Courses

Focuses on sociology's contributions to the development of social psychology as they relate to identity, emotion, faceto-face interaction and group dynamics.

Critically examines the relationships between the social sciences and the legal system with particular attention to the participation of mental health professionals in the resolution of legal issues. Analyzes select socio-legal controversies that lie at the forefront of this emerging inter-disciplinary relationship.

This course is intended to: 1) help students learn the complexity and diversity of social work practice; and 2) help students learn the basic skills necessary to carry out social casework and social group work. Students must come to class prepared to participate in individual and/or group exercises designed to develop these skills.

Examines the contributions of major classical and contemporary sociological thinkers and schools of thought and the contexts in which they developed, with a special emphasis on applying their ideas to the analysis of various social issues. Course begins with selected classical thinkers but emphasizes current perspectives and developments. Restricted to sociology majors only.

A theory and survey course designed to provide the student with a background in the issues facing individuals as they age. Instruction offers theory, survey of field of aging and discussion.

Examines the ways in which feelings and emotions are socially and culturally produced, defined, and learned, the ways they are embedded in and emblematic of society, and the consequences of the social construction of emotions for self identity, gender, race and ethnicity, aging, health and illness, inequality, power, work, deviance, ethics, law, etc.

A sociological analysis of the family as a social institution. Considers key concerns for contemporary families such as communication and power, household labor, marriage and cohabitation, parenthood, and domestic violence. Addresses the role of social institutions and social inequality in shaping family norms and constraints on family behavior.

This course focuses on gender as a social construction, exploring how gender inequality is reproduced and maintained in everyday life.

This course examines the borderless nature of diseases. The emphasis is on the health problems of people in developing countries. Special attention is paid to the historical and social context of health outcomes. In addition, consideration is given to the differences in health outcomes by gender, class, age, and ethnicity.

This course studies the humor of primarily contemporary American culture. The course demonstrates how humor gives keen insight into the character of social roles, social structure, social institutions, subcultures and other sociological categories. To determine who laughs at what and why, we analyze jokes, movies, television programs and commercials, humorous writings, standup comedy, and other ways of communicating the comic.