Sociology (SO)
This course introduces students to the field of sociology, which is the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of a person’s behavior. Students develop a “sociological imagination” that enables an analysis of human behavior and institutions from multiple perspectives. The instructor introduces methods of sociological research, and students compare major sociological theories and their historical proponents. Topics include socialization, group dynamics, race and ethnic group relations, stratification, deviance, and population studies. Students will study core social institutions that include families , religions, governments, markets, and media.
Crime and delinquency as a social phenomenon. The nature and extent of crime and delinquency in the United States, a review of the most popular theories of crime causation and the social factors that influence its existence from early biological theories to modern social-cultural theories, specific factors of gender, race, social class, etc., are discussed in detail. This course is cross-listed with CJ200.
An introductory course in statistical methods of data analysis relevant to the social sciences, intended to develop students as informed and critical consumers of social science research with an emphasis on application to criminological and sociological issues. MA103 prepares students for this course, and students are strongly advised to take MA103 to fulfill their Bridge General Education requirement for quantitative analysis. This course is cross-listed with CJ202.
This course addresses how traditional models of development, embraced by all nations of the world, inspire patterns of production and consumption that stand in the way of building a just, sustainable and peaceful world. It addresses the fundamental principles that the human community should pursue to attain a sustainable global society founded on economic justice, respect for nature, and universal human rights. Required for sustainability minor. This course is cross-listed with AN304.
An analysis of the concept of deviance both as a theoretical topic and a practical device in American society. Specific patterns of deviance will be discussed in detail, e.g., organized crime, political deviance, gambling, terrorism, suicide, sexual deviance.
Prerequisite(s): SO101 or permission of the instructor.