Sociology

SOCI 012. Exploring Census Data. 1 Unit.

This course introduces students to the U.S. Decennial Census and the American Community Survey. Students will learn about the history of the Decennial Census, as well as how to find and interpret basic census data. By the end of the course, students will understand U.S. populations from a demographic perspective and will gain proficiency in census data tools they can use in various workplaces.

SOCI 021. Culture and Society. 4 Units.

Students examine the various forms of culture and their linkages to our society. The course looks at what culture is and what it means to people—how it links them together and drives them apart. Topics include how culture is “created,” and by whom; what restraints are placed upon cultural creation by individuals and society; how culture is manufactured and “sold” to large audiences; subcultures and the creation of cultural identity; the diffusion of culture both within societies and between them; the process of globalization and effects of American culture overseas. Special emphasis on the impacts of social stratification, class, gender and race. (DVSY, GE1B)

SOCI 027. Sociology of Marriage and Family. 4 Units.

In this course, family life is examined through a historical, cultural and political lens to contextualize the changing institution of the family. The evolution of the family is studied both historically and comparatively, but the focus is on the contemporary U.S. family. Special attention is given to the changing significance of sexuality in marriage, the persistent gendered nature of family structure and organization, and evolving norms around childbearing and childrearing. Other topics that will be addressed include domestic violence, divorce, out-of-wedlock childbearing, and alternative family forms. The course emphasizes how family life varies across race and ethnic groups, social class, religion and geographic location. (ETHC, GEND)

SOCI 031. Deviant Behavior. 4 Units.

This course critically examines various sociological approaches to the study of deviant behavior. Special attention is paid to the problem of defining deviance in a useful manner for sociological study—and not just as officially illegal behavior. Most forms of deviance, ranging from major infractions of societal norms (such as rape or child abuse) to less extreme, but still significant deviant acts (such as marijuana smoking or illegal file sharing) is discussed. In addition, the political and economic elite is examined with respect to their ability to define deviance, their use of punishment as social control, and the ways they are able to “hide” crime to their own advantage. American data is supplemented by cross-cultural and comparative materials. (DVSY, GE1A, GESO)

SOCI 033. Introduction to Criminology and Criminal Justice. 4 Units.

This course provides an overview of the nature and extent of crime, theories of crime causation, the social correlates of crime, and the structure of the criminal justice system. The geographic focus of the course will be the United States, though international comparisons may be brought in for a comparative perspective. (ETHC, GE1A, GESO, PLAW)

SOCI 041. Social Problems. 4 Units.

This course is an exploration of the process by which various social conditions become labeled as social problems worthy of policy responses. It examines the various roles played by the media, government actors, activists and everyday citizens in this process, and pays particular attention to the role of power in enabling some social groups to label the behaviors of others as problematic while deflecting attention from their own practices. This course focuses predominantly on the US, but also engages in comparative analysis with other countries. (DVSY, ETHC, GE1B, GEDI, GEGR, GEND)

SOCI 051. Introduction to Sociology. 4 Units.

This course is an introduction to the field of sociology, a discipline that studies how larger social and cultural forces shape the human experience. The course introduces students to the sociological imagination or mindset, the various forms of social inequality, and the major social institutions. Many of the discipline’s major concepts, social theories and research methods are highlighted throughout the course, which focuses primarily on U.S. society. (DVSY, GE1B, GEDI, GESO)

SOCI 071. Sociology Cohort Seminar. 1 Unit.

This course is designed to introduce sociology majors to the field of sociology and the sociology program. You will meet weekly in a seminar-like setting to discuss reading material; explore the sociological curriculum; and learn about faculty, resources and opportunities at the university. By the end of the course, students are expected to understand how to make the most of their college experience and their sociological training.

SOCI 079. Self and Society. 4 Units.

This course addresses how we define and understand ourselves in relation to society. Drawing from the sub-field of micro-sociology, it examines individual and small-scale social interactions. Topics include the nature and scope of micro-sociology, the structure of social interaction, the development and maintenance of the social self, and the production and influence of culture. The course also explores the ways that hierarchies of race, class, gender and nation shape social identity. Prerequisite, may be taken concurrently: SOCI 051. (GEND)

SOCI 081. Introduction to Social Services. 4 Units.

This course introduces students to social welfare by using various political perspectives and provides an overview of social services. Students gain a comprehensive understanding of social work as a profession and better understand how social policies are applied to attempt to deal with various social problems. The course also examines the types of social services provided, the client population targeted, the organization of agencies, funding mechanisms, and program design and evaluation. This course combines classroom work with minimal fieldwork with non-profit agencies.

SOCI 093. Special Topics. 2-4 Units.

SOCI 096A. Sociology Civic Action Part A. 2 Units.

