SOCIOLOGY (SOC)

SOC 101 - INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY

Basic theories and concepts of sociology; culture; roles and norms; personality and group; forms of social organization; class, caste, and race; community; social institutions; collective behavior; social change.

Credits: 3

Attributes: Social Science

SOC 210 - CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL ISSUES

This course focuses on contemporary issues from a sociological perspective. The course will focus on the ways social inequalities (such as class and power relations, race, gender, and global inequality) are produced and reproduced overtime. The course will also examine specific institutional problems which may include the environment, poverty, corporate power, urban and suburban places, the workplace, education, healthcare, crime and justice, and national security. The class will also reflect on the prospects for social justice and progressive policy solutions.

Credits: 3

Attributes: Social Justice Studies, Social Science

Prerequisites: SOC 101

SOC 211 - CONTEMPORARY GLOBAL ISSUES

This course analyzes contemporary global issues through a sociological lens. Its core purpose is to explore the context, structural and cultural causes and consequences of such global issues as colonialism, imperialism, privilege, consumption, corporate power, economic development, debt crisis, labor practices, oppression, neocolonialism, state violence, and militarism.

Credits: 3

Attributes: International Studies, Non-western Culture, Social Science

Prerequisites: SOC 101

Course Notes: Fulfills SOC 210 requirement.

SOC 212 - CONTEMPORARY URBAN ISSUES

This course examines contemporary urban issues from a sociological perspective. The course will focus on the historical forces that shape current racial and class segregation. The class will then examine place-based forms of urban inequality stemming from economic development trends, workplace transformation, and gentrification; urban problems involving schools, the criminal justice system, immigration reform and the suburban crisis; the role of cities in Climate Change; and progressive solutions to urban problems.

Credits: 3

Attributes: Social Justice Studies, Social Science

Prerequisites: SOC 101

SOC 214 - SOCIOLOGY OF CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOODS

Students in this class will explore Chicago’s neighborhoods. We will examine a wide array of social forces that shape neighborhoods, such as: downtown development, urban sustainability and green development, segregation, ethnic enclaves, gayborhoods, gentrification, public housing, public transportation, public schools, policing, and community organizations. Each topic will be paired with a field trip to a specific neighborhood that best exemplifies the topic under examination. Students should take away an in-depth understanding of the social forces that shape neighborhoods in Chicago and a deeper understanding of neighborhoods as a lived experience.

Credits: 3

Attributes: Social Science

SOC 215 - THE FAMILY

Development of families; variations in family patterns in various cultures; role relationships within families; family influences in personality development; mate selection; parent-child relations; family disorganization and reorganization.

Credits: 3

Attributes: Social Science, Women Gender Studies

Prerequisites: SOC 101

SOC 220 - INTERACTION, COMMUNITY & CULT

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: SOC 101

SOC 223 - SPORTS AND SOCIETY

Sociological perspective on the socio-cultural characteristics of sport. Examination of the cultural, historical, economic, political, and structural factors (e.g., race, class, gender) that form salient aspects of today's sport activities at various levels. Focus on the characteristics of sports and how they reflect and impact the social climate of society. (3)

Credits: 3

Attributes: Social Science, Women Gender Studies

SOC 225 - MCDONALDIZATION OF SOCIETY

George Ritzer's McDonaldization thesis holds that the world is increasingly organized around principles of efficiency, calculability, predictability, and control through nonhuman technology. Although in many ways a restatement of Max Weber's classic analysis of bureaucracy, Ritzer's thesis has been extended in very original ways by others into the analysis of chain stores, restaurants, theme parks, sex work, the operation of police, courts and prisons, and universities. This course will be focused on the McDondaldization thesis, its extensions and its critics.

Credits: 3

Attributes: Social Science

SOC 260 - SOCIETY AND THE INDIVIDUAL

This course explores the relationship between society and the individual self, particularly how in the ebb and flow of everyday life, we both consciously and unconsciously, make and remake both social structures and ourselves through social interaction. Our goal is to gain a better understanding of when we are acting as social agents, conscious of our motives and ability to create social change, and when social structures are acting upon us via socialization, social expectation, norms, sanctions, stereotypes, etc. to reinforce the existing social order. Topics include social perception; social influence and persuasion; institutionalized classism, racism, sexism, ageism, and ableism; intimacy and close relationships, emotions and emotion management; and pro-social behavior.

