Sociology Schedule of Courses for 2007-08

SPRING SEMESTER 2008

Course     Instructor                 Days/ Times       Course Name                 Location

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FALL SEMESTER 2008 

SPRING SEMESTER 2009  

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

SOCL B102 Society, Culture and the Individual

Analysis of the basic sociological methods, perspectives and concepts used in the study of society, with emphasis on culture, social structure, personality, their component parts and their interrelationship in both traditional and industrial societies. The sources of social tension, order and change are addressed through study of socialization and personality development, mental illness, delinquency and modernization. (Karen, Division I)

SOCL B103 U.S. Social Structure

Analysis of the structure and dynamics of modern US society. Theoretical and empirical study of statuses and roles, contemporary class relations, the distribution of political power, and racial, ethnic and gender relations in the US; and stratification in education systems, complex organizations, the labor market and the modern family.   (Osirim, Division I)

SOCL B121 Exploring Society by the Numbers

Using a wide range of quantitative data sources, the course will explore sociological concepts and develop a sociological perspective on a range of issues:  family, politics, inequality, education, health, crime, etc. Students will learn to become critical consumers of statistical data.  International, U.S., and Philadelphia databases will be used. (Karen, Division I)

SOCL B160 Social Problems: The United States and International

Examining a broad range of social problems (for example, crime, drugs, racism, pollution, etc.), focus is on: how social problems come to be identified as such; how research is conducted and possible policy implications; whether there are categories of problems that may have a common origin; the persistence of some problems; and how problems are structured by the dominant social forces of our society. Race, class and gender will be considered. (Wright, Division I)

SOCL B175 Environment and Society-History, Place and Problems

Introduces the ideas, themes, and methodologies of the interdisciplinary field of environmental studies, beginning with definitions:  what is nature? what is environment? and how do people and their settlements fit into each?  The course then moves to distinct disciplinary approaches in which scholarship can and does (and does not) inform our perceptions of the environment.  Assignments introduce methodologies of environmental studies, requiring reading landscapes, working with census data and government reports, critically interpreting scientific data, and analyzing work of experts. (Stroud, Division I)

SOCL B201 The Study of Gender in Society

The definition of male and female social roles and sociological approaches to the study of gender in the United States, with attention to gender in the economy and work place, the historical origins of the American family, and analysis of class and ethnic differences in gender roles. Of particular interest in this course is the comparative exploration of the experiences of women of color in the United States. (Osirim, Division I)

SOCL B205 Social Inequality

Introduction to the major sociological theories of gender, racial-ethnic and class inequality with emphasis on the relationships among these forms of stratification in the contemporary United States, including the role of the upper class(es), inequality between and within families, in the work place and in the educational system. Global stratification is examined as well. (Karen, Division I; cross-listed as Growth and Structure of Cities 205)

SOCL B207 The Nature of Prejudice: Race and Ethnic Relations

Cultural, structural and personality sources of racial and ethnic prejudice; basis theories of prejudice, attitude change and the response of minority communities illustrated by analysis of racism and anti-Semitism in cross-cultural perspective. Topics include comparisons of black-white relations in the US and South Africa; anti-Semitism in the US and the Soviet Union; the effect of law in racial-ethnic attitudes; sources of change in intergroup relations; and the effect of prejudice on personality, family and educational processes. (MacDonald-Dennis, Division I)

SOCL B212 Sociology of Poverty

Analysis of the causes and effects of poverty in the United States. Topics include trends in poverty and the relationship between poverty, the economy, the political system, the family and educational institutions. The culture-of-poverty approach and government programs for the poor, including current programs, are analyzed. (Porter, Division I)

SOCL B215 Challenges and Dilemmas of Diversity: Racial and Ethnic Relations in American Society

This course will explore the sociological theories of racial/ethnic prejudice, discrimination and conflict; the historical development of racial/ethnic groups in the United States; and current patterns and problems of racial/ethnic relations and the social policies being proposed to resolve those problems. (Takenaka/ Washington, Division I)

