This is a listing of Sociology (SOCL) classes available at Bethany. These are included in the requirements for the Sociology Minor and other programs. Not all courses are available every semester. Please contact the registrar with any questions.
There are 22 courses in this subject. View other subjects or view all courses.
| Code | Course Title / Description |
|---|---|
| SOCL101 | Introduction to Sociology 3 credits This course provides a general overview of sociology which includes discussions of the major theories and methods used in sociology today, as well as explores literature discussing major institutions (economics, politics, family, mass media, art, etc.) which constrains and facilitates our behavior. |
| SOCL104 | Cultural Anthropology 3 credits Differences in culture, subsistence and technology, kinship and social organizations, political and economic systems, and religion and ideology among the people of the world are examined. Comparisons are made with familiar American culture. |
| SOCL201 | Marriage and the Family 3 credits The sociological literature surrounding family and marriage is examined, primarily exploring how modern/postmodern societies provide the context that shapes how we experience our familial relationships and alter these relationships over time. |
| SOCL240 | Criminal Deviance and Justice 3 credits Criminal deviance and the social and legal process of defining crime and punishment are examined. Topics include crime types, criminal careers, theories of crime causation, and an introduction to crime control systems. |
| SOCL250 | Crossing Cultures in the USA 3 credits This course aims to equip students with skills and tools in the art of crossing cultures and to use American culture as the framework within which to practice. To do this, students will explore the orienting principles that guide cross-cultural understanding and the cultural dimensions that influence our everyday thinking and functioning. They will also gain knowledge of the underpinnings of American culture and study topics connected to everyday life and work. In the process, they will contemplate more deeply their own cultural framework and values. Ultimately, the student should be better prepared for future successful interactions with those of another culture living in China or abroad. |
| SOCL289 | International Study Tour 3 credits Course allows the student to travel to a specific country selected by the professor and covers various aspects of the selected country or geographic area. |
| SOCL290 | Comparative Historical Sociology 3 credits In this course students will learn how sociologists and other social scientists utilize history to make comparisons between societies. Particularly, this course will display how comparisons between the economic and political institutions of different societies can enlighten our understanding of our own economy and government. |
| SOCL300 | Sociology of Medicine and the Body 3 credits How have our perceptions of bodies and medicine changed over time? How could we see our understanding of our bodies as a result of the society in which we live? How can we see medicine as part of modern politics and economics? How may medicine reinforce inequalities? Students will critically engage with these questions and reflect on what it means to practice medicine in modern societies. |
| SOCL320 | Research Methods in Social Sciences 3 credits Provides an introduction to theory and research methods in the social sciences. Topics include philosophy of science, measurement, ethical issues in conducting research, quantitative and qualitative research design, and data analysis/interpretation. Students will develop skills involved in the research process related to the social sciences and learn to distinguish sound conclusions from those based on faulty reasoning or flawed experiments. |
| SOCL330 | American Minorities 3 credits The values, beliefs, demographics, and cultural patterns of American minorities and U.S. society are examined from historic and contemporary perspectives. Topics include race, ethnicity, gender, social economics, and disabilities. |
| SOCL335 | Collective Behavior and Social Movements 3 credits What happens when large groups of people break from expectations and what does it mean for society? In this course students examine this question by exploring the literature and theories explaining crowds, riots, revolutions, and protests. |
| SOCL341 | Social Stratification 3 credits This class offers an overview of the causes, processes and consequences of social stratification in society. Attention is given to social inequalities rooted in social class structure, the organization of political power, and social hierarchies based on race and gender differences. |
| SOCL345 | Religion and Society 3 credits The nature and role of religion in our increasingly diverse society are examined. The varieties of religious beliefs, forms and practices and the effect of religion on society are discussed. |
| SOCL351 | Sociology of Art and Film 3 credits This course explores the interaction between modern societies and artistic productions. Students taking this course will learn to analyze the messages of art and film and how they speak to their social and historical context. In what way does art and film reinforce existing social institutions? Can art transform the world around us? If so, what are the potentials and pitfalls of art for such a transformation? |
| SOCL405 | Continental Philosophy: The Early Foundations of Sociology 3 credits This course provides students with an overview of the major figures of 19th and 20th century philosophy and displays how they provide the background for the social sciences and humanities as they are practiced today. Particularly significant questions provided by these philosophers include: How should we understand historical change? What are the limits of human knowledge? What is the role of human experience in understanding the world around us? |
| SOCL410 | Sociological Theory 3 credits This course explores the foundational theories of sociology and their treatment of the transition into modernity and provides a framework for the study of sociology. The historical context of their theories is also examined. Particular focus is given to providing students with a background in the classical canon (Marx, Weber, and Durkhiem). |
| SOCL420 | Contemporary Sociological Theory 3 credits In this course students will learn to read, dissect, and interpret contemporary sociological theories. They will learn to identify and develop major themes in sociology during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Theories covered will include, but not be limited to, systems theory, critical theory, post-structuralism, and post-modernism. |
| SOCL435 | Death and Dying 3 credits This course explores the sociological literature on death as well as the myriad of political-historical factors that have helped shape and influence our ideas, discourses, and practices surrounding death today. |
| SOCL480 | Topics in Sociology 3 credits Topics of special interest are presented in a seminar format. Students are expected to participate in special research, classroom discussion and reporting. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. |
| SOCL489 | International Study Tour 3 credits Course allows the student to travel to a specific country, selected by the professor, and covers various aspects of the selected country or geographic area. |
| SOCL497 | Independent Research 3 credits Students in this course will conduct independent research culminating in an in-depth research paper. They will conduct this research in concert with other students and under the guidance of the course instructor. |
| SOCL499 | Sociology Internship 2 credits Sociology-related field experience with an approved agency fulfilling an individual learning contract negotiated between student, department, Internship Coordinator, and worksite. Sociology majors only. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. |