Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice
Jubilee Hall, Room 570
(973) 761-9170
Administrative Assistant: Hall
Social and Behavioral Sciences Adviser: Wolf
Faculty: Athens; Bunnage (Social Behavioral Sciences Program Director); Carr; Dimka; Haynor; Horowitz (Sociology Program Coordinator); Kaba; Li; Quizon (Department Chair & Anthropology Program Coordinator); Savastano; Stives (Criminal Justice Program Director); Weger
Faculty Emeriti: Abalos; Kayal; San Giovanni
The Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice offers four major programs leading to Bachelor of Arts degrees in sociology, anthropology, criminal justice, and social and behavioral sciences. The Department also offers minors in sociology, anthropology, and criminal justice.
B.A. in Sociology/Master of Public Administration
The Department of Sociology, Anthropology, Social Work, and Criminal Justice offers a dual degree program with the Department of Social Work that leads to two degrees completed in a five-year span: a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in sociology and a Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) degree. The program has a two-fold purpose: to provide a broad-based undergraduate education with a comprehensive grasp of one’s major in sociology; and to permit students to earn a M.P.A. degree within the timeframe of five years.
3+3 B.A./J.D. Program in Anthropology, Criminal Justice or Sociology
This 3+3 program allows students to earn a bachelor's degree in these Arts & Sciences majors at Seton Hall University then transition to Seton Hall Law for three years to complete the bachelor's and earn the J.D. degree. For initial admission to the program as Freshmen, students must have a minimum SAT score of 1270 and minimum High School GPA 3.7 (unweighted, 4.0 system). To continue on to Seton Hall Law, students must maintain a 3.6 GPA and meet the Law School's minimum LSAT requirement. Students must be admitted directly into the Arts & Sciences 3+3 B.A./J.D. program and cannot transfer into it.
Students may apply to Law School during their junior year after having taken the LSAT. Students move on to the Law School in their fourth year and take the usual first-year law curriculum, consisting of 30 credits. At the end of the fourth year the student would receive a BA in Anthropology, Criminal Justice or Sociology consisting of 96 undergraduate credits and 30 Law School credits, for a total of 126—and would then complete the final two years of law school.
Anthropology, Criminal Justice and Sociology 3+3/J.D. majors must complete 96 undergraduate credits:
- the University Core (16 credits)
- the A&S Core (42 credits) and
- the required credits in their major (36 credits).
Students who do not meet Law School requirements will have the opportunity to complete their undergraduate studies with a bachelor's in Anthropology, Criminal Justice or Sociology at Seton Hall and earn additional credentials or engage in research in topics of interest such as law and society, comparative systems of justice, criminal law, dispute resolution, global problems, human rights, among others, in their major as well as in related social science or humanities fields.
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Note to Students: The following listing represents those courses that are in the active rotation for each department, i.e., have been offered in the past five years. Some departments have additional courses offered more rarely but still available – to find the complete list of all official courses for a department, please use the “Course Catalogue Search” function in Self-Service Banner.
Course Descriptions
ANTH 1201 Introduction to Biological Anthropology (3 Credits)
Introduce students to the anthropological study of humans and nonhuman primates from a biological and evolutionary perspective. Survey the following topics: 1) genetics 2) evolutionary theory 3) modern primates 4) human biology 5) primate origins and 6) race and human variation 7) human microevolution and 8) forensic anthropology.
ANTH 1202 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology (3 Credits)
Cross-cultural comparison of peoples of the world. This course takes a holistic approach to human behavior from our evolutionary past, to the present and the probable future of humankind. An examination of various rules of conduct in economic, political and religious systems as well as the role of expressive culture and the importance of kin-ship in the organization of human society.
ANTH 1210 Culture and Communication: Introduction to Linquistic Anthropology (3 Credits)
This course investigates the relationship between language and culture with an emphasis on intercultural communication. Using classic and recent scholarship on linguistic anthropology, students will learn about the origins and building blocks of human language as verbal and nonverbal communication. Students will examine their own linguistic backgrounds, beliefs, attitudes and practices in order to explain how cultural conventions, gender and status differences modify meaning, transform or constrain social relations, and shape our views of ourselves and others. In addition, the course will include an ethnographic component on language in daily life that examines examples of natural language, bilingual/multilingual experiences, the politics of slang words, as well as technologically-mediated linguistic interactions.
ANTH 1211 Introduction to World Archaeology (3 Credits)
Surveys the study of human behavior and societies through material culture. The course introduces archaeological theory and methods for inferring social, economic, and ideological issues in past human populations. We will explore the history of archaeology, methods of excavation, and data analysis and interpretation. Topics include the earliest stone tool technologies, origins of agriculture, and the rise and collapse of civilizations.