SOCL B217 The Family in Social Context

A consideration of the family as a social institution in the United States, looking at how societal and cultural characteristics and dynamics influence families; how the family reinforces or changes the society in which it is located; and how the family operates as a social organization. Included is an analysis of family roles and social interaction within the family. Major problems related to contemporary families are addressed, such as domestic violence and divorce. Cross-cultural and subcultural variations in the family are considered. (Osirim, Division I)

SOCL B225 Women in Society: The Southern Hemisphere

A study of the contemporary experiences of women of color in the developing world. The household, workplace, community and the nation-state, and the positions of women in the private and public spheres are compared cross-culturally. Topics include feminism, identity politics and self-esteem; and tensions and transitions encountered as nations embark upon development. (Osirim, Division I)

SOCL B227 Sports in Society

Using a sociological, historical and comparative approach, this course examines such issues as the role of the mass media in the transformation of sports; the roles played in sports by race, ethnicity, class and gender; sports as a means of social mobility; sports and socialization; the political economy of sports; and sports and the educational system. (Karen/Washington, Division I)

SOCL B229 Black America in Sociological Perspective

This course provides sociological perspectives on various issues affecting black America: the legacy of slavery; the formation of urban ghettos; the struggle for civil rights; the continuing significance of discrimination; the problems of crime and criminal justice; educational underperformance; entrepreneurial and business activities; the social roles of black intellectuals, athletes, entertainers and creative artists. (Washington, Division I)

SOCL B237 Crime, Law and Society

Critically examines the interplay between crime, law and the administration of justice in the US and how these are shaped by larger societal factors. Provides a theoretical and empirical overview of the criminal justice system, emphasizing such issues as the function and purpose of crime control; the roles of the actors/subjects in the criminal justice system; crime and violence as cultural and political issues; racial disparities; and juvenile justice. (Staff, Division I)

SOCL B242 Urban Fieldwork

This praxis course intends to provide students with hands-on research practice in field methods. In collaboration with the instructor and the Praxis Office, students will choose an organization or other group activity in which they will conduct participant observation for several weeks. Through this practice, students will learn how to conduct field-based primary research and analyze sociological issues. (Takenaka, Division I; cross-listed as Anthropology 242 and Growth and Structure of Cities 242)  

SOCL B246 Immigrant Experiences

Introduction to international migration. The course will examine the causes and consequences of immigration by looking at various immigrant groups in the U.S. in comparison with Western Europe, Japan, and other parts of the world. How is immigration induced and perpetuated? How are the types of migration changing (labor migration, refugee flows, return-migration, transnationalism)? How do immigrants adapt differently across societies? We will explore scholarly texts, films, and novels to examine what it means to be an immigrant, what generational and cultural conflicts immigrants experience, and how they identify with the new country and the old country. (Takenaka, Division I; cross-listed as Anthropology 258.) 

SOCL B249 Sociological Perspectives on Asian-American Communities

This course is an introduction to the study of Asian-American communities that provides comparative analysis of major social issues confronting Asian-Americans. Encompassing the varied experiences of Asian-Americans and Asians in the Americas, the course examines a broad range of topics -- community, migration, race and ethnicity, and identities -- as well as what it means to be Asian-American and what that teaches us about American society. (Takenaka, Division I; cross-listed as Anthropology 249 and Growth and Structure of Cities 249)

SOCL B252 Sociology of Popular Music

This course explores the production, distribution and consumption of popular music, paying particular attention to the interrelationships among artists, fans, the music industry and the societal context. Themes include the tension between mainstream commercial success and artistic independence, popular music and politics, and music consumption and identity, gender and sexuality. (Wright, Division I)

SOCL B257 Marginals and Outsiders: The Sociology of Deviance

An examination of unconventional and criminal behavior from the standpoint of different theoretical perspectives on deviance (e.g., social disorganization, symbolic interaction, structural functionalism, Marxism) with particular emphasis on the labeling and social construction perspectives; and the role of conflicts and social movements in changing the normative boundaries of society. Topics will include homicide, robbery, drug addiction, alcoholism, mental illness, prostitution, homosexuality and white-collar crime. (Washington, Division I) .

