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Sociology,
Anthropology, Criminology, Family Studies
Professor Meyers,
Chair
Assistant Professors Brown, Hoskin and Thompson
Instructor Abodalo
Lecturers Kovarie and Lash
Courses
GENERAL
SOCIOLOGY COURSES
SOC
105 |
Introduction to Sociology – Individual and Society
A general study, emphasizing the concepts and methodologies
through which the sociologist investigates the nature of the
social structure and the social processes related to individual
behavior.
Satisfies General Studies Social Science Requirement.
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SOC
201 |
Introduction to Sociology – Social Institutions and Problems
An introduction to the sociology of social problems. This
course concentrates on the sociological analysis of significant
problems as they relate to the social institutions in contemporary
American society and their global counterparts. It provides
an introduction to the sociological research and literature
concerning major social problems such as health care, public
education, poverty, racism, sexism, etc.
Satisfies General Studies Social Science Requirement.
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SOC
207 |
Statistics
An introduction to the theory and practice of basic statistical
analysis. Topics considered include the organization and tabulation
of raw and grouped data, graphical presentation of univariate
and multivariate distributions, central tendency and variability
measures, elementary probability theory with binomial applications,
the theory of sampling and the central limit theorem, one
and two sample tests of hypotheses concerning means and proportions,
the analysis of variance and regression.
Satisfies General Studies Quantitative Reasoning Requirement.
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SOC
251 |
Crime and Deviance
An introduction to the sociology of deviance as it relates to
criminal behavior. An analysis of crime and delinquency, as
well as the cultural implications of conformity and deviance
in society, are the major topics of the course. Sociocultural
definitions of deviance and conformity will be investigated
as they relate to their causes, prevalence, and sanctioning.
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SOC
261 |
The Family
An analysis of the marriage-family institution in society
in an historical and sociocultural frame of reference. The
institution of the family is examined in its variety of forms
and functions within world cultures. These functions are explored
in relation to other social systems and institutions. Aspects
of social and cultural change are studied within the context
of the family system as they relate to both society and individuals.
Satisfies General Studies Social Science Requirement.
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SOC
302 |
Juvenile Delinquency
Patterns of juvenile delinquency are examined within the framework
of the social definition of the adolescent years in American
society and the response of the criminal justice system to behavior
which society has deemed deviant. Within this framework the
course will focus on the conflicting expectations and opportunities
available to youth in American society, the operation of the
juvenile justice system including the formal and informal processing
of those whose age specific behavior is defined as “delinquent”,
the patterns and trends in delinquent behavior, the major theoretical
perspectives used to account for and explain juvenile delinquency,
and the range of options society has to control, punish, reward
or treat those who exhibit delinquent behavior. |
SOC
305 |
Terrorism
This course examines the concept of terrorism through a comprehensive
overview of the many disciplines the subject crosses. Various
positions on issues of controversy, fear, and prevention are
examined. Illustrations of cultural, historical, tactical
factors, and social causes of some of the major forms of terrorism
will be addressed. An integrated approach to the subject will
include domestic and international issues as well as the importance
of security techniques and intelligence gathering. Case studies
of terrorist groups and their activities will be presented.
Prerequisite: SOC 251
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SOC
307 |
Organized Crime
This course examines criminal activities carried out through
criminal organizations and focuses on organized crime as it
related to cultural history, assimilation processes and the
characteristics of American society which have fostered its
growth and success. Trends in organized crime in terms of
ethnicity, structure and activities will be investigated.
Law enforcement strategies and tactics used to control organized
crime will also be examined.
Prerequisite: SOC 251
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SOC
309 |
Criminal Corrections
This course focuses on the alternatives available to provide
sanctions to those convicted of criminal deviance. Taught
by a sitting criminal court judge, the course looks at criminal
sanctions in terms of the Constitution, efficacy, and judicial
discretion. Particular attention is paid to the purpose of
criminal corrections within the context of individual rights
and society’s desire for punishment, protection and rehabilitation.
Prerequisite: SOC 251
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SOC
312 |
Family Relations
A study of family relations across the lifespan. Psychological,
sociological, legal, and cultural influences on family functioning
are emphasized. Topics include premarital relationships, sexuality,
sex roles, domestic violence and family crises. |
SOC
313 |
Human Services
for Families and Children
The development and evolution of legislation, programs and services
for families and children will be analyzed. This course focuses
on the social problems of poverty, drug addiction, domestic
violence, sexual abuse and limited health services as experienced
by children through their family structures and organization.
