DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY

COURSE SYLLABI FOR FALL 2009

FALL 2009 ONLINE SCHEDULE OF CLASSES

Correspondence/Online Courses

• 100-Level Courses
• 200-Level Courses
• 300-Level Courses
• 400-Level Courses
• Graduate Courses

Sociology 101: Introduction to Sociology

Basic concepts, topics, and theories of contemporary sociology.  This course is a prerequisite for more advanced courses in sociology.

Correspondence section available; call 277-1604 for details

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Sociology 200: Foundations of Social Welfare

Overview of social welfare institutions in Western societies related to social change, stratification, economy, politics, dependency, poverty, wealth, and unemployment in U.S. and other countries; examines social work and related human service occupations.  This course is a prerequisite for both Sociology 300 and Sociology 400.

Prerequisite: Sociology 101.

Sociology 205: Crime, Public Policy & the Criminal Justice System

The study of crime, the criminal justice system, and crime-related public policy.  Discussion of key criminological concepts, measurement of crime and delinquency, its distribution in society, victimization, public opinion, the criminal justice system, crime control strategies and policies.

Prerequisite: Sociology 101.

Sociology 211: Social Problems

Description and analysis of major social problems facing American society. Foci may include: poverty, homelessness, alcohol and drug problems, race and ethnic relations, aging, and mental illness.

Prerequisite: Sociology 101.

Correspondence section available; call 277-1604 for details

Sociology 213: Deviance

Survey of major forms of norm-violating behavior in American society, such as drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness, criminal behavior and sexual deviance. Discussion of sociological explanations of the causes of, and attempts to address, these behaviors.

Prerequisite: Sociology 101.

Sociology 216: The Dynamics of Prejudice

The study of prejudice and discrimination, including their history and contemporary sources and prospects for their reduction, with application to American institutions.

Prerequisite: Sociology 101.

Sociology 280: Introduction to Research Methods

A survey of the major methods of social research:  foundations of social research, research design, sampling and measurement, quantitative and qualitative research methods, and data analysis.

Prerequisite: Sociology 101.

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Sociology 300: Welfare Policies and Programs

The development and operation of the U.S. social welfare programs (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid), unemployment insurance, workers' compensation, public assistance, and political ideologies shaping the public debate and attitudes toward social programs.

Prerequisite: Sociology 200.

Section	Days & Time	Instructor
001	T/TH 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM	Richard Coughlin

Sociology 305: Environmental Sociology

Examination of humans and the environment from an ecological perspective. Focus on industrial and economic growth, natural resources development, environmental values and movements, resource management, and comparative perspective on people's relationship to the environment.

Prerequisite: Sociology 101.

Section	Days & Time	Instructor
001	M/W 4:00 PM - 5:15 PM	Daniel Schwartz

 

Sociology 308: Sociology of Gender

How and why societies create gender categories.  How do definitions of "masculinity" and "femininity" vary? What are the costs and benefits of being male or female in contemporary American society?

Prerequisite: Sociology 101.

Sociology 312: Causes of Crime and Delinquency

A survey of criminological theories exploring why some people are more likely to engage in crime than others and why crime rates vary over time and space and across social groups. Attendant policy issues will also be discussed.

Prerequisites: Sociology 205 OR Sociology 213.

Correspondence section available; call 277-1604 for details

Sociology 313: Social Control

The study of informal and formal social control strategies for guiding and monitoring individual behavior and social interaction.  Discussion of key social control agents and institutions, including the family, schools, peers, media, religion and the criminal justice system.

Prerequisites: Sociology 205 OR Sociology 213.

Sociology 326: Sociology of New Mexico

New Mexico as a social system: the infrastructure of communities and ethnic groups, stratification, major social institutions, deviance and inter-group relations.

Prerequisite: Sociology 101.

Sociology 331: Collective Behavior

The study of riots, disturbances, social movements and other forms of contentious collective behavior. Strategies of conflict and conflict resolution are considered.

Prerequisite: Sociology 101.

 

Sociology 345: Youth & Society 

An assessment of the creation and dynamics of childhood and youth in human societies.  Consideration of historical and cross-cultural material; and issues such as deviance and popular culture.

Prerequisite: Sociology 101.

 

Sociology 371: Classical Social Theory

The study of nineteenth century sociological theory, with particular emphasis on Marx, Durkheim, and Weber.

Prerequisite: Sociology 101.

Sociology 381: Social Data Analysis

An introduction to the basic statistics (both descriptive and inferential) employed in the analysis of quantitative sociological data.

Prerequisites: Sociology 280.

