SOC 214 - The Family.
Reg. Code 2024 Spring 2010 MWF 11-11:50 Kinnell
The goal of this course is to give you the tools to look analytically at something
we all know very well: the family. We all have intimate experience with our own
families, but we do not always see how social, economic, political, and cultural
forces shape both our own families and families which are very different from
our own. During the course we will look at the family historically to see how
the family has changed over time. We will examine the everyday experiences of
individuals within families by looking at such things as love, marriage, and
parent?child relationships. And, we will take a "macro" view of families
to see how families interact with such institutions as the government and the
economy. By the end of the course you should have an understanding of how families
make decisions about their lives and how outside social forces affect those decisions.
SOC 301 - Wealth, Status, and Power.
Reg. Code 37905 Spring 2010 TTH 11-12:15 Reid
This course is an introduction to the study of social class stratification in society. It will take a multidimensional approach to examine economic, cultural, and political aspects of class inequality in the United States. Students will be exposed to various theoretical explanations for the unequal distribution of wealth, status, and power. Topics covered will include social mobility, income and wealth, education, occupations and careers, prestige, class socialization, public policy, the intersection of class with race and gender, and the relationship between U.S. inequality and global inequality.
SOC 340 - Deviant Behavior.
Rge. Code 38350 Spring 2010 mini-session (January 4 - January 15, 2010) M-F 1-5 Miller
This course will examine various forms of deviant behavior from a sociological perspective. The theoretical framework for the course will be based in Erving Goffman’s Stigma. We will read that (short) book and consider how categories of deviance are created, how people become stigmatized or avoid stigmatization, and how those who are considered deviant manage that stigma in their everyday lives. By the end of the semester students will be familiar with key concepts in the sociology of deviant behavior and will be able to utilize the framework proposed by Goffman to analyze various forms of deviance.
SOC 401 - Senior Seminar in Sociology. Prerequisites: SOC 101, SOC 462, SOC 482.
Reg. Code 16206 Spring 2010 T night 6:30-9:15 Fennell
This course serves as the Capstone course for sociology majors and, as such, will build on and move forward from students’ prior coursework in theory and research methods to explore key areas of sociology at an advanced level. We will utilize our “sociological imaginations” to explore a variety of classical texts in sociology as well as current social issues. Because the class is offered in a seminar format, students are expected to read and come to class prepared to analyze and discuss assigned readings. Students will be required to write a series of papers and give two in-class presentations. This course is required for graduating seniors and counts as an Intensive Writing course under the university core curriculum.
SOC 405 - Nonprofits and Social Change.
Reg. Code 16574 Spring 2010 M night 6:30-9:15 Kinnell
This course will focus on the role of nonprofit organizations in meeting the needs of American society. Students will be introduced to the historical and philosophical foundations of the nonprofit sector as well as the mission and structure of nonprofit organizations. In addition to traditional class lectures and discussions, students will benefit by interacting with local non-profit agencies both in the class room and in the community. This class is appropriate for any student who is interested in working with non-profits either as a volunteer or as a career or who just wants to know more about the non-profit sector and social change.
SOC 410 - Sociology of Sport
Reg. Code 38061 Spring 2010 TTH 9:30-10:45 Fondren
Given the prominence of sport in contemporary American society, this course introduces students to key issues explored by sociologists of sport. Our investigation is founded on the idea that a careful examination of American sport provides special insight into broader social and cultural processes. We pay careful attention to the paradoxical role of sports in America. While sport often fosters social cohesion and solidarity, it also reinforces social hierarchies and inequalities. Our review of scholarly research on this topic will highlight the connections between sport and gender, race, and class. We will also examine how sports are linked to key social institutions, including family life, politics, economics, education, and religion. Throughout, we explore the culturally diverse and increasingly international character of sport.
SOC 450/550 - Social Psychology.
Reg. Code 37906/38457 Spring 2010 MWF 1-1:50 Kinnell
Think you’ve learned everything there is to know about social psychology from the Psych department? Think again! There’s a whole other world of social psychology out there for you to explore. In this course, we will consider issues such as:
Come with questions, come with ideas, and definitely come to learn about yourself and others.