Sociology

The University of Michigan-Dearborn Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology emphasizes the discipline’s unique interdisciplinary focus and practical research application to provide solutions to contemporary, real-world issues and social problems. Sociology is the social science study of society and how it is shaped by individual and collective action. The discipline studies the connections between private troubles, experienced individually, and public issues, experienced collectively.

The field of sociology has grown in scope and importance as society has grown more complex and pluralistic. The modern individual is involved in a tightly integrated, sometimes conflicting, network of social groups, families, institutions, governmental, economic, educational and religious bodies, and specialized community organizations. Sociology studies the internal structure by which society is organized, the development and dynamics of the various groupings within it and the influences of these upon the individual. It also explains how individual attitudes and behaviors are distributed in patterned and predictable ways according to the position of the individual society's institutional structure. These institutions include those of economy, government, family, education, and religion.

As a social science, Sociology, introduces students to multiple perspectives on the scientific method, improves scientific literacy, and develops critical thinking, as well as an interpretive endeavor in which the human experience is understood through multiple lines of evidence.

Due to the interdisciplinary nature of Sociology, the Sociology faculty are closely affiliated with related programs on campus, such as Criminology & Criminal Justice Studies (CRJ), Urban and Regional Studies (URST), Women's and Gender Studies (WGST), African and African-American Studies (AAAS), Religious Studies (RELS), and Law and Society.

A major or minor/concentration in Sociology provides students with the skills necessary for the modern workplace including gender relations, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), cultural awareness, teamwork, problem solving, and both qualitative and quantitative analysis.

Coursework will prepare students for a variety of career fields:

  • that promote individual and community health and well-being (social work and human services, and public health).
  • in the public domain (law, criminal justice and law enforcement, public administration, urban studies).
  • in business settings (management, marketing and public opinion research, human relations and labor relations).
  • and various types of non-profit and social justice work.

Sociology also prepares students for graduate work in sociology, social work (MSW), public health, and other related disciplines.

Internship, Co-op, and Research Opportunities

The Sociology faculty encourages students to do an internship, co-op, or develop their own research projects. 

The CRJ Internship capstone (CRJ 478 or SOC 478) provides supervised field experience in a variety of occupational agencies primarily focusing on criminal justice, law enforcement, courts, and domestic violence shelters. Students are placed in sites appropriate to their occupational goals. Each intern spends a total of 80 hours on site and attends a weekly seminar. Students may elect to take this course for 3-6.

The PSYC Internship capstone (PSYC 485) also provides supervised field experience in a variety of occupational agencies focusing on mostly on social work and human services. Students are placed in sites appropriate to their occupational goals. Students may also pursue cooperative (co-op) educational opportunities, which provide paid career-related work experiences.

Research opportunities with various Sociology faculty are available for interested and prepared students, preferably those who have taken qualitative or quantitative research methods. Students can take part as data collectors or analysts. Independent student research projects can be done in SOC 413: Qualitative Research Methods and SOC 497: Senior Research Seminar (capstone), or in the form of independent studies (SOC 398/498). To find an appropriate faculty member for either one of these courses, students should start by consulting the list of faculty members and their specializations.

In addition to the major requirements, students must complete all CASL Degree Requirements.

Pre-Major Requirement

SOC 200Understanding Society3

Major Requirements

A minimum of 31 credit hours of SOC (sociology) courses is required in the major. Students must complete the following courses:

Required courses:

Required Core Courses:12
Sociological Theory
Quantitative Research and Statistics 1
Qualitative Research
Racism, Privilege, & Inequality4
Select one of the following:
Poverty and Inequality
Race, Ethnicity and Immigration
Race/Ethnic Health
Urban Sociology
Race, Ethnicity and Family
Race, Crime and Justice
Immigrant Cultures and Gender
Inside Out Prison Exchange
Capstone3-4
Select one of the following:
Senior Research Seminar
Anthropology Capstone: Contemporary Issues in Anthropology
Criminal Justice Internship
Psychology Internship
Additional electives to reach a minimum total of 31 credit hours12
Select a minimum of 12 credits of SOC courses at the 300 level or above.
Total credits required minimum 31
1

Double majors in sociology and psychology may use PSYC 425 in combination with PSYC 381 as a substitute for SOC 410.