Credits: 3

Attributes: Social Science

Prerequisites: SOC 101 (may be taken concurrently)

SOC 270 - FOOD AND INEQUALITY

What and how we eat reveal complex relationships between individual eaters and social structures. This course focuses on food as a lens to study the productions and reproduction of social inequality. We explore problems in the food system, such as labor injustices and unequal access to food as well as recent food movements and media representations of food. Applying a sociological perspective, students will reflect on and analyze on how their own food and eating practices are culturally and socially produced.

Credits: 3

SOC 280 - TELLING SOCIOLOGICAL STORIES

Telling stories about lived experiences helps people reflect on their individual lives and communicate the socio-cultural meanings of their experiences. Based on the belief that stories matter sociologically, we examine how narrative storytelling connects the self to larger social forces and explore how storytelling can be used to influence social change.

Credits: 3

SOC 290 - THE RESEARCH PROCESS

Data-gathering techniques in the social sciences; questionnaires, interviews, participant observation, and the use of official statistics. Basic statistical procedures used to analyze and interpret data; the use of computers in research; emphasis on the preparation and writing of research reports.

Credits: 3

Attributes: Social Science

Prerequisites: SOC 101

SOC 291 - SOCIAL STATISTICS: INTRODUCTION TO PROBABILITY & STATISTICS

Elementary probability and probability distributions, random variables, expectation, and variance; binomial and normal probability distributions. Applications to estimation, confidence intervals, statistical testing of hypotheses, two-sample techniques. Correlation and least squares.

Credits: 3

Attributes: Social Science

Prerequisites: MATH 116 or MATH 121 or MATH 110 or Compass-Algebra with min score of 45

Course Notes: Math courses higher than 121 satisfy the prerequisite.

SOC 292 - ELEMENTARY STATISICS LAB

The course incorporates collaborative learning, oral and written reports and technology. Emphasizes techniques, exploration and applications rather than derivation. All projects will use real data and conclusions are not predetermined. Topics include methods of summarizing data, statistical inference and regression.

Credits: 1

Course Notes: Must be taken concuurrently with MATH 217, ECON 234, or, SOC 291

SOC 300 - SOCIOLOGY IN ACTION

Sociologists study the social world and are often well-versed in the ‘problems’ of everyday life. In this course we will 'learn about' and 'engage in' creating social change. Through the planned readings and workshops students will learn theory, advocacy and activist skills, and engage in dialogue about their experiences through a sociological lens. In the end, students interested in pursuing careers informed by a sociological perspective will have tools to connect to or carve a path.

Credits: 3

Attributes: Social Science

Prerequisites: SOC 101 (may be taken concurrently)

Course Notes: Additional credit will not be given for both SOC 289, and SOC 300.

SOC 303 - SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY

Development of classical perspectives within sociology. Karl Marx, Max Weber, Emile Durkheim and others.

Credits: 3

Attributes: Social Science

Prerequisites: SOC 101 and 9 Credit Hours of Sociology

Course Notes: 9 semester hours in SOC or instr. consent

SOC 318 - SOCIAL MOVEMENTS AND SOCIAL CHANGE

Since the 1970s a new form of 'neoliberal' capitalism has emerged. Neoliberalism rode in on attacks against 'big government' and 'special interests', accompanied by promises of economic growth and greater efficiency. In practice, neoliberalism has failed to deliver on these promises. Everywhere it has been implemented, neoliberalism has produced mounting inequality and increasing insecurity for the vast majority. Rather than reducing the size of government, neoliberalism has shifted the weight of government from social programs benefitting poor and working people to massive subsidies for the wealthy, the military-industrial complex, and the prison-industrial complex. This course examines the rise of neoliberalism, its contradictions, and its current crisis. In response to the constant refrain that 'there is no alternative', the course also explores alternatives to neoliberalism in the form of economic democracy and worker self-managed enterprises.

