This is an archived copy of the 2023-2024 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.uwgb.edu.

Sociology (SOCIOL)

Courses

SOCIOL 100. Introduction to Urban Studies. 3 Credits.

Examines the richness and complexity of the human experience in modern cities and their broader regional context. The city is seen as an arena in which interrelationships between enduring human concerns and social institutions are expressed and asks how the city influences these interrelationships. Likewise, in what manner do established institutions and concerns influence the city and the metropolitan region of which they are a part? This course is an exploration of cities and how their broader institutional contexts evolve over time.
Fall and Spring.

SOCIOL 101. Introduction to Sociology. 3 Credits.

Major sociological concepts and ideas and their application to contemporary societies.
Fall and Spring.

SOCIOL 130. Contemporary Social Problems. 3 Credits.

Sociological analysis of the nature, extent, causes, and potential solutions to selected major social problems such as poverty and wealth, racial and gender discrimination, crime and violence, drug abuse, family problems, quality of education, inadequate health care, population problems, intergroup conflict, and threats to the environment.

SOCIOL 160. Sociology of Human Sexuality. 3 Credits.

Sociological overview of issues in human sexuality. Course is based on sociological investigations of the origins, nature and biosocial consequences of varying customs and ideals of human sexuality. Among topics that may be covered are: sex and family life, contraception, abortion and social power, violations of sexual norms and ideas about sexual propriety, origins and impact of sexual liberation movements, sociosexual aspects of epidemics, sociological interpretations of sexual dissatisfactions.

SOCIOL 201. City Life and Globalization. 3 Credits.

The course explores the effect of globalization on people, specifically on urban processes worldwide. This course is comparative in nature and will explore global processes as they challenge people living in urban areas worldwide. The course explores different survival strategies on how to make cities better for a majority of the people.
Spring.

SOCIOL 203. Ethnic and Racial Identities. 3 Credits.

The character of racial, religious and ethnic minority groups; social and economic adjustments in American society; the role of private and public agencies.
P: SOCIOL 101 or ANTHRO 100
Fall Only.

SOCIOL 216. Native American Landscapes:Imagined and Lived Spaces. 3 Credits.

The course will explore the relationship between time and space within Native American cultures. The course will compare North American indigenous landscapes and Andean indigenous landscapes.

SOCIOL 220. Sociology of Marriage and the Family. 3 Credits.

Marriage and the family as social institutions in a changing world. Historical changes and societal variations in family patterns. Changes over the life cycle. Explores the sources and consequences of a variety of family forms.

SOCIOL 231. Crime and Criminal Justice. 3 Credits.

Explores the nature of crime and critically reviews ideas about definitions, causes, and solutions. Includes an introduction to the day-to-day functioning of the criminal justice system, the police, lawyers, courts, and correctional personnel.
Fall Odd.

SOCIOL 235. Introduction to Social Psychology. 3 Credits.

Introduction to the study of social psychology with focus on sociological contributions to the study of social interaction and small group theory; topics may include: socialization, motivation, attitudes, values, communications, leadership.
P: SOCIOL 101
Spring Odd.

SOCIOL 238. Sociological Perspectives on Gender. 3 Credits.

A sociological examination of roles assigned to women and men in society, including the experiences of marriage, parenthood, employment and occupational attainment. Pays particular attention to gender role socialization and its cultural reinforcement, to patterns of gender relations and to ongoing changes.

SOCIOL 246. Juvenile Delinquency. 3 Credits.

Overview of history and theories of juvenile delinquency, family and school relations, and best practices and programs in dealing with juvenile delinquency.
P: None. REC: SOCIOL 101 or ANTHRO 100.

SOCIOL 299. Travel Course. 1-6 Credits.

Travel courses are conducted to various parts of the world and are led by one or more faculty members. May be repeated to different locations.
P: cons of instr & prior trip arr & financial deposit.

SOCIOL 302. Social Stratification. 3 Credits.

Systems of hierarchical ranking in American and other societies, including castes, estates, and social class; classical and contemporary theories of social class and social inequality; intersection of inequalities based on social class, race, gender; studies of social class structure, power, and mobility.
P: SOCIOL 101
Spring Even.