ANTH 2213 Case Studies in the Anthropology of Law (3 Credits)
Investigation of ways law operates in various cultures throughout the world. Concepts of justice as related to religion, politics, economics and ethics; case studies from many different societies. "Western law" contrasted with customary law and other forms of legal experience in several Third World countries. Discussions of benefits that may be derived from understanding mechanisms of dispute resolution among non-Western people.
ANTH 2224 Health and Medicine: An Anthropological Approach (3 Credits)
Explores how culture religion, and history shape practices and ideas regarding diagnosis and treatment, and the meaning of "sickness", illness, healing, cure, and "health." Investigates health and medicine not only as biological phenomena, but in the context of the economic, political, kinship, and religious systems they occur in.
ANTH 2229 Plagues & People (3 Credits)
ANTH 2230 Folklore and Mythology (3 Credits)
Focus is on the origins, commonalities and differences in the diverse myths present in all cultures. Course will explore the connections between folklore and myth and their function in maintaining cultural systems. Special emphasis will be given to the effects of globalization on the appropriation of the myths and folkloric practices of various indigenous peoples as well as the way they are transformed and/or given new meaning in the complex, technologically developed societies of the contemporary world.
ANTH 2232 Kinship in Cross-Cultural Perspectve (3 Credits)
Cross-cultural comparison of structure, organization and behavior associated with different models of kinship and social organization in diverse societies both traditional and modern. Social systems based on idioms of blood, marriage forms and marital relations, the incest taboo, mate selection and issues arising from new reproductive technologies will be explored.
ANTH 2233 Understanding Human Sexuality (3 Credits)
This course examines human sexuality and gender relationships from an anthropological and cross cultural perspective. It examines the culturally constructed roles of women and men in evolutionary perspective and within specific cultural and social contexts both past and present. The course also focuses on the economic, political and domestic roles, social statuses; and adaptive and maladaptive features of sociosexual patterns.
ANTH 2235 Anthropology of Art (3 Credits)
ANTH 2242 Peoples and Cultures of Southeast Asia (3 Credits)
New approaches to the ethnography of Southeast Asia introduce students to the contemporary culture and social organization of the peoples of the region. Students will read and respond to classic works as well as contemporary monographs that address characteristic social formations; upland-lowland dynamics; maritime vs. agricultural states; indigenous responses to early modern, colonial and post-colonial European/American expansion, and organized around three themes; the cultural construction of the gendered self; the material expression of the imagined nation, and the technologically mediated paradox of world-systems.
ANTH 2244 Peoples - Cultures of Eurasia (3 Credits)
ANTH 2311 Population, Ecology, and the Environment (3 Credits)
Examines diverse socio-cultural strategies used by human societies throughout the world. Addresses a broad range of social formations such as those used by tropical hunters and foragers, small scale agriculturists & pastoralists, peasant farmers, and agro-industrial corporations, as they respond to and transform the natural environment. Students will learn to apply an anthropological perspective towards the understanding of topics of great global import such as population, pollution, industrialization, sustainable development, and ecosystems.
ANTH 2412 Anthropology of Religion (3 Credits)
Introduces students to the study of the Anthropology of Religion from a historical and theoretical perspective. Provides a framework for understanding the diverse ways in which "religion" manifests in different cultural settings and historical contexts. The course explores the human capacity to "make meaning" through the use of symbol, myth and ritual. It also explores transpersonal states of consciousness, many of which are induced through various public and private rituals and other devotional, ascetic and ecstatic practices. The category of "the religious" or "the sacred" as defined according to the western worldview is interrogated and explored. The course content is also relevant to students in Religious Studies, Catholic Studies, Sociology, Psychology and Italian Studies.
ANTH 2716 Understanding Americans: Anthropology of American Culture (3 Credits)
This course examines the totality of the American experience through the unifying concept of culture. In particular we will be concerned with the origin, development and influences of ideas and assumptions that have shaped fundamental American values and character. (Formerly ANTH 2234)
ANTH 2800 Anthropology of Disability (3 Credits)
This course considers disability through perspectives of the four subfields of anthropology (archaeology, biological and cultural anthropology, and linguistics). Through lecture as well as discussion of readings and other media, the course covers topics such as major theoretical, historical, and ethical concepts; disability in the archaeological record; disability across the life course; cross-cultural understandings of disability; and intersections with race, gender, and socioeconomic status.
ANTH 2910 Quantitative Research Methods (3 Credits)
This course introduces students to the logic and practice of quantitative research. Exercises and a case study method are used to enhance students’ understanding of the three phases of the quantitative research process. The first, the articulation of a research question, involves conceptualization, the identification of relevant variables, and the formulation of testable hypotheses. The second, research design, involves the choice of survey, indirect, or experimental methods to collect required data, the operationalization of variables, the construction of instruments and indexes, and sample selection. The third, data analysis, involves data preparation, summarization of findings, interpretation of findings, and future research proposals. The course addresses ethical issues in quantitative research, as well as the critical task of preparing a research report that communicates effectively with the target audience.