Notes:

  1. At least 20 of the 31 upper level credit hours in SOC must be elected at UM-Dearborn.
  2. No more than 6 credit hours of Independent Study and no more than 6 credit hours of Independent Research within the Behavioral Sciences (anthropology (ANTH), psychology (PSYC) and sociology (SOC)) may be counted in the 120 credit hours required to graduate.
  3. Any one course may be used to satisfy only one requirement within the major.

Minor or Integrative Studies Concentration Requirements

A minor or concentration consists of 12 credit hours of upper-level courses in sociology (SOC).

  • A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required for the minor/concentration. The GPA is based on all coursework required within the minor (excluding prerequisites).
  • A minimum of 9 credits must be completed at UM-Dearborn for a 12 credit minor/concentration.
  • A minimum of 12 credits must be completed at UM-Dearborn for a 15 or more credit minor/concentration.
  • Courses within a minor/concentration cannot be taken as Pass/Fail (P/F).
  • Only 3 credit hours of independent study or internship may be used to fulfill the requirements for a 12 credit hour minor/concentration.  Only 6 credit hours of such credit may be used in a 15 or more credit hour minor/concentration.
  • Minors requiring 12 credits may share one course with a major. Minors requiring 15 credits or more may share two courses with a major. This does not apply to concentrations for the Integrative Studies major.

Learning Goals 

  1. Competence at Sociological Theory
  2. Competence at Sociological Methods
  3. Awareness of Social Structure
  4. Awareness of the Intersection between History and Biography
  5. Competence in Critical Thinking

SOC 200     Understanding Society     3 Credit Hours

An introduction to the study of human groups with special attention devoted to an analysis of contemporary American society. (F, W, S).

SOC 302     Social Change     4 Credit Hours

This course explores ways that social science theory and research may support people as they struggle for better lives and for a more just society. Students apply a sociological lens to critical issues such as racial and gender inequality, Islamophobia, climate change, mental health and disability rights, and the growing wealth gap. There are also opportunities to investigate areas of social struggle and social change not included on the syllabus. (OC).

SOC 303     Intro to Women's & Gender Stud     3 Credit Hours

This course provides an interdisciplinary overview of the key theories and topics in Women's and Gender Studies. Special attention is given to how gender intersects with class, race, nationality, religion and sexuality to structure women's and men's lives. Students are also introduced to methods of gender analysis and will begin to apply these methods to topics such as women and health, gender roles in the family, violence against women, and gendered images in the mass media.

Restriction(s):
Cannot enroll if Class is Freshman

SOC 304     Studies in Det.Hist. & Culture     3 Credit Hours

This interdisciplinary course explores the political, social, and cultural histroy of Detroit by examining ways various groups and classes have interacted with and been shaped by structures of power and influence. The course highlights trade and commerce, newcomers, and the influence of organizations and institutions within the contexts of labor, race, ethnic, and religous histories and current affairs, and examines how these fit into the evolution of Detroit from the 19th century to the present. Where pertinent the influence of national and international movements included.

SOC 306     Comparat. American Identities     3 Credit Hours

This course will confront and complicate the following key questions: what does it mean to be an American? What is American culture? Participants in this course will respond to the questions central to the American Studies field by reading and discussing historical, sociological, literary, artistic, material culture, political, economic, and other sources. Students will use this interdisciplinary study to examine the multiple identities of Americans - as determined by factors such as gender, race, class, ethnicity, and religion. While emphasizing the diversity of American culture, participants will consider some core values and ideas uniting America both in historical and contemporary society. Students will be invited to seek out and share fresh narratives of the American experience.

Prerequisite(s): COMP 106 or Composition Placement Score with a score of 40 or Composition Placement Score with a score of 107 or COMP 220 or COMP 270 or COMP 280

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Undergraduate

SOC 308     Sociological Theory     4 Credit Hours

A historical survey of major classical social theorists and schools of thought including sociological positivism, conflict theory and symbolic interactionism as well as contemporary theories related to race, gender. media, sexuality and social change. (F, YR).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

SOC 309     Introduction to Law & Society     3 Credit Hours

Law and Society is a field of study that examines the interaction between the legal system and society from the perspective of the social sciences and humanities. This course focuses on core components of the legal system including courts, lawmaking bodies, regulatory administration, alternative dispute resolution systems, and the legal profession. Throughout the course, students develop the ability to examine the legal system and its relationship to equality, social change, and public benefits using social science evidence. (YR)

