This course is designed to introduce you to the study of society and what sociologists call the "sociological imagination:" a way of viewing the events, relationships and social phenomena that shape our individual lives and much of our collective experience. Through the course we will examine some of the central concepts and problems that have preoccupied both classical and contemporary sociologists and gain a sense of how the sociological imagination can illuminate the social forces that have a concrete impact on our everyday lives. Throughout the course you will be asked to consider the ways in which society affects your life, and how you, in turn, affect society. prereq: Soc Majors/Minors must register A-F

This course is designed to introduce you to the study of society and what sociologists call the "sociological imagination:" a way of viewing the events, relationships, and social phenomena that shape our individual lives and much of our collective experience. Through the course we will examine some of the central concepts and problems that have preoccupied both classical and contemporary sociologists and gain a sense of how the sociological imagination can illuminate the social forces that have a concrete impact on our everyday lives. Throughout the course you will be asked to consider the ways in which society affects your life and how you, in turn, affect society.

This course introduces students to a sociological account of the U.S. criminal justice system. We will critically examine the components, dynamics, and effects of policing, criminal courts, community supervision, jails, and prisons. Throughout the course, we focus on sociological understandings of these processes, with particular attention to ethnic, racial, class, and gender inequalities as well as long-term problems associated with the high rate of criminal justice supervision in the U.S. prereq: [SOC 1001] recommended, Sociology majors/minors must register A-F

This course will address the social and legal origins of crime and crime control with a focus on general theories of deviance/crime and present an overview of forms of social control. We will critically examine criminological, sociological and legal theories that explain the causes of crime and other misdeeds. prereq: Soc majors/minors must register A-F

This course provides an introductory overview of major social theories ranging from the foundational sociological theories of Marx, Weber and Durkheim to contemporary theories of postmodernism and globalization. We will examine a range of theories with particular attention to their treatments of core sociological questions and concerns. prereq: 1001 recommended; soc majors/minors must register A-F

This course provides an introduction to the materials and methods of social science research in a comprehensive and critical way. The course begins by introducing social science research, including philosophical and theoretical foundations. The course then covers the primary components of research design, including conceptualization, operationalization and measurement, primary and secondary data collection and sources, sampling, and the logic of comparison(s). prereq: 1001 recommended; soc majors must register A-F

This course will introduce majors and non-majors to basic statistical measures and procedures that are used to describe and analyze quantitative data in sociological research. The topics include (1) frequency and percentage distributions, (2) central tendency and dispersion, (3) probability theory and statistical inference, (4) models of bivariate analysis, and (5) basics of multivariate analysis. Lectures on these topics will be given in class, and lab exercises are designed to help students learn statistical skills and software needed to analyze quantitative data provided in the class. prereq: Undergraduates with strong math background are encouraged to register for 5811 in lieu of 3811 (Soc 5811 offered Fall terms only). Soc Majors/Minors must register A-F.

Faculty guided and self directed research experience at junior/senior level. This is designed to: a) provide students with an opportunity to reflect on what they have learned as a sociology major; b) use that knowledge to write a sociological analyses; and c) think about how the knowledge, skills, and insights of the sociological enterprise can be used and applied outside of the University. Through this one:one capstone experience majors will emphasize the relationship between a sociological perspective and critical thinking, effective communication, and meaningful civil engagement. This Capstone Experience: Directed Research is to include but not limited to: bi-weekly meetings, literature review, multiple drafts and revisions, etc. prereq: 1001, 3701, 3801, 3811, at least 12 cr upper div sociology electives, dept & instructor consent.

This course is designed to: a) provide students with an opportunity to reflect on what they have learned as a sociology major; b) use that knowledge to write a sociological analyses - often based on community service learning; and c) think about how the knowledge, skills, and insights of the sociological enterprise can be used and applied outside of the University. Through this course sociology majors will emphasize the relationship between a sociological perspective and critical thinking, effective communication, and meaningful civic engagement. This class is the final step in the sociology undergraduate major. prereq: 1001, 3701, 3801, 3811, 12 cr upper div sociology, dept consent

Guided individual research for the sociology major's Capstone requirement, conducted in conjunction with enrollment in an upper division sociology elective. This is designed to: a) provide students with an opportunity to reflect on what they have learned as a sociology major; b) use that knowledge to write a sociological analyses; and c) think about how the knowledge, skills, and insights of the sociological enterprise can be used and applied outside of the University. Through this one:one capstone experience, using the structure and foundation of the 6th Sociology elective, majors will emphasize the relationship between a sociological perspective and the emphasis of the course. The final paper created for 4994W is in addition to the other 6th Sociology elective course requirements. prereq: 1001/1011V, 3701, 3801, 3811, and at least 12 cr upper div sociology electives; dept & instructor consent. Students are only authorized to register for Soc 4994W in conjunction with a 6th Sociology Elective.

This is the first course in the two-course Honors Capstone Experience. This course sequence is designed to: a) provide students with an opportunity to reflect on what they have learned as a sociology major; b) use that knowledge to write a sociological analyses; and c) think about how the knowledge, skills, and insights of the sociological enterprise can be used and applied outside of the University. Through this course students will learn to emphasize the relationship between a sociological perspective and critical thinking, research, effective communication, and meaningful civic engagement. Soc 4977V is devoted to honing the research question and method, developing a plan for data gathering, and to identifying, reading, and synthesizing existing scholarly work that will inform the student?s research. The Sociology Department requires completion of Soc 4977V/4978V to graduate with Latin Honors. prereq: 1001/1011V, 3701, 3801, 3811, at least 9 upper-division SOC credits; Sociology honors major & department consent

This is the second course in the two-course Honors Capstone Experience. In Soc 4978V, students will complete their data collection and analysis while the focus of the seminar turns to scholarly writing, and particularly to drafting and refining arguments. The Department of Sociology does not make any initial distinction between Honors students who are seeking cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude levels of Latin Honors. Instead, our focus is on helping students to develop ambitious and high-quality original research papers of which they can be justifiably proud and which can serve as testaments to their abilities. The Department of Sociologys approach is to support every Honors student as they plan and conduct summa-level work. The ultimate recommendation for level of latin honors is made by the committee at the time of the thesis defense. In addition to the Honors thesis requirements, the recommendation for summa-level honors is reserved for the papers that demonstrate the following criteria: - Tight integration between a clearly defined question or thesis and the research presented; - Ambitious original research design, with research completed on time and analyzed appropriately; - Integration of ongoing conversations in the research literature into the design and analysis of the data gathered; - Powerful and precise prose which weaves together evidence and argument and which is attentive to both the lessons and limits of the data. Students will do an Oral Defense and participate in a panel presentation at the spring Sociological Research Institute (SRI). The Sociology Department requires completion of Soc 4977V/4978V to graduate with Latin Honors. prereq: 1001/1011V, 3701, 3801, 3811, 4977V, and at least 12 upper-division SOC credits; Sociology honors major & department consent