SOCL B258 Sociology of Education

Major sociological theories of the relationships between education and society, focusing on the effects of education on inequality in the United States and the historical development of primary, secondary and post-secondary education in the United States. Other topics include education and social selection, testing and tracking, and micro- and macro-explanations of differences in educational outcomes. This is a Praxis I course; placements are in local schools. (Karen, Division I)

SOCL B262 Who Believes What and Why: The Sociology of Public Opinion

This course explores public opinion: what it is, how it is measured, how it is shaped and how it changes over time. Specific attention is given to the role of elites, the mass media and religion in shaping public opinion. Examples include racial/ethnic civil rights, abortion, gay/lesbian/transgendered sexuality and inequalities. (Wright, Division I; cross-listed as Political Science 262)

SOCL B265 Research Design and Statistical Analysis

An introduction to the conduct of empirical, especially quantitative, social science inquiry. In

consultation with the instructor, students may select research problems to which they apply the re- search procedures and statistical techniques introduced during the course. Using SPSS, a statistical computer package, students learn techniques such as crosstabular analysis, multiple regression-correlation analysis and factor analysis. (Wright, Division I or Quantitative Skills)

SOCL B266 Schools in American Cities

 (Cohen, Division I; cross-listed as Education 266 and Growth and Structure of Cities 266)

SOCL B267 The Development of the Modern Japanese Nation

 An introduction to the main social dimensions central to an understanding of contemporary Japanese society and nationhood im comparison to other societies. The course also aims to provide students with training in comparative analylsis in sociology. (Takenaka, Division 1; cross-listed as Anthropology 267 and East Asian Studies 267)

SOCL B 272 Race and Place in Urban America

Amidst increasing racial and ethnic diversity in the US, there is growing concern that racial and ethnic minorities in American cities will face greater inequalities with respect to housing, resources, educational/employment opportunities, etc. This course will analyze the relationship between race/ethnicity and spatial inequality, emphasizing the institutions, processes and mechanisms that shape the lives of urban dwllers and surveys major political approaches and empirical investigations of racial and ethnic stratification in several urban cities, notably Philadelphia, Chicago and Los Angeles. (Staff, Division I; cross-listed as CITY B272).

 SOCL B275 Introduction to Survey Research Methods

Introduces the many facets of survey collection process from start to finish. Topics include proposal development, instrument design, measurement, sampling techniques, survey pretesting, survey collection media, interviewing, index and scale construction, data analysis, interpretation and report writing. Examines the effects of demographic and socioeconomic factors in contemporary survey data collection. Prerequisite: one course in social science. (Consiglio, Division I)

SOCL B301 Research Practicum in Education

This course will facilitate students doing their own research in the sociology of education. Using a variety of datasets from the National Center for Education Statistics, we will investigate a range of topics. Possible foci include race, class and gender differences in the educational experience; the effects of tracking, athletic participation and other factors on educational outcomes; and the role of cultural capital in educational achievement. (Karen, Division I)

SOCL B302 Social Theory

Analysis of classical and modern theorists selected because of their continuing infuence on sociological thought. Among the theoretical conceptions examined are: alienation, bureaucracy, culture, deviance, modernization, power, religion and the sacred, social change, social class, social conflict, and social psychology of self and status. Theorists include: Durkheim, Firestone, Gramsci, Marx, Mead, Mills and Weber. (Washington, Division I)

SOCL B309 Sociology of Religion

 An analysis of the relationship between religion and society, emphasizing the connection between religious systems and secular culture, social structure, social change, secular values, and personality systems in cross-cultural perspective. The theories of Marx, Weber, Durkheim, and Freud, among others, are applied to analysis of the effect of religion on economic modernization, political nationalism, and social change and stability, and the effect of social class, secular culture, and personality patterns on religion. (Wright, Division 1) 

