Sociology, Department of

College of Natural and Social Sciences

DEPARTMENT OFFICE

King Hall C3093

Phone:       (323) 343-2200      FAX  (323) 343-5155

E-mail:      sociol@calstatela.edu

Website:     http://www.calstatela.edu/academic/soc/

Sociology is the scientific study of social behavior, social institutions, and social structure. It provides a background of understanding and research skills for students interested in a variety of occupations.  The department's programs prepare students for advanced professional study in sociology and social work, as well as positions in public and private social service agencies.  Sociology will have a particular appeal to students whose intellectual and career interests are broad and unspecialized.

Sociology majors study various subjects, including:  race/ethnic relations, gender issues, interpersonal relationships, religion, law, health care, child development, aging, urban populations, social inequalities, crime, corrections, occupations, mass communication, social deviance, politics, social psychology, and classical and contemporary sociological theories.  The primary purpose of the academic program in sociology is to enhance students' analytical abilities and understanding of social phenomena.

Students pursuing legal, educational, and governmental careers may benefit from sociological perspectives on human relations.  Students who intend to follow careers in management, marketing, human resources, public relations, advertising, journalism, criminal justice, nursing, and comparable areas may find particular value in combining the study of sociology with their professional preparation.

Three Bachelor of Arts degree options in Sociology; minors in Sociology, in Law and Society, and in Social Gerontology; and the Master of Arts degree program are described below.

The Faculty

Professors:  Cristina Bodinger-de Uriarte, Steven L. Gordon (Chair), Terry R. Kandal, Janet Lever, Jon Snodgrass, Ronald T. Tsukashima,

Associate Professors: Elaine Draper, Gretchen Peterson.

Assistant Professors: Gabriela Fried Amilivia, Bradley Campbell, Wai Kit Choi, Roseann Giarrusso, Hyojoung Kim, Sharon Oselin.

Emeriti:William D. Darrough, Marion V. Dearman, Lawrence K. Hong, Delos H. Kelly, Esther Penchef, Eleni N. Pitsiou-Darrough, Fred J. Shanley, Eui-Young Yu.

Undergraduate Programs

Bachelor of Arts Degree

The Department of Sociology offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with three options: the General Sociology Option, the Law and Society Option, and the Inequalities and Diversity Option.  Also offered are minors in Sociology, in Law and Society, and in Social Gerontology for students majoring in other fields.

The total number of units required for the Bachelor of Arts in Sociology is 180 units, of which 66 units are in the major.  Consult with an adviser for the specific number of units required in all areas of the degree, including GE and free electives.

All students desiring to undertake a major or minor in sociology must confer with a department adviser before or during their first quarter in the program and annually thereafter. Advisement shall occur at these times:

By the end of the first year in residence to establish a degree plan

After reaching 90 units (and before 120 units) to review progress toward graduation

Two quarters before completing degree requirements (and at least 135 units completed) to file a graduation application

To facilitate scheduling, specific prerequisites have been omitted from most courses.  It is highly recommended, however, that suggested sequences be observed, since later coursework will assume familiarity with prior course material.  The following are strongly recommended or required:

Students who transfer without having completed equivalent courses should include SOC 201 and 210AB among their first courses at Cal State L.A.

·     SOC 390 should be taken soon after 210AB;

·     Sociology majors should take SOC 412 before 414.

Requirements for the Major  (66 units)

Major requirements combine a common set of 26 units of required coursework with 40 additional units of work relevant to one of the three options: General Sociology, Law and Society, or Inequalities and Diversity.

Internship

By enrolling in SOC 398 or SOC 498, sociology majors can earn up to 4 credits per quarter for a maximum of 8 credits in a directed internship program. Students must arrange a work agreement with any approved agency. The intern meets with the department internship coordinator during the quarter and submits a journal of activities and a short final paper based on applying concepts studied in upper division Sociology courses (through prior or concurrent enrollment). See the internship coordinator for specific prerequisites, list of approved agencies, workload agreement, and other program details.

Options (40 units)

The following courses in one of three options are required in addition to the required courses described above.

General Sociology Option (40 units)

Select 40 units in sociology and other fields, in consultation with adviser; a program may include SOC 398, SOC 498, and SOC 499, But no more than 8 units of any combination of these courses normally may be counted toward the major. With prior approval of adviser, students may select up to 8 units in other fields to complete a comprehensive sociological program with an interdisciplinary emphasis.