SOCIOL 303. Race and Ethnic Relations. 3 Credits.

Comparative study of race and ethnic relations in the United States and other countries. The focus is on theories of race relations and ethnic stratification and the importance of these issues in national and international perspective. Case studies of ethnic relations in particular countries (e.g., South Africa, Brazil, Malaysia, Lebanon, Soviet Union) will be emphasized.
P: SOCIOL 101 or SOCIOL 203
Fall Odd.

SOCIOL 304. Deviant Behavior. 3 Credits.

Foundations of morality and the relationship between morality and deviance; positive and negative aspects of both deviance and conformity.
P: SOCIOL 101.

SOCIOL 307. Social Theory. 3 Credits.

Critical analysis of classical and contemporary social theories with attention to the social and intellectual context and contemporary application.
P: SOCIOL 101
Fall Even.

SOCIOL 308. Sociology of the Family. 3 Credits.

A sociological approach to marriage and families in American society: historical changes in family life; the problems of defining family; social class; ethnicity and gender as key variables in family power; life transitions; and divorce and remarriage.
P: sophomore standing AND SOCIOL 101 or PSYCH 203 or ANTHRO 100
Fall Only.

SOCIOL 310. Urban Sociology. 3 Credits.

The study of social life and population groups in the urban environment. Our concern is with the social and psychological consequences of city life and the political and economic forces which have produced the industrial and corporate cities of the present day. Other topics include theories of "community," the location of industrial and commercial areas, the distribution of racial and ethnic groups, and urban problems such as poverty, housing, and public services.
P: jr st; and SOCIOL 100 or PUB ADM 202 or SOCIOL 101
Fall Only.

SOCIOL 311. Collective Behavior and Social Movements. 3 Credits.

Structure and processes of crowds, social movements and masses; societal contexts and relationships to social change.
P: SOCIOL 101.

SOCIOL 313. The City Through Time and Space. 3 Credits.

Analysis of human settlement and the influence of social, economic and technological change on urban structure and the aesthetic qualities of city scapes in historical and cross-cultural settings.
P: jr st; and Ur Re St 100 or 341 or GEOG 341.
Spring.

SOCIOL 314. Suburbs. 3 Credits.

The study of suburbanization and suburban lifestyles has long been secondary to general focus on the central city and urban neighborhoods in the urban disciplines (urban geography, urban sociology). In this recentering of urban study on suburban communities, we look at the development of suburbs in the early modern period, the expansion of suburbs in the post-WWII era, and the emergence of a new suburban way of life in the 21st Century.
P: UR RE ST 100
Spring.

SOCIOL 315. Street Gangs in America. 3 Credits.

Organization of and subculture of street gangs in American communities; differences among ethnic/racial street gangs; representation of gang identity through graffiti, tattoos, clothing, music; gang membership and wannabes.
P: SOCIOL 101 or ANTHRO 100 or Ur Re St 100.
Spring Odd.

SOCIOL 320. Sociology of Religion. 3 Credits.

Study of religious institutions and religious movements; sociological theories about the origin of religions; sociological study about the effects of religion in contemporary society.
P: SOCIOL 101 or ANTHRO 100
Fall Even.

SOCIOL 321. Topics in Sociology. 3 Credits.

Explores a single theme from a sociological perspective. Course is repeatable for credit if topics differ.
P: SOCIOL 101
Fall and Spring.

SOCIOL 323. Asian American Communities in the United States. 3 Credits.

Review of Asian immigration to the United States; formation of ethnic communities; prejudice and discrimination against Asian groups; and current issues affecting Asian Americans.
P: jr st; and ANTHRO 100 or SOCIOL 101 or SOCIOL 203 or UR RE ST 100
Spring Odd.

SOCIOL 324. Latino Communities in the United States. 3 Credits.

Survey of Latino communities in the United States, taking an interdisciplinary approach exploring Latino voices from the Humanities and Social Sciences. The course will explore issues of formation of ethnic communities, the diversity among Latino communities and current issues affection Latinos in the U.S. such as immigration policy, bilingual education, and urban issues impacting Latino communities.
Spring Odd.

