Sociology (B.A., Minor)
Sociology is the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior. Sociologists investigate the structure of groups, organizations, and societies, and how people interact within these contexts. Since all human behavior is social, the subject matter of sociology ranges from the intimate family to the hostile mob; from organized crime to religious cults; from the divisions of race, gender, social class to the shared beliefs of a common culture; and from the sociology of work to the sociology of sports. In fact, few fields have such broad scope and relevance for research, theory, and application of knowledge.
Sociology provides many distinctive perspectives on the world, generating new ideas and critiquing the old. The field also offers a range of research techniques that can be applied to virtually any aspect of social life: street crime and delinquency, corporate downsizing, how people express emotions, welfare or education reform, how families differ and flourish, or problems of peace and war. Because sociology addresses the most challenging issues of our time, it is a rapidly expanding field whose potential is increasingly tapped by those who craft policies and create programs. Sociologists understand social inequality, patterns of behavior, forces for social change and resistance, and how social systems work. Sociology is an exciting discipline with expanding opportunities for a wide range of career paths.
Individual attention is the hallmark of the sociology program at Aurora University. Each student meets every term with faculty to discuss his or her course selection, academic progress, and professional goals. The flexibility of the program also provides students with the opportunity to develop and pursue individual interests and either double major or acquire additional minors. Sociology blends very well with business administration, criminal justice, psychology, political science, communication or education, as well as with ethnic studies, gender studies, international studies or religion.
Upon completion of our program students either go to graduate schools or find employment in the following areas: social services – where skills other than social work are central; in rehabilitation, case management, group work with youth or the elderly, recreation, or administration; community work – community planning and development; in fund-raising for social service organizations, nonprofits, child-care or community development agencies, or environmental groups; corrections – in probation, parole or other criminal justice work; business – where understanding of human relations is critical; in advertising, marketing and consumer research, insurance, real estate, personnel work, training, or sales; various types of applied research; college settings – in admissions, alumni relations, or placement offices; health services – in family planning, substance abuse, rehabilitation counseling, health planning, hospital admissions, and insurance companies; publishing, journalism, and public relations – in writing, research, and editing; government services – in federal, state, and local government jobs in such areas as transportation, housing, agriculture, and labor; teaching – in elementary and secondary schools, in conjunction with appropriate certificate.
MAJOR IN SOCIOLOGY -
Required Courses: 16 semester hours
SOC1100 Principles of Sociology (4)
SOC/PSY3500 Research and Statistical Methods (4)
SOC4310 Seminar in Classical Sociological Theories (4)
SOC4320 Seminar in Contemporary Sociological Theories (4)
Selected Courses: Choose at least 15 semester hours from the list below:
SOC2150 Cultural Anthropology (3)
SOC/CRJ2300 Criminology (3)
SOC2940,3940 Career Investigation Field Experience (3)
SOC3350 Race, Ethnicity, and Power (4)
SOC/PSC3400 Social Problems in Urban Society (4)
SOC/PSY3430 Gender, Sexuality, and Society (4)
SOC/PSY3450 Social Psychology (3)
SOC/PSC3480 Globalization and Social Change (4)
SOC3550 Women, Men, Family, and Diversity (4)
SOC3810 Special Topics (2-4)
SOC4500 Human Rights and Social Justice (4)
SOC4940 Community Research Internship (4)
SOC4980 Independent Study (2-4)
MINOR IN SOCIOLOGY - 18 semester hours
Required Course:
SOC1100 Principles of Sociology (4)
Selected Courses: ‡
Select an additional 14 semester hours from the Sociology program.
SOCIOLOGY COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
SOC1100 Principles of Sociology 4 semester hours
The course is an introduction to the systematic study of human society. Students learn about the impact of society and culture on individuals and about the role of individuals in the construction of social life and culture. They develop sociological imagination and sociological mindfulness and learn how to apply the new skills to the interpretation of social reality and their own experience. They are introduced to the major social institutions and the basic processes of human interaction resulting in social change. They learn contemporary sociological theories, and design and conduct their own field research project.
No prerequisites.
Meets General Education “Knowing Ourselves and Others” Group A requirement.
SOC2150 Cultural Anthropology 3 semester hours
The course introduces students to culture defined as a key aspect of human adaptability and success. Students learn about the process of development of our essentially human characteristics, both biological and cultural, including language, customs, and institutions that make up the ways of life of social groups. A cross-cultural analysis of societies and the multiple functions of culture are discussed. Students are encouraged to develop cultural self-awareness, self-reflection, reduce ethnocentrism, and create new ways of understanding of their own culture.
No prerequisites.
Meets General Education “Knowing Ourselves and Others” Group A requirement.
SOC/CRJ2300 Criminology 3 semester hours
Cross-listed with CRJ2300. For description see CRJ2300.
SOC3350 Race, Ethnicity, and Power 4 semester hours
The course focuses on the sociological analysis of minority groups as they interact with the dominant culture in which they reside. It develops students’ awareness, understanding, and appreciation for the unique experience of distinct cultural and ethnic groups. The complexity of the fabric of social life and the fluidity of the dominant and subordinate status in society are discussed. Stereotypes, prejudices, and discrimination of a wide range of social categories, from age, gender, and race to social class, religion, and ability and the role they play in the shaping of the structures of power are also analyzed.