ANTH 2912 Qualitative Research Methods (3 Credits)
This course is designed for social scientists who wish to learn how to conduct field research, whether in foreign cultures or with different groups within the United States. Students develop, refine and carry out qualitative field research projects using methods and techniques including participant observation, and structured and unstructured interviewing techniques and non-probability sampling. Emphasis is not only on collecting, analyzing and evaluating ethnographic data within a hands-on research context, but also the very process of building relations between researchers, their communities of study, and other stakeholders. The course will also address ethical issues in social science research including privacy, institutional oversight, rights of the state, and common strategies and solutions. Final research paper is based on original fieldwork.
ANTH 3212 The History of Anthropological Thought (3 Credits)
Examines the history of the discipline of anthropological thought and the theoretical corpus as it developed from the 19th century to the present. Students are exposed to the major theories and theorists in the field and to some of the contemporary debates within the discipline. This course challenges students to critically assess the validity of various analytical approaches to the concept of culture, society and the person.
ANTH 3218 Immigration to the United States (3 Credits)
This course examines the history of immigration to the Unites States from the 17th Century to the present. Explores distinct waves or moments of immigration; presents theoretical explanations for these population movements; and assesses the cultural, political, and economic consequences of immigration to the Unites States.
ANTH 3220 Anthropology of Consciousness (3 Credits)
Human consciousness is of central importance to all fourfields of anthropology. Grounded in cultural anthropology,this course explores the diverse ways that culture and human consciousness interact and shape each other. Drawing on the most recent research conducted by anthropologists of consciousness and by neuroscientists on the relationship between the brain and the “mind” students will learn about the human capacity to alter and expand consciousness through practices such as shamanism, meditation/contemplative practices, trance/possession/performance,ritual activity (both religious and secular) and the ingestion of psychotropic substances. Spontaneous healing, premonitional dreams, remote viewing, out of body experiences, telepathy, past life recall and other so called “paranormal” or “extraordinary” phenomena will also be explored.
ANTH 3230 Climate Change & Society (3 Credits)
This course examines human dimensions of climate change—including its societal drivers and consequences, ways of knowing and understanding the phenomenon, and contemporary policy responses and politics surrounding it—from cross-cultural and comparative perspectives. Through engagement with books, articles, and films, we will analyze and reflect on the meanings attached to climate change in different times and places, the challenges posed by issues of climate justice, vulnerability, and adaptation, and consider possibilities for what we can do about it.
ANTH 3235 Complex Coasts & Deltas (3 Credits)
This course examines the socio-environmental dimensions of life in coastal and delta regions around the world, helping students develop a critical understanding of the complex sustainability issues they face.
ANTH 3240 Cultures of Sustainability (3 Credits)
This course explores environmental sustainability and what it means to be environmentally friendly in practice by surveying a variety of sustainability initiatives, goals, and social movements in the U.S. and around the world.
ANTH 3245 Environment & Pop Culture (3 Credits)
ANTH 3250 Human Osteology (3 Credits)
An intensive introduction to the methods of interpreting the human skeleton fundamental to the disciplines of paleoanthropology, bioarchaeology, and forensic anthropology. In this course you will learn how to identify human skeletal elements, assign age, biological sex, and geographic ancestry, and estimate stature and weight. We will also asses pre and postmortem bone modification including evidence of trauma, disease, activity, and taphonomy.
ANTH 3294 Independent Study (1 Credit)
ANTH 3295 Independent Study (2 Credits)
ANTH 3296 Independent Study (3 Credits)
ANTH 3297 Independent Study (3 Credits)
ANTH 3301 Special Topics: Peoples and Cultures of Eurasia (3 Credits)
Topics to be announced. Check semester course offerings for specific themes.
ANTH 3303 Special Topics in Anthropology (3 Credits)
Topics to be announced. Check semester course offerings for specific themes.
ANTH 3305 Special Issues (3 Credits)
Issues pertinent to the discipline. Check semester course offerings for specific themes.
ANTH 3306 Special Issues (3 Credits)
Issues pertinent to the discipline. Check semester course offerings for specific themes.
ANTH 3308 Special Topics in Anthropology (3 Credits)
Topics to be announced. Check semester course offerings for specific themes.
ANTH 3330 Visual Anthropology (3 Credits)
Students will study the ways by which people and their cultural expressions have been documented and represented through the creation and refinement of photographic and cinematographic techniques, including documentary film. The implications of the reversal of the camera lens, such that the anthropologists or filmmakers become subject to scrutiny and investigation, as well as the analysis of the visual production of different groups of people, will be a central theme throughout the course. Topics to be addressed include the scientific and colonial legacy of National Geographic, representations of desire in Indian and Arab soap operas, Brazilian Kayapo photojournalists, indigenous Australians/Pacific Islanders addressing their own communities, as well as movies representing indigenous Eskimo/Inuit made by themselves for a world audience.
