Category 4: Social Sciences

Explores how one becomes deviant, the social construction of deviant behavior, the impact of societal responses to deviance, and processes used to control deviant behavior. Offers a wide range of perspectives and theoretical formulations to explain the onset, persistence, and desistence of deviance. Also discusses both formal and informal responses to deviant behaviors including criminalization and stigmatization, and their cross-cultural variation. Additionally, course examines particular forms of deviance including homicide, domestic violence, mental illness, alcohol and drug abuse, sexual deviance, property and white collar/organized crimes.

Introduces the sociological study of ethnic and racial groups. Explores key concepts and issues in connection with definitions of race and ethnicity, immigration, patterns of group inequality and domination, discrimination, and prejudice. Focuses on the diversity of U.S. society and explores the experiences of Native Americans and immigrant groups, including those from Africa, Asia, and Europe. Examines current patterns and consequences of immigration as well as ethnic and racial diversity in other societies.

The purpose of Leadership in Diverse Communities and Organizations is to examine and assess the intricacies of traditional leadership praxis and the complexity of leading non-traditional organizations. While the course addresses traditional leadership theories, it also identifies innovative theories and approaches that acknowledge and value the multiplicity of social capital all shareholders bring to an organization. Additionally, the sociological perspective is employed to enable students to critically view their own lived experiences as framework from which to critically assess issues of equity and privilege.

Women, Men, and Society uses a sociological approach to examine a wide variety of issues related to gender, such as gender roles, gender socialization, and gender inequality. The course looks at how and why experiences of women and men can differ in areas such as employment, politics, and family life. The course also examines issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity.

Focuses on current social problems and issues facing American society. Students investigate a series of important problems, including poverty, urban decline, family instability, crime and discrimination, by using a sociological perspective. The primary goals of this course are increasing student awareness of the causes of social problems and investigating possible solutions.

Examines how to become more aware of the personal decisions one makes in life and of the cultural influences affecting decisions relating to family situations. Areas of discussion include definitions of marriage and the family, married partners as individuals, becoming partners, experiencing family commitment, changing commitments, and cross-cultural comparisons.

Introduces the sociological approach to understanding culture and society. Examines human behavior in a group context, focusing on the prominent influence of culture and social structure on individuals. Connections between individuals and a variety of social institutions, such as the economy, government, and mass media, are examined and compared in U.S. society and on a global scale. Focuses on cultural diversity and social inequalities, such as those related to class, race, ethnicity and gender.

Explores the psychological dimensions of health and the prevention and management of illness. Emphasizes interaction between biological, social, and psychological factors in health and medical problems. Topics include the history and research methods of health psychology, biological foundations of health and illness, stress, prevention and positive psychology, exercise, sleep, and injury control, nutrition and eating disorders, substance abuse, chronic and life-threatening illnesses, complementary and alternative medicine, pain management, and the role of health psychology in healthcare settings.

This course focuses on how individual thought and behavior are impacted by the presence of others. Major evidence-based topics in the psychological and sociological approach to social psychology are covered. Examples include conformity, group processes, interpersonal attraction, prosocial behavior, aggression and prejudice.

Covers the processes of change and stability in human development from conception through death. Course begins with the study of prenatal concerns and progresses through the years of infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and aging. Discusses theory, research, and application associated with the biological, cognitive, affective, and social domains of development.