No prerequisites.
Meets General Education “Knowing Ourselves and Others” Group A requirement.
SOC/PSC3400 Social Problems in Urban Society 4 semester hours
The course reviews issues related to urban development, the changing nature of cities, suburbs and rural areas, both from a global and local perspective. Analysis includes consideration of emerging metropolitan areas, the microstructure of local neighborhoods, suburbanization and the development of edge cities. The discussion focuses on social problems related to economic and political violence. The migratory movements, informal economy, and globalization, as well as the development of nationalisms, multinational corporate economy, and fragmentation, and the impact of these macro processes on everyday life in cities, suburbs, and rural areas are also taken into consideration.
No prerequisites.
SOC/PSY3430 Gender, Sexuality, and Society 4 semester hours
The course focuses on the analysis of the biological, psychological, and social aspects of human sexuality and gender. Topics include human sexuality over the course of life, sex, love, and mate selection, sexual diversity, sexual violence, and the changing relationship between sexuality and various social institutions (e.g. family) and elements of culture (e.g. religion). The discussion also focuses on the interplay between sexuality and gender, on gender development across the life span, and across cultures, the changes in gender expectations over time, and gender in the context of various social institutions. The multicultural and global perspectives constitute the framework for the discussion.
Prerequisite: SOC1100 or PSY1100.
SOC/PSY3450 Social Psychology 3 semester hours
Cross-listed with PSY3450. For description see PSY3450.
SOC/PSC3480 Globalization and Social Change 4 semester hours
The course focuses on the trends in economic, political, social, and cultural globalization, hybridization, fragmentation, and on selected local/community phenomena related to those macro/global changes that occur in our times. Elements of world-systems theory and the theory of culture change, theories of social stratification, of the origin and perpetuation of inequalities in society and in the world, in combination with other current approaches to the explanation of human experience both on the macro and micro levels, will be explored. Questions related to ethics, human rights, individualization, consumerism, politics, and to growing awareness of the ambivalence of human experience will be debated.
No prerequisites.
Meets General Education “Knowing Ourselves and Others” Group A requirement.
SOC/PSY3500 Research and Statistical Methods 4 semester hours
Cross-listed with PSY3500. For description see PSY3500.
SOC3550 Women, Men, Family, and Diversity 4 semester hours
The course examines selected aspects of the situation of women and men in various countries of the world. Particular attention is given to the role that social structure, culture, and group membership play in the process of learning by men and women of their expected social roles and in establishing their respective positions in society. Students also examine the institution of the family from a historical, multicultural and cross-societal perspective. Current issues surrounding the evolving structure and functions of the family in different societies are explored. Selected social issues, such as gender inequalities, parenthood, domestic violence, and examples of family related social policies, are also included.
No prerequisites.
SOC4310 Seminar in Classical Sociological Theories 4 semester hours
The course is an invitation to the field of sociology, with an examination of prevailing sociological perspectives and their relation to researchable questions. Readings from classical sociological theorists on selected topics build the foundations for students’ individual research. Examples of the past conceptualizations of specific social and cultural issues broaden students’ perspective of sociology as a discipline. Students explore research methodology including sampling and questionnaire construction. They select a research topic and conduct a review of relevant sociological literature, analyzing the literature in terms of sociological perspectives as well as content. They also prepare the tools necessary for the empirical part of their research.
Prerequisites: SOC1100 and additional coursework in Sociology.
SOC4320 Seminar in Contemporary Sociological Theories 4 semester hours
The course is an invitation to the field of sociology, with an examination of prevailing sociological perspectives and their relation to researchable questions. Readings from contemporary and postmodern sociological theorists on selected topics build the foundations for students’ individual research. Examples of the most recent conceptualizations of specific social and cultural issues broaden students’ perspective of sociology as a discipline. Students conduct their research project initiated during the course of SOC4310, collect data, analyze and interpret them and write the final paper.
Prerequisite: SOC4310.
SOC4500 Human Rights and Social Justice 4 semester hours
The course focuses on both domestic and international issues related to violation of human and/or civil rights, to various forms of intra- and international violence, and social injustice. Selected examples of economic, social and cultural victimization, wars, genocidal and terrorist actions are explored. The resulting health care challenges, such as malnutrition, HIV/AIDS, trafficking of humans and human organs are also included. Issues of nonviolent social change, peaceful conflict resolution, and possibilities for a “new world order” are analyzed.
No prerequisites.
Meets General Education “Knowing Ourselves and Others” Group A requirement.
SOC4940 Community Research Internship 4 semester hours
Students are individually placed with community organizations and agencies where they carry out research on topics of concern to those social entities. They utilize tools of participant observation and focused interviewing during their internships. Internship guidelines are provided.
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.
Please note:
The information listed on this page is current according to the 2006-2008 Undergraduate Catalog, unless otherwise noted.
‡ This information has been added since the printing of the 06-08 Undergraduate Catalog.
±This information is additional information specific to the Web site, not provided in the Undergraduate Catalog.
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