Sociology (SOC)
An introduction to the study of society, considering the fundamental concepts of sociology in each of three great areas: social structure, social processes, and social problems. Sociology deals with the way individuals, groups, and institutions are related to one another. This course meets the Social Science requirement in the Professional Studies Program. (School for Professional Studies Course).
An introduction to the study of society, considering the fundamental concepts of sociology in each of three great areas: social structure, social processes, and social problems. Sociology deals with the way individuals, groups, and institutions are related to one another.
Terms Typically Offered: Fall and Spring.
This course provides students with a sociological perspective of marriage and family living. Themes include: the social construction of gender and the consequences for relationships and social institutions; intimacy in family relationships; communication, conflict and stress in the family; the realities of parenting; integrating work and family life; separation divorce and remarriage; later life families. This course meets the Social Science requirement in the Professional Studies program. (School for Professional Studies Course).
A selective sociological analysis of major problems confronting American society, discussion of individual and social disorganization, poverty, urbanization, deviancy, effects of mass media, and other issues.
This course is cross listed with KINE-258. This class will examine the historical and contemporary interpretations of the role of play, games, sports, dance, fitness, and recreation in a variety of cultures. This class will also address sociocultural issues such as gender, socioeconomic status, race and ethnicity in sport. This course is only offered odd years in the Fall.
Terms Typically Offered: Fall, odd years.
A course in basic statistical concepts and methods of collecting, summarizing, presenting, and interpreting data in the behavioral sciences; including descriptive statistics (use of graphs and charts), normal distribution curve, measures of central tendency, deviation and dispersion, hypothesis testing, statistical fallacies, correlation, and topics in probability. Students majoring in Psychology, Sociology or History/Political Science must take PSYC-265C or SOC-265C to fulfill the core curriculum requirement in mathematics and the major requirement.
Terms Typically Offered: Fall and Spring.
This is a survey course that introduces students to the motivations for criminal behavior and societal responses to them. Law, crime, and crime control will be presented as social phenomena that can be adequately understood only in terms of larger social and cultural contexts.
Terms Typically Offered: On Demand.
This couse is cross-listed with CRMJ-306. This course introduces students to the history of policing and provides an overview of recent approaches to policing. This course also includes an in-depth examination of police behavior, discretion, and community responses and attitudes toward law enforcement.
This course is cross-listed with CRMJ-308. This course covers key theories about the causes of terrorism, including social-psychological theories about the individual to macro-level theories about which countries experience terrorism and why. Students will learn about types of terrorism including suicide terrorism, state terrorism, ecoterrorism, and revolutionary terrorism. Various responses to terrorism are considered, including the law, media representations of terrorism, and human rights repercussions.
This course will introduce students to the profession of social work across a variety of contexts. Special attention will be given to the values supporting social work, areas/fields of practice, and the social functions filled by social workers.
This course is cross-listed with PSYC-312. This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the study of death and dying. This course will discuss the intellectual, emotional, social, psychological, experiential and spiritual aspects of death and loss as part of one's personal discovery.
In this introduction to the field of community development we explore the historic roots of poverty and development as well as some of the key theories and methods in the field. We will explore the ingredients that connect communities and the ways in which communities can advocate for the design of programs and initiatives which reflect their needs and values. The course includes case studies from both local and international contexts. Out of this course, students will develop a specific assessment plan for a group in which they are interested.
The study of change, its processes and consequences in non-Western and contemporary societies. Special emphasis will be given to cross-cultural change involving migrants, minorities, and religious contacts as well as change at the personal level.
This course is cross-listed with PSYC-324. An examination of interpersonal behavior as it is influenced by social processes, culture, face-to-face interactions, and personality characteristics; including interpersonal and group behavior in relationship to social values, norms, attitudes, roles, and social needs.
The institutions of marriage and the family are explored from the sociological perspective which emphasizes the influence of societal norms on human behavior and social structures. Commonly held conceptions of traditional marital forms and alternative forms of cohabitation both historical and modern are examined using the analytical tools of social science theory, research methods, and statistics.
Gender as a social construction with powerful consequences is explored in this course along with those cultural values and ideologies which perpetuate the discourse of differences. Contemporary studies of gender cross-culturally will enable an appreciation of the broad diversity in the application of gender constructs and their resultant cultural effects.
This course is cross-listed with PSYC-336. This course examines the phenomena of social crises and emergencies. It will examine Crisis Theory, response, coping skills and intervention methods. Implications for gender, race, social class, and diverse backgrounds will be explored in light of how those differences influence differing needs, norms, and ways of coping.
This course introduces the multifaceted discipline of public health. Students will consider current public health problems such as diabetes, infant mortality, the aging of the U.S. population and health inequalities. In addition, students will learn about the core functions and essential services of public health in both the U.S. and around the world.
The objective of this course is to provide students with an overview of Child Welfare practice and how it has shaped legislation, policy, advocacy and services for children and families in the United States. This course will also examine competencies, knowledge and skills that are essential for child welfare social workers to perform their work with children and families.
This course focuses on the distribution of power and resources across racial and ethnic/cultural groups, class structure, and gender. Phenomenological, institutional, and structural aspects of prejudice and discrimination are examined using the matrix of domination (the intersection of attributes related to class, race, ethnicity and gender) to explore the life experiences of individuals.
