SOCIOLOGY MAJOR
EMPHASIS AREAS
EMPHASIS (9 credits)
Choose three courses from one of the following areas of emphasis:
POLITICAL ECONOMY OF SOCIETY
Courses analyze the historical role the political economy of capitalist inequality plays in shaping social relationships
along lines of class, race, gender, sexuality, and environment. It seeks to understand how anti-systemic (i.e. labor,
anti-colonial, civil rights, sexual liberation, environmental, etc.) movements have strategized to challenge the specific
forms of coercion that have characterized the social relations of capitalism for over 400 years.
SOC 273
Sociology of Gender
SOC 345
Political Sociology
SOC 355
Sociology of Women and Work
SOC 362
Social Change
SOC 389
Wealth and Power in America
SOC 455
Sociology of Work
SOC 456
Complex Organization
SOC 460
Social Problems, Practice and Policy
Other courses with approval of advisor
SOC 400
Special Problems in Sociology
SOC 412
Self and Society
SOC 462
Seminar
SOC 468
Inequality in the Capitalist World System
SOC 473
The Sociology of Sexualities
SOC 482
Sociology and the Global Politics of Food
SOC 493
Gender, Space, and Society: Global Perspectives
FAMILY, HEALTH & AGING
Family courses cover a wide range of family life from social processes to social structures. Family courses examine
interactions between family and other social institutions and social forces. Courses on health examine disease and
illness behavior, health care practitioners and their relationships to patients, health care systems and public policy as
well as ethical issues and the social environment of health and illness. Courses on age and aging explore the social
statuses of a growing older population and its impact on social life, institutions, and public policy. Courses in this
emphasis explore the intersections of family, health, and aging issues as well as the impact on race, gender, sexuality,
and class. These courses examine the historical, social, and global contexts of family, health, and aging. This emphasis
provides students with a background to pursue careers in governmental and nonprofit organizations, policy
development, and advocacy.
SOC 177
SOC 273
SOC 350
SOC 355
SOC 365
SOC 374
SOC 412
SOC 472
SOC 474
Dating, Intimate Relations & Family
Sociology of Gender
Sociology of Age and Aging
Sociology of Women and Work
Social Psychology
Sociology of Family Violence
Self and Society
Sociology of Family
Culture and Family
SOC 475
Sociology of Health and Illness
Other courses with approval of advisor
SOC 310
Social Interaction
SOC 400
Special Problems in Sociology
SOC 460
Social Problems, Practice, and Policy
SOC 462
Seminar
SOC 473
The Sociology of Sexualities
SOCIAL PROBLEMS, DEVIANCE, AND SOCIAL JUSTICE
This emphasis focuses on the consequences of inequality and expressions of power, examines meanings attached to
social problems and labels of deviants in society and explores efforts to create social justice at the macro, micro, and
meso levels. All classes in this area emphasize the connection between local and global social problems and social
justice. Students in this area will be prepared to work in a variety of fields from criminal justice to nongovernmental
agencies. This area also complements majors and minors in criminal justice, social work, education, community
studies, women’s studies, and political science.
SOC 211
SOC 362
SOC 366
SOC 367
SOC 368
SOC 374
SOC 460
SOC 473
Social Myths and Realities of Crime
Social Change
Juvenile Delinquency
Criminology
Social Deviance
Sociology of Family Violence
Social Problems, Practice, and Policy
The Sociology of Sexualities
GLOBAL SOCIOLOGY
Courses in this area explore the interdependence of the world and the unevenness of power relations. Opening
student’s eyes to inequality and social change, we seek to understand intersections among capitalism, patriarchy,
heteronormativity, and racism in a wide range of contexts including environmental change, food, international
development, migration, work, and war. These courses provide students with a strong basis to pursue careers in
nongovernmental organizations, local, state, and federal government, grassroots activism and business or to enter
graduate and professional programs.
SOC 200
The Social Dimensions of Environmental Change
SOC 345
Political Sociology
SOC 355
Sociology of Women and Work
SOC 362
Social Change
SOC 374
Sociology of Family Violence
SOC 412
Self and Society
SOC 467
Sociology of Religion
SOC 468
Inequality in the Capitalist World System
SOC 474
Culture and Family
SOC 475
Sociology of Health and Illness
SOC 482
Sociology and the Global Politics of Food
SOC 493
Gender, Space, and Society: Global Perspectives
SOC 418
China and Globalization
Other courses with approval of advisor
SOC 400
Special Problems in Sociology
SOC 460
Social Problems, Practice, and Policy
SOC 462
Seminar