Sociology

SO 101-01  Principles of Sociology.  An introduction to the study of society focusing on major areas of research and explanation.  SO 101 OR SO 103 are required for the Sociology Major, and both are offered every semester.  

SO 103-01, 02, 03 (D) American Society and Its Social Problems.  This course examines the structure and functioning of contemporary American society and specifically emphasizes selected social problems associated with the changing values of the society.  SO 103 OR SO 101 are required for the Sociology Major, and both are offered every semester.

                                        Alan Hoffner              M                   6:00 - 9:00 PM           MH 6
                         LC-1       John Esser                T ,R               8:00 - 9:30 AM           MH 23   
                         LC-2       Jean Halley               M, W             8:30 – 10:00 AM        MH 22

SO 203-LC Principles of Social Psychology. The sociological perspective on the individual in society.  Examination of the self-concept, prejudice, propaganda and opinion, social perception and other issues in the area.  Sociology 101 or an introductory course in psychology.  Offered spring semester.

                                       Laura Martocci         M,W             1:00 - 2:30 PM           MH 22

SO 207-01 The Criminal Justice System.  This course studies the development, structure, and practice of our criminal justice system, including criminal law, law enforcement, courts, and corrections.  This is a requirement for the Criminal Justice Concentration of the Sociology Major, and is offered every semester.

                                      Michael Christiano         T             6:00 - 9:00PM            SPH 4

SO 213-01 Sexualities and the Social (D) (Gender Studies).  Ranging from pre-colonial Nigerian to contemporary United States culture, Sexualities and the Social: Sociology 213 will examine the diverse ways human beings think about and experience sexuality, sex and gender roles, intimacy and love, marriage and other forms of intimate human relationship, parenting, and domestic and sexual labor.  The course will explore how both the experience and ideological meanings of human sexuality have changed in different social and historical contexts, and how sexuality permeates the social division of labor.  It will investigate the ways humans think about and organize sexuality and how these are related to the material realities of the political economy and people's everyday lives and work.  Special attention is given to differences and similarities in the experience of sexual relationships across lines of gender, sex, class, race, and sexual orientation.  Sexualities and the Social makes use of sociological, anthropological and literary sources on sexuality, sex and gender roles, including for example, the following: Igbo society before and during British colonization; an early nineteenth-century British novelist's exposé on sex and love; a United States sex researcher's exploration of human sexuality in the 1940s; second-wave feminist and conservative thinking on marriage and divorce; a late twentieth-century gay man's autobiographical story about his partner's death; and contemporary sociological research on domestic and sexual labor. Offered fall semester.

                                      Jean Halley                  T               6:00 - 9:00PM             MH 22

SO 233-01 Research Methods I.  This course provides an introduction to the logic and skills of scientific research.  Topics that will be covered include: the essence of science; scientific theory; explanation and prediction; research design; operationalization; survey; research; random sampling; and descriptive statistics.  This is a required course for all Sociology Majors, and is now offered every Fall and Spring semester.  You should take this course if you are a sophomore major or have not taken SO 233 yet.

                                      Chien Liu                     T, Th         1:00 – 2:30 PM          MH 22
                     
SO 234 -01 Research Methods II.  This course provides training in basic statistics for social sciences including: level of measurements, descriptive statistics, normal distribution, confidence interval, hypothesis testing, ANOVA, linear association, and the use of personal computers for the statistical analysis of real data.  This is a required course for all Sociology Majors, and is now offered every Fall and Spring semester.  You should take this course if you have just completed SO 233.  Education Dual Majors do not need to take this course.

                                       Chien Liu                    T, Th         11:20 – 12:50PM       MH 22

SO 270-ILC Criminal Procedure.  Criminal Procedure analyzes the delicate balance between the government's need to enforce the criminal law against the rights of the individual to be left alone.  The course consists of a study of the criminal justice process from arrest through sentencing.  Emphasis will be placed upon the rights of the accused, rights to counsel, search and seizure, and the privilege against self-incrimination.

                                       David Martin                        W,F            8:00 - 9:30AM         SPH 1

SO 291-01 Special Topics: Organized Crime: (H) This course presents an overview and analysis of organized crime.  Its definition, history, structure and functioning will be discussed.  Included will be consideration of theories of organized crime, its evolution, its businesses, the drug trade, political and corporate alliances with organized crime groups, and domestic and foreign organized crime groups.  A clear distinction between “The Mafia” and organized crime is provided.  The economic, social and public safety issues raised are addressed in detail, and efforts to control organized crime are examined. 

                                        Michael Christiano              M               6:00-9:00PM          SPH 4

SO 291-02 The Sociology of Science and Religion: This course will examine the role of meaning and the institutions that contribute to meaning-making in modern culture.  We will begin by reading brief selections from classical sociological literature, including Karl Marx on ideology; Max Weber on science and politics; and Emile Durkheim on the importance of social solidarity and the potential consequences of rapid social change.  During the second half of the course, we will read contemporary works on the sociology of science, religion and symbolic interaction.  As a service learning course, our questions will focus on what these texts can tell us about what makes a community and how and why communities change. 

                                       Ron Nerio                                      W        6:00-9:00PM               MH 7   

SO 302-01 The Urbanized Society. The study of contemporary urban life styles, economy and culture. Ecological, population, and urbanization processes. Urban problems of metropolis and megalopolis. Offered as requested.

                                    Alan Hoffner               W         6:00 – 9:00 PM                       MH 6     

SO 303-01 Race and Ethnic Relations.  This course examines the relations between various racial, national, cultural, and religious subgroups in present-day society.  Special attention is paid to American society with its particular problems of adjustment, assimilation, and conflict.

                                  Stephanie Gangemi       M          7:00 - 10:00 PM                    MH 23 A          

SO 305 Criminology. Analysis of social, cultural, and psychological factors involved in delinquency and crime.  Description and analyses of criminal subcultures in contemporary society.  Modern programs for crime prevention.

                                      John Esser                T, Th             6:00 – 7:30PM               SPH 1

SO 400 Senior Reflective Tutorial.  This course will be part of the senior learning community.  The course components will vary to address the content of the concentrations and/or special topics in the field.  Cross listed with AN 400 Senior Reflective Tutorial.  Offered fall and spring semesters.

                                        Chien Liu                    F          1:10 – 2:10 PM & TBA            CAMH 231

SO 491 Senior Seminar.  In this research practicum, required of majors, students are expected to draw on their acquired knowledge of the discipline to develop independent research projects.  The projects culminate in oral and written presentation of a formal paper.  Prerequisites:  SO 233, 234, 343.  This is a required course for all Sociology majors, and is offered every Fall and Spring semester.  You MUST take this course during Fall or Spring of your Senior year, and you MUST take SO 492 Senior Reflective Tutorial during the same semester.
 
                                    Chien Liu                  F                10:00 – 12:00PM                      CAMH 231

SW 105 Introduction to Social Welfare Practice.  This course provides students with an introduction to the field of social work and to the various methodologies social workers use in their efforts to help their clients negotiate the social welfare system.  The complexities of the social welfare system are presented and contemporary issues in welfare structure and service delivery are discussed.  Career opportunities in the social welfare field will be considered.  This is a required course for all Sociology Majors, and is offered every Fall and Spring.

                                       Joy Mampilly             M                3:00-6:00PM                         MH 12