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Courses
SO 101. SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES 3The basic concepts and principles of major sociological perspectives. Attention is given to how these perspectives have been developed and used by social scientists to explain social phenomena. Recommended as an introduction to the discipline. (Fulfills social sciences requirement.) The Department
SO 201, 201H. SOCIAL ISSUES 3
Analysis of contemporary social issues such as racial and gender inequalities, environmental protection, and crime. Attention is given to the roots and dimensions of these issues by introducing core sociological theories and methods. The course also includes critical examination of current social policies that address these issues. (Fulfills social sciences requirement.) D. Karp
SO 202. THE INDIVIDUAL IN SOCIETY 3
A variety of social psychological approaches to the experiences of individuals as they influence or are influenced by social interactions and structures. The course introduces a sociological orientation known as "symbolic interactionism," which assumes that among the key elements in the social environment are the symbols and understandings possessed by people in the group. (Fulfills social sciences requirement.) S. Walzer
SO 203. FEMININITIES AND MASCULINITIES
An analysis of gender in contemporary social life. By examining the intersections between race, ethnicity, class, sexuality and age, this course explores how differing types of femininities and masculinities are constructed, reinforced and maintained in U.S. culture and society. Dating and relationships, body image and appearance, and institutional inequities are among the topics examined. Prerequisite: SO101 or WS101. K. Ford
SO 206. COMMUNITIES 3
Comparative analysis of different types of communities and their relationships to each otherfrom rural towns and communes to the crowded metropolis. Prerequisite: SO101 or permission of instructor. W. Fox
SO 208. SOCIAL INEQUALITY 3
Analysis of social classes, power, and status groups, and their origins and functions, within a historical, comparative, and contemporary framework. Prerequisite: SO101 or permission of instructor. J. Brueggemann
SO 211H. SOCIOLOGICAL IMAGINATIONS 4
A review of "great works" that have made an impact in the field of sociology. This course will examine a number of classic and contemporary social scientific books. Students will investigate the content and perspective of sociology, the defining questions of the discipline, and the "sociological imagination." This will entail exposure to important sociological ideas and arguments as well as some sense of the intellectual history of the field.This course will emphasize informed and engaged discourse about the big ideas of these great works. Prerequisite: SO101 and permission of instructor. J. Brueggemann
SO 212. SOCIOLOGY OF WORK AND OCCUPATIONS 3
An analysis of the nature and conditions of work and the relationship between work and the individual worker. Issues covered include the meaning of work and leisure, alienation, and job satisfaction. Selected occupations and professions are considered in terms of such factors as their social origins, how the occupation became a profession, typical career patterns, and social characteristics of members. Discrimination on the basis of gender, race, and class are examined. Prerequisite: SO101 or permission of instructor. C. Berheide
SO 213. CRIME AND VICTIMIZATION 3
An introduction to the sociology of crime. This course examines contemporary crime trends and problems in the measurement of crime; major theories that explain criminal behavior; and topical foci on various types of crime such as homicide, sexual assault, organized crime, white collar crime, property crime, or juvenile delinquency. Prerequisite: SO101 or LW200. D. Karp
SO 217. FAMILIES IN THE UNITED STATES 3
An analysis of families as social institutions, sites of interaction, and sources of identity. Family life courses, roles and relationships, and intersections between work and family are among the topics examined. Prerequisite: SO101 or WS 101. C. Berheide, S. Walzer
SO 219. RACE AND POWER 3
An analysis of U.S. race relations. How do people learn what it means to be "black" or "white" within U.S. society? How will the changing demographics of the U.S. affect the traditional black-white approach to race relations? How is race complicated by ethnicity, class, gender, sexuality and other social identities? Students explore these questions by examining how race is constructed and reproduced within hierarchical structures of power and privilege, including educational inequalities, immigration policies, interracial relationships, and depictions of race in popular culture. Prerequisite: SO101 or permission of instructor. (Designated a Cultural Diversity course.) K. Ford
SO 220. SOCIOLOGY OF CITIES AND TOWNS 3
Sociological study of urban places ranging from small towns to large metropolitan areas. Topics include development of cities, historical and crosscultural variations in cities, uses of urban space, and processes by which people create urban environments that in turn affect social behavior and relationships. Prerequisite: SO101 or permission of instructor. W. Fox