ANTH 3514 The Anthropology of Gender (3 Credits)
This course examines the history of a gendered approach to anthropology in light of second-wave feminism's theoretical contributions and to the new questions that gender analysis brings to traditional anthropological issues such as work, kinship, immigration, race and nationalism.
ANTH 3794 Indigenous Peoples' Resp Conv (3 Credits)
In what way does being Christian also signal civic belonging? When conversion to Catholicism occurs
in contexts of large colonial projects, often spanning generations or centuries, what happens to the belief systems central to the lives of native or indigenous peoples before colonization? This course will focus on social formations and knowledge systems that shaped native peoples’ actionable
responses to projects of conversion, nation and empire. Students will unpack persistent ideological constructs concerning native peoples from the 1500s to the present century, and read works that seek to present a view “from below.”
ANTH 3816 W African Religions in America (3 Credits)
Examines the interrelations between West African religions and Catholicism as they met via the slave trade and forced relocation of Africans to the New World as well as contemporary practices. Cross-cultural, social-scientific exploration of issues of authority and power, cultural variation and similarities, authenticity and syncretism in Mexican, Cuban, Haitian, Trinidadian, Brazilian, and U.S. American traditions, that may include discussions of Catholic Saints, slave Baptisms, the Inquisition, folk Catholicism, sacred drumming, trance possession, ritual retention and innovation, Santería/Lukumi, Candomblé, Umbanda, Vodou, Regla de Palo, Abakuá, Yoruba Revivalism, Orisha Religion, and Spiritism. The course will be run as a seminar in which students will be responsible for taking part in leading class discussion. Prerequisite SOCI 1101 or ANTH 1202.
ANTH 5978 Independent Study (2 Credits)
ANTH 5988 Senior Seminar in Anthropology (3 Credits)
ANTH 5999 Independent Study (3 Credits)
CRIM 1200 Criminal Justice Complex (3 Credits)
The structure and function of the criminal justice system, including an analysis of values underlying two models of the criminal process. Role of police, constitutional rights, role of the attorney, courts and corrections, operation of the bail system, trial, and role of the judge.
CRIM 2612 The Criminal Justice System in Modern America (3 Credits)
The structure and function of the criminal justice system, including an analysis of values underlying two models of the criminal process. Role of police, constitutional rights, role of the attorney, courts and corrections, operation of the bail system, trial and role of the judge.
CRIM 2613 Victimology (3 Credits)
Consideration of victims of crime. Interaction between victim and offender in the criminal encounter, the risks of victimization, victim reactions to crime, the effect of victim characteristics on the legal system and a survey of victim-oriented alternatives to conventional criminal justice.
CRIM 2614 Police in Modern Society (3 Credits)
History and changing role of the police. Variety of sociological perspectives used to examine recruitment and socialization of police personnel. Meaning and functions of police work, police community relations, interactions between police departments and other official organizations (courts, prisons, schools, mental hospitals), police malpractice and control over police work. Comparison of police work in other modern societies, evaluation of various strategies for changing the role and structure of police work.
CRIM 2615 Penology (3 Credits)
Analysis of different philosophies of treatment and current techniques. Past correctional approaches surveyed to understand the changes made in institutionalized handling of a major social problem. Economic, cultural and political trends as the social setting in which society attempts to fashion a "practical" manner of treatment.
CRIM 2616 Criminology (3 Credits)
Examines the phenomenon of crime from a sociological perspective. Meaning of crime; official and unofficial counts of crime; social correlates of crime; lifestyles and behavior patterns of criminals. Critical analysis of various theoretical frameworks for explaining crime.
CRIM 2617 Juvenile Justice System (3 Credits)
Examines patterns of delinquent behavior among youth. The definition and measurement of delinquency; influence of kinship; educational and other institutions on delinquency; social class and sub-cultural influences on delinquency; identification and processing of delinquents by official control agencies.
CRIM 2618 Probation and Parole (3 Credits)
Study of community release movement in the U.S. Examination of parole and penal systems and their relationship to pre-prison identity and future behavior. Reentry into this system; relationship between self-concept and status passage, and notions of parole and probation success and failure.
CRIM 2619 Criminal Procedure - Evidence (3 Credits)
Examination of middle stages of criminal justice system; prosecutor's decision to charge, pretrial procedures, criminal trial and sentencing. Discussion of central roles, case flow, current developments and defendant's legal rights at middle stage of criminal justice system.
CRIM 2910 Research Methods (3 Credits)
Basic exposure to the skills and understanding relied upon in criminological research. Concepts such as validity, reliability, research logic, design development and theory testing are addressed. Students also are exposed to elementary data analysis. Prerequisites: Two of the following courses: SOCI 1101, PSYC 1101, ANTH 1202 and MATH 1203; or permission of the instructor.
