization, patterns of crime, and theoretical explanations of crime; and 2) select topics in criminology (e.g., mental illness and crime, gender and crime).
Description and analysis of the culture, structure, and development of societies that are historically unrelated to the traditions of Western civilization.
Discusses the way our identities, values, and behavior have been and continue to be shaped by social and situational factors. Attention is paid to the influence of factors like language, culture, social roles, specific social institutions, and broad structures of inequality and power on how we see ourselves and others. May not be taken by anyone who has completed SOC 305 or its equivalent.
This course is designed to explore competing explanations for the causes of, and cures for, the enduring problems of American society. The course critically analyzes dominant definitions of social problems, the political and economic roots of these problems, and the public policies aimed at reducing them. May not be taken by anyone who has already completed SOC 306 or its equivalent.
Explores competing explanations for the causes of, and cures for, the enduring problems of American society. Critically analyzes dominant definitions of social problems, the political and economic roots of these problems, and the public policies aimed at reducing them. This course may not be taken for credit by those who have taken SOC 160 or SOC 306. Open only to students admitted to the University Honors Program or by consent of instructor.
A limited-enrollment, seminar course for first-time freshmen, addressing current issues in Sociology. Course is designed to meet the US Culture of the KU Core 34. First-Year Seminar topics are coordinated and approved by the Undergraduate Education Office within Academic Affairs.
SOC 199. Data I: Dealing with Data. 3 Credits.
Data science is an interdisciplinary field that uses scientific methods, processes, algorithms and systems to derive knowledge and insights from data. This course teaches students the core concepts of inference and computing, working with real behavioral, economic, geographic, physical, social, and text data. Students obtain basic statistics training from a computational perspective using simulation to answer questions, explore problems, and delve into social issues surrounding data analysis such as privacy and design. (Same as ECON 199, POLS 199 and PSYC 199.)
SOC 200. Sociological Introduction to: _____. 1-3 Credits.
A sociological introduction to selected topics of current interest in Sociology. Please refer to the schedule of classes for current topics offered. Check the Sociology Department website for course descriptions of current special topics course offerings. May be repeated for credit as topics vary.
Analysis of the family as a social institution primarily in the U.S. context. Topics considered are: current and historical changes in how the family is constituted, contrasting sociological theories of family relationships, sexuality in relation to family life, the coexistence of love and hate in families, family dissolution and reformation, and the care of children. A key theme is diversity: social class, gender, race/ethnicity, and age. May not be taken by anyone who has already taken SOC 308 or its equivalent.
SOC 224. Introduction to Health and Society. 3 Credits.
This course provides a broad multidisciplinary overview and introduction to the study of health and society. We will explore various social contexts and factors that contribute to health and how these are examined through different disciplinary perspectives, emphasizing the contributions of social research from several disciplinary traditions such as anthropology, economics, social epidemiology, geography, political sciences, psychology, public health, and sociology. You will learn key concepts, conceptual frameworks, and analytical tools different social science disciplines use and what each brings to the study of health and society. We will examine the social distribution of health and illness in the United States and the role of social factors in creating and perpetuating social inequalities in health. Societal values and ethical issues in health and healthcare will also be addressed.
SOC 280. Introduction to Social Research. 3 Credits.
An introduction to the nature and methods of social research, including both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Topics may include: hypothesis formulation and testing; how to design a research project, collect and analyze data; elementary statistical procedures; and ethical issues. Prerequisite: SOC 104 or SOC 105 or SOC 304.
SOC 295. Study Abroad Topics in: _____. 1-6 Credits.
This course is designed for the study of special topics in Sociology at the freshman/sophomore level. Course work must be arranged through the Office of KU Study Abroad. May be repeated for credit if content varies.
Discusses the way our identities, values, and behavior have been and continue to be shaped by social and situational factors. Attention is paid to the influence of factors like language, culture, social roles, specific social institutions, and broad structures of inequality and power on how we see ourselves and others. This course provides a more intensive coverage of the subject matter than that provided in SOC 150. May not be taken by anyone who has already taken SOC 150 or its equivalent.
This course is designed to explore competing explanations for the causes of, and cures for, the enduring problems of American society. The course critically analyzes dominant definitions of social problems, the political and economic roots of theses problems, and the public policies aimed at reducing them. This course provides a more intensive coverage of the subject matter than that provided in SOC 160. May not be taken by anyone who has already completed SOC 160 or its equivalent.
