SOC 204. Introduction to Sociology. 4 Credits.

Introduces Sociology as a social science. Explores the central questions, schools of thought, forms of research, and theoretical debates about social issues and how societies are organized. Examines the many ways in which social contexts, historical events, institutional structures, and unequal relations of power shape society and peoples' behaviors, identities, and lives. Covers the development of skills needed to think critically about cultural beliefs and social systems. Prerequisite: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available.
This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Cultural Literacy/DIV, Social Sciences/SS

SOC 205. Social Change. 4 Credits.

Examines social changes within and across societies. Explores the central questions, schools of thought, forms of research, and theoretical debates about social issues and how social institutions and systems are organized and change over time. Examines the many ways in which social contexts, historical events, institutional structures, and unequal relations of power shape society and how collective behavior can lead to social change over time. Develops skills needed to think critically about how and why societies change and how the causes and consequences of social change shape the world. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available.
This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Social Sciences/SS

SOC 206. Social Problems. 4 Credits.

Uses sociological thinking to explore causes, consequences, and solutions related to social problems. Includes such topics as poverty, homelessness, addiction, health care, racism, violence, mass incarceration, sexism, policing, hate crimes, education, global stratification, or environmental crises. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available.
This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Cultural Literacy/DIV, Social Sciences/SS

SOC 211. Peace and Conflict Studies. 4 Credits.

Explores causes and manifestations of conflict, peace, and resolution at various levels such as: the interpersonal, intergroup, nation state, or the global community. Introduces how value systems, social and political priorities, and frameworks such as power and domination, multiculturalism, democratic pluralism, human rights, or military intervention invest in eventual peace or conflict for global societies. Explores specific strategies at various levels for peacemaking intervention, such as personal tools for conflict resolution, intergroup communication, or the international relations and humanitarian endeavors of global organizations. Fosters skill building to evaluate projects and policy that endeavor to create foundations for peace and resolution of conflict. Includes contexts such as historical events, cultural expressions, environmental conditions, and how movements for social change and political liberation experience success. PS 211 and SOC 211 are equivalent and only one can be taken for credit. Prerequisite: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available.
This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Cultural Literacy/DIV, Social Sciences/SS

SOC 213. Diversity in the United States. 4 Credits.

Provides a sweeping sociological overview of diversity in the United States. Focuses on diversity characteristics such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, age, and ability. Covers the array of experiences, cultural expressions and contributions that make up diversity in the US. Focuses on the development of skills needed to think critically about the causes and consequences of inequity in the US as well as creatively about initiatives that can address that inequity. Explores the central questions, schools of thought, and theoretical debates about diversity as well as the social contexts, historical events, institutional structures, and unequal relations of power that shape society. Introduces ways that institutional reform and collective behavior can lead to social change in relation to diversity and prepare the working professional with tools to practice cultural responsiveness in a diverse society. Prerequisite: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available.
This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Cultural Literacy/DIV, Social Sciences/SS

SOC 214A. Illumination Project I: Interactive Social Justice Theater. 4 Credits.

Applies the sociological perspective to the study of social problems and possible solutions. Explores the central questions around institutional privilege, power and oppression, social identity, cultural assumptions and discrimination. Examines the many ways in which social contexts, institutional structures, and unequal relations of power shape society and how collective behavior can lead to social change. Includes training in group facilitation, cross cultural community building, social change interventions, creative production and popular education theater. Fosters the development of the skills needed to think critically about the causes and consequences of social change. This is the first course of a three course sequence. Prerequisites: Instructor permission, and (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available.
This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Cultural Literacy/DIV, Social Sciences/SS

SOC 214B. Illumination Project II: Interactive Social Justice Theater. 4 Credits.

Applies the sociological perspective to the study of social problems and possible solutions. Explores the central questions around institutional privilege, power and oppression, social identity, cultural assumptions and discrimination. Examines the many ways in which social contexts, institutional structures, and unequal relations of power shape society and how collective behavior can lead to social change. Includes writing, producing and performing in interactive theater presentations that explore the causes, consequences and solutions to societal inequities such as racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism and others. Focuses on the development of the skills needed to think critically about social inequity and social change. This is the second course of a three course sequence. Prerequisites: SOC 214A. Audit available.
This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Cultural Literacy/DIV, Social Sciences/SS

SOC 214C. Illumination Project III: Interactive Social Justice Theater. 4 Credits.

Applies the sociological perspective to the study of social problems and possible solutions through interactive theater. Explores the central questions around institutional privilege, power and oppression, social identity, cultural assumptions and discrimination. Examines the many ways in which social contexts, institutional structures, and unequal relations of power shape society and how collective behavior can lead to social change. Includes writing, producing and performing in interactive theater presentations that explore the causes, consequences and solutions to societal inequities such as racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism and others. Focuses on the development of the skills needed to think critically about social inequity and social change. This is the third course of a three-course sequence. Prerequisites: SOC 214B. Audit available.
This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Cultural Literacy/DIV, Social Sciences/SS

SOC 215. Social Movements. 4 Credits.