CRIM 2912 Criminal Courts (3 Credits)
Exploration of contemporary criminal justice administration with emphasis on leadership and management skills, as well as organizational theory. Discussion of management principles, communication, motivation of personnel, leadership and power, organizational conflict, decision making, organizational effectiveness, and innovation and change.
CRIM 2918 Spcl Iss - Crime - Mass Media (3 Credits)
CRIM 2930 Exploring Violent Crime - Theories through the medium of Violent Films (3 Credits)
Several major theories of violent crime will be explored through using the medium of violent films. The violent crime theories that will be examined include Biological Defectiveness, Psycho-analytical, Frustration-Aggression, Abnormal Personality, Violentization, Poverty and Culture. The violent films that will be viewed to enliven and flesh out the finer points of these theories’ different explanations will include “Bad Seed,” “Natural Born Killers,” “In Cold Blood,” “Blue Velvet,” “Clock Work Orange,” “Falling Down,” and “Juice”.
CRIM 3120 Qualitative Methods of Criminal Justice Research (3 Credits)
Qualitative methods of criminological research, including criminological "field methods" and "ethnography." Four principle areas: (1) the distinctive logic or philosophy underlying the use of qualitative methods, (2) the different qualitative methods for collecting data, (3) the principal means for qualitatively analyzing data, and (4) criteria for evaluating qualitative research. Prerequisites: Two of the following courses: SOCI 1101, PSYC 1101, ANTH 1202 and MATH 1101 or permission of instructor.
CRIM 3310 Violent Crimes (3 Credits)
Explorations of the topic of violence from a number of social science perspectives. Particular attention to the "process" of becoming violent, and the policy implications of violent behavior in the United States.
CRIM 3550 History Criminological Theory (3 Credits)
Major sociological, psychological, psychiatric, biological, as well as interpretative theories of criminal behavior. The assumptions underlying the explanations that these theories offer, the empirical evidence supporting and contradicting them, and the attendant solutions that each implies. The different "images" of the "criminal" and "criminal action" upon which they operate are contrasted with each other, and the criminal law.
CRIM 3894 Internship I (3 Credits)
Internships or work experience in local, state, or federal criminal justice institutions.
CRIM 3895 Internship II (3 Credits)
Internships or work experience in local, state, or federal criminal justice institutions. (See Co-Op Adviser)
CRIM 3896 Internship III (3 Credits)
Internships or work experience in local, state, or federal criminal justice institutions. (See Co-Op Adviser)
CRIM 4400 Homicide (3 Credits)
The nature of criminal homicide and its investigation are examined from both a legalistic and social scientific perspective. In part I of the course, criminal homicide is legally distinguished from non-criminal homicide, and five different types of criminal homicide are legally distinguished from each other: capital murder, first and second-degree murder, and voluntary and involuntary manslaughter. In addition, the main legal defenses to criminal homicide (immaturity, insanity, intoxication, self-defense, prevention of dangerous felony, and duress) are reviewed. In part II, various social scientific schemes for classifying and investigating homicide offenses and offenders, including the FBI’s standardized system, are critically compared. In comparing these different classification systems, actual death investigation reports, autopsies, toxicological and ballistic reports, crime scene stills and sketches, and trial court transcripts are utilized. Students will be required to classify homicide offenses and offenders on the basis of the different schemes and methods reviewed.
CRIM 5980 Independent Study (2 Credits)
Selected topics are explored in conjunction with the guidance and direction of the instructor. In instances where the topics change, additional independent study may be taken for a maximum of 6 credits.
CRIM 5981 Independent Study (3 Credits)
Selected topics are explored in conjunction with the guidance and direction of the instructor. In instances where the topics change, additional independent study may be taken for a maximum of 6 credits.
CRIM 5982 Independent Study (1 Credit)
Selected topics are explored in conjunction with the guidance and direction of the instructor. In instances where the topics change, additional independent study may be taken for a maximum of 6 credits.
CRIM 5983 Independent Study (3 Credits)
Selected topics are explored in conjunction with the guidance and direction of the instructor. In instances where the topics change, additional independent study may be taken for a maximum of 6 credits.
CRIM 5985 SpTp - Sex Crimes (3 Credits)
CRIM 5986 Sp Theories Issues - Crim Just (3 Credits)
Instruction in important emerging areas in the field of crime and justice study. Course content and techniques draw on the expertise of researchers and writers across a wide spectrum of interests. Prerequisite: Completion of 30 program credits or permission of the instructor.
CRIM 5987 SpTp - Criminal Law (3 Credits)
Instruction in important emerging areas in the field of crime and justice study. Course content and techniques draw on the expertise of researchers and writers across a wide spectrum of interests. Prerequisite: Completion of 30 program credits or permission of the instructor.