Analysis of the family as a social institution primarily in the U.S. context. Topics considered are: current and historical changes in how the family is constituted, contrasting sociological theories of family relationships, sexuality in relation to family life, the coexistence of love and hate in families, family dissolution and reformation, and the care of children. A key theme is diversity: social class, gender, race/ethnicity, and age. This course provides a more intensive coverage of the subject matter than that provided in SOC 220. May not be taken by anyone who has already taken SOC 220 or its equivalent.
SOC 319. Sociology of Artificial Intelligence. 3 Credits.
This seminar addresses the social, economic, political, and cultural issues regarding the development and uses of artificial intelligence (AI). Putting the origins of and debates on AI in sociological context, the course covers a range topics such as algorithmic bias and discrimination, surveillance capitalism, politics and ethics of data, misinformation and threats to democracy, work automation, and risks of societal catastrophe. Taking this course will equip students with the basic knowledge and orientation to productively engage in debates about AI and will provide students with a solid foundation for further coursework in this area.
SOC 320. Organizations and Inequality. 3 Credits.
This course addresses the role organizations play in the creation and reproduction of inequality. It reviews basic perspectives on how organizations shape stratification along lines of social class, gender, race and ethnicity, as well as how organizations function as vehicles of power and influence in economics, politics, technology, health, education, and popular culture. In relation to these topics, the course also addresses the nature of organizations as sources of stability and change in society.
This class focuses on economic inequality and the political and social forces that create and sustain it in the United States and internationally. The variables of race, ethnicity, status, and gender are analyzed as they relate to the differences in the distribution of wealth and power, and attention is paid to how these multiple variables shape opportunities.
In this course students will study traits, conditions, actions, and behaviors that violate social norms and elicit negative societal reactions. This includes the social, cultural, and individual factors that explain deviance; motivations behind deviant behavior; and efforts by society to control deviants. In short, you will undertake a sociological examination of those on the margins of society and societal efforts to "deal with" them. (Same as AMS 324.)
SOC 326. Health, Gender, and Society. 3 Credits.
Comparative examination of the health status of men and women in relation to key elements of contemporary societies, including not only medicine and health care services, but also systems of social inequality and stratification, cultural constructions of gender, and social policies. Emphasis will be placed on the U.S.; however, the course also will provide international comparisons and an overall global context.
The social structure and organization of American society with special reference to long-term and recent social changes. (Same as AMS 330.) Not open to students with credit for SOC 132. Prerequisite: A principal course in sociology.
Examines the influence abroad of US culture, policies and practices and the impact of other countries on US culture, society, and politics. Among the topics that may be examined are race, ethnicity, colonialism, imperialism, migration, technology, communications and media, popular culture, language, health, domestic and transnational organizations, as well as economic, political, religious, military and educational institutions. (Same as AMS 332).
The social structure and organization of American society with special reference to long-term and recent social changes. Not open to students who have credit for AMS 330 or SOC 330. Open to students in the University Honors Program, students on the dean's honor roll, and by permission of the department.
SOC 341. Urban Sociology. 3 Credits.
Examination of the process of urbanization in modern societies, including the size, growth, functions, and ecology of cities and systems of cities; such urban social institutions as the economy, politics, and the family; and major contemporary urban policies and problems. Each topic will be analyzed from several sociological perspectives. Prerequisite: A principal course in sociology.
International migration reshapes politics, economics, social relations, and racial/ethnic identities. Using the United States and other countries as case studies, we explore the variations among immigrant groups and their experiences in social institutions such as the family, religion, education, labor market, legal and criminal justice systems, and government. We consider the influence of national origin, gender, class, legal status, and culture on immigration and reception experiences, as well as issues of assimilation, transnationalism and identity. We will position and explore identities within a geopolitical lens by examining how legal landscapes, national policy, and globalization impact immigration experiences and trajectories over time.
Race is an ever-present feature of American life. It is a polarizing topic in our politics and a prism through which we perceive social differences. In this course, we examine the major institutions and societal forces that shape the reality of race in thought and in material reality. Moving from past to present, we consider how slavery, segregation, the urban ghetto, and mass incarceration contribute to the social construction of race. By reviewing traditions of research on race in the U.S. and abroad, students will analyze how legacies of race and racism in the U.S. continue to influence our identities, culture, politics, and relations of power and inequality.