Restriction(s):
Cannot enroll if Class is Freshman

SOC 310     Digital Media and Society     4 Credit Hours

Online platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Snapchat have impacted social interaction so rapidly and dramatically that this period in history has been called a digital revolution. This class explores the digital revolution from a sociological perspective. We examine the effects of new and rapidly evolving means of communication on the self, groups, and society. Applying sociological theory, the class explores topics such as digital identity, cyber crime, and virtual social movements. Questions addressed include: How does communicating on social media impact ourselves and our relationships? Are social media exclusionary or democratic? and How do social movements function on social media? In addition to critically evaluating digital media, students will gain basic practical skills: understanding the virtual landscape, learning “best practices,” and exploring how to use digital technologies in more critical and more powerful ways. (W, YR).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200

SOC 350     Poverty and Inequality     4 Credit Hours

In a middle class-oriented culture, the poor experience many problems and are also considered deviant which tend to make poverty self-perpetuating. This stratum will be explored with respect to life styles, life changes, contributing factors, characteristics, individual and social consequences, and evaluation of attempted solutions. (YR).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

SOC 362     Social Life in Science Fiction     4 Credit Hours

This course focuses on the sociological analysis of social life depicted in contemporary and popular science fiction texts and films. The course examine the impact and consequences of different modes of social reproduction and family relations, social structure and organization, social inequality and stratification, social relations and conflicts, social mores, values and scenarios of dystopia. Through studying science fiction, students gain insight in our present's society's hopes, dreams, anxieties, and fears about future social relations, the environment and humanity. (W)

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

SOC 366     Sexualities, Genders, & Bodies     4 Credit Hours

This course introduces key questions and debates in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer studies. Through engagement with multidisciplinary sources, students explore how sexualities, genders, and bodies are constructed and contested, how these constructions vary in diverse contexts and historical moments, and what gaps remain in our knowledge of LGBTQ lives. (YR)

SOC 382     Social Psychology     3 Credit Hours

This course provides a comprehensive overview of the field of social psychology focusing on a review of the field's founding principles and classic studies, as well as a focus on recent research. Topics include social cognition; interpersonal behavior (e.g., attraction, aggression, and altruism); attitudes; prejudice and discrimination; social influence; group processes (e.g., intergroup relations; conflict resolution); and social issues (e.g., income inequality). (YR).

Prerequisite(s): PSYC 101 or PSYC 170 or PSYC 171

SOC 388     LGBTQ Religious Experience     4 Credit Hours

This course explores intersections of religion, spirituality, and faith with sexuality and gender. We center LGBTQ journeys within diverse faith traditions, including, but not limited to, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, land-based religions, new spiritual movements, and interfaith work. Assignments create room for students to engage traditions that are not covered in the course readings. The course highlights intersections at three levels of analysis: the individual or personal level (how do LGBTQ identities intersect with religious freedom and practice?), the community level (how do LGBTQ people experience belonging and rejection in diverse faith communities?), and the institutional level (how do the structures of these belief systems shape the life chances of LGBTQ people in society?). (YR).

SOC 390     Topics in Sociology     3 Credit Hours

Examination of problems and issues in selected areas of sociology. Title in Schedule of Classes will change according to course content. Course may be repeated for credit when specific topics differ. (F,W).

SOC 398     Directed Readings     1 to 3 Credit Hours

Reading assignments in sociology. No more than a total of six credit hours of SOC 398 and SOC 498 may be applied toward concentration. Permission of instructor required. (F,W,S).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

SOC 403     Race, Ethnicity and Immigration     4 Credit Hours

The status of racial and ethnic minorities in the United States with particular reference to the social dynamics involved with regard to majority-minority relations. Topics of study include inequality, segregation, pluralism, the nature and causes of prejudice and discrimination and the impact that such patterns have upon American life. Students cannot receive credit for both SOC 403 and SOC 503. (F,W).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

SOC 409     Feminist Theories and Practices     4 Credit Hours

This course examines the different perspectives that feminist theorists have offered to analyze the unequal conditions of gendered lives. Students taking this course will develop an understanding of how theory functions as a way to know, understand and change the world. They will also be provided with a lens for comparing the assumptions and implications of alternative theoretical perspectives. A particular emphasis of this course is on theorizing the interrelationships among gender, race, class, sexuality and nationality. Course material includes applications of feminist theory to issues such as gender identity formation; sexuality; gender, law and citizenship; women and work; and the history and politics of social movements. Students will not receive credit for both WGST 409 and WGST 509. (YR).

