Sociology (Archive 2018-2019)

Sociology Freshmen Only

1.00

Students will explore what Sociology is and begin to learn about the many career opportunities available to students with a Sociology major. They will do career exploration and begin to think intentionally about their college experience to create a career path. Students will also have the opportunity to meet professors in the Sociology department and develop problem-solving skills and strategies for success in college and beyond.

SOC 113 or 116 with "C" or better & one other SOC course. Cannot be taken concurrently with SOC 310,315,or 333.

4.00

How sociologists decide what to study, how they select a research design, sample and collect data, analyze results, interpret findings, and write up reports. Students are introduced to the techniques most frequently used by sociologists and undertake their own small research project. Required for all Sociology majors.

SOC-113 or SOC-116 with a minimum grade of C and 1 additional SOC course. Cannot be taken concurrently with SOC-214

4.00

The question "Why is there crime?" lies at the heart of this course. This class will address what we mean by crime, who gets to define what crime is, how crime can be explained and how it can be reduced. Making sense of crime is essential if we are to respond effectively to victims and offenders. This course offers an in-depth examination of the many different theories of crime. These include biological, psychological, and sociological theories of victimization and offending. The course will study these theories in the context of many different kinds of criminal offending. By the end of the course, students will have a deep understanding of where these theories came from; what their strengths and weaknesses are; whether they are supported by research findings; and what implications these theories have for stopping crime.

SOC 113 or 116 (with a grade of "C" or better) SOC 214, and SOC 315 or 333. Seniors only. Required of all majors.

4.00

This course explores topics in sociology that require students to synthesize and analyze their accumulated sociological learning. Students will research connections to professional development resulting in a career portfolio project. Required of all Senior Sociology Majors

4.00

An introduction to the sociological understanding of human interaction, group process and social structures. Students are introduced to basic concepts, theories and methods of sociological investigation. Majors and minors must pass with a grade of "C" or better.

4.00

An examination of traditional and contemporary problems associated with major social institutions such as the family, economics, government and education. Social forces related to ethnicity, social class, health and welfare, and urbanization are also included. Alternative remedial measures based on behavioral science theories are discussed. Majors and minors must pass with a grade of "C" or better.

4.00

An overview of issues and social variables involved in the pre-arrest and arrest stages followed by a more in-depth analysis of pre-trial, trial, sentencing, and correctional phases. Sociological and criminal justice models are examined and compared with the actual processes and purported functions of criminal justice agencies. Required for all majors in the Crime and Justice Concentration.

4.00

Students will explore factors that attract, repel, and displace crime that explain why community crime levels vary. The course will also examine the influential role that neighborhood characteristics have on the behavior of individuals.

4.00

An investigation of the emergence, organization, and structure of police systems. The course focuses on the conditions surrounding the relationship between the police and policed in different historical, cultural, political, and economic contexts.

4.00

Considers the problems surrounding the legal definition and handling of juveniles who confront the law as offenders, clients and victims. Attention is devoted to the study of the special legal categories and procedures established for juveniles, the problems facing professionals providing juvenile services and the most significant directions of legal and social change affecting youth in our society. Normally offered every year. Fulfills the Sociology Department's Social Policy requirement.

4.00

A sociological exploration of coercive and incapacitative responses to crime. Attention is given to the origins and patterning of segregative controls, the correctional claims of prison systems, alternatives to incarceration and relationships between types of crime, and criminals and varieties of punitive response.

4.00

What happens if you commit a crime on an Indian reservation? Who will prosecute you and how will they punish you? This course will explore the roots of tribal legal systems and criminal law, both the Native and American influences. You will gain an understanding of tribal government, legal systems, criminal law, and the role of tradition in contemporary tribal law. The course will also examine the conflict between Native and Non-Native perspectives on several cases: sovereignty, rights to cultural practices, women, freedom of religion, and land.

4.00

This class explores the images of the traditional "bad" girl in films. The course examines the idea of moving beyond merely the delinquent, many images in film suggest that girls and women who break with the socially condoned role of femininity are somehow bad. Girls and women who have power or challenge authority are often portrayed in films as deviant and therefore "bad". Girls and women who are "frigid" are just as "bad" as their sexually promiscuous silver-screen opposites. This course further focuses on the impact of these images on real life social roles for girls and women as well as the symbiotic relationship between fact and fiction.

4.00

In recent years, public attention to victims of crime has grown enormously. The reasons for this are complex. They include the effects of political organizing by crime victims; increased media attention to crime (often driven by crime stories as entertainment and advertising vehicles); the exploitation of crime victims by the politicians; and long-standing community frustrations with the criminal justice system. This course will examine the rise of public attention to crime, the response of the criminal justice system to victims, and the problems and possibilities regarding new responses to victims of crime. New developments in "restorative justice" will be presented as an emerging alternative to problems victims have reported with the criminal justice system.

4.00

This course provides an overview of youth gangs and their sociological underpinnings, which are rooted in poverty and racism. Topical areas are discussed in relation to these key factors. Study topics include the history of gangs, theories about gang formation and individual membership, gangs and criminal behavior, socio-cultural importance of gangs, and strategies to control gang behavior. The course will utilize current gang issues in the US generally and in Massachusetts in particular as a basis to better understand the nuances of youth gangs.

4.00

Who and what is deviant? How shall the society respond? The course examines a range of deviance theories and associated social policies. A number of case studies will be used to evaluate these theories, such as body piercing, witchcraft, gay and lesbian sexuality, corporate crime, disability, prostitution, violence against women, racism, anti-Semitism, and gangs.

4.00

This course will examine the mechanisms through which U.S. social institutions, particularly schools, facilitate youth involvement in the juvenile and criminal justice systems. These mechanisms include: inequity, disability tracking, zero-tolerance policies, push-out, and the criminalization of adolescent behavior. Students will engage in activities aimed at analyzing these processes and developing methods to disrupt them at the social, political, educational, and instructional levels.

4.00

This course examines the complex relationships between women and crime today. This focus will include women as criminal offenders; women as victims of crime; and women as both offenders and victims. Course materials draw from recent feminist scholarship on these issues in the social sciences. Topics include the causes of women's crime women, drugs, and crime; child abuse and trauma; prostitution and sex trafficking; race, gender and victimization; and feminist social movements against violence. Crimes of violence against women are a central focus in the course.

4.00

This course is designed to give students an overview of Terrorism and its impact on American society. It will examine various aspects of terrorism for a local, national and international perspective. It will examine the consequences of terrorism focusing on social responses and public policy issues.

4.00

Law and legal systems are examined in contemporary society. Emphasis is placed on the manner in which legal structures and processes interact with other social arrangements and are transformed over time.

4.00

This course provides an overview of several different types of justice systems around the world, including the U.S. The overall goals of the course are for students to understand that the manifestations of a 'justice system' exist in multiple forms and that there are strengths and weaknesses to each type of system. Students will better understand that through the cultural context including social, political, historical, and economic factors that shape crime and criminal justice responses. Course may include a study abroad component.

4.00

Incarcerated and criminalized Americans suffer from extraordinarily high rates of physical and mental illnesses ranging from Hepatitis C, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS to bipolar disorder, PTSD, substance abuse, and schizophrenia. This course explores connections between illness and involvement with the correctional system from the perspective of the individual offender as well as in terms of broader American cultural and political patterns.

4.00

This course focuses on the many forms of violence against women, with particular attention to child sexual abuse, rape, and violence and abuse in intimate relationships. These crimes have been the subject of intense political organizing, cultural controversy, and criminal-legal reform over the past 40 years. Together these issues account for a significant portion of the work of the police and the courts. They are also major issues in women's health over the life span. This course will address these issues from psychological, sociological, political, and criminal-legal perspectives.