SOC 350. Transnational Migration. 3 Credits.
A historically-conscious, sociological exploration of political, cultural and health issues involved in transnational migration, this course invites the student to situate current transnational migration within specific historical social processes within both postcolonial Africa and the postcolonial West. The course examines parallels from the experience of migration in other parts of the world, specifically Asia and Latin America. The aim is an understanding and appreciation of both the interconnectedness of the world's peoples and, crucially, of the world's histories.
This course explores theories and concepts related to collective behavior and social movements. We will examine why people protest, what strategies and tactics activists use and why, and the conditions under which protest succeeds or fails. We will focus on contemporary social movements in the United States, examining dissent and activism of both the political left and right.
SOC 360. Sociology of Social Control. 3 Credits.
This course examines changing methods of social control in society. Social control can be formal (e.g., law and criminal justice system) or informal (e.g., families, peer groups). This course examines the ways that we, as a society, attempt to respond to matters such as deviance, illness, crime, and poverty. This course will survey the many varieties of formal and informal social control faced by individuals in society, and the ways in which individuals resist and conform to various disciplinary and control regimes. Prerequisite: a principal course in Sociology.
SOC 362. Prison, Punishment, and Society. 3 Credits.
This course examines the formal legal institutions for punishing criminal offenders and their outcomes for supervised populations. Students will use a punishment and society perspective to investigate the latest trends in criminal justice policy and institutional and community supervision with a focus on adult men's and women's prisons. Students will critique key issues in corrections, such as mass incarceration, life without parole, solitary confinement, and the death penalty. The course explores the implications of carceral citizenship for social inequalities, mental illness, and disease and the challenges of reducing recidivism and improving reintegration.
SOC 363. The Sociology of Culture. 3 Credits.
This class explores the role of cultural forms (music, film, fashion, food, and art) in everyday life. Throughout the semester, we will critically engage with core topics in cultural sociology, including, how culture reflects the social order, the role of culture in reproducing race, gender, and class inequality, the processes by which cultural forms are socially created and received, and the relationship between culture and historical change.
SOC 364. Society, Popular Culture, and the Media. 3 Credits.
An overview of sociological theory and research on culture created and distributed through the mass media and its role in shaping our common sense interpretations of our daily lives. Topics include the social organization of the media, the relation between popular culture and the media, themes communicated in various elements of popular culture, and how various groups interpret cultural messages and incorporate them in their lives.
An introduction to social scientific data analysis, with an emphasis on descriptive and inferential statistics. Specific topics include sampling, measures of association and correlation, significance testing, the logic of causal inference, the use of computer programs for data analysis, multivariate analysis, and the critical evaluation of social science research findings. Prerequisite: MATH 101.
SOC 384. Environment, Power, and Justice. 3 Credits.
This course is focused on the relationships between human beings and the planet (the environment, resources, places). We explore the major insights of sociology (primarily how to understand power and inequity) and apply them to our relationship with climate change, environmental justice, water, land, soil, food, viruses, animals, each other, and the future. Using the concept of the sociological imagination that connected one’s biography with one’s historical and class context as a starting point, this course expands C. Wright Mills’ foundational insight to incorporate both the background knowledge of environmental relationships between society and the planet. This course also builds a research skillset to understand, debate, and develop them at the same time. Skill-building assignments develop research skills related to library searching, research question formation, assessing and using valid sources, sociological observation, interviewing, and data analysis. Combined with a diverse set of readings, we explore the social, cultural, political, legal, and ethical debates that shape the contemporary and unfolding environmental issues. Topics may include environmental justice, environmental social movements, science communication, sustainability, biodiversity, environmental ethics, policy, land use change, and greenwashing. (Same as EVRN 384.) Prerequisite: Junior or Senior standing.
SOC 385. Environmental Social Problems. 3 Credits.