Sociology 398: Special Topics in Sociology: Community Organizing and Praxis

In recent years, community organizing has gained a great deal of attention due to several factors: the success of community organizing efforts to advance educational reform, low-income housing, healthcare reform, and environmental justice; the rise of Barack Obama after his early career in community organizing; the career opportunities the field offers for disciplined young people interested in working for social change without giving up a reasonable standard of living; and the fact that many community organizing efforts occur in the kinds of "communities of color" that constitute the demographic future of American society. This course will introduce students to the history and political experience of community organizing in America, the current practices and strategies that it uses, and the social theory that guides practitioners. Course will include field experience with local organizations.

Prerequisite: Sociology 101.

Offered with POLS 300-007.

Sociology 398: Special Topics in Sociology: American Religious Peace Movements

Recent historical events have generated interest in religion’s capacity for violence and terrorism.  Yet religion has also inspired a variety of peace movements.  This class will introduce students to religious traditions of pacifism and nonviolence.  Using sociological theories, the course provides insight into the spiritual roots of activism in U.S. movements against war and militarism.  Case studies include religious conscientious objection in World Wars I and II; the Catholic Worker movement; Buddhist, Jewish, and Christian responses to the Vietnam War; the Plowshares movement against the nuclear arms race, and the U.S. solidarity movement with Central America.

Prerequisite: Sociology 101.

Offered with RELG 447-002.

Sociology 398: Special Topics in Sociology: Transnational Feminism

This course considers women's issues and feminist movements from a non-Western perspective. It includes discussion of the what is transnational; what is postcolonial; what is the politics of nationalism and postcolonial in a developing world condition; globalization of feminism; the relationship between feminism and colonialism; the connection of women's movements to national/independence movements and revolutionary movements of different countries of the world.  This course is intended to give you the tools to become knowledgeable about the tremendous range of women's and feminist activism globally. We will analyze those cultural, economic and political conditions that promote, inhibit and incite activism to promote women's rights. In doing so, we will be particularly attentive to the local, the global, and their interactions.

Prerequisite: Sociology 101.

Offered with AFST 397-005, ANTH 340-005, WMST 331-001.

Section	Days & Time	Instructor
004 (home dept: Women Studies)	Mondays 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM	Saumya Pant

Sociology 398: Special Topics in Sociology: Women's Health Policy

Prerequisite: Sociology 101.

Offered with HED 493/593-005, POLS 400-005, PH 560-005, WMST 379/579-005.

Section	Days & Time	Instructor
005 (home dept: Women Studies)	Wednesdays 5:30 - 9:00 PM	Giovanna Rossi Pressley

 

 

Sociology 398: Special Topics in Sociology: Peace & Conflict

This course will introduce the field of peace studies, outline alternatives to violent conflict, and explore the role of resource scarcity in global conflict.  On the face of it, despite the fact that most wars and weapon transfers over the past century have been carried out in the name of peace and security, military investment doesn't seem to have provided either security or peace.  At the same time, we devote almost no comparable effort to studying nonviolent solutions to human conflict.  The course is intended to balance, in however small a way, that discrepancy.

Prerequisite: Sociology 101.

Offered with ANTH 340-006, WMST 379-006, & POLS 300-006.

Sociology 398: Special Topics in Sociology: Gender & Migration

No course description available at this time.

Prerequisite: Sociology 101.

Offered with AMST 330-007, ANTH 340-007, CHMS 393-015, & WMST 379-007.

Sociology 398: Special Topics in Sociology: Principles of Cultural Anthropology

Development of ideas and theories in sociocultural anthropology; focus on topics such as integration of human societies, sources of change in economic and cultural systems.

Prerequisite: Sociology 101.

Offered with AMST 330-018, ANTH 330-003, CHMS 393-018, & WMST 379-018.

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Sociology 414: Sociology of Corrections

Study of the relationship between society and law enforcement agencies, including the societal context of policing and how law enforcement impacts society.  Discussion of law enforcement practices, training and management; the interface of police and communities; historical and contemporary models of policing; and efforts at police reform.

Prerequisites: Sociology 312 AND Sociology 313.

Sociology 416: Sociology of Law 

Social science perspectives of the law, legal institutions, and the impact of law on behavior. Topics include theories of law and legality; comparative legal systems; lawyers, judges and juries; and the use of social science in the courts.

Prerequisites: Sociology 312 AND Sociology 313.

 

Sociology 418: Special Topics in Criminology: Policing Gangs & Gang Behavior

No course description available at this time.