4.00

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the principles of restorative justice and to examine the programs, practices and policies within schools, juvenile justice and the adult criminal justice system which implement a restorative practices. Restorative justice is a different philosophy of responding to harm which provides new roles for the victim, offender, community and professionals . We will compare a restorative approach to crime with the traditional system of discipline and crime control and critique the shortcomings of an adversarial or retributive response to criminal behavior. We will explore the theoretical and historical origins of traditional justice systems and restorative approaches. We will also examine how these ideas are being applied in practical partnerships between the justice system and the community here in the United States and around the world.

SOC-214

4.00

This course examines crime and place. Students will use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to look at crime patterns and develop crime prevention and reduction strategies. Although this will be a hands on course design, no prior knowledge of GIS or mapping techniques will be required.

4.00

An examination of the relationship between crime, business activity, and technology with special attention to the crimes of the powerful and the changing relationship between economic development and criminal activity.

4.00

Most Americans think of prohibited substances such as marijuana, cocaine or heroin when they hear the word drug. This course will provide an in-depth examination of legal drug use in American society. A broad conceptual framework will be presented that illustrates how history, politics, society and economics all have played a key role in defining certain substances as permissible in America. Fulfills the Sociology Department Social Policy and Globalization requirements.

4.00

Relying on a simplistic demand or supply explanation of why Americans use/abuse drugs obscures the reality of America's drug problem, is ineffective as a guide to public policy and has unforeseen, often negative consequences. Drug use is a complex and multi-faceted issue. There are no easy answers. To comprehend the complexity of America's drug problem one needs an understanding of the geography, history, religion, law, economics and international politics of the Middle and Far East, Eastern Europe, Africa, Mexico, and Central and South America. This class will provide this basic understanding without losing sight that the problem we seek to remedy is our own.

4.00

This course will look at the special opportunities and obligations of those in the health and legal professions to protect human rights. There will be an overview of human rights doctrine and key documents. Students will learn to apply human rights principles to particular occupations in the health and legal professions.

4.00

This course examines U.S. Immigration legislation and policies, focusing on how and why various immigration laws and policies have been established and implemented throughout history. We will address the intersection between immigration policy and race, ethnicity, nationality and socioeconomic status, as well as explore the effects that immigration laws have had on various immigrant groups and society in general.

Sociology Freshmen Only

1.00

Students will explore what Sociology is and begin to learn about the many career opportunities available to students with a Sociology major. They will do career exploration and begin to think intentionally about their college experience to create a career path. Students will also have the opportunity to meet professors in the Sociology department and develop problem-solving skills and strategies for success in college and beyond.

SOC 113 or 116 with "C" or better & one other SOC course. Cannot be taken concurrently with SOC 310,315,or 333.

4.00

How sociologists decide what to study, how they select a research design, sample and collect data, analyze results, interpret findings, and write up reports. Students are introduced to the techniques most frequently used by sociologists and undertake their own small research project. Required for all Sociology majors.

SOC 113 or 116 (with a grade of "C" or better) SOC 214, and SOC 315 or 333. Seniors only. Required of all majors.

4.00

This course explores topics in sociology that require students to synthesize and analyze their accumulated sociological learning. Students will research connections to professional development resulting in a career portfolio project. Required of all Senior Sociology Majors

4.00

An introduction to the sociological understanding of human interaction, group process and social structures. Students are introduced to basic concepts, theories and methods of sociological investigation. Majors and minors must pass with a grade of "C" or better.

4.00

An examination of traditional and contemporary problems associated with major social institutions such as the family, economics, government and education. Social forces related to ethnicity, social class, health and welfare, and urbanization are also included. Alternative remedial measures based on behavioral science theories are discussed. Majors and minors must pass with a grade of "C" or better.

SOC 113 or 116 with a grade of "C" or better and one other SOC course; CANNOT be taken concurrently with SOC 214;

4.00

An examination and comparison of the origin, development and structure of the major theoretical approaches in contemporary sociology. Contributions of different branches of sociology to theory are explored with special attention to the relevance of sociological explanations for society and the social process. Students must have taken SOC 113 or SOC 116 and passed with a "C" or better and one other course from the sociology department. Normally offered every semester.

SOC-113 or SOC-116 with a minimum grade of C and 1 additional SOC course. Cannot be taken concurrently with SOC-214

4.00

The question "Why is there crime?" lies at the heart of this course. This class will address what we mean by crime, who gets to define what crime is, how crime can be explained and how it can be reduced. Making sense of crime is essential if we are to respond effectively to victims and offenders. This course offers an in-depth examination of the many different theories of crime. These include biological, psychological, and sociological theories of victimization and offending. The course will study these theories in the context of many different kinds of criminal offending. By the end of the course, students will have a deep understanding of where these theories came from; what their strengths and weaknesses are; whether they are supported by research findings; and what implications these theories have for stopping crime.

Sociology Freshmen Only

1.00

Students will explore what Sociology is and begin to learn about the many career opportunities available to students with a Sociology major. They will do career exploration and begin to think intentionally about their college experience to create a career path. Students will also have the opportunity to meet professors in the Sociology department and develop problem-solving skills and strategies for success in college and beyond.

SOC 113 or 116 with "C" or better & one other SOC course. Cannot be taken concurrently with SOC 310,315,or 333.

4.00

How sociologists decide what to study, how they select a research design, sample and collect data, analyze results, interpret findings, and write up reports. Students are introduced to the techniques most frequently used by sociologists and undertake their own small research project. Required for all Sociology majors.

SOC 113 or 116 with a grade of "C" or better and one other SOC course; CANNOT be taken concurrently with SOC 214;

4.00

An examination and comparison of the origin, development and structure of the major theoretical approaches in contemporary sociology. Contributions of different branches of sociology to theory are explored with special attention to the relevance of sociological explanations for society and the social process. Students must have taken SOC 113 or SOC 116 and passed with a "C" or better and one other course from the sociology department. Normally offered every semester.

SOC 113 or 116 (with a grade of "C" or better) SOC 214, and SOC 315 or 333. Seniors only. Required of all majors.

4.00

This course explores topics in sociology that require students to synthesize and analyze their accumulated sociological learning. Students will research connections to professional development resulting in a career portfolio project. Required of all Senior Sociology Majors

4.00

An introduction to the sociological understanding of human interaction, group process and social structures. Students are introduced to basic concepts, theories and methods of sociological investigation. Majors and minors must pass with a grade of "C" or better.

4.00

An examination of traditional and contemporary problems associated with major social institutions such as the family, economics, government and education. Social forces related to ethnicity, social class, health and welfare, and urbanization are also included. Alternative remedial measures based on behavioral science theories are discussed. Majors and minors must pass with a grade of "C" or better.

4.00

This course provides students with an introduction to how social norms, structures, and practices shape experiences of illness and health. Among the topics that will be covered are: health and the environment, the reasons some groups of people are less healthy than others, living with chronic illness and disabilities, and public debates surrounding issues such as performance enhancing drugs and sports, Attention Deficit Disorder and the HPV vaccine. Required for all students in the health, Medicine and the Body Concentration.

This course fulfills the ECR requirement.

4.00

In this course students meet community needs by engaging in service-learning outside the classroom. In this course, students will learn about how the U.S. health care system works. We will study the politics and economics of the health care system and discuss the key health care policy issues of this decade. Using the theoretical perspectives provided by sociology, we will look at issues of power, hierarchy, race, and gender vis-a-vis the health care system. Reading for this course centers on first person narratives by people working in the health care system. This course fulfills the ECR requirement.