Prerequisite(s): WGST 303 or PSYC 303 or SOC 303 or ANTH 303 or HUM 303

SOC 410     Quantitative Research and Statistics     4 Credit Hours

Full Course Title: Quantitative Research and Statistics An introduction to methods of data collection and analysis. Elementary statistical data are analyzed using computerized statistics programs. A discussion of research design and the philosophy of social science applied to answering health and human service questions.

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

Restriction(s):
Cannot enroll if Class is Freshman or Sophomore

SOC 411     Program Evaluation     3 Credit Hours

The application of social research procedures in assessing whether a human service program is needed, likely to be used, conducted as planned, and actually helps people in need. The course will cover research design and measurement as well as issues of how to get research findings utilized. Students cannot receive credit for both SOC 411 and SOC 511. (YR).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or PSYC 170 or PSYC 171 or POL 101 or SOC 201 or PSYC 101

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Undergraduate

SOC 412     Men and Masculinities     3 Credit Hours

This course addresses the question, "What is a man?", in various historical, cross-cultural, and contemporary contexts. A major focus on the social and cultural factors that underlie and shape conceptions of manhood and masculinity in America as well as in a variety of societies around the globe. Prerequisite ANTH 101 recommended. (AY). (AY).

Restriction(s):
Cannot enroll if Class is Sophomore or Junior or Senior

SOC 413     Qualitative Research     3 Credit Hours

Qualitative research methods involve the observation and study of people in their everyday lives, in their taken-for-granted worlds. Qualitative research seeks to combine close empirical observation with analytic techniques that demand (and teach) personal and social self- consciousness as necessary to an understanding of the social world of "others". This course in qualitative methods is designed to acquaint students with field research theories and techniques. Students will gain hands-on experience in participant observation, interviewing, and the use of sociological scholarship. Qualitative Reserach Methods will prepare students to gather data, focus the data in a social scientific manner, analyze the data, and then organize it in reportable form. (F, W).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200

SOC 414     Sexuality, Gender and the Law     4 Credit Hours

This course will incorporate social scientific, feminist and queer theory, and legal perspectives to emphasize the dynamic relationship among sexuality, gender, and law. In this course, we will focus on the history of gender and law in the United States while we simultaneously focus on the changing current landscape of law and society, including laws pertaining to equal employment opportunity, violence against women, sexual orientation, and gender identity. As a result, we will assess the factors that govern the relationship between gender & sexuality and the law over time and in current events. (F).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or WGST 303 or HUM 303 or SOC 303 or PSYC 303 or ANTH 303

SOC 423     American Social Classes     3 Credit Hours

Stratification of American communities and society; a review of the findings of major studies and an introduction to methodology. Students cannot receive credit for both SOC 423 and SOC 523. (YR).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Undergraduate

SOC 426     Society and Aging     3 Credit Hours

Personal, interpersonal, and institutional significance of aging and age categories. Sociological dimension of aging based on social, psychological, and demographic factors. Attention to social networks and institutionalization. Students cannot receive credit for both SOC 426 and SOC 526. (YR).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Undergraduate

SOC 430     Population Problems     3 Credit Hours

Social causes and consequences of population structure and change. How variations in fertility, mortality, and migration arise and how they affect society. Illustrations from the United States and a variety of developed and underdeveloped countries. (YR).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

SOC 433     Race/Ethnic Health     3 Credit Hours

Full Course Title: Race, Ethnicity and Community Health This course begins with a broad overview of health disparities in the United States, with a focus on three types of social inequality – race/ethnicity (and nativity status), socioeconomic status (SES), and gender. Following this introduction, epidemiological issues, health behaviors, health care services, and health and social issues specific to various minority populations in the U.S. are examined in greater depth. The underlying position of the course is that understanding why these groups are at a higher risk of developing poor health outcomes is crucial to developing better health care and health policy interventions and moving towards health equity. (OC).