CRIM 5988 Senior Seminar in Criminology (3 Credits)
A capstone course that consolidates the theoretical and methodological knowledge and skills acquired as a major. Major research report and oral presentation required.
SOBS 1101 Integrated Human Science (3 Credits)
An introduction to the human sciences as modes of thinking and practice. With theoretical, applied, and career components, students will appraise research that examines social phenomena from at least two social-scientific disciplines; develop their own multilevel reasoning; and refine their communication and career skills in connection to potential professional and vocational paths.
SOBS 5002 Senior Seminar in Social and Behavioral Sciences (3 Credits)
The capstone course for majors, integrating the knowledge and skills acquired in the SOBS program and fulfilling graduation requirements for SOBS and SOBT majors. Students carry out a significant research project on a topic decided in consultation with the instructor.
SOCI 1101 Introduction to Sociology (3 Credits)
An introduction to the sociological perspective, exploring basic concepts and theories relevant to various dimensions of social life. May include discussion of socio-cultural influences on everyday social interaction, collective behavior, social inequalities, deviance, socialization, sexuality and identity, as well as social institutions and organizations, such as bureaucracy, religion, family, education, health, class, race, ethnicity, and gender.
SOCI 2010 Special Topics in Society (3 Credits)
Student and Faculty generated questions about contemporary social issues particularly rich in sociological potential. An applied sociological focus on emerging trends, political behavior, religious and legal questions, race, sexuality, gender relations, and social institutions, etc.
SOCI 2011 Special Topics in Society (3 Credits)
Student and Faculty generated questions about contemporary social issues particularly rich in sociological potential. An applied sociological focus on emerging trends, political behavior, religious and legal questions, race, sexuality, gender relations, and social institutions, etc.
SOCI 2012 Special Topics in Society (3 Credits)
Student and Faculty generated questions about contemporary social issues particularly rich in sociological potential. An applied sociological focus on emerging trends, political behavior, religious and legal questions, race, sexuality, gender relations, and social institutions, etc.
SOCI 2211 Sociology of the Family (3 Credits)
An exploration of the social influences on family life. Examines how social and cultural factors affect our understandings of, experiences with, and opportunities within families. Investigates the diversity of family forms over time, across cultures, and within the U.S. May include topics such as dating, marriage, parenting, housework, balancing work and family, divorce, family violence, and the effects of economics, poverty, social policies, and social status on family life.
SOCI 2212 The Sociology of Education (3 Credits)
Education as a politicized social institution; schools and enculturation; schooling and bureaucratization; educational philosophies across cultures and historically; social functions and dysfunctions of schooling; schooling, the social order and mobility; education and employment; educational trends; de-schooling, alternative schools, charter schools, home-schooling.
SOCI 2213 Sociology of Law-Legal System (3 Credits)
Examines legal institutions in their social context and cross-culturally. The relationships between law and social norms, values and beliefs; the formulation and implementation of laws; interdependence between the law and social structure, power and change; the legal profession. The process of law making/breaking; law and power, change and social justice; the practice of law.
SOCI 2215 Sociology of Sport and Leisure (3 Credits)
Sports as a major social institution and a significant part of popular culture. Examination of reciprocal relations between sports and society. The impact of social forces (urbanization, technology, bureaucracy, changing ideologies) on the nature of sport. Special topics include sports in relation to other institutions, such as family, politics, mass media, education, economy and religion.
SOCI 2224 Sociology of Health-Medicine (3 Credits)
Sociological examination of health and illness and the social institutions that affect them. Explores social issues of health and illness and the manner by which medical resources and health hazards are distributed. May cover topics such as HIV/AIDS, health care institutions, medical stigmas, the health effects of environmental toxins, and food safety issues.
SOCI 2233 Sociology of Sexuality (3 Credits)
A focus on the socio-cultural aspects of sexuality, including social scientific theories for understanding sexuality, the interconnections of gender and sexuality, manners by which we learn about sexuality from childhood through adolescence and adulthood, social institutions and cultural forms that affect individual experiences and conceptualizations of sexuality, and current social issues concerning the sexual.
SOCI 2311 Population, Ecology, and the Environment (3 Credits)
Examines diverse socio-cultural strategies used by human societies throughout the world. Addresses a broad range of social formations such as those used by tropical hunters and foragers, small scale agriculturists & pastoralists, peasant farmers, and agro-industrial corporations, as they respond to and transform the natural environment. Students will learn to apply an anthropological perspective towards the understanding of topics of great global import such as population, pollution, industrialization, sustainable development, and ecosystems.
SOCI 2314 Formal Organizations (3 Credits)
Nature of bureaucracy and its effect on personality, social relations, group dynamics and social change. Bureaucratic arrangements and processes in a variety of organizational contexts, such as the corporation, voluntary associations, university, union, professional association, government bureau and church. Special attention to the role of power in bureaucratic settings and exchanges.