This seminar fulfills the first course of the two-course sequence that constitutes the foundational academic component of the Civic Action Fellowship. This service-learning fellowship introduces students to some of the most pressing challenges facing urban centers such as Stockton, CA, and through an interdisciplinary service-learning and social justice lens, offers pathways for addressing these challenges. Bridging theory and practice, the seminar aims to address issues around urban health broadly defined, including educational disparities, climate and sustainability, and food insecurity. Furthermore, the seminar will help students develop civic skills and knowledge, prepare them for 21st-century challenges, and contribute to the public good. The two-semester sequence (SOCI 096 A&B) may fulfill the Sociology experiential learning requirement. Students must take both SOCI 096A and SOCI 096B to earn GE credit for this sequence. GE approval is pending for the SOCI 096A/B courses. (GEDI, GEGR)

SOCI 096B. Sociology Civic Action Part B. 2 Units.

This seminar fulfills the second course of the two-course sequence that constitutes the foundational academic component of the Civic Action Fellowship. This service-learning fellowship introduces students to some of the most pressing challenges facing urban centers such as Stockton, CA, and through an interdisciplinary service-learning and social justice lens, offers pathways for addressing these challenges. Bridging theory and practice, the seminar aims to address issues around urban health broadly defined, including educational disparities, climate and sustainability, and food insecurity. Furthermore, the seminar will help students develop civic skills and knowledge, prepare them for 21st-century challenges, and contribute to the public good. Working from the final proposal delivered at the conclusion of the previous fall semester, students will deliver a project to benefit the community partner with which they serve. The two-semester sequence (SOCI 096 A&B) may fulfill the Sociology experiential learning requirement. Students must take both SOCI 096A and SOCI 096B to earn GE credit for this sequence. (GEDI, GEGR)

SOCI 108. Food, Culture and Society. 4 Units.

Are you what you eat, or do you eat what you are? This course focuses on the role of food in society, with an emphasis on understanding food in its social and cultural contexts. Topics include food and nutrition; problems of over- and under-eating; food fads; food sacrifices and taboos; food and social and ethnic identity; and the global politics of food. Although beginning with a look at American food ways, the course is highly cross-cultural and comparative in nature. (DVSY, ETHC, GEDI)

SOCI 111. Environmental Justice. 4 Units.

Global warming, toxic cities, resource exploitation, species extinction. These are among the most pressing issues of our time. What do these problems tell us about the effects of society on the natural world, and of the natural world’s capacity to affect, or even destroy, our society? What kinds of social systems, institutions and behaviors contribute to the current environmental crisis? And what is the relationship between environment and inequality? This course will take an interdisciplinary approach to the above-described problems, and will highlight and critique potential solutions. (DVSY, ETHC, GEDI, GEGR)

SOCI 114. Gender, Work and Global Capitalism. 4 Units.

Since the founding of the discipline, Sociology has examined how societies are transformed as a result of the rise and spread of capitalism. This course addresses how this transformation affects and is affected by ideas around gender and the gender division of labor. How does the rise of capitalism reconfigure social life and gender relations? And how do capitalist relations unfold in gendered ways? The course takes a global perspective on these questions, considering case studies from within and outside the United States.

SOCI 123. Sex and Gender. 4 Units.

This course introduces students to the sociological study of sex and gender. Sociologists define gender as a social category that is organized around perceived biological differences between men and women. As such, the study of gender is not simply the study of women. It is the study of how gender categories, identities, and institutions structure our lives and society. The course critically analyzes the sex and gender categories that organize social life and investigates how gender identities are constructed in everyday social life. Particular attention is paid to how social institutions reinforce gender identities and reproduce gender inequalities over time, as well as how sex and gender are intricately linked to other social statuses such as race, class, and sexuality. (DVSY, ETHC, GEDI, GEND)

SOCI 125. Sociology of Health and Illness. 4 Units.

This course introduces students to the sociology of medicine and the delivery of health care, with an emphasis on the interaction of patients, health care professionals, and social institutions. Topics of examination include health care settings, provider-patient relationships, ethical issues in health care, and trends in medicine and policies. Additionally, the course explores how race, class, and gender affect people’s health and illness in addition to how health policies shape the medical system, and how definitions, attitudes, and beliefs affect health and illness. (DVSY, ETHC, GE1B, GEDI, GEND, GESO)

SOCI 126. Housing and Homelessness. 4 Units.

Access to housing is one of the most important factors driving racial and economic inequalities in the US today. In this seminar, we’ll explore the structural roots of these inequalities, from immigration and settlement, to historic and present-day policies and trends. This course will have a strong focus on Stockton and the Central Valley with comparisons to cities across the US. Students will produce an original project exploring the effects of housing policies and trends on the lived experiences of communities.

SOCI 138. Immigration, Integration, and Exclusion. 4 Units.