SOC 435     Urban Sociology     4 Credit Hours

An overview of the form and development of urban communities with respect to demographic structure and functional organization, viewing the city as a source of conflict, creativity and social change. Issues of urban social problems, urban planning and urban futures are all considered. Students cannot receive credit for both SOC 435 and SOC 535. (F, YR).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Undergraduate

SOC 440     Medical Sociology     4 Credit Hours

An analysis of health and illness behavior from the point of view of the consumer, as well as medical professionals, the structure, strengths and weaknesses of the medical care delivery system in the U.S.; the impact of culture and personality on illness behavior; and a study of the institution of medicine and activities of health care professionals. (YR).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

Restriction(s):
Cannot enroll if Class is Freshman or Sophomore

SOC 442     Sociology of Work     3 Credit Hours

Study of work roles in modern society. The impact of industrialization, professionalization, and unionization on the conditions of work, worker motivation, and job satisfaction. Career choice processes and career patterns, occupational status and prestige, and occupational associations are among the topics considered. Students cannot receive credit for both SOC 442 and SOC 542. (YR)

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Undergraduate

SOC 443     Gender Roles     4 Credit Hours

This course will investigate the development of gender roles in childhood and adolescence due to either innate physiological differences or sociological patterning, the effect of gender roles upon male-female relationships within our society, and the possibility of transcending sociological gender roles in alternate modes of living. Students cannot receive credit for both SOC 443 and SOC 543. (F,W,S).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or PSYC 170 or PSYC 171 or SOC 201 or PSYC 101

SOC 445     The Family     4 Credit Hours

The family as an institution shaped by other aspects of society, as a social system with its own dynamics, and as a primary group affecting the lives of its members. Historical and contemporary materials from the United States and other cultures. Students cannot receive credit for both SOC 445 and SOC 545. (F,W,S).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

SOC 446     Marriage and Family Problems     4 Credit Hours

Sociological analysis of problems encountered within the institution of marriage with particular reference to such issues as choosing a marriage partner, sexual adjustment, occupational involvement, conflict resolution, child rearing, divorce and readjustment. Students cannot receive credit for both SOC 446 and SOC 546. (OC).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Undergraduate

SOC 447     Family Violence     4 Credit Hours

Sociological analyses of various forms of family violence which occur disproportionately in the lives of girls and women. Topics such as incest, sexual abuse, date rape, wife battering, and elder abuse will be situated within the social and cultural context of contemporary gender relationships. Social and political responses to the phenomena will be examined. Students cannot receive credit for both SOC/CRJ/WGST 447 and SOC/CRJ/WGST 547. (F).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 301 or SOC 443 or PSYC 405 or WST 405 or SOC 201

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Undergraduate

SOC 448     Comparative Health Care System     3 Credit Hours

An introduction and overview of the English, Swedish, and People's Republic of China health care systems. Focus on cultural and other organizational characteristics, unique features, approaches, and ability to solve problems. Emphasis on how the three systems help us understand the American health care system. Students cannot receive credit for both HPS 448 and HPS 548. (F,S,W).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Undergraduate

SOC 449     Race, Ethnicity and Family     4 Credit Hours

U.S. racial and ethnic families are examined in relationship to the historical and contemporary forces that have shaped their patterns of family life, socioeconomic positioning, educational attainment, and racial/ethnic identities. These forces include the influence of structural racism and discrimination, urbanization, and poverty. The patterns of family life include parental roles, family structure, kinship relations, gender roles, and the maintenance of racial and ethnic identities . (YR).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

SOC 450     Political Sociology     3 Credit Hours

Examines how society effects the distribution and exercise of power through analyzing linkages between power, participation, and perspectives. Studies of political participation and social organization, ideology and social conflict, as well as political socialization, represent some of the major parameters. Students cannot receive credit for both SOC 450 and SOC 550. (YR)

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Undergraduate

SOC 451     Family Diversity & Power     4 Credit Hours

This course investigates the changing possibilities for forming families and intimate relationships, with a focus on how social and cultural systems create and respond to these changes. Selected topics include the meanings of sex, love, marriage, and relatedness in different historical moments; struggles for recognition and protection of diverse families, including (but not limited to) interracial, interfaith, same-sex, polygamous and multi-partner relationships; LGBTQ kinship and care structures; and new technologies and their implications for family life. (YR).