SOCI 2410 The Sociology of Mass Media (3 Credits)
This course offers an in-depth analysis of mass media, critically focusing on the political context and uses of film, television and newspapers in a democratic society. Special attention is given to the position of women and minorities in the media industry. Includes comparative analysis with other societies.
SOCI 2511 Growing Older-Sociol of Aging (3 Credits)
A sociological investigation of growing older in American society. Focus is on ageism and life-cycle adjustments for different generations and in different societies. Aging and cultural values across the life-course are emphasized. Theories of aging are examined in relationship to economic variables, occupations, and cultural values. Topics include: intergenerational conflicts, retirement, dying and death, nursing homes, contemporary problems of the young and elderly, institutional and individual responses to the problems of aging.
SOCI 2512 Careers and Occupations (3 Credits)
Work and occupations in today's society. The meaning of labor; work and alienation. Trends in the division of labor; links between occupation and social stratification; professionalization of work; occupational ideologies and associations. Career patterns and the various job markets.
SOCI 2513 Social Inequalities (3 Credits)
An examination of social inequalities, concentrating on class, national, racial, ethnic and gender inequalities in the U.S. and the globe. Discussion will include such topics as the distribution of influence and wealth in occupations, families, and religious and educational institutions, explanations for wealth and poverty, and sources of mobility and change.
SOCI 2514 Sociology of Women and Men (3 Credits)
Exploration of social scientific theory and research on women and men, including such topics as: the social construction and interconnectedness of sex, gender, race, class and sexuality; how gender operates in everyday social interaction, affecting love, violence, and friendships; how gender inequalities are institutionalized in work, education, religion, and family; and how gender differences and inequalities are implicated in relations of power and politics.
SOCI 2515 Majority-Minority Relations (3 Credits)
Sociology of race/ethnic, religious, class, and gender relations. Becoming American-the process of assimilation (anglo-conformity, multiculturalism, melting pot). Social order and social conflict perspectives on American society. Prejudice and discrimination. Religion, race, gender and ethnicity in everyday life, integration and pluralism; Old vs. new immigrations, illegal immigration and the economy. Hispanic and Asian immigration; Strategies of social change; Race vs. class relations in contemporary society.
SOCI 2517 Latinos In The U.S. (3 Credits)
The course will examine the current situation of Latinas/ Latinos in U.S. society from the perspective of a theory of transformation. Latinas/Latinos are the youngest and the fastest growing ethnic population in the United States. Their growing involvement is having a significant impact on culture and politics but they continue to experience high levels of unemployment, poor education, substandard housing, inadequate social services and political under-representation. Solutions compared and contrasted: assimilation vs. transformation.
SOCI 2601 Social Problems and Solutions (3 Credits)
Sociological examination of a variety of current social problems and possible solutions, including, for example: privacy issues, poverty; environmental degradation; media issues; national security; racism, sexism, and heterosexism; drugs and the drug war; crime and prison issues; and health care system failures. Assigned to groups based on interest, students focus on particular social problems for more intensive study, and present their work to the class.
SOCI 2701 Social Change (3 Credits)
A review and critical examination of the transformation of human societies from pre-industrial to industrial, as well as the various forms - capitalist and socialist - that industrialization has taken. An analysis of various theories of "development" and "underdevelopment," colonialism and post-colonialism, post-industrial society, globalization, and civilizational conflict. A consideration of the role of technology in shaping the current world order and how it is likely to shape the future, with particular attention given to communication , information, and bio-technology.
SOCI 2713 Politics and Society (3 Credits)
Relationship between, culture, social structures and political ideologies cross culturally. Role and functions of government. Politics and International Law; Police and personal freedom and behavior. Social policy engineering and government; Government, media and elections; Contemporary political issues are discussed.
SOCI 2716 American Society (3 Credits)
The culture and social structure of American society. Evolving American national character. Tracing some present problems: wealth and poverty, religion and democratic tensions, crime and policing. Understanding American institutions, consumption patterns, celebrity culture, media and voting, etc. The themes of continuity vs. change, unity vs. diversity, individualism vs. community.
SOCI 2800 Anthropology of Disability (3 Credits)
This course considers disability through perspectives of the four subfields of anthropology (archaeology, biological and cultural anthropology, and linguistics). Through lecture as well as discussion of readings and other media, the course covers topics such as major theoretical, historical, and ethical concepts; disability in the archaeological record; disability across the life course; cross-cultural understandings of disability; and intersections with race, gender, and socioeconomic status.
SOCI 2813 Self and Society (3 Credits)
A consideration of various theories of the self and its development through social interaction. Emphasis is given to the stages of the life course as they are shaped by broader institutional and historical forces, as well as to the fit or lack of fit between the needs of the individual and the functioning of collectivities. A critical review of the evolution from pre-modern to modern identity, and from modern to postmodern identity, and how these processes are filtered through the cultural frame of reference of particular groups and societies.