4.00

An examination of how different cultures understand health and illness. Healing approaches from Asia, Africa and the Americas will be explored.

4.00

This course will explore our natural environment and human interacations with it. We will connect a critical study of society, power, and inequality to the study of our natural environment and the ways it is altered by human behaviors. We will also consider ways to change our society's relationship with the natural environment to keep our earth clean and safe for human society.

4.00

Consideration of the physiological, psychological and social factors associated with the aging process. Contemporary American values toward the elderly are compared and contrasted with historical and cross-cultural studies. Current opportunities and techniques enabling the elderly to enrich and expand their societal roles are explored.

4.00

An examination of human sexuality as experience and institution. Sexuality is considered in relationship to power, love, religion, family, race, gender, sexual orientation, violence and courtship.

4.00

Incarcerated and criminalized Americans suffer from extraordinarily high rates of physical and mental illnesses ranging from Hepatitis C, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS to bipolar disorder, PTSD, substance abuse, and schizophrenia. This course explores connections between illness and involvement with the correctional system from the perspective of the individual offender as well as in terms of broader American cultural and political patterns.

4.00

Most Americans think of prohibited substances such as marijuana, cocaine or heroin when they hear the word drug. This course will provide an in-depth examination of legal drug use in American society. A broad conceptual framework will be presented that illustrates how history, politics, society and economics all have played a key role in defining certain substances as permissible in America. Fulfills the Sociology Department Social Policy and Globalization requirements.

4.00

Relying on a simplistic demand or supply explanation of why Americans use/abuse drugs obscures the reality of America's drug problem, is ineffective as a guide to public policy and has unforeseen, often negative consequences. Drug use is a complex and multi-faceted issue. There are no easy answers. To comprehend the complexity of America's drug problem one needs an understanding of the geography, history, religion, law, economics and international politics of the Middle and Far East, Eastern Europe, Africa, Mexico, and Central and South America. This class will provide this basic understanding without losing sight that the problem we seek to remedy is our own.

4.00

This course will look at the special opportunities and obligations of those in the health and legal professions to protect human rights. There will be an overview of human rights doctrine and key documents. Students will learn to apply human rights principles to particular occupations in the health and legal professions.

4.00

An examination of changing definitions of life and death, social factors affecting causes and rates of death, care of the dying and their families, institutionalization, the funeral industry, suicide, crisis intervention, and the impact of technology on the dying process.

4.00

An exploration of topics that relate particularly to women as providers and consumers in the health care system. The course will consider historical and current information on issues of reproduction, technology, health and illness.

Sociology Freshmen Only

1.00

Students will explore what Sociology is and begin to learn about the many career opportunities available to students with a Sociology major. They will do career exploration and begin to think intentionally about their college experience to create a career path. Students will also have the opportunity to meet professors in the Sociology department and develop problem-solving skills and strategies for success in college and beyond.

SOC 113 or 116 with "C" or better & one other SOC course. Cannot be taken concurrently with SOC 310,315,or 333.

4.00

How sociologists decide what to study, how they select a research design, sample and collect data, analyze results, interpret findings, and write up reports. Students are introduced to the techniques most frequently used by sociologists and undertake their own small research project. Required for all Sociology majors.

SOC 113 or 116 (with a grade of "C" or better) SOC 214, and SOC 315 or 333. Seniors only. Required of all majors.

4.00

This course explores topics in sociology that require students to synthesize and analyze their accumulated sociological learning. Students will research connections to professional development resulting in a career portfolio project. Required of all Senior Sociology Majors

4.00

An introduction to the sociological understanding of human interaction, group process and social structures. Students are introduced to basic concepts, theories and methods of sociological investigation. Majors and minors must pass with a grade of "C" or better.

4.00

An examination of traditional and contemporary problems associated with major social institutions such as the family, economics, government and education. Social forces related to ethnicity, social class, health and welfare, and urbanization are also included. Alternative remedial measures based on behavioral science theories are discussed. Majors and minors must pass with a grade of "C" or better.

4.00

Education is key in a democracy in which students need to develop themselves into knowledgeable people, with a strong sense of self, able to think critically with a developed ability to question others and to feel and act as empowered, active citizens. This is a tall order given the varieties of pressures on schools these days. But it is extremely important for these skills to be developed. With the shift in the economy, schools are going to be the critical factor in enabling students to compete in a globalized workplace and world.

SOC 113 or 116 with a grade of "C" or better and one other SOC course; CANNOT be taken concurrently with SOC 214;

4.00

An examination and comparison of the origin, development and structure of the major theoretical approaches in contemporary sociology. Contributions of different branches of sociology to theory are explored with special attention to the relevance of sociological explanations for society and the social process. Students must have taken SOC 113 or SOC 116 and passed with a "C" or better and one other course from the sociology department. Normally offered every semester.

SOC-113 or SOC-116 with a minimum grade of C and 1 additional SOC course. Cannot be taken concurrently with SOC-214

4.00

The question "Why is there crime?" lies at the heart of this course. This class will address what we mean by crime, who gets to define what crime is, how crime can be explained and how it can be reduced. Making sense of crime is essential if we are to respond effectively to victims and offenders. This course offers an in-depth examination of the many different theories of crime. These include biological, psychological, and sociological theories of victimization and offending. The course will study these theories in the context of many different kinds of criminal offending. By the end of the course, students will have a deep understanding of where these theories came from; what their strengths and weaknesses are; whether they are supported by research findings; and what implications these theories have for stopping crime.

4.00

The goal of the course is to provide a broad overview of children and youth and their place in American society. Particular attention is paid to (1) the impact of geographical location, social class, gender, race, sexuality, popular culture, mass media, and technology; (2)the intersection of youth cultures and mainstream society; and (3) the contention that some youth cultures are "deviant".

4.00

Considers the problems surrounding the legal definition and handling of juveniles who confront the law as offenders, clients and victims. Attention is devoted to the study of the special legal categories and procedures established for juveniles, the problems facing professionals providing juvenile services and the most significant directions of legal and social change affecting youth in our society. Normally offered every year. Fulfills the Sociology Department's Social Policy requirement.

4.00

This course focuses on the exploration and understanding of issues, strategies and frameworks related to developing and implementing youth programs. Students will be exposed to developmental theories, and various components of effective youth programmatic planning. Topics include: conducting needs assessments, developing goals and objectives, logistics planning, recruitment and training, and program evaluation.

4.00

Examines the nature and development of human abilities and the teaching-learning process. Considers the facts and generalizations of child and adolescent growth and development, working with diverse cultures, and special needs children in school settings. Ten hours of field work.

This class fulfills the Expanded Classroom Requirement

4.00- 8.00

In this course students meet community needs by engaging in service-learning outside the classroom. Students complete 35 hours per semester of educational tutoring in a local school (K-5), in conjunction with a weekly seminar on campus. Open to all majors. No previous experience required.

4.00

This course is designed for Jumpstart Corps members to develop competencies in teaching strategies for reading and writing. The course introduces theoretical and instructional issues in the development of literacy skills. Students will be engaged in reflective, critical consideration of students' diverse needs in the acquisition of literacy.

4.00

The relationship between cultural diversity and schooling is explored by examining impediments to academic achievement and advancement by minority students, non-native English speaking students, and other under-represented groups. Topics include: standardized testing, identification of inequities, legal and ethical responsibilities of teachers, and promoting equity. Ten pre-practicum observation hours required for teacher candidates.