Credits: 3

Attributes: Social Justice Studies, Social Science

Prerequisites: SOC 101 and 3 Credit Hours of Sociology

SOC 319 - LATINO URBAN EXPERIENCE

This course focuses on the contemporary urban experience of Latinos, particularly the contributions they make to U.S. society and the challenges they face. Topics include the impact of globalization on immigration and labor markets, gentrification of Latino neighborhoods, the rise of the Latino middle-class, and immigration policy, etc.

Credits: 3

Attributes: Hispanic Studies, International Studies, Non-western Culture, Social Justice Studies, Social Science

Prerequisites: SOC 101

SOC 320 - THE SOCIOLOGY OF INEQUALITY

Nature and function of social inequality. Selected theories of inequality; American stratification system; comparative inequality; indicators of social class position; class consciousness and identification; prestige and power; class position and its correlates; processes of social mobility.

Credits: 3

Attributes: Social Justice Studies, Social Science

Prerequisites: SOC 101

SOC 325 - EDUCATION AND SOCIETY

Social factors involved in educational processes within US society. The interaction of educational institutions with various cultural, economic, and social factors.

Credits: 3

Attributes: Social Justice Studies, Social Science

Prerequisites: SOC 101

SOC 327 - RACE & ETHNIC RELATIONS

Race and ethnicity in the US; history and present status of various racial and ethnic groups; political economy of race; changing public discourse of race and racial identities.

Credits: 3

Attributes: Non-western Culture, Social Justice Studies, Social Science

Prerequisites: SOC 101 and 3 Credit Hours of Sociology

SOC 329 - WHITENESS IN A GLOBAL SOCIETY

Course addresses the history, economics, politics and social construction of whiteness. Specific focus on three white deep-settler countries (countries that whites colonized, controlled, and stayed for generations): U.S., Australia and South Africa. These three countries share many similarities and by examining the differences we can develop a sophisticated understanding of the (re)production of white privilege, white power and the continuation of white supremacy world-wide.

Credits: 6

Attributes: International Studies, Social Science, Travel Based Study

Prerequisites: SOC 101

Course Notes: Sophomore standing or above.

SOC 330 - SOCIOLOGY OF MENTAL HEALTH AND ILLNESS

Mental disorders as major social problems; concept of mental illness in popular understanding, psychiatry, and social sciences; cultural, social-psychological, and sociological theories of development of mental disorders; empirical studies of cultural variation and social variables in mental disorders; social aspects of patient career; social prevention of mental disorders.

Credits: 3

Attributes: Social Science

Prerequisites: SOC 101 and 3 Credit Hours of Sociology

Course Notes: or instructor consent

SOC 331 - CRIMINOLOGY

Social processes and criminal behavior; theories of crime; social factors and causes of crime; law enforcement and the judicial process; corrections; prevention of crime.

Credits: 3

Attributes: Social Science

Prerequisites: SOC 101 and 3 Credit Hours of Sociology

Course Notes: Sophomore standing or above.

SOC 339 - SOCIOLOGY OF DEATH, DYING & LOSS

This interdisciplinary course interrogates the social, cultural, psychological, medical, ethical, philosophical, and spiritual issues that surround and possibly give meaning to the experiences of dying, death, loss, mourning, and living on after the death of significant people in our lives. Visual materials and methods (film, websites, videography, and photography) are combined with traditional materials methods of analysis (reading, class discussion, and class reports) to explore various themes including: the death system; societal responses to death, including those that are untimely, violent or preventable; end-of-life illnesses including Alzheimer’s, dementia, heart disease, and cancer; caring for the dying and the filial crisis; burial and memorializing rituals; assisted death, right-to-die, euthanasia, and the social causes and impact of ending one’s own life by suicide; and the ideas of immortality and transcendence.