Prerequisite(s): (WGST 303 or SOC 303 or ANTH 303 or PSYC 303 or HUM 303) or (SOC 200 or SOC 201) or (ANTH 101 or ANTH 202)

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Sophomore or Junior or Senior

SOC 452     Marxism     3 Credit Hours

This survey of Marxist and neo-Marxist thought discusses philosophy, economic history, and socialism. Topics include Marx's view of the nature of man, class conflict, the dialectic in history, the labor theory of value, monopoly capital and imperialism. Problems of socialist societies such as economic development and rule of elites will also be discussed. (AY).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or POL 101 or ECON 201 or ECON 202 or SOC 201

SOC 453     Sociology of Law     4 Credit Hours

Various aspects of the relationship between law and society are explored. After a look at processes of law making, attention is turned to the administration of law. This involves a study of the activities of legislatures, courts, police, and correctional agents. Students cannot receive credit for both SOC 453 and SOC 553. (YR)

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Undergraduate

SOC 454     Mental Health and the Law     3 Credit Hours

Courts and legislatures now control much of the work of mental health professionals such as social workers, counselors, therapists, and psychologists. This course looks at problems encountered in putting the laws and policies into effect. These implementation problems are much the same in other areas of government action, such as poverty programs and pollution control. Students cannot receive credit for both SOC 454 and SOC 554. (YR)

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Undergraduate

SOC 455     Religion in Society     4 Credit Hours

This course focuses on religion as a social institution and its role within the U.S. The course addresses the purpose, structure, and beliefs of various religions as well as, the impact of religion on issues of gender, race/ethnicity, sexuality, individual health/wellness, social support, political attitudes, and the environment. Students cannot receive credit for both SOC 455 and SOC 555. (OC, YR).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Undergraduate

SOC 4555     Immigrant Cultures and Gender     4 Credit Hours

The history and culture of immigration since 1965, including the: (1) formation and cultural maintenance of immigrant communities; (2) relations between the homeland and the immigrant; (3) impact of migration on family life and gender roles; (4) chidren of immigrants; and (5) racial and ethnic identities. Prerequisite and junior or senior standing. Students may not receive credit for both WGST 4555 and WGST 5555. For graduate credit take WGST 5555. (F, AY).

Prerequisite(s): ANTH 101 or WGST 275 or WST 275 or PSYC 275 or SOC 275 or ANTH 275 or HUM 275 or WGST 303 or PSYC 303 or SOC 303 or ANTH 303 or HUM 303

Restriction(s):
Cannot enroll if Class is

SOC 456     Health Care and the Law     3 Credit Hours

A comprehensive study of legal issues in health care, including regulation of hospitals, consent for treatment, confidentiality, experimentation, family planning, children's rights, access to health care. The emphasis will be on the organizational and personal consequence of legal requirements. Junior/Senior standing is a requirement. Students cannot receive credit for both HHS/HPS/SOC 456 and HHS/HPS/SOC 556.

Prerequisite(s): SOC 201 or SOC 200 or POL 364

Restriction(s):
Cannot enroll if Class is Freshman or Sophomore

SOC 457     Family, Aging and the Law     3 Credit Hours

The law exerts a powerful impact on the family and the elderly. This course interprets the effects of laws concerning guardianship, competence, nursing home regulation, marriage, divorce, custody, adoption, abortion, and child sexual abuse.

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

SOC 458     Education, Inequality and Equity     4 Credit Hours

This class considers the role that schools play in society and how social forces outside of schools impact student learning experiences and outcome. It explores dynamic interrelationships between schools, society, teachers and students, examining the connection between schools as institutions that contribute to social stability while also reflecting conflict and driving (or resisting) social change. Students will become familiar with sociological theories that help them analyze educational contexts and develop policy responses to problems encountered in school settings. Students cannot receive credit for both SOC 458 and SOC 558. (OC).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Undergraduate

SOC 460     America in a Global Society     3 Credit Hours

Social changes in America are studied from an internal and an external perspective. The internal dynamics of social change emphasize the role of social movement, e.g., the impact of the civil rights movement on American culture and politics. The external perspective sees America as part of a changing global society. The development of the capitalist world system from its origin in Western Europe to its present global reach is examined. Contemporary American social problems are examined in relation to America's position in a rapidly changing world. Students cannot receive credit for both SOC 460 and SOC 560. (AY)

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

SOC 461     Cops & Cons: Women in Prison     3 Credit Hours

Course uses contemporary theories of gendered organizations to frame analyses of prison policies and practices in employment and incarceration as they reflect and reproduce gender inequalities. Analyses will be framed within a restorative justice model, that is, a critique of the current criminal justice system of retributive justice and a paradigm of what a alternative system could be.