This course is cross-listed with PSYC-344. Investigates the identification, causes, and prevention of all types of intrafamily abuse: child, spouse, sibling, and parent. Explores theories and research findings for practical application. Studies the sociocultural contexts in which abuse and violence occur. For students whose careers will bring contact with victims and/or perpetrators of family violence.
This course is cross-listed with PSYC-346. Human Sexuality provides an overview of human sexual anatomy, gender identify, sexual orientation and expression, and the ways that contexts affect sexual meanings. Must have junior or senior class standing.
The social structural approach to the study of religion, with particular emphasis on American society. Examines personal religious experience and expressions, structural forms, systemic relationships between religious systems and other social subsystems.
This class meets at the Orange County jail and provides an overview of the study of crime as a social phenomenon. It focuses on the perspectives, meanings of, theories about, correlates of, consequences from, and societal responses to crime. Students in this course will meet at the jail for class each week.
The causes of juvenile delinquency are reviewed from a broad social systems perspective. Delinquent crimes, gang activity and violence are studied, as is the system of juvenile justice. Course is designed for those who will be working with juveniles.
An introduction to the theorists and theoretical models which result from examination and analysis of our empirical world of social relations, social structures, and social institutions.
Prerequisite: SOC-100C
Terms Typically Offered: On Demand.
Examines the major qualitative and quantitative research methods used in applied Sociology. Particular emphasis will be given to design, preparation, and process of applied social research. Introduces students to various methods including unobtrusive observation, structured and unstructured interviewing, and survey research.
Introduces students to computer software utilized by social researchers to compile, manage and analyze data as a product of research.
Co-Requisite: SOC-369
Terms Typically Offered: On Demand.
A study of urban life with emphasis on its organization, unique functions, and problems.
Explores how societies decide what behaviors are deviant, how they attempt to prevent and/or correct deviance and the consequences to the offenders and the social structures in which they occur. Emphasis is given to research that describes deviance, theories which explain the social conditions contributing to the emergence and perpetuation of deviance, and the analysis of society's programmed efforts to resolve the problems deviance produces.
Explores the social forces that shape the health and illness of populations, the changing social definitions of wellness and social expectations. The course examines the role of society and culture in wellness-related decision making and health-care delivery systems.
This course will discuss topics of immigration and demographic change as interconnected social phenomena and will explore different generational cohorts as social forces that contribute to suburbanization, American consumerism, the birth and rebirth of social movements and various subcultures.
This course explores sociological explanations of migration to understand voluntary and involuntary movement of refugees and migrants. The course discussion includes the history of global refugee responses, immigration policies in the U.S. and its growing population of undocumented migrants and refugees, and global political instabilities and subsequent displacement of people from their places of security. The course aims to achieve deeper understanding of diversity embedded in migration stories, intended and unintended consequences of our reactions to refugee crises, and the social significance of development and globalization.
Provides an overview of modern adult corrections, specifically probation, parole, incarceration, community-based corrections, and prevention programs. Includes survey of history, application and theory of punishment philosophies and practices. Studies contemporary correctional policies, practices, and issues.
This course is cross-listed with PSYC-382. This course examines the distribution of mental illness throughout society, the social conditions of processes that contribute to mental illness and mental health, and the individual experience of being labeled and treated as mentally ill.
Course considers social science approaches to the analysis of economic development and change with special attention given to contemporary development concerns as perceived at the local level. The organization of large- and small-scale development organizations, including non-government organizations, in non-Western settings will also be examined.
Students may be a teaching intern for classes they have previously taken. Regular hours each week for classes and/or meetings are established at the beginning of the semester. The intern will assist the instructor in course-related activities. May be repeated for a maximum of six units. Must be Junior or Senior standing with a GPA of 3.0 or above and the permission of the instructor.
Terms Typically Offered: Fall and Spring.
The student assistant will be assigned to work on various steps of the research process from the formulation of the problem through the analysis of the data and preparation of the research report in written and/or oral formats. May be repeated for a maximum of six units.
Field experience in a social service agency such as an outpatient health facility, a community organization, or a social program. This course is controlled by the instructor and all field sites must be approved by the professor. The course instructor and the university manage the course requirements and responsiblities which may include a research paper, weekly journals, and various written assignments. The course requires weekly interaction between professor and student as well as training and preparation that are comparable with other courses within the major. Thirty hours of field experience will be required for each credit hour. Must take 3 units during the first semester. May be repeated for 1-4 units in a subsequent semester.
This course provides an in-depth research experience. Students work closely with a faculty mentor at all levels of the research process from the development of a conceptual framework and articulation of the research question to the creation of the research instrument, collection of data, and analysis of key findings. Students will submit an empirical research paper at the end of the term with the opportunity to present their research in a number of academic conferences and colloquia. Must take 3 units during the first semester. May be repeated for 1-4 units in a subsequent semester.
This course provides in-depth research or internship experience. Students work closely with a faculty mentor who must approve the research or internship plans and who oversees their progress. Students will present their research findings or field experience at a conference or poster session. Students must take 3 units the first semester and may repeat the course for 1-4 units in a subsequent semester.
Study of a special topic in one of the fields of sociology. May be repeated for credit. Special topic courses are developed by faculty according to student interest and are offered periodically.
May be repeated for credit.
This course is designed to serve as a rite of passage for graduating seniors. It particularly is intended to assist the student in integrating the multifaceted aspects of their educational experience with their short- and long-term life goals. This course fulfills the Core Curriculum Capstone requirement for Sociology majors.
Terms Typically Offered: On Demand.