This course examines contemporary immigration to the United States. How have immigrant communities been integrated and excluded from U.S. society across its history? How has the immigrant experienced varied by gender and across racial-ethnic groups? Finally, how have the criminal justice and immigration enforcement systems converged to criminalize immigrants? The course will examine controversies surrounding immigrant detention and deportation, as well as the intersecting inequalities of race, class, and gender in immigration enforcement. (GEGR)

SOCI 139. Correctional Systems & Society. 4 Units.

In this course, students examine how the philosophy, structure, and operation of the U.S. correctional system have evolved over time. The course covers correctional treatment and oversight for adults, juveniles, and other special populations. It also focuses on the broader impact of incarceration on families and communities. Topics include mass incarceration, solitary confinement, and capital punishment. (GEDI, GEWE, PLAW)

SOCI 141. Race and Ethnicity. 4 Units.

Historical and contemporary forms of prejudice and racism are the focus of this course. Social institutions such as the media, education, family and government are examined for their role in fostering and challenging prejudice and racism. Course readings address how race intersects with other forms of inequality (e.g., gender, class, etc.) Although centered in Sociology, the course materials are interdisciplinary in nature. (DVSY, ETHC, GEDI)

SOCI 161. Urban Society. 4 Units.

What effects has the historical emergence of cities had on human social interaction and public life? How do urban places structure social relations and create identities and cultural meanings? This course explores the development of the city and its effects on social life. Particular attention is given to issues of poverty, interracial interaction and segregation, suburbanization, gentrification, urban development and urban cultural movements. Though this course takes US metropolitan areas as its primary focus, it also draws on global examples. (ETHC)

SOCI 165. Social Organizations. 4 Units.

Students explore the social structure of communities and the influence of organizations and social institutions on individuals and groups. The course focuses primarily on the dynamics of community level organizations, and it analyzes social service, nonprofit, voluntary, public, and similar kinds of civic sector organizations and agencies, and the social issues to which they respond. Students also examine basic principles of organization that include program development, team building, leadership and related topics as strategies for responding to human needs to solve social problems and achieve social change. Prerequisite: a course in sociology or permission of instructor.

SOCI 171. Social Research Methods. 4 Units.

This course reviews and examines the various methods used in social science research to gather and analyze data. The course considers the relationship between social theory and such methodologies as experiments, observations, interviews, surveys and content analysis. It guides students in each of these data collection techniques and introduces students to quantitative and qualitative data analysis. It also considers the ethical issues involved in the use of such methods. Student designed research projects are a central part of this course. Prerequisites: SOCI 051, SOCI 071, and SOCI 079. (PLAW)

SOCI 172. Diversity, Equity and Inequality. 4 Units.

This course examines the historical causes, current structure, and various consequences of structural inequalities in the United States. It focuses on various social inequalities, including those based on class, race, gender, sexuality, disability, nationality, and immigrant status. Sociological perspectives and research are applied to better understand how social differences (diversity) become a basis for unequal access to economic, political and social power (inequality), as well as how a more equitable social system might be achieved. Prerequisites: SOCI 051, SOCI 071, and SOCI 079. (DVSY, ETHC, GEDI, GEND)

SOCI 177. Theories of Society and Culture. 4 Units.

This course provides a broad overview of sociological theory at both the macro- and micro-levels. The course texts explore classic and contemporary sociological theories. Students who complete this course will learn how scholars define and use theory in the development of sociological knowledge. Throughout the semester students examine basic theoretical assumptions and learn how different perspectives compare and contrast with each other. Prerequisites: SOCI 051, SOCI 071, and SOCI 079.

SOCI 179. Capstone Seminar. 3 Units.

The purpose of the capstone seminar is to give sociology students the opportunity to revisit their sociological training and to consider how sociology might fit into their life after college. The class meets once a week to discuss the value of the sociology degree and the careers available to sociology majors. Throughout the course, students will develop a professional portfolio to showcase their sociological skillset. They will also present on a sociological concept in order to demonstrate their ability to apply and communicate sociological knowledge outside an academic setting. Prerequisite, may be taken concurrently: SOCI 187.

SOCI 187. Experiential Learning. 3-4 Units.

SOCI 187A. Experiential Learning. 1-4 Units.

This course provides an intellectually rigorous experiential learning opportunity to majors. It is an advanced course designed to further explore sociological concepts through direct experience, observation, reflection and analysis. Students choose a field site where they spend approximately 8-10 hours per week. Class meetings help students to develop their research and writing skills. This course results in the production of a publishable or presentation quality piece of original research. Prerequisites, may be taken concurrently: SOCI 171 and SOCI 177.

SOCI 189. Practicum. 1-4 Units.

SOCI 191. Independent Study. 2-4 Units.

SOCI 197. Independent Research. 2-4 Units.

SOCI 291. Graduate Independent Study. 1-4 Units.

SOCI 297. Graduate Independent Research. 1-4 Units.