4.00

This course examines the specific needs and challenges of the various language and cultural groups in schools. Topics include: theories of 1st and 2nd language acquisition, strategies for teaching academic content, modifying instruction in the mainstream classroom, creating classroom cultures that invite all students into learning, the role of advocacy and professional collaboration in ESL, and analysis of policies related to assessment and placement of English Language Learners.

4.00

This course is an in-depth investigation of policies effecting urban schools; topics include: demographic influence on education, influences of national and state regulations on urban schools, sociological factors unique to urban schools, and in-depth analysis of equity and achievement.

4.00

Examines major current issues of educational policy against the background of demographic trends, technological innovations, standardized testing, and curricular shifts.

4.00

An exploration of the diversity of contemporary families. Comparisons are made between the cultural myths of the "ideal family" and the lived realities. Challenges confronting contemporary families and their implications for social policy are examined in such areas as work/family conflicts, gay and lesbian families, welfare, family violence.

4.00

Despite the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States, race remains one of the most divisive forces in U.S. society. While many of us struggle against racism, racial classification continues to affect where we live, where we work, and how we see ourselves. Racial classification affects our access to health care and our encounters with police officers. Distorted images of racial groups fill television and movie screens. Appeals to racism and fear of foreigners are dominant themes in elections to state and national offices. This course examines the formation and re-formation of racial classifications: how particular groups become racially identified, how these classifications change over time, and how conflicts over race have shaped American society. The meanings of race, as seen from a variety of perspectives, will be a consistent theme throughout the course.

4.00

Enables students to examine, as well as develop an awareness and appreciation of, diversity within today's society. Providing an overview of the major racial, ethnic, and cultural groups in the U.S., the focus is on the ways in which cultural awareness enhances professional helping relationships and improves the operation of human services systems.

4.00

This class explores the images of the traditional "bad" girl in films. The course examines the idea of moving beyond merely the delinquent, many images in film suggest that girls and women who break with the socially condoned role of femininity are somehow bad. Girls and women who have power or challenge authority are often portrayed in films as deviant and therefore "bad". Girls and women who are "frigid" are just as "bad" as their sexually promiscuous silver-screen opposites. This course further focuses on the impact of these images on real life social roles for girls and women as well as the symbiotic relationship between fact and fiction.

4.00

This course provides an overview of youth gangs and their sociological underpinnings, which are rooted in poverty and racism. Topical areas are discussed in relation to these key factors. Study topics include the history of gangs, theories about gang formation and individual membership, gangs and criminal behavior, socio-cultural importance of gangs, and strategies to control gang behavior. The course will utilize current gang issues in the US generally and in Massachusetts in particular as a basis to better understand the nuances of youth gangs.

4.00

This course will provide an in-depth analysis of family dynamics as well as some beginning skills in counseling families. Using a systems approach, students will learn about family roles, sibling constellations and different types of families. The importance of ethnicity and culture in shaping family values and organization will be emphasized. Students will be encouraged to study their own families of origin so they might better understand how families change.

4.00

An examination of human sexuality as experience and institution. Sexuality is considered in relationship to power, love, religion, family, race, gender, sexual orientation, violence and courtship.

4.00

Incarcerated and criminalized Americans suffer from extraordinarily high rates of physical and mental illnesses ranging from Hepatitis C, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS to bipolar disorder, PTSD, substance abuse, and schizophrenia. This course explores connections between illness and involvement with the correctional system from the perspective of the individual offender as well as in terms of broader American cultural and political patterns.

4.00

Education is key in a democracy in which students need to develop themselves into knowledgeable people, with a strong sense of self, able to think critically with a developed ability to question others and to feel and act as empowered, active citizens. This is a tall order given the varieties of pressures on schools these days. But it is extremely important for these skills to be developed. With the shift in the economy, schools are going to be the critical factor in enabling students to compete in a globalized workplace and world.

4.00

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the principles of restorative justice and to examine the programs, practices and policies within schools, juvenile justice and the adult criminal justice system which implement a restorative practices. Restorative justice is a different philosophy of responding to harm which provides new roles for the victim, offender, community and professionals . We will compare a restorative approach to crime with the traditional system of discipline and crime control and critique the shortcomings of an adversarial or retributive response to criminal behavior. We will explore the theoretical and historical origins of traditional justice systems and restorative approaches. We will also examine how these ideas are being applied in practical partnerships between the justice system and the community here in the United States and around the world.

4.00

Most Americans think of prohibited substances such as marijuana, cocaine or heroin when they hear the word drug. This course will provide an in-depth examination of legal drug use in American society. A broad conceptual framework will be presented that illustrates how history, politics, society and economics all have played a key role in defining certain substances as permissible in America. Fulfills the Sociology Department Social Policy and Globalization requirements.

4.00

Relying on a simplistic demand or supply explanation of why Americans use/abuse drugs obscures the reality of America's drug problem, is ineffective as a guide to public policy and has unforeseen, often negative consequences. Drug use is a complex and multi-faceted issue. There are no easy answers. To comprehend the complexity of America's drug problem one needs an understanding of the geography, history, religion, law, economics and international politics of the Middle and Far East, Eastern Europe, Africa, Mexico, and Central and South America. This class will provide this basic understanding without losing sight that the problem we seek to remedy is our own.

4.00

A study of the different types and functions of communities. Through identifying community needs, resources, and structure, students learn effective ways to organize for change.

SOC-113 or SOC-116 and 4 credits of a SOC course at the 200 level or above

4.00

The United States of America: A land of immigrants; "The Great Melting Pot". This country has indeed attracted immigrants from all over the world. However, not all have been welcomed or treated equally. This course will investigate the reasons various immigrant groups (past and present) have come to the United States. We will also examine their experiences and the impact race, ethnicity, gender, class and social structures have had on them. During Spring Break the class will visit Ellis Island and the Tenement Museum in New York and the Lowell National Historical Park in Lowell. The class will also visit various sites in Boston throughout the semester.

This class fulfills the Expanded Classroom Requirement

4.00- 8.00

In this course students meet community needs by engaging in service-learning outside the classroom. Students complete 35 hours per semester of educational tutoring in a local school (K-5), in conjunction with a weekly seminar on campus. Open to all majors. No previous experience required.

4.00

This course is designed for Jumpstart Corps members to develop competencies in teaching strategies for reading and writing. The course introduces theoretical and instructional issues in the development of literacy skills. Students will be engaged in reflective, critical consideration of students' diverse needs in the acquisition of literacy.

4.00

This course examines the specific needs and challenges of the various language and cultural groups in schools. Topics include: theories of 1st and 2nd language acquisition, strategies for teaching academic content, modifying instruction in the mainstream classroom, creating classroom cultures that invite all students into learning, the role of advocacy and professional collaboration in ESL, and analysis of policies related to assessment and placement of English Language Learners.

Students must be Sociology majors with at least a 3.0 GPA; must have at least sophomore status at the time of application; must have one full day free each week to work an internship. Applications for the Internship in Sociology I course must be approved by the Instructor.

4.00

Students are provided with the opportunity to apply academic learning in a supervised internship consistent with their personal career goals or academic interest. The course covers such topics as career exploration and development, resume and cover letter writing, job fairs, and networking, and graduate school applications. In addition to the course assignments, students are required to complete a minimum full day internship each per week during the entire semester.

SOC 483. Students must be Sociology majors with at least a 3.0 GPA; must have at least sophomore status at the time of application; must have one full day free each week to work an internship. Applications for the Internship in Sociology I course must be approved by the Instructor.

4.00

Students are provided an opportunity to intensify or extend their internship experience. The course covers such topics as mock interviewing, informational interviewing, and job fairs.

