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THE MAJOR
All majors are required to take SOC 010, 050, 055, and the two-term Senior Thesis. The
Department of Sociology offers full majors five possible concentrations
("tracks") within 12 major courses. Yet while full majors are encouraged to
select a study concentration, they may elect a general sociology focus. However, full
majors who elect a study concentration, in consultation with their advisor, may take up to
two cognate courses related to their departmental "track." Such courses could
come from anthropology, economics, history, political science or psychology. The track
concentrations and associated cognate courses insure sociology majors an educationally
coherent, interdisciplinary course of study.
THE INTERDEPARTMENTAL MAJOR
The Department also offers and eight-course Interdepartmental Major in Sociology,
including the required courses of SOC 010, 050, 055 and the Senior Thesis.
Interdepartmental majors select eight courses from the Department of Sociology and usually
eight from their second department toward creating a coherent and academically-integrated
major. I-D majors may not take cognate courses from other departments.
THE MINOR IN SOCIOLOGY
The six course minor in Sociology includes SOC 010, 050, 055 and three Sociology
electives. Students are urged to make one of these electives as an independent study
and/or research project.
COURSES
(NOTE: SOC 010 is a prerequisite for all other sociology courses.)
2002-2003 Academic Year Offerings
SOC 010 Introduction to Sociology
The basic concepts and perspectives of sociology, including a survey of the major social
institutions, social aspects of personality, and the processes of social interaction.
SOC 015 Special Topics in Research Practice
An introduction to research design and social research methods covering the basics of
several data collection techniques, sampling, and computer data analysis. Students
initiate and complete a survey research project, conduct a content analysis, analyze and
make scientific presentations on published research toward developing scientific
communication skills.
SOC 050 Quantitative Methods of Social Research (Same
as Political Science 21)
Identifying sociopolitical questions and developing hypotheses; designing research
instruments (questionnaires); basic statistics and introduction to social science computer
analysis.
SOC 051 Social Data Analysis (Same as Political Science
20)
The analysis of social science data. Emphasis on testing substantive hypotheses by means
of computer data processing and statistical techniques.
SOC 052 Qualitative Social Research Methods (See
Political Science 22)
Introduction to qualitative research methods. The course is equally concerned with
research design, techniques for gathering data, ethics in research, and the translation of
field data into text.
SOC 055 History of Sociological Thought
The development of sociological theory, with particular emphasis on the works of Marx,
Weber, Durkheim, Mead, Foucault, and Bourdieu, with a feminist critical analysis of each.
SOC 062 Social Problems and Social Policy
Identification of the social roots of major social problems (e.g., poverty,
discrimination, violence, AIDS, teen pregnancy, health care) and a critical examination of
current and alternative social policies for dealing with them
SOC 063 Social Psychology (See Psychology 24)
SOC 065 Social Work and Human Services
The history of social services and the development of the profession of social work.
Social problems and society's response to these problems will be investigated.
SOC 066 Aging and Society (Same as Women's Studies 128)
The social, psychological, and economic consequences of aging are examined, with an
emphasis on successful aging. Social programs and policies for the aged are evaluated.
SOC 069 Sociology of the Family (Same as Women's
Studies 80)
Family and kinship in different societies with a concentration on the American family.
Implications for society with regard to trends in courtship, romantic love, mate
selection, parent-child interactions, and other areas of family life are examined.
SOC 072 Issues in American Education (Same
as Philosophy 64 and Political Science 81)
Sociological, philosophical, and historical analyses of contemporary educational systems.
The nature and purpose of education, organization of schools, social psychological process
of education, relation of school to community and society, current conflicts and trends of
change in education. Weekly visits to local school districts. Sociology 010 is recommended
but not required.
SOC 073 Sociology of Religion
The role of religion and religious phenomena from an institutional,
organizational, and individual perspective in contemporary and historical context,
exploring the interplay between the public and private spheres.
SOC 075 Sociology of Community
The concept of community from a sociological perspective, with a particular emphasis on
how communities and their residents respond to alterations in external environments and
internal organization. We will examine a series of case studies of urban, rural, and
suburban communities to see how these places shape behavior, and how behavior shapes these
places.