SOCL B310 Sociology of AIDS

An analysis of major sociological issues related to AIDS, including the social construction of the disease, social epidemiology, the psychosocial experience of illness, public opinion and the media, and the health care system. The implications of political and scientific controversies concerning AIDS will be analyzed, as will the impact of AIDS on the populations most affected in both the United States and Third World countries. Must be taken concurrently with Sociology 315. (Porter, Division I)

SOCL B311 Stability & Change in Modern Africa: Nigeria and Zimbabwe

This course seeks to engage students in theoretical analysis and decision making around contemporary problems of development in Nigeria and Zimbabwe. After an examination of the major theoretical perspectives in the sociology of development, students apply these theories and assume the role of policy-makers in case discussions focusing on the debt crisis and adoption of structural adjustment policies; education and employment creation in both the formal and informal sectors; and the role of women in development. In addition, through readings and case discussions, this course familiarizes students with the historical background and some of the macro-sociological issues experienced by these nations, such as British colonialism and the liberation struggle in Zimbabwe, and the military rule and the transition to democracy in Nigeria. These experiences are examined with attention given to gender, racial/ethnic and class cleavages in these societies. (Osirim, Division I)

SOCL B315 Sociology of AIDS Internship

An internship open only to those who are concurrently enrolled in Sociology 310. (Porter, Division I)

SOCL B325 Sociology of Culture

This seminar analyzes the sociological bases and ramifications of culture by exploring the role of social forces behind the cultural constructions of television programs, advertisements, journalism, movies, literary works and politics; and the sociological significance of those cultural constructions as normative messages pertaining to race relations, gender relations, class relations and other spheres of social life. (Washington, Division I)

SOCL B330 Comparative Econ Sociology: Societies of North and South

A comparative study of the production, distribution and consumption of re- sources in Western and developing societies from a sociological perspective, including analysis of pre-capitalist economic formations and of the modern world system. Topics include the international division of labor, entrepreneurship and the role of the modern corporation. Evidence drawn from the United States, Britain, Nigeria, Brazil and Jamaica. (Osirim, Division I)

SOCL B338 The New African Diaspora: African and Caribbean Immigrants in the US

 An examination of the socioeconomic experiences of immigrants who arrived in the U.S. since the landmark legislation of 1965. After exploring issues of development and globalization at "home" leading to migration, the course proceeds with the study of immigration theories. Major attention is given to the emergence of transnational identities and the transformation of communities, particularly in the Northeastern U.S. (Osirim, Division I; cross-listed as Growth and Structure of Cities 338.)

SOCL B350 Movements for Social Justice

Throughout human history, powerless groups of people have organized social movements to improve their lives and their societies. Powerful groups and institutions have resisted these efforts in order to maintain their own privilege. Some periods of history have been more likely than others to spawn protest movements. In American history, we think of the 1930s and 60s in this way. Will there soon be another period of significant protest? What factors seem most likely to lead to social movements? What determines their success/failure? We will examine 20th century social movements in the US to answer these questions. Includes a film series. (Karen, Division I)

SOCL B354 Comparative Social Movements

A consideration of the conceptualizations of power and "legitimate" and "illegitimate" participation, the political opportunity structure facing potential protesters, the mobilizing resources available to them and the cultural framing within which these processes occur. Specific attention is paid to recent movements that have occurred both within and across countries, especially the feminist, environmental and peace movements. (Hager, Karen; Division I; cross-listed as Political Science 354)

SOCL B375 Women, Work & Family

(Golden, Division I; cross-listed as Political Science 375)

SOCL B398 Senior Conference

Seminar on theoretical issues in the sociology of culture; required of all senior sociology majors. Open to Bryn Mawr senior Sociology majors only. (Staff)

SOCL B403 Independent Study

Students have the opportunity to do individual research projects under the supervision of a faculty member. (Staff)

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