Sociology and Anthropology Courses
101 Principles of Sociology. 4. The most significant principles developed in the field illustrated through problems and cultural area studies; scientific approaches to the study of society, culture, social structure and social processes. Fulfills social science requirement.
102 Social Problems. 4. Develops a comprehensive understanding of the process of defining social problems and a conceptual frame of reference for the study of major contemporary problems. Significant content is focused on understanding the sociological perspective. Fulfills social science and social justice/environmental responsibility requirements.
103 Cultural Anthropology. 4. Introduction to the study of culture and society in comparative perspective. Utilizes various approaches of anthropologists and data from societies around the world in order to illustrate the nature and functions of culture and social structures. Fulfills social science requirement.
105 HP:The Anthropology of Colonialism. 4. Introduces historical anthropology by exploring the socio-cultural dimensions of European colonialism from the late 15th century to the post-colonial period. The course focuses on the colonial experience in Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Middle East, particularly from the point of view of the colonized. Fulfills historical perspectives requirement.
213 Class, Race, Gender (PSY 213). 4. The study of socioeconomic class, race and gender and the complex ways that these three interact. Fulfills diversity in the U.S. requirement.
215 Anthropology of Slavery. 4. Examines slavery in a comparative socio-cultural perspective; covers Africa (80 percent), North America (five percent) and the rest of the world (15 percent). Explores explanations for the causes of slavery, debates over what practices should be labeled “slavery” and which should be placed in other categories of servitude and how slavery affects individual understanding of self in various socio-cultural contexts. Fulfills intercultural or social justice/environmental responsibility requirements.
217 Literacy Seminar (EDUC 217, ENGL 217, JPS 217,PSY 217, WMST 217). 2.
Students are trained as literacy tutors and spend four hours per week tutoring in community literacy programs. Wider issues of literacy and related problems are considered. CR/NC.
225 Culture and the Environment. 4. Introduces environmental anthropology and examines human-environment relations and the social construction of nature in cross-cultural perspective. Explores “traditional environmental knowledge” and the relationship between indigenous peoples and environmentalism. Analyzes the cultural, historical and political dimensions of environmental degradation and conservation, emphasizing the effects of globalization and the pursuit of environmental justice. Fulfills social justice/environmental responsibility requirement.
229 The Social Organization of Work. 4. Analyzes the labor process as a central and defining human activity. Explores the organization and allocation of paid and non-paid work in historical perspective, with a focus on the significance of individuals’ experience of work processes and workplace relationships.
234 Culture & Sexuality in Africa. 4. Explores how culture shapes sexual practices, identities and roles in African societies. Course topics include virginity, male and female circumcision and other rites of passage, arranged marriages, fertility, the spread of HIV/AIDS, sexual exploitation and domestic violence, as well as lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender “queer” practices. Fulfills intercultural or social justice/environmental responsibility requirements.
235 African Families in Transition. 4. This course places African families at the center of an anthropological exploration of the myriad ways of family formation and the dynamic nature of how family is defined cross-culturally. It explores how families in different African societies have adapted and continue to adjust to the changing circumstances brought on by colonialism and post-colonial conditions. Fulfills intercultural requirement.
245 Race and Ethnicity in Latin America. 4. The course examines racial and ethnic formations in Latin America, giving special attention to large Amerindian and Afro-Latino communities and following the evolution of racial/ethnic paradigms from the 15th century to the present. The course focuses on the contemporary status of racial/ethnic minorities and explores their representations in folklore, art and religion. Fulfills intercultural requirement.
246 Mediation and Conflict Intervention (PECS 246). 4. Prepares students to be effective mediators in conflict by providing a blend of theory and practice in the models and skills of third-party intervention. Explores key concepts, analytical frameworks and different models within the ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) movement; includes required lab period and a weekend mediation training workshop. Prerequisites: SOAN 101, 102 or 103, or permission of instructor.
250 Special Topics. 4. May also be offered at 350 and 450 levels.
260 Independent Study. 1-4. May also be offered at 360 and 460 levels.
265 Racial and Ethnic Relations. 4. A comprehensive exploration of the experience of different racial and ethnic groups in the United States and the social relations they have established with each other. The examination starts from their countries of origin, moves to their initial migration and settlement and concludes with analysis of their current economic, social and cultural situations. Fulfills diversity in the U.S. requirement.
275 Contemporary Mexico: Rebellion and Democracy. 4. The course explores the major political and social changes that have deeply affected Mexico in the past three decades. It first provides a general introduction to the history of Mexico in the 20th century; then, it analyzes the logic, functioning and social roots of Mexico’s political system, as well as the different social movements that have contributed to a current process of political and social democratization. Fulfills intercultural requirement.
290 Internship. 4. Supervised and reported experience in social agencies, organizations or related institutional services. Only four credits may count toward major. May also be offered at the 390 level.
313 Sociology of Sex and Gender. 4. Explores the social construction of masculinity and femininity within specific socio-historical contexts, with emphasis on identity formation and structural discrimination. The social organization of sexuality and gender relations within institutions such as the family, labor force and health care are also explored. Prerequisite: SOAN 101 or 102.