SOCIOL 325. Research Methods in Sociology & Anthropology. 3 Credits.

Overview of research methods used in sociology and anthropology, including codes of ethics, research quantitative and qualitative methods, role of institutional review board, development of research proposal, and case studies.
P: SOCIOL 101 or ANTHRO 100. REC: PSYCH 205
Spring.

SOCIOL 330. The Sixties. 3 Credits.

Overview of history and events of the 1960s, including Vietnam War, anti-war protests, civil rights, Summer of Love, music and culture.
P: SOCIOL 101 or ANTHRO 100
Spring Odd.

SOCIOL 335. Social Psychology. 3 Credits.

Sociological analysis of the origins and development the self through the socialization process. Emphasis is placed on the social influence of social institutions, organizations, and significant others on identity, behavior and attitudes. Explores the various interactional dynamics involved in social process with an emphasis on analysis of theory and research in sociology.
P: SOCIOL 101 or ANTHRO 103. REC: SOCIOL 235
Spring.

SOCIOL 355. Environmental Sociology. 3 Credits.

Explores the socio-cultural foundations of our relationship with the natural environment. Examines the relationship between environmental degradation and social, political, and economic structures. Explores beliefs and values about the environment and their expression in various forms of environmentalism and environmental movements. Also analyzes the presentation of environmental issues in cultural, political, and scientific domains.
P: SOCIOL 101 or ANTHRO 100
Fall Odd.

SOCIOL 357. Environmental Justice. 3 Credits.

Sociological analysis of how environmental problems such as pollution, ecological destruction, and climate change are experienced differently across race, gender, social class, and region. The focus is on justice and how it operates in social institutions such as economy, politics, science and technology and the larger culture with regard to the natural environment.
Spring.

SOCIOL 375. Sociology of Sexual and Intimate Relations. 3 Credits.

The social construction of intimacy and sexuality in the development of self and personal life with emphasis on gender and intimate experience; changing ideas of love and erotic pleasure; and mass cultural influences on intimate and sexual relations.
P: SOCIOL 101 and two other soc sci courses.
Spring Even.

SOCIOL 404. Criminology. 3 Credits.

Criminology is a survey of the theories and methods sociologists use to study crime and delinquency. The course presents the disciplinary history of criminology and critically examines the structure and function of the criminal law and punishment.
P: SOCIOL 101 or DJS 204
Spring Even.

SOCIOL 495. Teaching Assistantship. 1-6 Credits.

The student and supervising teacher must prepare a statement that identifies the course with which the assistantship will happen, objectives for the assistantship, and expectations in order to fulfill the course objectives. Students are not eligible to receive credit in both the course they assist the instructor with and the teaching assistantship in the same semester. Typically student has previously taken the course prior to enrollment in the assistantship. Course is repeatable for credit.
Fall and Spring.

SOCIOL 497. Internship. 1-12 Credits.

Supervised practical experience in an organization or activity appropriate to a student's career and educational interests. Internships are supervised by faculty members and require periodic student/faculty meetings. Course is repeatable for credit.
P: jr st.
Fall and Spring.

SOCIOL 498. Independent Study. 1-4 Credits.

Independent study is offered on an individual basis at the student's request and consists of a program of learning activities planned in consultation with a faculty member. A student wishing to study or conduct research in an area not represented in available scheduled courses should develop a preliminary proposal and seek the sponsorship of a faculty member. The student's advisor can direct him or her to instructors with appropriate interests. A written report or equivalent is required for evaluation, and a short title describing the program must be sent early inthe semester to the registrar for entry on the student's transcript.
P: fr or so st with cum gpa > or = 2.50; or jr or sr st with cum gpa > or = 2.00.
Fall and Spring.

SOCIOL 499. Travel Course. 1-6 Credits.

Travel courses are conducted to various parts of the world and are led by one or more faculty members. May be repeated to different locations.
P: cons of instr & prior trip arr & financial deposit.