Examines contemporary and historic social movements. Explores why social movements emerge, why they may succeed or fail, and their role in driving social change. Offers some of the skills needed to organize movements for social change. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available.
This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Cultural Literacy/DIV, Social Sciences/SS

SOC 218. Sociology of Gender. 4 Credits.

Covers how sociological theory and research are used to examine how gender is socially constructed through social institutions, social interaction, and the formation of a gendered identity. Considers how gender interacts with additional social categories, such as race, ethnicity, religion, sexuality, and social class, to shape major social institutions and personal experiences. Emphasizes the nature of power, privilege, and oppression with regard to gender. Explores how gendered arrangements can be transformed. Prerequisite: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available.
This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Cultural Literacy/DIV, Social Sciences/SS

SOC 219. Introduction to Sociology of Religion. 4 Credits.

Introduces the sociological perspective to the study of religion and spirituality. Focuses on the relationship between religion, culture and social structure through a cross-cultural examination of religious beliefs, practices and organizations. Evaluates religion as a social identity and the impact of different religions on social class, race, gender and sexuality. Explores the role of religion in current events including social conflict. Prerequisite: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available.
This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Social Sciences/SS

SOC 221. Globalization and International Relations. 4 Credits.

Provides an introductory survey of economic, political, social, and cultural dimensions of globalization and evaluates their impacts on international relations. Examines patterns of conflict and cooperation among countries including the influence of international institutions, NGOs, and global corporations. Introduces selected issues such as war and peace, global security, environment, elites and concentration of power, wealth and income distribution, cultural and ethnic identities and explores possible peaceful solutions to these global problems. PS 221, EC 221 and SOC 221 are equivalent and only one may be taken for credit. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available.
This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Social Sciences/SS

SOC 223. Sociology of the Life Course. 4 Credits.

Explores the diverse ways in which aging manifests and is experienced at individual, familial, community, societal and population levels through the life course perspective and bio-psycho-social framework. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available.
This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Cultural Literacy/DIV, Social Sciences/SS

SOC 228. Introduction to Environmental Sociology. 4 Credits.

Introduces core sociological concepts and theories, as a social science, to examine the relationship between humans and the environment. Explores central questions, research, and theoretical debates about the structural and cultural causes and consequences of various social and environmental problems and how to respond to these issues through policies and actions. Fosters the development of the skills needed to think critically about social and environmental changes and the tools needed to address them. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available.
This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Cultural Literacy/DIV, Social Sciences/SS

SOC 230. Introduction to Gerontology. 4 Credits.

Explores applied Social Gerontology, focusing on current practices, programs, and policies. Considers professional standards, advocacy and policy development using a person-directed perspective and age-friendly framework. Emphasizes cultural diversity and systems of social inequality and power. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available.
This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Cultural Literacy/DIV, Social Sciences/SS

SOC 231. Sociology of Healthy Aging. 4 Credits.

Introduces age-related health issues in social and cultural context. Includes the social structuring of age, health and illness; demographics and patterns of health and illness of diverse older adults; issues related to medical and healthcare services; health and long-term care policy and programs. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available.
This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Cultural Literacy/DIV, Social Sciences/SS

SOC 232. Death and Dying: Culture and Issues. 4 Credits.

Introduces the institution of death in the United States. Includes a broad multicultural, interdisciplinary approach, including sociological, psychological, historical, ethical, cultural, and religious approaches to death, dying, and bereavement across the lifespan. Recommended: SOC 204, SOC 205 or an introductory Sociology course. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available.
This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Cultural Literacy, Cultural Literacy/DIV, Social Sciences/SS

SOC 234. Death: Crosscultural Perspectives. 4 Credits.

Explores cross-cultural variations in human responses to death and dying. Discusses the cultural universal of death from a sociological perspective as experienced and processed by cultures and individuals in different regions of the world. Covers the history and development of contemporary U.S. views on mortality and health. Recommended: Introductory course in Anthropology or Sociology. Prerequisites: (WR 115 and RD 115) or IRW 115 and MTH 20 or equivalent placement. Audit available.
This course fulfills the following GE requirements: Social Sciences/SS

SOC 280A. Cooperative Education: Sociology. 1-3 Credit.

Expands knowledge of sociology through work and/or volunteer experiences which provide opportunities for application of sociological learning objectives and practical skill development. Prerequisite: Instructor permission required.

SOC 280B. Cooperative Education: Community Service & Action Seminar. 2 Credits.

This interdisciplinary seminar provides an integrative framework for students engaged in community service and cooperative education work. Focuses on social interaction, group and organizational processes, and public policies related to service, advocacy, and social change placements.

SOC 298. Independent Study: Sociology. 1-3 Credit.

Advanced, individualized study of areas of sociology not considered in other courses to meet special interests or program requirements. Includes a term project and readings approved by the instructor. Instructor permission required. Recommended: prior study of sociology. Audit available.