Credits: 3

Attributes: Social Science

Prerequisites: SOC 101 (may be taken concurrently)

SOC 340 - GENDER AND SOCIETY

The social construction of gender definitions; focus on how gender roles in the family, media, and work place are constructed.

Credits: 3

Attributes: Social Science, Women Gender Studies

Prerequisites: SOC 101 and 3 Credit Hours of Sociology

Course Notes: Plus 3 hours of SOC or instructor consent.

SOC 342 - GLOBAL RACE

Course centers on the origins, discourse and outcomes of racialization processes on a global level. Students learn the specific processes of racialization by researching at least one non-North American country. Racialization will be understood at the intersection of gender, sexuality, citizenship, class and religion. Course has five sections: theorizing race; origins of racializing humanity (from egyptian elavery to the Enlightenment); modern theories of race (from Eugenics to racial formation theory); colonization and slavery (development of racialized capitalism); and Europeans and the development of whiteness.

Credits: 3

Attributes: International Studies, Social Science

Prerequisites: SOC 101

SOC 346 - COMMUNITY ORGANIZING

Examination of community organizing theories and approaches. Focuses on cases studies and hands on experience.

Credits: 3

Attributes: Social Justice Studies, Social Science

Prerequisites: SOC 101 (may be taken concurrently) and 3 Credit Hours of Sociology

Course Notes: or instructor consent.

SOC 355 - URBAN INEQUALITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

The ways in which cities are produced not only structure the built environment, but they also shape opportunity and access to resources. With this conceptualization of urbanization as our starting point, this class will focus on housing as a key urban form expressing social power relations. Topics include, but are not limited to: gentrification, homelessness and social disorder politics, senior citizen housing, the housing needs of single mothers, urban education and the rise of charter schools, and policing and surveillance of neighborhoods.

Credits: 3

Attributes: Social Justice Studies, Social Science

Prerequisites: SOC 101 and 3 Credit Hours of Sociology

SOC 356 - SOCIAL JUSTICE INSTITUTE

This course offers students the unprecedented opportunity to explore ideas about justice with a variety of scholars and activists. Students will investigate contemporary issues of social justice in both theory and practice. The course is a participatory, discussion-based class that will entail active involvement.

Credits: 3

Attributes: Social Justice Studies, Social Science

SOC 381 - SPECIAL TOPIC

Topics vary by semester and faculty's expertise.

Credits: 3

Attributes: Social Science

Prerequisites: SOC 101 and 3 Credit Hours of Sociology

SOC 389 - SEMINAR: SELECT TOPICS IN SOCIOLOGY

In this course, advanced sociology majors will demonstrate their acquired knowledge and social science research skills by engaging in a real-world research project. The project will be affiliated with a community organization and guided by the professor. Although the components of the project will contribute to a final research report, each student will be responsible for their own individual contribution. Students will conduct a literature review and research, and will write-up the findings from the research. In order to strengthen students’ ability to communicate research, all stages of the research (lit review, research, and write-up) will be work shopped in class, where the professor and student peers will evaluate each student’s contribution. We will also integrate professional development and career preparation into the course, focused on resumes and curriculum vitae, applying to graduate schools, writing research statements and policy briefs, etc.

Credits: 3

Attributes: Social Science

Prerequisites: SOC 101

Course Notes: Junior standing required.

SOC 390 - THESIS

By arrangement with faculty.

Credits: 3

Attributes: Social Science

Course Notes: By arrangement with faculty.

SOC 394 - INTERNSHIP

Internship with a local organization involving sociological study. An internship requires working the equivalent of 8 hours/week (10 hours summer) for a total of at least 120 hours at the site of the selected organization. Students will meet the internship requirements of the department (e.g., journal, final paper). Offered in conjunction with faculty advisor, by faculty consent, and requires an advanced signed contract.

Credits: 3

Attributes: Social Science

Course Notes: Consent from Sociology Faculty.

SOC 395 - INDEPENDENT STUDY

Topics should not be part of regular curriculum. Student should demonstrate significant interest in and preparation for topic selected.

Credits: 1-4

Attributes: Social Science

Course Notes: or instructor consent