SO 222. POLITICAL SOCIOLOGY 3
Focus upon the causes and consequences of power distributions within and between societies and the factors leading to stable or changing allocations of power. Some concepts to be considered: state and civil society; the structure, distribution, operation, and conflict over power; ruling class; class struggle; pluralism; democracy—formal and/or substantive. Prerequisite: SO101 or permission of instructor. R. Scarce
SO 223. ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIOLOGY 3
An exploration of social-environment interactions. More than any other species, humans adapt their environments to suit their purposes. This course explores those purposes, including the roles that corporations, public policy, class, gender, and other social factors play in altering the environment and the resulting effects on people and places. Specific topics addressed include the environmental movement, environmental justice, and the political economy of the environment. Prerequisite: SO101 or ES100 R. Scarce
SO 224H. CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS 4
Exploration of intimate relationships through a sociological lens. Examines personal interactions as public processes with implications for the organization of society. Students investigate attraction, sexuality, friendship and love as relational experiences embedded in social structures and norms, and develop their abilities to ground social analysis with research. S. Walzer
SO 225. QUANTIFYING WOMEN 3
An introduction to the empirical study of changes in women's experiences in areas such as work, family, health, religion, and politics. The diversity of women's attitudes, behaviors, and experiences in the United States are explored using the logic and mathematics of social research. Students use microcomputers and statistical software to analyze sociological data sets that investigate a series of issues related to women, such as the gender gap in politics, pay differences between men and women, and attitudes toward abortion rights. Prerequisite: QR1. (Fulfills QR2 requirement.) C. Berheide
SO 226. SOCIAL RESEARCH ANALYSIS 4
Examination of quantitative analysis in the social research process. This course involves the study and application of statistics for solving problems in the social sciences. Students use computers as tools for social research as they analyze sociological data sets. Prerequisites: QR1 and two courses in the social sciences, or permission of instructor. (Fulfills QR2 requirement.) W. Fox
SO 227. SOCIAL RESEARCH DESIGN 3
Examination of methods employed in the investigation of sociological problems. This course analyzes the research process as an integral whole including political and ethical issues in conducting research. Topics include conceptualization, measurement approaches, design of surveys, and methods of interviewing and observation. Students design studies using various methodological techniques. Prerequisite: Two courses in the social sciences or permission of instructor. D. Karp, S. Walzer, K. Ford
SO 251. SPECIAL TOPICS IN SOCIOLOGY 3
An examination at the intermediate level of special topics, methods, and areas in sociology, such as population dynamics, collective behavior, juvenile justice system, and social control. Specific topics to vary by instructor and semester. The course, in a different subject area, may be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: SO101 or permission of instructor. (SO251N designates a non-Western course; SO251C designates a Cultural Diversity course.) The Department
SO 299. PROFESSIONAL INTERNSHIP IN SOCIOLOGY 3 or 6
Internship opportunity for students whose curricular foundations and cocurricular experience have prepared them for professional work related to sociology. With faculty sponsorship and department approval, students may extend their educational experience through internships in human service agencies, the criminal justice system, business, governmental, and other formal organizations, community groups, and related areas. Prerequisite: SO101. Non-liberal arts. The Department
SO 304. SOCIOLOGY OF EMOTIONS 3
Analysis of how human emotions influence and are influenced by the social and cultural environment. The course examines the physiological and social psychological components of human emotion, the crosscultural and historical variability of emotions, emotional socialization, and the emotional aspects of social interaction, relationships, and institutions. Prerequisite: SO101 and one other social science course. S. Walzer
SO 305. SOCIOLOGY OF FOLKLORE 3
Analysis of the social context of folklore, with special emphasis on contemporary American folklore. Social scientific theories of folklore, the social bases and dynamics of folk groups, folklore and processes of social change, and folklore research methods. Prerequisite: two social science courses. W. Fox
SO 306. SOCIOLOGY OF RELIGION 3
