Sociology

This course is an introduction to sociology as a way of understanding the world. Sociology is a field of study that explains social, political, and economic phenomena in terms of social structures, social forces, and group relations. Students will be introduced to the field by focusing on several important sociological topics, including socialization, culture, the social construction of knowledge, class and gender inequality, race and ethnic relations, poverty, and political sociology. Students will leave this course with: An understanding of the three main sociological perspectives; an understanding of several important sociological theories; the ability to apply these perspectives and theories to contemporary social problems; insight into the critical link between social structures, social forces and individual circumstances; and insight into how you shape society and how society shapes you. Additional topics covered in the course include (but are not limited to) sociological research methods, the mass media, deviance and social control, the family and intimate relationships, religion, education, the economy and work, health and medicine, urbanization, the environment, globalization, and social change. No prerequisites.

This course examines the “socially-constructed” nature of race, ethnicity, and gender by focusing on historical and contemporary articulations of race, ethnicity, class, and gender as they relate to social outcomes. Students will explore the evolution of these categories, namely how and why they were created, and how they have changed over time. Also, students will learn about racial and ethnic discrimination in housing, employment, banking, the criminal justice system, and other institutions. Students will also examine the history of gender inequality in American society. Contemporary articulations of gender inequality will be examined in the labor market, unpaid labor in the home, U.S. childcare policy, popular culture, and in interpersonal relationships. Additionally, this course also examines the structural causes of class inequality. Students will be exposed to the various competing theoretical perspectives regarding why we have poverty in the U.S. and explore how changes in the structure of the nation’s political economy have increased class inequality while creating the “middle class squeeze.” The class will also discuss the “financial elite” and their role in shaping policies that exacerbate class inequality. No prerequisites.

Under these course numbers, juniors and seniors design tutorials to meet their particular interests and programmatic needs. A student should see the prospective tutor to define an area of mutual interest to pursue either individually or in a small group. A student may register for no more than one tutorial in any semester.