This course introduces key concepts in environmental sociology. The core goal of environmental sociology is to understand the relationship between society and the planet. Environmental sociology explores the relationships between social systems and the ecosphere, including interdisciplinary work that explores interactions within and between institutions, social groups, and natural and built environments. Environmental Sociology also includes study of the origins and impacts of technology, the social causes of environmental change, the environmental causes of social change, and the consequences of social inequalities and power relationships for socio-environmental dynamics. As human beings we live in the natural world and use its resources including the air, soil and water, yet we often separate ourselves from nature. Environmental sociology opens a dialogue between people and nature that will be explored through readings, discussion and assignments related to important environmental issues in Kansas and beyond, including climate change, energy production and consumption, material inequality, environmental justice, transportation, food and agriculture, and ethical frameworks. In particular this course uses sociological theory and sociological environmental research to illuminate the identification, evolution, and potential solution pathways to environmental social problems. (Same as EVRN 385.)
SOC 386. Sociology of Global Food. 3 Credits.
The Sociology of Global Food offers a critical examination of the global food system since the Industrial Revolution. Topics include the industrialization of agriculture, sustainable agriculture, and the role of food and agriculture in organizing society. This course discusses the emergence of current debates around food and agriculture including food activism, technological developments, human/environment relationships, and labor issues. There is a lab component to this course. (Same as EVRN 386.) Prerequisite: Junior standing.
SOC 400. Sociology Special Topics: _____. 3 Credits.
The study of selected topics of current interest in Sociology. Check the notes section in the schedule of classes for the description of this course. May be repeated for credit as topics vary.
SOC 401. Sociology Special Topics, Honors: _____. 3 Credits.
The study of selected topics of current interest in Sociology. Contact department for course descriptions of current offerings. May be repeated for credit as topics vary. Open only to students in the University Honors Program, or consent of the instructor. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the University Honors Program, or consent of the instructor.
A survey of theory and research in social gerontology, giving primary attention to aging and the aged as affected by social organization, including such social institutions as familial, economic, political, and health care; organizational processes such as social stratification; and living environments including community and housing. In these contexts, certain demographic, cross-cultural, social-psychological, and physiological aspects of aging will also be considered.
SOC 410. Sociology of Death and Dying. 3 Credits.
The primary purpose of this course is to provide an understanding of the ways in which the experiences of death and dying are shaped by social structures. This course will also acquaint the student with the social implications of death and dying and to examine death-related behaviors, both individual and collective, through which these aspects of life are experienced. This course covers theoretical, practical, cross-cultural and historical aspects of death and dying. Social, psychological, biomedical, economic and legal issues surrounding death and dying are explored. Students examine their own ideas, feelings and attitudes towards death and dying, and reflect on the origins and significance of those beliefs. Prerequisite: Junior or Senior Standing.
This introductory course in medical sociology examines how social factors influence health and the organization of medical services. Students explore the distribution and experiences of illnesses across key social categories (e.g., gender, social class, etc.) The course also addresses contemporary issues in health and medicine, such as how health care systems vary cross-nationally, the training of health care workers, patient-physician relationships, and the use of medical technologies.
SOC 425. Sociology of Global Health. 3 Credits.
The course explores social dimensions of health throughout the world. It examines how infectious and degenerative diseases have reflected and affected the demographics, social structure, economy, and culture of societies, and how societies have mobilized their political, economic, social and cultural resources to deal with health challenges. It focuses in particular on the role of socioeconomic inequality-both within and across countries-in shaping the emergence, spread, prevention, and treatment of disease. Prerequisite: A sociology course at the 100 or 200-level.
SOC 426. Sociology of Mental Health. 3 Credits.
This course is designed to give an introduction to the history, conceptions, and social determinants of mental health and mental illness. We will be paying explicit attention to the sociological perspective on mental health. A unique feature of this perspective is its emphasis not in the brain or genetics, but in how social factors influence and are influenced by mental health status. This course will focus on several topics, including 1) how the definition of mental health/illness changes across time and place; 2) the social causes and consequences of mental illness; 3) the unequal distribution of mental health/illness across social groups; 4) societal responses to mental illness in the healthcare system, prisons, and the media, and 5) other select topics.
This course examines education as a social institution and the reciprocal relationship between schools and society. It focuses particularly on the relationship between education and inequality and on education in the U.S., but also includes international comparisons. Prerequisite: Junior or Senior standing or permission of instructor.
A systematic introduction to cross-cultural issues from the standpoint of sociology, designed to acquaint students with the full range of substantive and methodological issues that arise in comparative sociological inquiry, with a primary focus on non-western societies. Specific topics to be addressed may include war and peace, stratification and inequality, race and ethnicity, and political authority and power, all viewed in the light of cross-cultural research and theory.