4.00

An overview of issues and social variables involved in the pre-arrest and arrest stages followed by a more in-depth analysis of pre-trial, trial, sentencing, and correctional phases. Sociological and criminal justice models are examined and compared with the actual processes and purported functions of criminal justice agencies. Required for all majors in the Crime and Justice Concentration.

4.00

An introduction to the sociological understanding of human interaction, group process and social structures. Students are introduced to basic concepts, theories and methods of sociological investigation. Majors and minors must pass with a grade of "C" or better.

4.00

An examination of traditional and contemporary problems associated with major social institutions such as the family, economics, government and education. Social forces related to ethnicity, social class, health and welfare, and urbanization are also included. Alternative remedial measures based on behavioral science theories are discussed. Majors and minors must pass with a grade of "C" or better.

SOC 113 or 116 with "C" or better & one other SOC course. Cannot be taken concurrently with SOC 310,315,or 333.

4.00

How sociologists decide what to study, how they select a research design, sample and collect data, analyze results, interpret findings, and write up reports. Students are introduced to the techniques most frequently used by sociologists and undertake their own small research project. Required for all Sociology majors.

SOC-113 or SOC-116 with a minimum grade of C and 1 additional SOC course. Cannot be taken concurrently with SOC-214

4.00

The question "Why is there crime?" lies at the heart of this course. This class will address what we mean by crime, who gets to define what crime is, how crime can be explained and how it can be reduced. Making sense of crime is essential if we are to respond effectively to victims and offenders. This course offers an in-depth examination of the many different theories of crime. These include biological, psychological, and sociological theories of victimization and offending. The course will study these theories in the context of many different kinds of criminal offending. By the end of the course, students will have a deep understanding of where these theories came from; what their strengths and weaknesses are; whether they are supported by research findings; and what implications these theories have for stopping crime.

4.00

An introduction to the sociological understanding of human interaction, group process and social structures. Students are introduced to basic concepts, theories and methods of sociological investigation. Majors and minors must pass with a grade of "C" or better.

4.00

An examination of traditional and contemporary problems associated with major social institutions such as the family, economics, government and education. Social forces related to ethnicity, social class, health and welfare, and urbanization are also included. Alternative remedial measures based on behavioral science theories are discussed. Majors and minors must pass with a grade of "C" or better.

SOC 113 or 116 with "C" or better & one other SOC course. Cannot be taken concurrently with SOC 310,315,or 333.

4.00

How sociologists decide what to study, how they select a research design, sample and collect data, analyze results, interpret findings, and write up reports. Students are introduced to the techniques most frequently used by sociologists and undertake their own small research project. Required for all Sociology majors.

SOC 113 or 116 with a grade of "C" or better and one other SOC course; CANNOT be taken concurrently with SOC 214;

4.00

An examination and comparison of the origin, development and structure of the major theoretical approaches in contemporary sociology. Contributions of different branches of sociology to theory are explored with special attention to the relevance of sociological explanations for society and the social process. Students must have taken SOC 113 or SOC 116 and passed with a "C" or better and one other course from the sociology department. Normally offered every semester.

SOC-113 or SOC-116 with a minimum grade of C and 1 additional SOC course. Cannot be taken concurrently with SOC-214

4.00

The question "Why is there crime?" lies at the heart of this course. This class will address what we mean by crime, who gets to define what crime is, how crime can be explained and how it can be reduced. Making sense of crime is essential if we are to respond effectively to victims and offenders. This course offers an in-depth examination of the many different theories of crime. These include biological, psychological, and sociological theories of victimization and offending. The course will study these theories in the context of many different kinds of criminal offending. By the end of the course, students will have a deep understanding of where these theories came from; what their strengths and weaknesses are; whether they are supported by research findings; and what implications these theories have for stopping crime.

4.00

This course provides students with an introduction to how social norms, structures, and practices shape experiences of illness and health. Among the topics that will be covered are: health and the environment, the reasons some groups of people are less healthy than others, living with chronic illness and disabilities, and public debates surrounding issues such as performance enhancing drugs and sports, Attention Deficit Disorder and the HPV vaccine. Required for all students in the health, Medicine and the Body Concentration.

This course fulfills the ECR requirement.

4.00

In this course students meet community needs by engaging in service-learning outside the classroom. In this course, students will learn about how the U.S. health care system works. We will study the politics and economics of the health care system and discuss the key health care policy issues of this decade. Using the theoretical perspectives provided by sociology, we will look at issues of power, hierarchy, race, and gender vis-a-vis the health care system. Reading for this course centers on first person narratives by people working in the health care system. This course fulfills the ECR requirement.

4.00

An introduction to the sociological understanding of human interaction, group process and social structures. Students are introduced to basic concepts, theories and methods of sociological investigation. Majors and minors must pass with a grade of "C" or better.

4.00

An examination of traditional and contemporary problems associated with major social institutions such as the family, economics, government and education. Social forces related to ethnicity, social class, health and welfare, and urbanization are also included. Alternative remedial measures based on behavioral science theories are discussed. Majors and minors must pass with a grade of "C" or better.

Instructor consent required.

1.00- 4.00

Each honors student will engage in an independent reading, research, and writing project that can take the form of a traditional research paper of 20-25 pages or an equivalent volunteer and writing experience. The Honors Project must be supervised by a full-time Sociology faculty member. A poster presentation of the project must be presented at the CAS Honors symposium in the fall or the spring of the senior year as well as at the Sociology Honors Award ceremony at the end of the spring semester, for students graduating in the spring or summer. This course is required for all Sociology Honor Students.

4.00

Working with children and adolescents is a facet of many professions. This course will introduce students to the study of education occurring in formal and informal settings. This course focuses on the relationships among, and between, teachers, discourse, and community. Students will glean insight into the relationship of school and society as well as power and control in American Education. Required of all education minors. Five hours of field work required.

4.00

Examines the nature and development of human abilities and the teaching-learning process. Considers the facts and generalizations of child and adolescent growth and development, working with diverse cultures, and special needs children in school settings. Ten hours of field work.

This class fulfills the Expanded Classroom Requirement

4.00- 8.00

In this course students meet community needs by engaging in service-learning outside the classroom. Students complete 35 hours per semester of educational tutoring in a local school (K-5), in conjunction with a weekly seminar on campus. Open to all majors. No previous experience required.

4.00

Students complete a minimum of 35 hours of tutoring and coaching in an educational setting, or a community organization in conjunction with a weekly seminar on campus. Programs include COACH, Connections to College, and others. Open to all majors. No previous experience required.

Open to all majors,Instructor's signature required

4.00

Students complete all research, travel, and reporting requirements in conjunction with Suffolk University's Alternative Spring Break. Open to all majors. No previous experience required.

4.00

In this course students meet community needs by engaging in service-learning outside the classroom. This course introduces students to the basic competencies of school teaching. Topics include: lesson planning, classroom management, grouping for instruction, effective pedagogical practices, assessment methods, requirements for licensure in Massachusetts, and discipline specific curriculum development using the curriculum frameworks/common core state standards. Field observations (25 hours) required.

4.00

This course is designed for Jumpstart Corps members to develop competencies in teaching strategies for reading and writing. The course introduces theoretical and instructional issues in the development of literacy skills. Students will be engaged in reflective, critical consideration of students' diverse needs in the acquisition of literacy.

4.00

The relationship between cultural diversity and schooling is explored by examining impediments to academic achievement and advancement by minority students, non-native English speaking students, and other under-represented groups. Topics include: standardized testing, identification of inequities, legal and ethical responsibilities of teachers, and promoting equity. Ten pre-practicum observation hours required for teacher candidates.