SOCI 2910 Research Methods (3 Credits)
Introduction to social science research. How we collect and generate quantitative and qualitative data, what statistics mean. Problem selection and conceptualization; formulating research hypotheses and propositions; research design; sampling, performing research interviews, working with human research subjects, survey instrument construction; data treatment and analysis procedures such as cleaning, coding, tabulation and cross tabulation of data; proposal preparation. Pre-requisites: SOCI 1101 and MATH 1101 or MATH 1203.
SOCI 2912 Qualitative Research Methods (3 Credits)
This course is designed for social scientiests who wish to learn how to conduct field research, whether in foreign cultures or with different groups within the United States. Students develop, refine and carry out field research projects using qualitative research methods and techniques including participant observation, structured and unstructured interviewing techniques, non-probability sampling, among others. The course will also address ethical issues in social science research including privacy, institutional oversight, rights of the state, and common strategies and solutions. Final research paper is based on original fieldwork.
SOCI 3310 Sociological Theories (3 Credits)
A survey of classical and contemporary approaches to collective life and the transformation of human societies. A major objective is to show the philosophical, moral, cultural and historical foundations of the dominant theoretical orientations in sociology over time. Consideration of the nature of social order and change, agency and constraint, and sociology as an objective and interpretive science. Focus given to the conversational chains that have been established between theorists from differing schools and within any given school.
SOCI 3417 Sociology of Knowledge (3 Credits)
What do we know, how do we "know" it? Examines "knowledge" in society and its relationship to social structure and individual consciousness. Emphasis is on the social construction of reality, the meaning of truth and fact, i. e., scientific, theological and sociological truth compared. How the social attributes of groups as well as individuals affect the production ordering and presentation of "information." The form knowledge will take in a particular society.
SOCI 3420 Crowds-Cults and Revolutions (3 Credits)
This course focuses on the social phenomenon of collective behavior from a multicultural perspective. Revolutions, social protest, fads, trends, social movements and crowd behavior across cultures are examined through comparative analysis.
SOCI 3514 Sociology of Gender (3 Credits)
Advanced exploration of social scientific theory and research on women and men, including such topics as: the social construction and interconnectedness of sex, gender, race, class, and sexuality; how gender operates in everyday social interaction, affecting love, violence, and friendships; how gender inequalities are institutionalized in work, education, religion, and family; and how gender differences and inequalities are implicated in relations of power and politics.
SOCI 3815 Theor. of Devi. and Conformity (3 Credits)
An application of various sociological theories of deviance and conformity to a variety of deviant and conforming attitudes, behaviors, and conditions, including, for example: issues of crime and punishment; legal and illegal drug use; sexual minorities, majorities, and fetishes; body presentation, maintenance, and modification; and public opinion and political dissent. Taught as a seminar, with students responsible for presenting on the assigned readings and assisting in leading discussion.
SOCI 3816 W African Religions in America (3 Credits)
SOCI 3817 Soc of Race and Ethnicity (3 Credits)
SOCI 3884 Special Issues in Sociology (3 Credits)
Topics to be announced by the department. Students should consult the registration handbook for specific titles.
SOCI 3885 Special Issues in Sociology (3 Credits)
Topics to be announced by the department. Students should consult the registration handbook for specific titles.
SOCI 3891 Internship (4 Credits)
SOCI 3892 Internship (3 Credits)
Students work in settings where they can apply their theoretical knowledge and research skills to the practical demands of the workplace. Designed to enhance the competencies of students as they prepare for their careers. Supervision is provided both by the site supervisor and a department faculty member. Students must obtain prior approval from their advisers. Seniors and juniors only.
SOCI 3955 Catholicism and Human Sciences (3 Credits)
Models of integration and tension between Catholicism and the various sciences of human behavior are examined in their historical contexts.
Main controversies--the relationship between facts and values, essentialism vs. anti-essentialism, voluntarism vs. determinism, and relativism vs. objectivism—
are examined from a Catholic perspective that emphasizes how theology and the human sciences “implicate” each other. A Catholic theology of the human sciences is applied to modern and postmodern conditions of life, and contrasted with other Christian as well as non-Christian perspectives.
SOCI 5978 Independent Study (2 Credits)
SOCI 5979 Independent Study (1 Credit)
SOCI 5980 Independent Study (3 Credits)
SOCI 5983 Independent Study (3 Credits)
SOCI 5986 Independent Study (3 Credits)
SOCI 5988 Senior Seminar in Sociology (3 Credits)
A capstone course for majors, which integrates knowledge and skills acquired in the sociology program. Original research paper required that demonstrates mastery of program goals. Topics and approach to be announced by the department and instructor.
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