An examination of the history, sociology, and culture of U.S. ethnic categories (e.g., American Indians, Latinos, Asian Americans, Jewish Americans, Irish Americans). The specific group studied varies from semester to semester. Course may be repeated for credit with different topics. (Same as AMS 436.)
This course uses written and visual materials to examine race, ethnicity, and nationalism around the world. Emphasis is on ways in which social forces, gender roles, sexual practices, cultural patterns, and political organization work together to construct and reinforce ethnic, racial, and national identities, boundaries, movements, and conflicts. Historical and contemporary comparisons are made between the U.S. and countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe, the Pacific Islands, and the Middle East. (Same as AAAS 437 and AMS 437.)
An overview of sociological theory and research on the social practices constructing men and women as "opposites" and creating systematic inequality between them in class-, race-, and nation-specific ways. We consider arguments and evidence that gender is something we are, something we do, a part of every social institution, and a major aspect of how we are organized as a society.
SOC 453. Work, Inequality, and Social Change. 3 Credits.
Seminar on historical and contemporary patterns of work and occupations as they relate to social and economic differentiation, inequality, and change. Topics addressed include the effects of industrialization and bureaucratization on employment and stratification, as well as the implications of globalization and technological progress. Contemporary issues related to racial, ethnic, class, and gender inequality in employment and the workplace, along with the debates on the future of work are also discussed in the course. Formerly known as SOC 525. Not open to students with credit in SOC 525.
SOC 455. Society and the Economy. 3 Credits.
An analysis of how economic organizations such as firms and markets are embedded within broader social structures with attention being given to such topics as: world economic crises and their social bases; capitalist and socialist economies; primitive and advanced economic systems; multinational corporations; the nature of housework; and the transformation of economic systems.
SOC 460. Youth and Crime. 3 Credits.
This course is intended for students to become aware of prominent social structures such as race, class and gender, and their impact on and intersection with the social construction of youth and crime and the juvenile justice system. Students will acquire the theoretical skills to critically analyze the different experiences of youth and crime and the relevant contributing factors. In addition, consideration will be given to the historical, political and theoretical dimensions of youth and crime.
Advanced analysis of the social organization and cultural processes of deviance, including crime, violence, and social control. The course surveys and applies sociological, as well as criminological, theoretical perspectives in deviance. Particular attention is paid to the economic, gender, sexual, and racial inequalities and diversity of experience that shapes, and is shaped by, deviance in American society.
This class applies a sociological perspective to the various forms of violence that beset modern society. We will consider a range of behavior and practices commonly considered violent, including suicide, harassment, sexual assault, street crime, gun violence, terrorism, and genocide. We will address the extent, impact, and sociological significance of these forms of violence. We will also consider the failures and successes of various organizational, institutional, and legal solutions to violence.
An overview of social science theory and research on the practices for keeping close watch on people. Surveillance strategies are adopted in the interests of security, governance, and commerce, but also for personal care, empowerment, resistance, and even play. We consider a host of social, political, ethical, and legal questions related to long-standing notions of privacy, civil liberties, and personal autonomy.
SOC 480. Sociological Theory. 3 Credits.
An introduction to the principal texts in sociological theory and the ideas that made them important. Primary materials are emphasized, ranging from medieval to the current age. The goal of the course is to show continuity and change in the theoretical tradition of sociology, and to demonstrate the continued importance of classical ideas. Prerequisite: SOC 104 or SOC 105 or SOC 304 or permission of instructor.
The purpose of this course is to encourage students to think sociologically about social issues by working as volunteer interns for non-profit community or campus organizations. Enrollment must be approved by a faculty mentor and the departmental Undergraduate Studies Committee. For additional information go to the Sociology department website. Prerequisite: 21 credits in sociology with a 3.0 GPA and permission of the instructor.
SOC 495. Study Abroad Advanced Topics in: _____. 1-6 Credits.
This course is designed for the study of special topics in Sociology at the junior/senior level. Course work must be arranged through the Office of KU Study Abroad. May be repeated for credit if content varies.
Intensive study and research under faculty direction including the writing of a thesis. Enrollment may be split between two semesters, but no grade will be given until completion of the thesis. Admission to honors candidacy is open only to majors who have shown a marked capability for independent study and have completed either SOC 280 or SOC 480.