4.00

This course examines the specific needs and challenges of the various language and cultural groups in schools. Topics include: theories of 1st and 2nd language acquisition, strategies for teaching academic content, modifying instruction in the mainstream classroom, creating classroom cultures that invite all students into learning, the role of advocacy and professional collaboration in ESL, and analysis of policies related to assessment and placement of English Language Learners.

Take EDUC-315

4.00

Students will have opportunities to put the theories and techniques learned in EDUC 315- Strategies for Working with English Learners into practice. Students will be placed in various Suffolk University sites or classrooms where they will work to meet the specific needs and challenges of educating various language and cultural groups. Students will be required to spend 30 hours working in their placements. Students will attend a weekly seminar where connections between theory and practice are explored, experiences are shared, and Teaching & Service Portfolios will be created.

4.00

Explores the evolution of schooling in the United States from The English High School to present. Theorists include: Mann, Franklin, Dewey, Sizer, and others.

4.00

This course focuses on the exploration and understanding of issues, strategies and frameworks related to developing and implementing youth programs. Students will be exposed to developmental theories, and various components of effective youth programmatic planning. Topics include: conducting needs assessments, developing goals and objectives, logistics planning, recruitment and training, and program evaluation.

4.00

This course is an in-depth investigation of policies effecting urban schools; topics include: demographic influence on education, influences of national and state regulations on urban schools, sociological factors unique to urban schools, and in-depth analysis of equity and achievement.

4.00

Examines major current issues of educational policy against the background of demographic trends, technological innovations, standardized testing, and curricular shifts.

An independent study form must be submitted to the CAS Dean's Office.

1.00- 4.00

Members of the Department will meet with students to direct their research in areas of special interest to them. Projects of this sort will be authorized only in unusual circumstances upon the recommendations of the Department Chairperson and with the approval of the Dean. Offered by arrangement only.

4.00

An introduction to the sociological understanding of human interaction, group process and social structures. Students are introduced to basic concepts, theories and methods of sociological investigation. Majors and minors must pass with a grade of "C" or better.

4.00

An examination of traditional and contemporary problems associated with major social institutions such as the family, economics, government and education. Social forces related to ethnicity, social class, health and welfare, and urbanization are also included. Alternative remedial measures based on behavioral science theories are discussed. Majors and minors must pass with a grade of "C" or better.

Sociology Freshmen Only

1.00

Students will explore what Sociology is and begin to learn about the many career opportunities available to students with a Sociology major. They will do career exploration and begin to think intentionally about their college experience to create a career path. Students will also have the opportunity to meet professors in the Sociology department and develop problem-solving skills and strategies for success in college and beyond.

4.00

Students will explore factors that attract, repel, and displace crime that explain why community crime levels vary. The course will also examine the influential role that neighborhood characteristics have on the behavior of individuals.

4.00

An investigation of the emergence, organization, and structure of police systems. The course focuses on the conditions surrounding the relationship between the police and policed in different historical, cultural, political, and economic contexts.

4.00

The goal of the course is to provide a broad overview of children and youth and their place in American society. Particular attention is paid to (1) the impact of geographical location, social class, gender, race, sexuality, popular culture, mass media, and technology; (2)the intersection of youth cultures and mainstream society; and (3) the contention that some youth cultures are "deviant".

4.00

Considers the problems surrounding the legal definition and handling of juveniles who confront the law as offenders, clients and victims. Attention is devoted to the study of the special legal categories and procedures established for juveniles, the problems facing professionals providing juvenile services and the most significant directions of legal and social change affecting youth in our society. Normally offered every year. Fulfills the Sociology Department's Social Policy requirement.

4.00

A sociological exploration of coercive and incapacitative responses to crime. Attention is given to the origins and patterning of segregative controls, the correctional claims of prison systems, alternatives to incarceration and relationships between types of crime, and criminals and varieties of punitive response.

SOC-113 OR SOC-116 and MATH-128 or higher

4.00

In this course, students will be introduced to descriptive and basic inferential statistical techniques. The course will provide information on the following topics: Description - measures of central tendency (mean, median, mode) and measures of dispersion (range, standard deviation); logic of statistical inference, including normal curve and sampling distribution; hypothesis testing with one sample and two samples; measures of association between two variables (bivariate analysis), including chi-square, regression, and correlation; and introduction to multivariate regression. Students will utilize SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) software to input and analyze data. The goals of the course are for students to appreciate the need for statistical methods in the broad field of sociology and to gain basic statistical literacy.

SOC 113 or 116 with "C" or better & one other SOC course. Cannot be taken concurrently with SOC 310,315,or 333.

4.00

How sociologists decide what to study, how they select a research design, sample and collect data, analyze results, interpret findings, and write up reports. Students are introduced to the techniques most frequently used by sociologists and undertake their own small research project. Required for all Sociology majors.

4.00

What happens if you commit a crime on an Indian reservation? Who will prosecute you and how will they punish you? This course will explore the roots of tribal legal systems and criminal law, both the Native and American influences. You will gain an understanding of tribal government, legal systems, criminal law, and the role of tradition in contemporary tribal law. The course will also examine the conflict between Native and Non-Native perspectives on several cases: sovereignty, rights to cultural practices, women, freedom of religion, and land.

4.00

This course will explore our natural environment and human interacations with it. We will connect a critical study of society, power, and inequality to the study of our natural environment and the ways it is altered by human behaviors. We will also consider ways to change our society's relationship with the natural environment to keep our earth clean and safe for human society.

4.00

An exploration of the diversity of contemporary families. Comparisons are made between the cultural myths of the "ideal family" and the lived realities. Challenges confronting contemporary families and their implications for social policy are examined in such areas as work/family conflicts, gay and lesbian families, welfare, family violence.

4.00

Spain has experienced major socio-demographic changes since the mid 1970s. These transformations mainly arise from the new role of women in society and, in particular, women's higher levels of education, work experience, and labor market attachment. The changes in women's labor force participation have occurred in conjunction with a progressive postponement of main family events, such as leaving the parental home, forming a partnership and having children, as well as with a reduction in the family size. Spain is, indeed, characterized as having one of the "lowest low fertility levels" within Western industrialized countries, a pattern that is exacerbating the ongoing process of population aging. This picture partly reflects the conflicting relationship that currently exists between women's labor force participation and the accommodation of family responsibilities: the so-called work/ family balance. Ongoing differences among countries have been accounted for by different explanatory factors that involve socio-economic, cultural and social policy dimensions. From a comparative perspective, the course is intended to cover recent debates, controversies, and research on family formation and family dilemmas in contemporary Spain.

4.00

The meaning of romance and courtship today and its social consequences in marriage, homogamy, stratification and divorce. The historical origins of romanticism and the sources of romance in socialization, books and magazines, television and movies, popular music and peer group membership are also considered.

4.00

Despite the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States, race remains one of the most divisive forces in U.S. society. While many of us struggle against racism, racial classification continues to affect where we live, where we work, and how we see ourselves. Racial classification affects our access to health care and our encounters with police officers. Distorted images of racial groups fill television and movie screens. Appeals to racism and fear of foreigners are dominant themes in elections to state and national offices. This course examines the formation and re-formation of racial classifications: how particular groups become racially identified, how these classifications change over time, and how conflicts over race have shaped American society. The meanings of race, as seen from a variety of perspectives, will be a consistent theme throughout the course.

4.00

Enables students to examine, as well as develop an awareness and appreciation of, diversity within today's society. Providing an overview of the major racial, ethnic, and cultural groups in the U.S., the focus is on the ways in which cultural awareness enhances professional helping relationships and improves the operation of human services systems.

