Sociology
SOC 100X 3
Credits
Individual, Society and Culture (s)
An examination of the complex social arrangements guiding
individual behavior and common human concerns in contrasting cultural contexts.
Also available via Independent Learning. (3 + 0) Offered Fall, Spring
SOC 201 3
Credits
Social Problems (s)
A study of major contemporary social problems, analysis of
factors causing these problems. Emphasis on cross-cultural differences in
Alaska and other parts of the world. (3 + 0) Offered Spring
SOC 202 3
Credits
Sociology of Popular Culture (s)
A critical examination of contemporary popular culture in sociological
perspective. Introduces debates in the field of cultural sociology with special
emphasis on the creation, distribution, consumption and social impact of
popular culture. Themes in course content will vary by semester including
popular performances, leisure and entertainment, mass media, humor, food, and
fashion. (Recommended: SOC 100X.) (3 + 0) Offered Alternate Spring
SOC 242 3
Credits
The Family: A Cross-Cultural Perspective (s)
Analysis of conceptual frameworks in family research, and a
cross-cultural comparison of variations in family and kinship structures, both
past and present. Examination of contemporary developments in family forms, the
dynamic roles and patterns of relationships, and links with other social
institutions. Emphasis on how social forces such as gender, race, ethnicity and
social class shape the family and experiences of family life. Also available
via Independent Learning. (Prerequisite: SOC 100X or permission of instructor.
Next offered: 2006-07.) (3 + 0) Offered Alternate Spring
SOC 250 3
Credits
Introductory Statistics for Behavioral Sciences
(Cross-listed with PSY 250)
Basic overview of the following, applied to social scientific
topics: descriptive statistics, frequency distributions, sampling
distributions, elementary probability, estimation of population parameters,
hypothesis testing (one and two sample problems), correlation, simple linear
regression and one-way analysis of variance. Also available via Independent
Learning. (Prerequisite: MATH 107X or 131X or 200X.) (3 + 0) Offered
Spring
SOC 263 3
Credits
Social Inequality and Stratification (s)
Comprehensive analysis of the current sociological debates
and diverse theoretical approaches used to address social stratification and
inequality. Examines dimensions of inequality, including those related to race,
class and gender at the local, national and global levels. (Prerequisites: SOC
100X and SOC 201; or permission of instructor.) (3 + 0) Offered
Spring
SOC 301 3
Credits
Rural Sociology (s)
Analysis of sociological issues using rural communities and
rurality as examples. Emphasis on issues of social justice and inequality. Part
of focus is on rural communities of Alaska and the North. (Prerequisite: one
lower-division social science course.) (3 + 0) Offered As Demand
Warrants
SOC 303 3
Credits
Early Sociological Thought (s)
Major sociological theories and theorists of the classical
period (19th and early 20th centuries) that have influenced contemporary
sociology. (Prerequisites: SOC 100X, 201 and 263.) (3 + 0) Offered
Spring
SOC 307O 3
Credits
Demography (s)
A study of formal demographic variables such as fertility,
mortality and migration and their interaction with social demographic variables
like social class, religion, race, residence, attitudes and values. Alaskan
population dynamics examined. (Prerequisite: COMM 131X or 141X.)
(3 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants
SOC 308 3
Credits
Race and Ethnic Relations (s)
A sociological analysis of the principles and processes that
shape relationships among racial and ethnic groups in Alaska, the U.S. and
elsewhere in the world. Focus on the relations among dominant and subordinate
groups in these societies, using sociological theory to understand the
structural factors that shape intergroup relations. (Prerequisite: SOC 100X,
201 and 263.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall
SOC 309 3
Credits
Urban Sociology (s)
Origin and development of urban society as an
industrial-ecological phenomenon; the trends of migration and metropolitanism
with futuristic implications; and the rural-urban dichotomy in the Alaskan
context. (3 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants
SOC 310 3
Credits
Sociology of Aging (s)
A sociological analysis of the process of aging in the U.S.,
Alaska and globally, with special attention on structural inequality and social
justice issues. Also available via Independent Learning. (Prerequisite: SOC
100X, 201 and 263. Next offered 2006-07) (3 + 0) Offered
Alternate Fall
SOC 320 3
Credits
Sociology of Gender (s)
(Cross-listed with WMS 320)
Comprehensive survey of sociological inquiry and feminist
revisions for studying gender in U.S. society and culture. Interrogates the
meanings of gender and the interactional, cultural, organizational and
institutional arrangements that underlie the social construction of gender and
gender inequality. (Prerequisite: One lower-division social science course, WMS
201, or permission of instructor.) (3 + 0) Offered Alternate Spring
SOC 330 3
Credits
Social Psychology (s)
(Cross-listed with PSY 330)
Analysis of intergroup relationships in terms of process and
value orientation, their influences on the personality, and aspects of
collective behavior on group and person. Aspects of social interaction that
have cultural and intercultural variation. (Prerequisite: SOC 100X or PSY 101.)
(3 + 0) Offered Spring
SOC 333 3
Credits
Human Sexualities Across Cultures (s)
(Cross-listed with PSY 333 and WMS 332)
Exploration of how people in a variety of cultures, both
contemporary and historical, construct the meaning and experience of sexuality,
and express themselves as sexual beings. Interdisciplinary study includes
psychology, sociology, anthropology, gender studies and related fields, with
the particular focus determined by which department is offering the course.