An examination of the sources, meanings, and implications of religious phenomena. This course explores myth, ritual, and symbol in social contexts with special consideration for the contemporary American scene. Attention is given to religious evolution in the light of social modernization; how religious organizations are related to other social institutions will also be considered. Prerequisite: SO101 or permission of instructor. J. Brueggemann
SO 312. MODERN ORGANIZATIONS 3
Analysis of modern organizations using theories of bureaucracy. Issues covered include formal and informal structure, functions and dysfunctions, and the tension between democracy and hierarchy within complex organizations. The behavior of individuals in organizations is examined in relation to the groups within which they interact and the organization's structure. Specific organizations including factories, public agencies, corporations, and total institutions are considered. Prerequisite: SO101 or permission of instructor. C. Berheide
SO 314. DEVIANCE AND SOCIAL CONTROL 3
An introduction to the sociology of deviance. This course examines sociological theory and evidence that explain deviant and/or nonconforming behavior in society. Attention is given to forms of deviance that generate conflicts over values or between groups in society and to the mechanisms of social control that increase conformity to social norms. Prerequisite: SO101 or LW200. D. Karp
SB 315. WORK, FAMILY, AND ORGANIZATIONS 3
The analysis of various white-collar and blue-collar occupations and their relationship to work and family life. Topics include the changing nature of work; professionalization; working within organizations; and occupational socialization, careers, and mobility. Prerequisite: SO101 or MB224 or permission of instructor. C. Berheide
SO 316. WOMEN IN MODERN SOCIETY 3
An examination of the effects of the social construction of gender on women in modern societies. The course analyzes the intersection of race, class, and gender in women's lives. The changing social status of women in the United States today is compared to that of women in other countries. Particular contemporary women's issues emphasized each year may vary, but typically include economic issues, such as occupational segregation and unequal pay, family issues, such as power relations and violence, and political issues, such as women's grassroots political activism and national policies. Prerequisite: SO101 or WS101 or permission of instructor. C. Berheide
SO 321. AMERICAN SOCIAL CHANGES 3
An examination of the structure and process of social change by comparing several areas, such as economic structure and relations, race, gender, urban community, education, and the state. The specific historical periods covered in the course will vary according to the changes under consideration. American social changes will be addressed from a variety of theoretical perspectives within sociology, including Marxist and other conflict approaches, world-systems, functionalist, cultural, and social-psychological perspectives. Prerequisite: SO101 and two other social science courses or permission of instructor. W. Fox
SO 324. THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIOLOGICAL THOUGHT 3
Analysis of the philosophical foundations, central principles, and historical development of sociological theory from its origins in late-nineteenth-century Europe to the present. The course critically examines the sociological theories of Marx, Durkheim, Weber, and Mead and their relationship to a number of more contemporary social theories. Prerequisite: SO101 and one sociology course or permission of instructor. J. Brueggemann, R. Scarce
SO 325. CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL THEORY 3
An examination of contemporary social theories such as functionalism, symbolic interactionism, conflict and social exchange theory. In addition, recent theoretical trends in sociology such as the feminist and environmental perspectives, and the biosocial and humanist approaches are discussed. Prerequisite: SO101 and one sociology course or permission of instructor. J. Brueggemann, R. Scarce
SO 326. SOCIAL THEORIES OF THE ENVIRONMENT 3
How do we make sense of contemporary society's relationship with nature? Scholars have produced a rich array of responses to this question that often conflict with one another. These theorists are also concerned with how social thought can be used to guide solutions to environmental problems. Reading original work, we will consider the applicability, insight, and relevancy of a host of perspectives, including ecological Marxism, ecological anarchism, social constructivisim, ecological realism, eco-modernization, and neo- Malthusianism. Prerequisite: SO101 and one other sociology course. R. Scarce
SO 328. SOCIAL MOVEMENTS AND COLLECTIVE ACTION 3
An exploration of the causes and consequences of social movements and episodes of collective action. Many people are dissatisfied with existing economic, political or social arrangements, yet relatively few individuals attempt to bring about social change by participating in organized social protest. What is it that differentiates those who participate from those who do not? This course approaches this central question from a variety of theoretical perspectives. Movements as diverse as those for civil rights and the environment will be examined. Prerequisite: SO101. R. Scarce