4.00

This class explores the images of the traditional "bad" girl in films. The course examines the idea of moving beyond merely the delinquent, many images in film suggest that girls and women who break with the socially condoned role of femininity are somehow bad. Girls and women who have power or challenge authority are often portrayed in films as deviant and therefore "bad". Girls and women who are "frigid" are just as "bad" as their sexually promiscuous silver-screen opposites. This course further focuses on the impact of these images on real life social roles for girls and women as well as the symbiotic relationship between fact and fiction.

4.00

In recent years, public attention to victims of crime has grown enormously. The reasons for this are complex. They include the effects of political organizing by crime victims; increased media attention to crime (often driven by crime stories as entertainment and advertising vehicles); the exploitation of crime victims by the politicians; and long-standing community frustrations with the criminal justice system. This course will examine the rise of public attention to crime, the response of the criminal justice system to victims, and the problems and possibilities regarding new responses to victims of crime. New developments in "restorative justice" will be presented as an emerging alternative to problems victims have reported with the criminal justice system.

4.00

This course provides an overview of youth gangs and their sociological underpinnings, which are rooted in poverty and racism. Topical areas are discussed in relation to these key factors. Study topics include the history of gangs, theories about gang formation and individual membership, gangs and criminal behavior, socio-cultural importance of gangs, and strategies to control gang behavior. The course will utilize current gang issues in the US generally and in Massachusetts in particular as a basis to better understand the nuances of youth gangs.

4.00

An overview of issues and social variables involved in the pre-arrest and arrest stages followed by a more in-depth analysis of pre-trial, trial, sentencing, and correctional phases. Sociological and criminal justice models are examined and compared with the actual processes and purported functions of criminal justice agencies. Required for all majors in the Crime and Justice Concentration.

4.00

Who and what is deviant? How shall the society respond? The course examines a range of deviance theories and associated social policies. A number of case studies will be used to evaluate these theories, such as body piercing, witchcraft, gay and lesbian sexuality, corporate crime, disability, prostitution, violence against women, racism, anti-Semitism, and gangs.

4.00

This course will examine the mechanisms through which U.S. social institutions, particularly schools, facilitate youth involvement in the juvenile and criminal justice systems. These mechanisms include: inequity, disability tracking, zero-tolerance policies, push-out, and the criminalization of adolescent behavior. Students will engage in activities aimed at analyzing these processes and developing methods to disrupt them at the social, political, educational, and instructional levels.

4.00

This course will look at the special opportunities and obligations of those in the health and legal professions to protect human rights. There will be an overview of human rights doctrine and key documents. Students will learn to apply human rights principles to particular occupations in the health and legal professions.

4.00

This course will provide an in-depth analysis of family dynamics as well as some beginning skills in counseling families. Using a systems approach, students will learn about family roles, sibling constellations and different types of families. The importance of ethnicity and culture in shaping family values and organization will be emphasized. Students will be encouraged to study their own families of origin so they might better understand how families change.

4.00

This course provides students with an introduction to how social norms, structures, and practices shape experiences of illness and health. Among the topics that will be covered are: health and the environment, the reasons some groups of people are less healthy than others, living with chronic illness and disabilities, and public debates surrounding issues such as performance enhancing drugs and sports, Attention Deficit Disorder and the HPV vaccine. Required for all students in the health, Medicine and the Body Concentration.

This course fulfills the ECR requirement.

4.00

In this course students meet community needs by engaging in service-learning outside the classroom. In this course, students will learn about how the U.S. health care system works. We will study the politics and economics of the health care system and discuss the key health care policy issues of this decade. Using the theoretical perspectives provided by sociology, we will look at issues of power, hierarchy, race, and gender vis-a-vis the health care system. Reading for this course centers on first person narratives by people working in the health care system. This course fulfills the ECR requirement.

4.00

Consideration of the physiological, psychological and social factors associated with the aging process. Contemporary American values toward the elderly are compared and contrasted with historical and cross-cultural studies. Current opportunities and techniques enabling the elderly to enrich and expand their societal roles are explored.

4.00

A critical analysis of theory and research related to the socialization, roles and social participation of women in contemporary society.

4.00

This course examines the complex relationships between women and crime today. This focus will include women as criminal offenders; women as victims of crime; and women as both offenders and victims. Course materials draw from recent feminist scholarship on these issues in the social sciences. Topics include the causes of women's crime women, drugs, and crime; child abuse and trauma; prostitution and sex trafficking; race, gender and victimization; and feminist social movements against violence. Crimes of violence against women are a central focus in the course.

4.00

An examination of human sexuality as experience and institution. Sexuality is considered in relationship to power, love, religion, family, race, gender, sexual orientation, violence and courtship.

4.00

This course is designed to give students an overview of Terrorism and its impact on American society. It will examine various aspects of terrorism for a local, national and international perspective. It will examine the consequences of terrorism focusing on social responses and public policy issues.

4.00

Law and legal systems are examined in contemporary society. Emphasis is placed on the manner in which legal structures and processes interact with other social arrangements and are transformed over time.

4.00

This course provides an overview of several different types of justice systems around the world, including the U.S. The overall goals of the course are for students to understand that the manifestations of a 'justice system' exist in multiple forms and that there are strengths and weaknesses to each type of system. Students will better understand that through the cultural context including social, political, historical, and economic factors that shape crime and criminal justice responses. Course may include a study abroad component.

4.00

Incarcerated and criminalized Americans suffer from extraordinarily high rates of physical and mental illnesses ranging from Hepatitis C, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS to bipolar disorder, PTSD, substance abuse, and schizophrenia. This course explores connections between illness and involvement with the correctional system from the perspective of the individual offender as well as in terms of broader American cultural and political patterns.

4.00

An introduction to demography or the study of population and its size, structure, and the ways it changes over time. Demographers study love, death and adventures, or the different patterns of fertility, mortality, and migration across the globe. The social causes and consequences of high mortality and fertility in sub-Saharan Africa, rapid fertility decline in China, and low fertility and mortality in western Europe are examined. Demographic approaches to social problems like world famine, teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS pandemic, and social security system budget deficits are also considered.

4.00

Education is key in a democracy in which students need to develop themselves into knowledgeable people, with a strong sense of self, able to think critically with a developed ability to question others and to feel and act as empowered, active citizens. This is a tall order given the varieties of pressures on schools these days. But it is extremely important for these skills to be developed. With the shift in the economy, schools are going to be the critical factor in enabling students to compete in a globalized workplace and world.

SOC 113 or 116 with a grade of "C" or better and one other SOC course; CANNOT be taken concurrently with SOC 214;

4.00

An examination and comparison of the origin, development and structure of the major theoretical approaches in contemporary sociology. Contributions of different branches of sociology to theory are explored with special attention to the relevance of sociological explanations for society and the social process. Students must have taken SOC 113 or SOC 116 and passed with a "C" or better and one other course from the sociology department. Normally offered every semester.

4.00

This course explores the emergence of the self as an intersection of biography, history and social structure. Emphasis is on modern , Western societies. Conceptually, we will take a life course approach which emphasizes processes of psychosocial, moral, intellectual, and spiritual development for contemporary men and women. This course is designed in part as a workshop where students will develop the skills and insights essential for conducting life history research and biographical studies that are sociological in focus.

4.00

A course with special interest topics in sociology which changes depending on the professor.

Prerequisite: SOC 113 or SOC 116.

4.00

Globalization is shrinking the world. How and why did this happen? This course will explore global change and the global processes which effect key social institutions: culture, the economy and politics. Students will study the processes of globalization and its impact on our lives and people around the globe.

