Introduction to the fundamental questions, concepts, theories, and general principles of sociological thought. Inquiries into culture, socialization, norms, power relations, social institutions, and group interaction. Illustrates how human action transforms society, and how social and cultural forces constrain human action. Fulfills one of the Foundations - Social and Behavioral Sciences. Offered every semester.
Winter 2025 - Online Spring/Summer 2025 - Online
Examines a range of social conditions, arrangements, and behaviors typically defined as problems in modern society. Applies sociological analysis to understand how problems arise from the organization of society, and the processes by which conditions become identified as social problems, and how ideology and power shape responses to social problems. Fulfills one of the Foundations - Social and Behavioral Sciences. Fulfills Cultures - U.S. Diversity. Offered every semester.
Spring/Summer 2025 - Online
In this course, we draw on sociological and interdisciplinary frameworks to examine comparative health care systems, social origins of disease and health inequalities, biomedicine as a cultural system, social construction of disease, medicalization and social control, and alternative healing practices, perspectives, and politics. Fulfills one of the Foundation - Social and Behavioral Sciences. Fulfills Cultures - U.S. Diversity.
Explores sexuality as a socially constructed system of stratification. Topics may include the production of sexual identities and desires, and how ideas about sexuality shape the media, violence, social movements, and work. Examines how sexuality intersects with other socially constructed systems of stratification, including race, gender, class, age, and ability. Fulfills Cultures - U.S. Diversity. Part of the Identity Issue. Cross-listed with WGS 318. Offered winter semester. Prerequisite: Junior standing.
Winter 2025 - Online
A comparative examination of the impact of development on families and gender roles in third world countries. Will include consideration of general issues (e.g., factors affecting family reproduction decisions, women in the formal and informal labor force, etc.) and in-depth study of gender and family in one or more countries. Fulfills Cultures - Global Perspectives. Part of the Identity Issue. Cross-listed with WGS 350. Offered fall and winter semesters. Prerequisites: Fulfillment of general education Foundations - Writing and junior standing.
Provides an understanding of the current labor market through an examination of the changing dynamics of work, occupational structure, and labor relations in the U.S. and globally. Analyzes the impact of globalization on workers, and the efforts of workers' movements to respond to new economic challenges. Part of the Globalization Issue. Prerequisite: Junior standing.
Interdisciplinary approach to the ways in which mediated mass culture produces meaning in contemporary American society as examined through a variety of critical lenses such as political economy and sociocultural analyses of the organization of the mass media, media content, and audience reception studies of film, television, and/or music cultures. Part of the Information, Innovation, and Technology Issue. Cross-listed with INT 366. Offered every year. Prerequisite: Junior standing.
