This course provides an introduction to the field of collective behavior. It will examine contemporary and historical social movements, particularly those used to address social injustices. Theoretical perspectives used to explain and predict movements will be examined. Topics may include movements of the 1960s (e.g., Civil Rights, Black Power, American Indian, Women, Gays and Lesbians, etc.), as well as more contemporary movements (e.g., Environmental, the New American Right, Global Justice, etc.)

This course will examine various environmental issues connected with contemporary society. It will address the connections, relationships and interactions between society and the environment. The major theoretical perspectives and methods used by sociologists to understand environmental issues will be explored. It will examine large social structures and organizations and how individuals affect nature and the environment. The impact of globalization on the environment, and its influence on diverse peoples will be discussed.

This course is an introduction to the field of gerontology. It is multidisciplinary, examining biological, psychological, and sociological issues related to the aging process. Major theories, research methods and concepts in the field of gerontology will be addressed. Cultural and historical changes related to the treatment of the elderly, common stereotypes and attitudes toward aging, and cross-cultural differences will also be addressed in this course. Future issues and trends in Gerontology will be discussed. This course will be one of the courses required in the Gerontology minor.

This course will examine the social aspects of sports and how sports are a social construction that influences how people think, feel, and behave. This course will address various aspects of sports such as social and cultural values, children and sports, stratification in sport, minorities and gender issues in sports, as well as contemporary trends in the field. Finally, this course will examine the relationship between various institutions and sport (family, religion, politics, economy, mass media) as well as social problems in sport.

This volunteer experience requires a minimum of 30 hours in the community. The human service agency setting is selected by the instructor and the students in the course. Graded CR/NC.

Courses on topics of interest to sociology students offered on the basis of need, interest, or timeliness. Prerequisite: 125. Restricted to students with freshman or sophomore standing. May be repeated for credit. For specific section description, click to the Section Details in VitNet.

Non-classroom experiences in the field of sociology. Placements are off-campus, and may be full- or part-time, and with or without pay. Credit for experiences must be sought prior to occurance, and learning contracts must be submitted before the end of the first week of the semester. See the Experiential Learning: Internship section of this catalog for more details. Senior standing required. Graded CR/NC.

Independent reading and/or research under the supervision of a faculty member. Refer to the academic policy section for independent study policy. Independent study contract is required. Prerequisite: 125. May be repeated for credit.

This course takes a sociological perspective on the subject of death. This means that the course is not designed to be therapeutic (e.g., it does not teach students how to grieve "properly" nor does it offer a systematic method for coping with death). Instead, we will adopt an analytical approach and examine the social aspects of death and dying. We will focus specifically on the variations in the ways that human beings interpret, react to, and deal with the biological phenomenon of death.

This course is designed to provide students with a sociological framework for analyzing gender arrangements in contemporary American society. It will examine the significance of social forces in shaping differences between men and women as well as the social problems created by rigid gender expectations. It will also explore gender inequality within major social institutions, focusing on mensand womens different experiences of and opportunities within work, family, sexuality, and medicine. Prerequisite: 125. SS