Also available via Independent Learning. (Prerequisite: Junior standing.)
(3 + 0) Offered Alternate Fall
SOC 335 3
Credits
Deviance and Social Control (s)
Analysis of classical and contemporary theoretical
perspectives used to understand, explain and control criminal and non-criminal
forms of deviance. Emphasis on the social dimensions of the creation of deviant
categories and persons, the consequence of societal reactions to selected forms
of deviance, and implications for social policy (prevention) and social control
(corrections). (Prerequisite: SOC 100X and SOC 201, or permission of
instructor.) (3 + 0) Offered Alternate Fall
SOC 345 3
Credits
Sociology of Education (s)
(Cross-listed with ED 345)
Theoretical perspectives on various dimensions of the
relationship between education and society, including the institutional context
for schooling, the impact of schooling on social stratification, and social
organization within the school and classroom. Special attention given to issues
of equity and contemporary educational reform efforts. (Prerequisite: SOC 100X
or permission of instructor.) (3 + 0) Offered Alternate Fall
SOC 350W 3
Credits
Childhood and Society (s)
Concepts, theories and empirical research in the sociology of
childhood. Broad themes include social structure and its consequences for children's
lives, children's agency and the diversity of childhood experiences. Includes
an overview of the problems children face and recommendations for solutions.
(Prerequisite: ENGL 111X; ENGL 211X or ENGL 213X or permission of
instructor. Next offered: 2006-07.) (3 + 0) Offered Alternate
Fall
SOC 373W 3
Credits
Research Methods in the Social Sciences (s)
Course has a two-fold objective: to help students become
critical consumers of research in the social sciences, and to enable them to
develop research proposals. The course covers phases of the research process,
which comprises problem formulation, research designs, conceptualization,
sampling and ethical issues. (Prerequisites: ENGL 111X, ENGL 211X or
ENGL 213X, SOC 100X, SOC 201, and SOC 263.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall
SOC 405O 3
Credits
Social Movements and Social Change (s)
Focus on collective behavior, social change and social
movements at the local, national and global levels. Analysis includes historical,
technological and legal implications of large-scale social change.
(Prerequisite: COMM 131X or 141X, SOC 201, SOC 263 and 3 credits in sociology
at 300 level, or permission of instructor. Next offered: 2006-07.)
(3 + 0) Offered Alternate Spring
SOC 407O 3
Credits
Work and Occupations (s)
Examines the sociology of work and occupations. Local,
regional, national and global industries, work sites and workers will be
examined using sociological theories and concepts. Analysis includes structural
issues of inequality in employment practices and work sites. (Prerequisites:
COMM 131X or 141X; SOC 100X, 201, 263, and 3 credits in SOC at the 300-level.)
(3 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants
SOC 435 3
Credits
Sociology of Law (s)
Addresses the social nature of legal decision-making, the
social context of law, and the reciprocal relations between law, society and
justice. Explores how race, class and gender are implicated in the law, and the
role of law in social control, in social change and in our everyday lives.
(Prerequisites: SOC 100X; junior standing or permission of instructor.
Recommended: SOC 303. Next offered: 2006-07.) (3 + 0) Offered
Alternate Fall
SOC 440O 3
Credits
Environmental Sociology (s)
Considers how political, social and economic factors shape
human patterns of interaction with the natural environment. Provides a
sociological perspective on environmental problems such as environment and
health, environmental disasters, environmental policy, environmental risk,
sustainability, human and animal interactions, environmental justice and social
movements. (Prerequisites: COMM 131X or 141X; SOC 100X, SOC 201, SOC 263
and 3 credits in sociology at the 300-level, or permission of instructor.)
(3 + 0) Offered Alternate Spring
SOC 460 3
Credits
Global Issues in Sociological Perspective (s)
A sociological analysis of global issues, with different
overarching themes depending on world events and the research interests of the
instructor. Issues of global social justice and inequality are explored, and sociological
and other theories are applied. (Prerequisite: One lower-division social
science course; junior standing or permission of the instructor.)
(3 + 0) Offered Alternate Spring
SOC 480W 3
Credits
Qualitative Social Science Research (s)
(Cross-listed with PSY 480W)
Introduction to classical and contemporary research within
the qualitative (or interpretive) paradigm of social science. Discusses the
theoretical frameworks, historical traditions, epistemological and ethical
issues of qualitative approaches. Uses hands-on experience in the
practicalities and excitement of a variety of methods for gathering qualitative
data and conducting qualitative analysis. (Prerequisites: ENGL 111X;
ENGL 211X or ENGL 213X; and one lower-division social science
research methods course; or permission of instructor. Next offered
2006-07.) (3 + 0) Offered Alternate Spring
SOC 490 3
Credits
Capstone Seminar (s)
Review of the discipline of sociology with a focus on the
theoretical perspectives and methodological tools of the discipline, key
substantive issues in the field, and the role of sociology in contemporary
society. (Prerequisites: sociology major with senior standing, SOC 303, 373, or
permission of instructor. Next offered: 2006-07.) (3 + 0) Offered
Spring