Students will be exposed to the range of private and public
human services through examining program goals and the operation
of these parts of the human services network. |
SOC
324 |
Social Aspects
of Health
The study of the normative aspects of health and of illness
diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation in contexts of the
community and social organization. Special emphasis is given
to such topics as the organization of medical care, the practitioner,
and the consumer aspects of health care. |
SOC
403 |
Research Methods (W)
An exploration of the application of the basic tenets of scientific
research to social science topics. Topics investigated include
the formalization of research topics, the isolation and operationalization
of theoretical concepts, the construction of hypotheses, sampling
theory and alternative means for selection, study design selection
and evaluation, data collection techniques, and the organization
of empirical data for hypothesis testing.
Prerequisite: SOC 207
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SOC
411 |
Development of Social Theory
An exploration of the evolution of social thought leading
to the systematic and scientific basis of modern sociology.
Prerequisite: Senior Standing or Permission
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SOC
482 |
Internship
An off-campus placement in a human service, community, criminal
justice, health care or business setting. Students are under
supervision of both a faculty member and an employee of the
sponsoring organization. Students must complete at least one
hundred hours of study during one semester of the academic
year and complete a project related to the sponsoring organization.
Prerequisites: Senior standing and permission of
the department.
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SOC
490 |
Senior Seminar in Sociology
An advanced research seminar which focuses on conducting a
hypothesis-testing empirical research project on a topic of
interest to the student. Building on the content of SOC 403,
this course concentrates on the collection and analysis of
social science data and culminates in the writing of the senior
thesis.
Prerequisites: Senior standing, SOC 403 and 207.
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ANTHROPOLOGY
COURSES
ANT
204 |
Introduction to Anthropology
The science of culture focuses on the learned behavior of
the human species. Cross cultural comparisons of a variety
of human behaviors provide insights to the question of what
it means to be human.
Satisfies General Studies Social Science Requirement.
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ANT
206 |
Food and Culture
The focus of this course is human foodways, in particular
the social uses and meanings of food. Topics include how culture
shapes taste; food, social metaphors and the objectification
of emotions; food sharing and rituals of solidarity; food
avoidance, the life cycle, and taboos; food and identity (ethnic
and national); food and religion; food and gender; and food
in historical perspective. Ethnographic data from around the
world, especially from Latin America, will be employed. Although
the course occasionally addresses the biology of nutrition,
the main objective of the course is to explore food folklore.
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ANT
210 |
Culture and Environment
Culture and environment is a survey course, which examines
how human cultures both fashion and are fashioned by their
environment. We will explore adaptations to distinct environments,
subsistence strategies among food collectors and food producers,
indigenous systems of knowledge, human-induced environmental
changes, management of common-property resources, conservation
of biodiversity, resource sustainability, and environmental
ethics from a cross-cultural standpoint. The course will be
of interest to anyone concerned with the future of our natural
environment, the comparative study of cultures, economics,
public policy, the natural sciences, sociology, anthropology,
and history.
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ANT
253 |
Crime, Culture
and Conflict Resolution
This course introduces students to the "law ways" of different
societies, in particular non-industrialized societies. The goal
is to explore the extent to which different societies employ
coercion, punishment and consensus in order to maintain order
and resolve conflicts. Topics include rules and crime: the cultural
basis of right and wrong, informal and ritualized disputing,
conflict theory and conflict resolution (avoidance, community
action, ritual reconciliation, negotiation and mediation), oaths,
ordeals, and punishment, adjudication and codified law, feuding,
raiding and warfare (internal and external). |
ANT
263 |
Sex, Gender and Culture
This course introduces students to the diversity of roles
that men and women occupy in a wide variety of societies.
The course covers topics such as the biological basis of sex
differences, primate studies as windows into human sexuality
and social life, feminist perspectives on evolution, gender
complementarity, the cultural construction of gender differences,
religious ideas about women as both polluting and powerful,
notions of masculinity (vis-á-vis femininity), and the impact
and spread of capitalism on the position of men and woman.
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ANT
315 |
Gender, Environment and Development
In this course we explore the links between processes of environmental
change, models of development, and gender differentiation.
Representative topics include cultural values that drive land
use decisions among tribal, peasant and urban populations,
men’s and women’s production roles, including their work as
householders, merchants, laborers, agricultural producers,
and managers of natural resources; gender, technology and
technology transfer between North and South; the informal
economy and micro-industries; population control, migration,
and urban growth; and social stratification and the inequitable
distribution of resources. The course content includes readings
on Africa, Latin America, Asia and the United States.
Prerequisite: ANT 204
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ANT
326 |
Illness and Healing
In this course we will study different cultural perspectives
on illness, healing, and health. Medical systems are explored
as cultural systems with their own notions of efficacy, and
well being, and their own structures of knowledge and power.
Topics include: folk medical beliefs and practice, patients
and healers in comparative medical systems, epidemics and
social control, cultural practices that inhibit or encourage
disease; the medicalization of the life cycle; and the political
economy of health care. This course will be of special interest
to premedical students in the allied health professions. Satisfies
IDS requirement.
Prerequisite: ANT 204
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