SOC 077 Sociology of Work, Occupations, and the
Professions
Sociological analysis of work in a modern industrial society; emphasis on the professions
in terms of role behavior, education, socialization, and division of labor.
SOC 078 Demography: Population and Society
An examination of major debates about the implications of population for American politics
and society. Topics include the decline of American population, teenage pregnancy, racial
genocide, aging, reproductive technology and analysis of population censuses.
SOC 080 African-Americans in Contemporary
Society
An examination of lifestyles, roles and social trends of
African-Americans in society today.
SOC 081 Sex and Gender in American Society
Same as Women's Studies 84)
An examination of gender and the social context of the behavior of
men and women in contemporary American Society.
SOC 83 Race, Class, and Gender in American Society
(Same as Women's Studies 83)
An examination of the issues of gender, race, and class as organizing principles within
sociology. The course draws broadly from the critical tradition, which focuses on issues
of power, control, opportunity, gender, and economic relations.
SOC 085 Political Sociology (See Political Science 84)
Issues of political power, domination, and legitimacy from a sociological perspective.
Topics include the creation and maintenance of political power, the role of legitimacy and
the impact of political socialization.
SOC 086 Social Movements, the Environment and Society
(Same as Political Science 83)
The role of extra-governmental actors in the formation of public policy. The origins of
political social movements and the differences and similarities among these organizations.
Other topics include the means by which such groups seek to influence policies and the
outcome of such attempts.
SOC 088 Sociology of Medicine
Sociological perspectives on health, illness, the health professions and institutions,
including studies of the social components of disease and its distribution, doctor-patient
relations, and alternative health-care systems.
SOC 092 Sociology of Developing Countries
The patterns of economic, social, and political change in developing countries through
case studies of different development strategies in Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean,
and Asia.
SOC 094 Social Construction of Deviance
An examination of "deviance" as a sociological phenomenon, including how the
deviant label develops and how those so labeled are treated and controlled. Power,
powerlessness, and repression are examined for their relationships to crime, prostitution,
witch persecutions, mental illness, and the shaping of sexual identities and preferences.
SOC 110 Personality, Media and Society
An examination of how social roles and group dynamics impact personality and
group behavior. Agents of socialization, with particular emphasis on the media, and their
impact on individual and societal expectations and values will also be examined.
SOC 120 Comparative Health Care Systems
An in-depth survey of health care systems from a cross-cultural perspective, of particular
interest to health care providers and practitioners and to students interested in
comparative health care systems, particularly those planning to go on the Health Systems
Term Abroad.
SOC 122 Public Health Care Policy &
Society
An overview of public health with emphasis on the impact of large-scale social and
cultural forces on the health of the public. The epidemiology of selected diseases,
injuries, and the addictive disorders; the health effects of exposure to environmental and
workplace toxins; the role of nutrition in health.
SOC 124 Mental Health and Society
A general introduction to the social scientific study of mental health. Major topics
include theories of mental illness, epidemiology of mental illness, the social experience
of being a mental patient, and contemporary issues in mental health.
SOC 125 Sociology of the Disabled and Handicapped
A sociological perspective on handicapping conditions, including the hearing impaired,
visually impaired, orthodedically disabled, learning disabled, and mentally retarded. The
social, psychological, and economic consequences of handicaps for individuals and their
families will be emphasized.
SOC 140 Domestic Violence (Same as Women's Studies 82)
A sociological examination of issues and questions raised by violence within American
families. The public definition of family violence, subjective experiences of abusers and
victims, social and individual causes and consequences of abuse, complexities and problems
of social interventions.
SOC 141 Family and Community Services (Same as Women's
Studies 81)
An examination of the response of community organizations and services to family life.
Particular issues will include spouse and child abuse, juvenile delinquency, teenage
pregnancy, day care, and family instability and mental health. Visits to community and
human service organizations will also be arranged.
SOC 142 Sex and Motherhood (Same as Women's Studies
127)
An analysis of selected issues in the regulation of human reproduction and
family building, primarily from sociological and feminist perspectives.
Among the topics covered are birth control, abortion, teen pregnancy,
infertility and new reproductive technologies, pregnancy and childbirth.