SOC 529. Globalization. 3 Credits.
Addresses sociological aspects of the growth of transnational economic, cultural, institutional, and political interconnections, the freer and faster movement of goods, images, ideas, people, and institutional forms across national borders, and the consequences and problems of these processes. The focus is on recent (later 20th century to the present) global restructuring in the context of historical shifts in capitalist development. (Same as GIST 529.) Prerequisite: SOC 104 or GIST 220.
SOC 600. Sociological Perspectives: _____. 3 Credits.
Analysis of various sociological perspectives and/or the application of various perspectives to a given social phenomenon. May be repeated as topics vary. Prerequisite: A principal course in sociology.
This course gives students a basic understanding of Islam and Islamic movements, explores the economic, social, political, and cultural context in which these movements take place, and examines the impact of Islam on politics in select countries. Issues such as the intersections of political Islam and democratic politics, state regulation of Islam, religion and Islamism's role in nation-building, formal state institutions and opposition movements in authoritarian contexts. We also look at the complex ways in which religion intersects with gender dynamics and identity politics in Muslim-majority countries. Students will be guided throughout the course to develop a synthesizing research project that draws from other courses and includes a presentation of the findings of the research. Not open to students with credit in GIST/POLS 467. (Same as GIST 667 and POLS 667.) Prerequisite: A principal course in sociology, POLS 150, or consent of instructor.
Library or field research either as part of an ongoing project or as an independent study project. One to twelve hours. May be taken from one or more faculty during one or more semesters, the total hours not to exceed 12. No more than 3 credits may be applied to satisfy requirements for the sociology major. Prerequisite: Two courses in sociology and consent of instructor.
In this capstone course, students synthesize the knowledge gained in their substantive courses and use the skills developed in their methodology courses to design and conduct a research project on a current social issue or meeting the research needs of a local community group. The outcome will be a professional quality research report. Prerequisite: SOC 380.
SOC 707. Seminar in Historical Sociology. 3 Credits.
Each seminar will explore problems at the intersection of sociology and history. Topic and instructors will be announced in the Schedule of Classes. Seminars will be offered by different instructors on different topics and students may take more than one topic. No prerequisite.
SOC 722. Sociology of Gender. 3 Credits.
This course will offer a range of sociological perspectives on the role of gender in society. The particular substantive focus will vary each semester to allow flexibility for in-depth analysis of gender relationships in such areas as politics, health and aging, and work. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or instructor permission.
SOC 760. Social Inequality. 3 Credits.
A comprehensive review of the major theoretical and empirical approaches used in the study of institutionalized social inequality. Reference to the origins, forms, cultural and structural variations and their changes over time, consequences and ideologies of social inequality. Prerequisite: A distribution course in sociology.
SOC 767. Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Gerontology and Aging. 3 Credits.
A seminar coordinated by the Gerontology Program. The seminar explores essential areas of gerontology for researchers and practitioners, providing a multidisciplinary (biology, health services, behavioral and social sciences,human services) perspective on aging. The seminar surveys contemporary basic and applied research, service programs, and policy and management issues in gerontology. (Same as ABSC 787, AMS 767, and PSYC 787.)
SOC 780. Advanced Topics in Sociology: _____. 3 Credits.
Topics will vary from semester to semester and instructor to instructor to allow flexibility for in-depth analysis of particular topics.
SOC 802. Classical Social Theory. 3 Credits.
This seminar will focus on the later 19th and early 20th century "theories of society," addressing the origins and developmental tendencies of Western modernity and their relation to premodern social orders. Primary texts of the major theorists (e.g. Marx, Durkheim, Nietzsche, Weber, Simmel, and Mead) will be studied in historical context. The tradition's analytical and critical resources and problematic features will also be explored. Finally, the connections between this tradition and contemporary sociological approaches will be explored.
SOC 810. Sociological Inquiry. 3 Credits.
The goals of this course are to understand the characteristics of sociologically interesting and rigorous research and to design a research proposal that shares those characteristics. Students will read books and articles representing a variety of research approaches (ethnographies, surveys, interviews, document analyses, historical studies, comparative research, etc.), and will analyze those approaches in order to understand their theoretical and methodological significance. Students will also distribute their proposals to the other students in the course for comment and critique. Assignments will include a research proposal such as a draft for an external grant proposal, M.A. thesis proposal for students at the M.A. level or a dissertation proposal draft for students at the Ph.D. level. Course may be repeated for credit toward graduate degree. Prerequisite: The course is open only to students enrolled in the Sociology graduate program.