Prerequisite: SOC 113 or SOC 116

4.00

What are the roles of race and ethnicity from a global perspective? A global racial hierarchy determines who experiences privilege or oppression. Students will examine how the meanings of race and ethnicity can vary by location and how they matter globally.

4.00

This course focuses on the many forms of violence against women, with particular attention to child sexual abuse, rape, and violence and abuse in intimate relationships. These crimes have been the subject of intense political organizing, cultural controversy, and criminal-legal reform over the past 40 years. Together these issues account for a significant portion of the work of the police and the courts. They are also major issues in women's health over the life span. This course will address these issues from psychological, sociological, political, and criminal-legal perspectives.

4.00

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the principles of restorative justice and to examine the programs, practices and policies within schools, juvenile justice and the adult criminal justice system which implement a restorative practices. Restorative justice is a different philosophy of responding to harm which provides new roles for the victim, offender, community and professionals . We will compare a restorative approach to crime with the traditional system of discipline and crime control and critique the shortcomings of an adversarial or retributive response to criminal behavior. We will explore the theoretical and historical origins of traditional justice systems and restorative approaches. We will also examine how these ideas are being applied in practical partnerships between the justice system and the community here in the United States and around the world.

SOC-113 or SOC-116 with a minimum grade of C and 1 additional SOC course. Cannot be taken concurrently with SOC-214

4.00

The question "Why is there crime?" lies at the heart of this course. This class will address what we mean by crime, who gets to define what crime is, how crime can be explained and how it can be reduced. Making sense of crime is essential if we are to respond effectively to victims and offenders. This course offers an in-depth examination of the many different theories of crime. These include biological, psychological, and sociological theories of victimization and offending. The course will study these theories in the context of many different kinds of criminal offending. By the end of the course, students will have a deep understanding of where these theories came from; what their strengths and weaknesses are; whether they are supported by research findings; and what implications these theories have for stopping crime.

SOC 333 or SOC 234

4.00

An investigation of the emergence, organization, and structure of police systems. The course focuses on the conditions surrounding the relationship between the police and policed in different historical, cultural, political, and economic contexts.

SOC-214

4.00

This course examines crime and place. Students will use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to look at crime patterns and develop crime prevention and reduction strategies. Although this will be a hands on course design, no prior knowledge of GIS or mapping techniques will be required.

SOC-234 or SOC-333;

4.00

Correctional theories are reviewed along with the historical development of probation and parole. Current research and analytical perspectives reflecting on administrative problems, innovative policies and the internal philosophical inconsistencies of these systems are examined.

4.00

An examination of the relationship between crime, business activity, and technology with special attention to the crimes of the powerful and the changing relationship between economic development and criminal activity.

4.00

Most Americans think of prohibited substances such as marijuana, cocaine or heroin when they hear the word drug. This course will provide an in-depth examination of legal drug use in American society. A broad conceptual framework will be presented that illustrates how history, politics, society and economics all have played a key role in defining certain substances as permissible in America. Fulfills the Sociology Department Social Policy and Globalization requirements.

4.00

Relying on a simplistic demand or supply explanation of why Americans use/abuse drugs obscures the reality of America's drug problem, is ineffective as a guide to public policy and has unforeseen, often negative consequences. Drug use is a complex and multi-faceted issue. There are no easy answers. To comprehend the complexity of America's drug problem one needs an understanding of the geography, history, religion, law, economics and international politics of the Middle and Far East, Eastern Europe, Africa, Mexico, and Central and South America. This class will provide this basic understanding without losing sight that the problem we seek to remedy is our own.

4.00

This course will look at the special opportunities and obligations of those in the health and legal professions to protect human rights. There will be an overview of human rights doctrine and key documents. Students will learn to apply human rights principles to particular occupations in the health and legal professions.

4.00

A study of the different types and functions of communities. Through identifying community needs, resources, and structure, students learn effective ways to organize for change.

4.00

This course examines U.S. Immigration legislation and policies, focusing on how and why various immigration laws and policies have been established and implemented throughout history. We will address the intersection between immigration policy and race, ethnicity, nationality and socioeconomic status, as well as explore the effects that immigration laws have had on various immigrant groups and society in general.

4.00

An examination of changing definitions of life and death, social factors affecting causes and rates of death, care of the dying and their families, institutionalization, the funeral industry, suicide, crisis intervention, and the impact of technology on the dying process.

4.00

An exploration of topics that relate particularly to women as providers and consumers in the health care system. The course will consider historical and current information on issues of reproduction, technology, health and illness.

4.00

An examination of how different cultures understand health and illness. Healing approaches from Asia, Africa and the Americas will be explored.

4.00

An examination of prison writings, films, and the actual experience of prison life from literary and sociological perspectives. Students will have an opportunity to examine their own perspectives of "the prison" as a symbol and shadow in American Society and compare these impressions with the actual experience of inmates, correctional officers and others who have lived in the "prison nation".

SOC-113 or SOC-116 and 4 credits of a SOC course at the 200 level or above

4.00

The United States of America: A land of immigrants; "The Great Melting Pot". This country has indeed attracted immigrants from all over the world. However, not all have been welcomed or treated equally. This course will investigate the reasons various immigrant groups (past and present) have come to the United States. We will also examine their experiences and the impact race, ethnicity, gender, class and social structures have had on them. During Spring Break the class will visit Ellis Island and the Tenement Museum in New York and the Lowell National Historical Park in Lowell. The class will also visit various sites in Boston throughout the semester.

SOC 113 or 116 (with a grade of "C" or better) SOC 214, and SOC 315 or 333. Seniors only. Required of all majors.

4.00

This course explores topics in sociology that require students to synthesize and analyze their accumulated sociological learning. Students will research connections to professional development resulting in a career portfolio project. Required of all Senior Sociology Majors

Students must be Sociology majors with at least a 3.0 GPA; must have at least sophomore status at the time of application; must have one full day free each week to work an internship. Applications for the Internship in Sociology I course must be approved by the Instructor.

4.00

Students are provided with the opportunity to apply academic learning in a supervised internship consistent with their personal career goals or academic interest. The course covers such topics as career exploration and development, resume and cover letter writing, job fairs, and networking, and graduate school applications. In addition to the course assignments, students are required to complete a minimum full day internship each per week during the entire semester.

SOC 483. Students must be Sociology majors with at least a 3.0 GPA; must have at least sophomore status at the time of application; must have one full day free each week to work an internship. Applications for the Internship in Sociology I course must be approved by the Instructor.

4.00

Students are provided an opportunity to intensify or extend their internship experience. The course covers such topics as mock interviewing, informational interviewing, and job fairs.

1.00- 4.00

Members of the department hold special meetings with students and direct them in investigating topics of interest in sociology. Arrangements for independent study must be approved by the supervising instructor and the Department Chairperson.

CAS Honors students only; Instructor approval required.

1.00- 4.00

Members of the department hold special meetings with students and direct them in investigating topics of interest in sociology. Arrangements for independent study must be approved by the supervising instructor and the Department Chairperson.

Instructor consent required.

1.00- 4.00

Each honors student will engage in an independent reading, research, and writing project that can take the form of a traditional research paper of 20-25 pages or an equivalent volunteer and writing experience. The Honors Project must be supervised by a full-time Sociology faculty member. A poster presentation of the project must be presented at the CAS Honors symposium in the fall or the spring of the senior year as well as at the Sociology Honors Award ceremony at the end of the spring semester, for students graduating in the spring or summer. This course is required for all Sociology Honor Students.