We will examine historical and cross-cultural variations in how these phenomena
are structured and will be particularly interested in the variables of gender,
class and race.
SOC 152 Africa: Social and Demographic Trends
Surveys the culture, economy, and politics of Africa, especially sub-Saharan. Topics
include family life, religion, kinship systems, urbanization, health, and population
growth. Compares traditional African societies by examining contemporary issues of change.
SOC 153 Women and Change in the Third World (Same as
Women's Studies 125)
An analysis of theories of societal change and development in terms of the contributions
of Third World women in the development process.
SOC 154A Women, Technology, and Economic Development in
Brazil (Part of the Brazil Term Abroad) (Same as Women's Studies 126)
Women had contributed richly and have also paid a very high price for Brazil's development
"miracles." This term abroad course examines the contributions and sacrifices of
women -- African, Portuguese, indigenous -- to Brazilian economic development and social
change.
SOC 155A A Survey of Brazilian Society (Part of the
Brazil Term Abroad)
Brazil's Afro-Portuguese heritage invites study of synchronization between European and
African cultures. This course examines Afro-Brazilian religions, the Catholic Church and
social change, racism, social structure and social class, crime and social control, the
economy, urbanization, families, and language and culture.
SOC 158A Marine Policy and the Maritime Environment
(Marine Studies Term Abroad)
An examination of social life in maritime communities and the shaping of national and
international marine policies. To be taken in conjunction with Marine Studies Term Abroad.
SOC 159 Environmental Policy and Resource Management
An examination of environmental issues and problems such as acid rain, ocean dumping, and
nuclear wastes, and the social forces that shape environmental policies.
SOC 161 Crime and Justice in Society
The social construction of crime and delinquency as social and legal categories;
perspectives on causation and consequences of the societal reaction to crime.
SOC 165 Seminar in Sociology of Human Rights
This course examines the social origins of the ideas of human rights, the types of
societies and regimes where human rights are respected and violated, and the conditions
under which they are observed or ignored. Topics covered will include: human rights and
diversity--the rights of women and minorities; human rights and cultural relativism; moves
to protect human rights; case studies of human rights. The course emphasis will be on the
actual social conditions that foster or impede the observance and protection of human
rights rather than on philosophical arguments about the meaning of and justification for
human rights.
SOC 166 Persecution and Marginality
An examination of the role of persecution in state-making and of marginality as
a socio-political process. Topics include the social construction of evil and persecution.
SOC 167 Marginality and the 'Other' in
Europe, Japan and Brazil
Examination of the role of ideologies justifying persecution and persecution
itself in the construction of identities and changes in national states.
Four interrelated and interactive professes are analyzed: Cultural
constructions of pollution, danger and taboo; socio-political and interpersonal
impacts of 'stigma' and 'stigmatizing'; marginalization of stigmatized 'others';
the results of these processes in constructing and changing national
states. Employing a political and social constructionist framework, course
will examine four case studies of maginalized 'others' in Medieval Europe,
Brazil and Japan.
SOC 172 Inequality and Mobility: From Penthouse to
Poorhouse
An examination of the forms, causes and consequences of social inequality. Topics include
objective and ideological manifestations of trends and patterns in wealth, poverty,
mobility and welfare policy.
SOC 176 African American Women: Unheard
Voices and Contemporary Lifestyles
An examination of the roles of African-American women and their
social experiences.
SOC 181 Internship in the Delivery of Social Services
Designed to provide the student with work and research experience within a human service
organization. Registration by application filed during fall term and by permission of
instructors.
SOC 182 Eldercare Internship Seminar
Designed to facilitate the integration of hands-on work experience with knowledge of
practices and policies in long-term care for elderly, inform persons. Objectives include
understanding the aging society, health needs of the elderly, the role of diverse services
in the long-term care system, and how practices and policies in long-term care can be
improved.
SOC 009-199 Senior Thesis in Sociology
SOC 190-197 Independent Study: Prerequisite: Permission
of the department chair
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Copyright 1998 Union College Department of Sociology
Comments:Lisa Quirk
Revised: September 23, 2002