Prerequisites: Sociology 101, (205 or 213), 312, and 313.

 

Section	Days & Time	Instructor
010 (08/24/09 - 10/17/09) UNM West	Saturdays 8:00 - 1:15 PM	Conrad Candelaria

 

Sociology 424: Race, Class, & Crime

This class will examine the relationships between race, ethnicity, socio-economic status and involvement in criminal behavior, focusing on the influence of structural, cultural and historical influences.  We will also explore contemporary criminal justice issues pertaining to race and class.

Prerequisite: Sociology 312 AND Sociology 313.

 

Sociology 471: Contemporary Social Theory

Comparative analysis of major contributions to sociological theory in the 20th century.  Functionalism, Phenomenology, French Structuralism, Analytical Marxism.

Prerequisite: Sociology 101.

 

Sociology 481: Research Methods in Sociology

This course is intended to provide students with a working knowledge of the major strategies and essential tools used in organizing and analyzing sociological data.  Use of computer as a tool of social research; utilization of data archives; problems of research design, instrumentation and analysis of empirical data.  The course builds upon topics covered in the three prerequisites, Soc. 101 (Introduction to Sociology), Soc. 280 (Introduction to Research Methods) and Soc. 381 (Sociological Data Analysis--"Social Statistics"); students lacking these prerequisites will NOT be allowed to enroll in this course.  Students must enroll in one of the appropriate 481L lab sections to obtain full credit for the course.

Sociology 481: Research Methods in Sociology Lab

Use of the computer as a tool of social research; utilization of data archives; problems of research design, instrumentation, and analysis of empirical data. Students must be registered for 481. Prerequisites: Sociology 280 and 381.  Students must enroll in the appropriate 481 lecture section to obtain full credit for the lab.  Students must first enroll in the lecture section of 481, then call the department at 277-2501 to get cleared for the lab.

 

Sociology 488: Field Observation and Experience

A field placement arrangement for students in the criminology, Peace Studies, and social welfare concentrations.  Participant observation in local agencies and sociological analysis of this experience.  Prerequisites include core courses in deviance/criminology, Peace Studies, or social welfare and permission of instructor.

 

Sociology 490: Directed Study

Tutorial arrangement with a member of the sociology faculty. Specific arrangements must be made with a member of the sociology faculty responsible for supervising the work.  These arrangements are normally made at least one semester in advance.  Restricted to students with substantial background in sociology. May be taken for departmental honors with prior approval of chairperson. Not to be taken for criminology credit.

 

 

Sociology 491: Directed Study in Criminology

Tutorial arrangement for investigation of selected issues in criminology. Specific arrangements must be made with a member of the sociology faculty responsible for supervising the work.

 

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SOCIOLOGY GRADUATE COURSES

Sociology 500: Classical Sociological Theory

Advanced study of selected classical theorists.

 

Section	Days & Time	Instructor
001	Wednesdays 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM	Beverly Burris

 

Sociology 521: Sociology of Education

Examination of the character and dynamics of education in human societies. Focus is on the organization and expansion of modern educational systems and the effects of education on individuals and society.

Sociology 523: Proseminar

Introduces incoming graduate student to each of the department's regular faculty members and their work.

Sociology 532: Sociology of Religion

Course contents of 422 plus attention to the nature of religious behavior, structure of religious organizations, and socioreligious change in contemporary societies through the works of Weber, Freud, Marx, Bellah, Geertz, Wuthnow and others.

Sociology 570: Topics: Qualitative Data Analysis

This course focuses on the ANALYSIS of qualitative data rather than research design, data gathering, or field relations. Ideally, students entering this course should have had an introductory course in qualitative methods and/or a course on field relations and data gathering and will come into the course with a data set that has already been entered into a word‑processing file. After a brief introduction to epistemological issues in qualitative research, the seminar will become a hands‑on workshop on data analysis.

Sociology 580: Methods in Social Research I

Analytical examination of traditional methodological issues including measurement, experimental design, sampling, theory construction, role of statistics and nature of probability.

Sociology 582: Advanced Social Social Statistics II

Additional methods for quantitative social research: regression diagnostics, logit and Poisson regression, principal components, correspondence analysis.

Prerequisite: Sociology 581.

Sociology 595: Topics: Immigration & Health: Comparative Perspectives

In this course, we will formulate explanations about how migration policies in different countries shape the experiences of migration, the experience of immigration, and how immigrants experience health and illness as well as access to the use of medical services. The quest that drives this course is, beyond the assimilation and acculturation paradigms, is there an alternative way to explain the 'healthy immigrant paradox.'

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