Sociology
Faculty: Professor Quick (coordinator)
The courses in sociology at Cottey provide the foundation for a major or minor in sociology while providing basic knowledge and skills needed to pursue a variety of applied careers such as social work, social services, correction and juvenile treatment, environment and resource allocation, social gerontology, and community health services. Sociology courses also contribute to students’ preparation in other professions including human resources and personnel management, marketing and advertising, education, law, and medicine. By developing a sociological perspective, students sharpen their powers of observation and analysis.
Degrees and Certificates
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Sociology Minor
Courses
ANT/SOC 235: Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality
Credits 3This course examines race, class, gender, sexuality and other identities as sociological concepts within an interdisciplinary paradigm focusing on how these identities intersect. Students will consider each identity largely separately and then learn to use the intersectional framework to interpret contemporary social issues and institutional settings by analyzing how they together shape individual, institutional, and larger societal expectations. The course also introduces students to the experiences of diverse groups in the United States and beyond.
CRM/SOC 201: Criminology
Credits 3This course introduces the field of criminology and provides a broad overview of sociological and interdisciplinary theories for criminal behavior. Students investigate several theories and research on crime and consider how they relate to policies for crime prevention and control.
CRM/SOC 220: Social Problems
Credits 3We examine the social, economic, and ideological causes and solutions of issues such as inequality, racism, sexism, homophobia, poverty, crime and violence, drug abuse, and human population and environmental change. We will also examine the roles of policymakers, social advocates, and the media in the process of defining social problems.
CRM/SOC 301: Juvenile Justice
Credits 3This course will examine the nature and extent of juvenile delinquency, risk and protective factors of juvenile delinquency, prevention and early intervention programs targeting youth, and rehabilitation programs for juvenile offenders. Included therein are discussions of the history, theories, policies, and practices of the juvenile justice system.
CRM/SOC 370: Topics in Criminology
Credits 1 3A variable topics course which allows instructors to present different developments, problems, and controversies within and surrounding the justice system. The course offers students an opportunity for the advanced study of a special topic in crime, criminology, or criminal justice practice. The course content may vary from year to year in response to new and emerging theoretical and practical issues in the field. May be repeated as different topics to a maximum of nine semester hours. May also be repeated as different topics during the same semester.
INR/POL/SOC 330: Poverty and Inequality
Credits 3This course studies the situations of the poor in the world and their relations with inequality and globalization. Various theories introduce causes of poverty and inequality and suggest solutions. Students will analyze and evaluate which theory has a higher possibility to reduce poverty and inequality than the
others. This course also explores relations between poverty and environmental degradation in order to understand the impacts of globalization. Fulfills writing-intensive requirement.
POL/INR/SOC 330: Poverty and Inequality
Credits 3This course studies the situations of the poor in the world and their relations with inequality and globalization. Various theories introduce causes of poverty and inequality and suggest solutions. Students will analyze and evaluate which theory has a higher possibility to reduce poverty and inequality than the
others. This course also explores relations between poverty and environmental degradation in order to understand the impacts of globalization. Fulfills writing-intensive requirement.
PSY/SOC 232: Social Psychology
Credits 3Social psychology examines how external forces shape our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Topics include social cognition; prejudice; human aggression; conformity; liking, loving, and interpersonal sensitivity; and mass communication, propaganda, and persuasion.
PSY/SOC 355: Psychology of Intergroup Relations
Credits 3Psychology of intergroup relations examines challenges and benefits related to diversity. Topics include the roles of personality, social cognition, social identity, biology, status, power, and institutions in bias, prejudice, and discrimination. Topics also will include social change efforts that may improve intergroup relations.
SOC/ANT 235: Race, Class, Gender and Sexuality
Credits 3This course examines race, class, gender, sexuality and other identities as sociological concepts within an interdisciplinary paradigm focusing on how these identities intersect. Students will consider each identity largely separately and then learn to use the intersectional framework to interpret contemporary social issues and institutional settings by analyzing how they together shape individual, institutional, and larger societal expectations. The course also introduces students to the experiences of diverse groups in the United States and beyond.
SOC/CRM 201: Criminology
Credits 3This course introduces the field of criminology and provides a broad overview of sociological and interdisciplinary theories for criminal behavior. Students investigate several theories and research on crime and consider how they relate to policies for crime prevention and control.
SOC/CRM 220: Social Problems
Credits 3We examine the social, economic, and ideological causes and solutions of issues such as inequality, racism, sexism, homophobia, poverty, crime and violence, drug abuse, and human population and environmental change. We will also examine the roles of policymakers, social advocates, and the media in the process of defining social problems.
SOC/CRM 250: Deviant Behavior
Credits 3This course explores ways in which deviant behavior is socially constructed and how individuals are labeled and stigmatized. It also examines how mechanisms of social control are activated and challenged, as well as treatment methods related to deviancy. Theoretical formulations regarding deviant behavior are analyzed from sociological and criminological perspectives.
SOC/CRM 301: Juvenile Justice
Credits 3This course will examine the nature and extent of juvenile delinquency, risk and protective factors of juvenile delinquency, prevention and early intervention programs targeting youth, and rehabilitation programs for juvenile offenders. Included therein are discussions of the history, theories, policies, and practices of the juvenile justice system.
SOC/INR/POL 330: Poverty and Inequality
Credits 3This course studies the situations of the poor in the world and their relations with inequality and globalization. Various theories introduce causes of poverty and inequality and suggest solutions. Students will analyze and evaluate which theory has a higher possibility to reduce poverty and inequality than the
others. This course also explores relations between poverty and environmental degradation in order to understand the impacts of globalization. Fulfills writing-intensive requirement.
SOC/PSY 232: Social Psychology
Credits 3Social psychology examines how external forces shape our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Topics include social cognition; prejudice; human aggression; conformity; liking, loving, and interpersonal sensitivity; and mass communication, propaganda, and persuasion.
SOC/PSY 355: Psychology of Intergroup Relations
Credits 3Psychology of intergroup relations examines challenges and benefits related to diversity. Topics include the roles of personality, social cognition, social identity, biology, status, power, and institutions in bias, prejudice, and discrimination. Topics also will include social change efforts that may improve intergroup relations.
SOC 101: Introductory Sociology
Credits 3This course introduces sociology as a way of investigating, critically understanding, and analyzing human social life. Sociologists examine how groups (organizations, institutions, and complex societies) are structured and how these groups interact with one another. They also consider how social contexts frame human behavior for individuals and groups. We will focus on several important sociological topics, including socialization, culture, inequality, race and ethnic relations, gender, poverty, and social movements.
SOC 370: Topics in Criminology
Credits 1 3A variable topics course which allows instructors to present different developments, problems, and controversies within and surrounding the justice system. The course offers students an opportunity for the advanced study of a special topic in crime, criminology, or criminal justice practice. The course content may vary from year to year in response to new and emerging theoretical and practical issues in the field. May be repeated as different topics to a maximum of nine semester hours. May also be repeated as different topics during the same semester.