315 Economic Anthropology (IDS 425). 4. Explores the most central anthropological issues of human nature, choice, values, morality, peoples’ economic lives, issues of poverty and development that shape the world. The course examines production and distribution of economic goods in various societies and compares theories from economics, sociology and anthropology. It provides a solid basis for applying anthropological knowledge to real-world situations. Prerequisites: SOAN 103 and either SOAN 337, 342 or instructor permission.
321 Development Anthropology. 4. Comparative study of planned and unplanned development, particularly as it affects rural and traditional societies. Emphasis upon the intersection of capital and technological changes and inequalities predicated on ethnicity, class and gender. Prerequisite: SOAN 103.
325 Understanding Poverty (IDS 435). 4. The course examines underlying causes of poverty and compares relevant anthropological, sociological, political, ecological and economic theories. It explores development strategies, methodological issues in the measurement of poverty and multiple approaches to its alleviation. It provides challenging opportunities for critical thinking about how to use accumulated knowledge to address poverty. Fulfills social science and social justice/environmental responsibility requirements.
330 Inequality in Latin America. 4. Analyzes power relationships and economic inequality in Latin America and examines the way rural and urban populations in the region cope with poverty and exclusion. The course also explores ethnic and gender relations as expressions of status inequality and the effects of global processes on patterns of stratification in the area. Fulfills intercultural requirement.
331 Latino Migration Patterns. 4. Explores the historical roots and the current economic and political forces, both local and global, that stimulate contemporary out-migration, return and “revolving-door” migration between selected Latin American countries and the U.S., within the larger context of U.S.-Latin America relations; also, how immigrants negotiate their social roles and create “transnational communities” through their border crossings. Prerequisites: SOAN 101, 102 or 103, and either 337 or 342 or instructor permission. Fulfills diversity in the U.S. requirement.
337 Social Research Methods. 4. Trains students in the rigorous use of sociological and anthropological methodologies to investigate the social world. Students will learn to use documents, artifacts, social practices, quantitative reasoning and the scientific process as relevant sources of research questions and tools for research design and implementation. Prerequisites: Historical Perspectives, Quantitative Literacy, Natural Science and Mathematics, SOAN 101 or 102, SOAN 103 and one 200-level SOAN course.
342 Social Theory. 4. Provides an overview of major 19th and 20th century social theories with special attention to their assumptions and their treatment of core sociological and anthropological concerns and questions. Students will analyze how time periods influence the creation of social theories as well as the theories’ practical relevance. Prerequisites: Historical Perspectives, SOAN 101 or 102, SOAN 103 and one 200-level SOAN course.
345 Social Change: Promoting Peace (PECS 345). 4. Utilizes various models to examine the processes of culture change. Explores role of individuals in social change. Looks at practitioners of change and explores value implications of different models as well as strategies for intervention. Prerequisite: SOAN 101, 102 or 103.
358 African Cultures in Film. 4. Survey of traditional culture patterns in Africa south of the Sahara; examination of the processes of change in contemporary Africa. Profiles of African cultures as seen by anthropologists and African writers. Prerequisite: SOAN 101, 102 or 103. Fulfills intercultural requirement.
413 Gender Violence (IDS 464). 4. Explores the complex interrelationships among gender, sexuality and violence. Examines historical, cultural and social structural bases of numerous forms of gender violence, including sexual harassment, rape and domestic violence, as well as the use of gender violence in war and military contexts. Prerequisite: SOAN 337 and SOAN 342 or permission of instructor.
415 Gender & Development in Africa (IDS 411). 4. Uses interdisciplinary African ethnographic films and literature to understand the legitimacy of mainstreaming gender equality and sensitivity as fundamental values that should be reflected in development processes, choices and practices. Development is conceptualized in terms of enlarging people’s choices, sustaining such opportunities across generations and empowering people to participate in and benefit from development processes. Prerequisite: SOAN 337 and 342, or permission of instructor. Fulfills intercultural requirement.
425 Latin American Politics. 4. This political sociology course will analyze the central role of social movements in the political democratization of Latin America. The central goal is to understand how social unrest and upheaval, organized and active civil societies, grassroots organizations, formal political opposition and several armed movements have pressured authoritarian political systems into processes of democratization. Prerequisites: SOAN 337 and SOAN 342, orpermission of instructor. Fulfills intercultural requirement.
429 Gender in Organizations. 4. This course provides an in-depth analysis of gender relations in formal organizations through the use of central sociological theories and research. Topics include the organizational roots of occupational sex-segregation, sexual harassment and the construction of sexuality in organizational contexts. Prerequisites: SOAN 337 and SOAN 342, orpermission of instructor.
445 Culture, Conflict, Negotiation (PECS 445). 4. Focuses on the role of culture in conflict and negotiation; explores the effect of culture on the creation, escalation and resolution of conflicts. Topics will include how culture influences communication styles, mores, values and norms for responding to conflict. One of the goals of the course is to increase student effectiveness in dealing with intercultural conflicts as negotiators or third party mediators. Includes the use of ethnography as well as theory to understand intercultural conflict in students’ own personal and professional environments. Prerequisites: SOAN 337 and SOAN 342 orpermission of instructor.
470 Senior Thesis. 4.
490 Departmental Honors. 4-8. Honors and credit for grade of B or above; credit only for grade less than B.