SO 329. CRIMINAL JUSTICE 3
Sociological analysis of the criminal justice system, including policing, the courts, and corrections. This course examines criminal justice responses to crime problems and alternative perspectives. Topics vary by semester and may include critical analysis of police use of force, racial disparities in sentencing, the death penalty, juvenile justice, the prison experience, or community justice. Prerequisite: SO101 or LW200. D. Karp
SO 331. WOMEN IN GLOBAL ECONOMY 3
A comparative analysis of women's roles in the global economy. The course examines how global economic transformations affect women as well as how women affect those processes. Topics include the effect of economic development on women's participation in various forms of economic activity, including agriculture, microenterprises, and manufacturing, as well as gender relations in families throughout the world, with particular emphasis on countries of the Southern Hemisphere. In addition, the course considers the environmental issues women face during the process of economic development, such as sustainable development, population policies, and women's environmental activism. Prerequisite: SO101 or WS101. C. Berheide
SO 332. STUDYING STUDENT WORLDS
An in-depth introduction to qualitative research methods as vehicles for exploring and describing social experiences, focusing in particular on the lives of students. Course topics include field research, qualitative interviewing, and the role of the researcher. Students examine ethnographic studies of academic settings and collect and analyze qualitative data about Skidmore's culture. Prerequisite: SO101 or permission of instructor. S. Walzer
SO 351. ADVANCED SPECIAL TOPICS IN SOCIOLOGY 3 or 4
An examination at the advanced level of special topics, methods, and areas in sociology. Specific topics vary by instructor and semester. The course in a different subject area may be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: SO101 or permission of instructor. The Department
SA 355. LANGUAGE IN SOCIETY 4
Examination of the varied aspects of the social organization of language using techniques from sociological, anthropological, psychological, and linguistic theory. Special attention is given to regional, social, and individual variation; nonstandard dialects and their social impact; the relationship of language, thought, and culture; the role of language in socialization and in the maintenance of social structures; and the type and extent of cultural variation in language use. Prerequisite: SO101 or AN101 or permission of instructor. J. Devine
SO 371, 372. INDEPENDENT STUDY 3, 3
Individual reading and/or research in sociology under the guidance of a member of the department. Open with the consent of the department to qualified students. Individual conferences to be arranged. The Department
SO 375. SENIOR SEMINAR IN SOCIOLOGY 4
The capstone course for the sociology major. The course functions as a research practicum in which students share the process of conducting an original research project. To do the research, students must build upon previous work in sociology, especially theory, methods, and statistics. Therefore, students must have completed the required statistics, methods, and theory courses for the sociology major before enrolling in Senior Seminar. Students writing the Senior Thesis are encouraged to begin thesis research in the Seminar. Prerequisites: SO226, 227, and 324 or 325; or permission of instructor. Open only to sociology majors and sociology interdepartmental majors. The Department
SO 376. SENIOR THESIS IN SOCIOLOGY 3
Independent research leading to a thesis examining a sociological question in depth. Students work under the direction of a thesis advisor and a second reader. Prerequisites: SO375 and permission of instructor. Open only to sociology majors and sociology interdepartmental majors. The Department
SO 377. PRESENTING SOCIOLOGICAL RESEARCH 1
Visual and oral presentations of sociological research. Students revise empirical research projects and develop effective presentations of findings for both professional and nonprofessional audiences. Emphasis is on developing effective posters and oral presentations of social scientific research findings. Students present their research in public settings on or off campus. The course meets a total of 14 hours, with most sessions early in the semester. Prerequisite: SO375 or permission of instructor. W. Fox
SO 399. PROFESSIONAL INTERNSHIP IN SOCIOLOGY 3, 6, or 9
Internship experience at the advanced level for juniors and seniors with substantial academic and cocurricular experience related to sociology. With faculty sponsorship and department approval, students may extend their educational experience through internships in human service agencies, the criminal justice system, business, governmental, and other formal organizations, community groups, and related areas. Prerequisite: nine credit hours in sociology. Non-liberal arts. The Department