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201 or WST 275 or WGST 275 or CRJ 240 or CRJ 300 or PSYC 275 or SOC 275 or ANTH 275 or HUM 275 or WGST 303 or PSYC 303 or SOC 303 or ANTH 303 or HUM 303

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Junior or Senior

SOC 465     Deviant Behavior/Soc Disorganz     4 Credit Hours

A general analysis of the concept of social deviance and social disorganization: factors producing each condition, the effects of social control measures on the course of deviance and disorganization consequences for the social system, and the relationship between the two. Students cannot receive credit for both SOC 465 and SOC 565. (YR)

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Undergraduate

SOC 466     Addiction, Crime and Society     3 Credit Hours

Analyses of the sociology of substance use and abuse. Provides a sociological framework for understanding issues and evaluating our nation's responses to the phenomenon of drug use. Drawing on sociocultural and social psychological perspectives, this course systematically examines the social structure, social problems, and social policy aspects of drugs in American society. Prerequisite or permission of instructor. (OC).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Junior or Senior

SOC 467     Drugs, Crime, and Justice     3 Credit Hours

Provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state of research on interactions between crime and drug use. Examines drug distribution, organization of drug systems, and mechanisms of social control of drug systems. Analyzes the social problems associated with drugs and crime. The course also focuses on drug-law enforcement and public policy strategies for dealing with drugs and crime. Prerequisite or permission of instructor. (YR).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Junior or Senior

SOC 469     Youth, Crime and Justice     3 Credit Hours

The analysis of juvenile delinquent behavior in relationship to the institutional framework of society. Emphasis on the extent, causes, and methods of treatment of juvenile delinquency in the United States. (YR).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

SOC 473     Race, Crime and Justice     3 Credit Hours

This course is an analysis of race and its relation to crime in the criminal justice system. Students will analyze and interpret the perceived connection between race and crime, while exploring the dynamics of race, crime, and justice in the United States. This course is designed to familiarize students with current research and theories of racial discrimination within America's criminal justice system. (W).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

Restriction(s):
Cannot enroll if Class is Freshman

SOC 475     Social Construction of Mental Illness     4 Credit Hours

This course explores varied cultural descriptions and models of mental illness. By focusing on the ways that culture shapes how people experience, and respond to, mental illness, this class explores cultural representations of mental illness ranging from discrete illness resulting from a chemical imbalance to a profound threat to order. We seek to understand the cultural, personal, and political underpinnings of mental illness and medical practices in societies throughout the world. The course utilizes an interdisciplinary perspective, drawing from multiple sources of information regarding mental health issues, including feminism, psychiatry, history, sociology, and literature. Issues raised throughout the course include the ways gender, race, culture, religion, and stigma influence the diagnosis of mental illness, patterns of help-seeking behavior, formation of comprehensive mental health policy, and treatment options. (F, W).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201 or ANTH 303 or HUM 303 or SOC 303 or PSYC 303 or WGST 303

Restriction(s):
Cannot enroll if Class is

SOC 476     Inside Out Prison Exchange     4 Credit Hours

This community-based course, taught in a local correctional facility, brings university students and incarcerated students together to study as peers. Together students explore issues of crime and justice, drawing on one another to create a deeper understanding of how these issues affect our lives as individuals and as a society. The course creates a dynamic partnership between UMD and a correctional facility to allow students to question approaches to issues of crime and justice in order to build a safer and more just society for all. The course encourages outside (UMD) students to contextualize and to think deeply about what they have learned about crime and criminals and to help them pursue the work of creating a restorative criminal justice system; it challenges inside students to place their life experiences into larger social contexts and to rekindle their intellectual self-confidence and interest in further education. (F, W).

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Junior or Senior

SOC 477     Social Welfare     3 Credit Hours

The practice of social work is examined within the context of the development of the social service professions and welfare institutions in American society. Social welfare is a concept that encompasses the provision of material resources, as well as regulation and protection of clients. Changes in welfare policy are analyzed in relationship to other institutional changes in American society. (YR).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

SOC 478     Social Work Internship     3 to 6 Credit Hours

Provides field experience in social welfare or criminal justice agencies, e.g., for children/adolescents, in residential programs, in abuse remediation, in probation, for chemical dependencies, in victim advocacy, for elderly, in prisons, for special needs populations, in court services, and for families and communities. Supervision by approved field instructors. An internship of 80 hours is required for three (3) credits. Instructor and student will work together to determine appropriate intern placement. Approval of instructor is required. (OC).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

SOC 479     Comparative Hlth Systems:Trip     3 Credit Hours

A unique combination of lectures, field trips, visits with general practitioners, specialists, hospital observations, talks with health policy planners, researchers, and many others. Personal experience in two health care systems. Permission of instructor. Junior/Senior standing required. Students cannot receive credit for both SOC 479 and SOC 579. (AY).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Junior or Senior

SOC 481     Gender and Globalization     4 Credit Hours

Mass media, politics and academia are full of references to globalization, and a future "world without borders." This interdisciplinary course considers the implication of globalization for women's lives, gender relations and feminism. Topics covered include the global factory, cross-cultural consumption, human rights, global communications, economic restructuring, nationalism and environmental challenges. Rather than survey international women's movements, this course explores how globalization reformulates identities and locations and the political possibilities they create.