SOC 812. Analytic Methods in Sociology. 3 Credits.
Consideration of quantitative methods of analysis including both parametric and non-parametric techniques. Prerequisite: A course in statistics.
SOC 820. Political Sociology. 3 Credits.
This course offers an overview of the different perspectives and key arguments comprising the field of political sociology, including both classical and contemporary readings. The issues studied in this field include the nature of power and the nature of the state, relations between state and society, and social movements, political organization and civic participation, political culture, voting behavior, comparative political systems, warfare, democracy and economic development, citizenship, nationalism, revolutions, and globalization.
SOC 824. Health and Social Behavior. 3 Credits.
This course provides students with an analytic understanding of the organization, professional, and interpersonal behavior that characterizes contemporary health and health care. Emphasis is placed on examination and integration of conceptual frameworks theories, and research findings bearing on basic behavioral/managerial issues such as authority relations in health care settings, models of illness behavior and health services utilization, the impact of organizational structure on employee and client attitudes and behavior, and the culture of professional medicine in relation to patient care.
SOC 873. International Political Economy. 3 Credits.
Provides a broad survey of major developments in the field. Topics include the intellectual origins of international political economy; the historical evolution of the international system; North-South and Western trade, investment, and monetary relations; foreign aid, debt technology transfer, development, international economic institutions (e.g., International Monetary Funds, World Bank, Multinational Corporations, etc.). (Same as POLS 973.)
SOC 891. Individual Master's Readings. 1-6 Credits.
Individual study of special topics or problems by students working on a master's degree.
SOC 893. Leading Discussion Sections in Sociology. 1 Credits.
This course covers matters relating to the teaching of discussion sections in sociology. Topics covered will include the current week's reading assignments, material that will be covered in the lecture, upcoming exams or other assignments, and potential activities for discussion sections. This course does not count toward completion of 54 hours of graduate credit hours required for the PhD program in sociology. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Prerequisite: A current GTA appointment to lead discussion sections in sociology.
SOC 899. Thesis. 1-8 Credits.
Thesis hours. Graded on a satisfactory progress/limited progress/no progress basis.
SOC 900. Seminar on Special Topics in Theory: _____. 3 Credits.
Each seminar will explore problems of theory in sociology. Topic and instructor will be announced in the Schedule of Classes. Seminars will be offered by different instructors on different topics, and a student may take more than one topic.
SOC 902. Contemporary Social Theory. 3 Credits.
The focus of the course is on prominent late twentieth and early twenty-first century social theorists (e.g., Daniel Bell, Pierre Bourdieu, Michel Foucault, Anthony Giddens, Nancy Fraser, David Harvey, Alex Honneth, Jean Baudrillard), who have had substantial impact on North American social thought and sociology and often in other parts of the globe as well. The texts focus on large-scale, national and global sociocultural and socioeconomic structures, cultural formations, and social changes. The course stresses primary readings but also addresses the various approaches in historical, intellectual, and political context, their relations to earlier classical theories, and connections to more specialized sociological practices.
SOC 910. Seminar on Special Topics in Methods: _____. 3 Credits.
Each seminar will explore problems of methods in sociology. Topic and instructor will be announced in the Schedule of Classes. Seminars will be offered by different instructors on different topics, and a student may take more than one topic.
SOC 920. Seminar on Special Topics in Social Organizations: _____. 3 Credits.
Each seminar will explore problems of social organization in sociology. Topic and instructor will be announced in the Schedule of Classes. Seminars will be offered by different instructors on different topics, and a student may take more than one topic.
SOC 991. Individual Doctoral Readings. 1-6 Credits.
Individual study of special topics or problems by students working on a doctorate.
SOC 995. Professionalization Proseminar. 3 Credits.
The main objective of this course is to help students understand and deal with several "nuts and bolts" professional issues regarding the discipline of sociology and being a professional sociologist. This course is for advanced doctoral students who are close to being on the job market, whether they are pursuing academic or non-academic careers.
SOC 999. Dissertation. 1-12 Credits.
Dissertation hours. Graded on a satisfactory progress/limited progress/no progress basis.