Civil Society and Culture - U.S. and Global

Introduces the beliefs, practices, and experiences of major Eastern religions. Explores Eastern religious philosophies as a whole complex worldview, as well as investigates the unique beliefs and practices of several Eastern religions. Also exams historical roots, developmental growth as well as modern versions of major Eastern religions which enables the student to understand the perspective of Eastern religious philosophies.

Explores the differences and commonalities among Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Discusses how to help sensitize others to the diverse ways that Western religious traditions pursue the basic questions of ultimate reality. Also examines how to define religion, explore its function and purpose, and identify the origins of Western religious motifs still very much in evidence in the twentieth century.

Introduces the beliefs, practices, and experiences of the major world religious traditions. In addition to examining the particulars of each faith, this course emphasizes current perspectives in religious studies that serve to clarify the nature and functions of religion as a force shaping, and being shaped by, the increasingly pluralistic contemporary world. Religion will be treated seriously as an important part of people’s identity and a crucial prerequisite for understanding and appreciating others and selves.

WR-130 is an introduction to the academic study of religion. In this context, "academic" refers both to an objective approach to course material and to the emphasis on scholars whose writings have helped shape the field of religious studies. Through the works of Kant, Otto, Feuerbach, Marx and others, students examine various ways that "religion," as a category of academic inquiry, has been defined. In addition, through the lens of critical theory, they explore the thought of contemporary scholars as it pertains to definitions of religion and the role of religion in promoting or reducing the power of given social groups.

Introduces the social forces affecting people’s lives and how people affect their group. Examines three areas of behavior resulting from intentional influence, membership in a group, and social interaction. Also explores self-perception, behavior and attitude, attraction, aggression, altruism, and group processes. May be taken for credit in either psychology or sociology but not both.

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.