Prerequisite(s): HUM 303 or PSYC 303 or SOC 303 or WGST 303

Restriction(s):
Cannot enroll if Class is
Can enroll if Level is Undergraduate

SOC 482     Methods of Social Work Pract     3 Credit Hours

Examination of social work practice methods and approaches to social problems, contexts of practice and targets of change. Focus is on knowledge and skills each practice method requires to effect personal and social change. (YR).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

SOC 483     Images of Organizations     3 Credit Hours

Formal bureaucratic organizations such as government agencies, hospitals, and colleges are a distinctive feature of modern industrialized societies. Analysis of types of formal organizations, their goals, structure, and consequences for intra- and inter-organizational behavior helps to understand how to deal with a complex world. Students cannot receive credit for both SOC 483 and SOC 583. (YR).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Level is Undergraduate

SOC 484     Violence Against Women     4 Credit Hours

Course examines local and global social violence against women outside family and other intimate relationships. Students consider violations against women's human rights through the life cycle, which are often sanctioned under the guise of cultural practices and misinterpretations of religious tenets. Topics include sex-selective abortion and female infanticide (the "missing millions"); female genital mutilation and cosmetic surgeries; prostitution and pornography; trafficking in women; sexual harassment; and women's experiences of war as soldiers, non-combatants and refugees. Topics are "paired", that is, students compare understandings of Western and non-Western social practices related to gender. Students examine both institutionalized sexism and racism, as part of political, economic, and social systems, and sexism and racism as realities affecting individual women's lives.

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201 or WGST 303 or HUM 303 or PSYC 303 or ANTH 303 or SOC 303 or WGST 275 or HUM 275 or PSYC 275 or SOC 275 or ANTH 275 or WST 275

Restriction(s):
Cannot enroll if Class is Freshman
Can enroll if Level is Undergraduate

SOC 490     Advanced Topics in Sociology     3 Credit Hours

Examination of problems and issues in selected areas of sociology. Title as listed in the Schedule of Classes will change according to content. Course may be repeated for credit when specific topic differs.

SOC 490A     Advanced Topics in Sociology     3 Credit Hours

TOPIC: Diasporas and (Trans) Nationalism: Gender, Race, and Post/Coloniality. An interdisciplinary and comparative inquiry into historical & contemporary linkages between gender regimes, national formations, and legacies of colonialism as they interact at "home" and in "diasporas." Using multi-media and multi-genre pedagogical tools (conceptual and methodological writings; narratives and biographies; guest lectures; films), we study & critique different perspectives on how the dialectics of geography, positionality, and social structures shape the ways in which we imagine "home", "homeland", and "back home." We examine gendered politics of the colonial project 1) in early days of colonialization; 2) during struggles of decolonization; and 3) "post-colonial" geographies' While becoming familiar with "classics" in nationalism/transnationalism, gender, colonialism, and diaspora, we will explore their applicability to specific case studies in European and American contexts as well as in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

SOC 497     Senior Research Seminar     4 Credit Hours

This course is intended as the culmination of a student's prior work in sociology. Each student will conduct an applied research project that draws upon sociological concepts and issues. The product of this research will be an essential component of the student's concentration portfolio. (W).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200

SOC 498     Independent Study     1 to 3 Credit Hours

Analytical assignments in sociology. No more than a total of six credit hours of SOC 398 and SOC 498 may be applied toward concentration. Permission of instructor required. (F,W,S).

Prerequisite(s): SOC 200 or SOC 201

Restriction(s):
Can enroll if Class is Junior or Senior
Can enroll if Level is Undergraduate

*An asterisk denotes that a course may be taken concurrently.

Frequency of Offering

The following abbreviations are used to denote the frequency of offering: (F) fall term; (W) winter term; (S) summer term; (F, W) fall and winter terms; (YR) once a year; (AY) alternating years; (OC) offered occasionally