Note: SOC 325 and 330 may not be used as electives on the sociology major program.

Law and Society Option (40 units)

The Law and Society Option explores a broad range of critical social and scientific issues concerning law and legal institutions from a sociological perspective. It prepares students for a wide variety of careers and professional programs and informs them about how social forces influence the legal system and how the law affects society. It is designed for students who wish to pursue advanced study in areas such as sociology, law, graduate law and society programs, public health, social welfare, education, and business administration; those who want to do applied research on law-related issues; and those who wish to gain a sociological understanding of law and society before seeking careers in health professions, criminal justice, social work, politics, public policy or policy analysis, public administration, urban and environmental planning, counseling, and other service occupations.

Select 16 units from these courses. These may include up to 8 units of independent work in law and society (internship or directed study) or law-related coursework from other departments with the Law and Society adviser's approval.

Select 20 units in sociology and other fields, in consultation with adviser; a program may include SOC 398, SOC 498, and SOC 499, But no more than 8 units of any combination of these courses normally may be counted toward the major. With prior approval of adviser, students may select up to 8 units in other fields to complete a comprehensive sociological program with an interdisciplinary emphasis.

Note: SOC 325 and 330 may not be used as electives on the sociology major program.

The directed study course (SOC 499) allows students to expand on their special interests in law and society. A directed study is usually in an area that the department's normal course offerings do not cover. Students meet regularly with their faculty supervisor and earn 1 to 4 units of credit and up to 8 units if the course is repeated. Individual research projects may involve library or field research.

Students can earn up to 8 units in a directed internship program (SOC 398 or 498) by arranging a work agreement with an approved agency (such as a government agency, business, or citizen group) and their faculty adviser the quarter before enrolling in the course.

The Law and Society Option sponsors a senior honors program for our top undergraduates. During their final undergraduate year, students enroll in SOC 496, conduct an independent research project under the supervision of a faculty member in the Sociology department, and write a senior honors thesis. Students who complete the honors program graduate with distinction in the Law and Society Option. Eligibility criteria are: a Law and Society Option student with senior class standing, minimum of 3.5 grade point average, and completion of specific courses required for the major and Law and Society Option (SOC 201, SOC 488, at least four upper division courses in the Sociology Major, and at least two additional upper division courses in the Law and Society Option). Diplomas and transcripts of honors program graduates are designated: "Graduated with Departmental Honors in the Law and Society Option in Sociology."

Inequalities and Diversity Option (40 units)

Upper Division Required Course (4 units)

Upper division inequalities/diversity electives (16 units)

Upper Division General Electives (8 units)

Select 8 units of upper division courses in sociology in consultation with adviser; a program may include SOC 398, SOC 498, and SOC 499.

Note: SOC 325 and 330 may not be used as electives on the sociology major program.

With adviser approval, select 12 units from outside of sociology that relate to the following areas. Courses must be taken from at least 2 different areas.

Area I: Asian and Asian American Studies

Area II: Chicano Studies

Area III: Latin American Studies

Area IV: Pan-African Studies

Note on theme courses: Courses from departments other than sociology being used to satisfy the GE Theme requirement cannot
also be counted on the major.

Minors in Sociology

The Department of Sociology offers minor programs for students majoring in other fields. The Minor in Sociology requires 28 units, the Law and Society Minor requires 28 units, and the Social Gerontology Minor requires 24-28 units.

Minor in Sociology

A Minor in Sociology provides valuable preparation for students majoring in business, criminal justice, journalism, recreation, and other fields.

A total of 28 units in required and elective courses comprises the Minor in Sociology.  Students who have an equivalent research methods course in their major may substitute another four-unit, 400-level sociology course for the SOC 390 requirement below.  A statistics course normally is prerequisite to SOC 390.

Requirements for the Minor  (28 units)

Select additional upper division courses with adviser approval.

SOC 398, 498, and 499 may not be included as electives for the Minor in Sociology.

Minor in Law and Society

The Minor in Law and Society is designed for students majoring in other fields who wish to study how social forces influence the legal system and how the law affects society from a sociological perspective. The minor helps prepare students for a wide variety of law-related careers and professional programs.

Requirements for the Minor (28 units)

Select 16 units from the following courses. These electives may include up to 8 units of independent work in Law and Society (internship or directed study) with the Law and Society adviser's approval. Law-related coursework from other departments requires adviser approval.

Directed study (SOC 499) allows students to expand on their special interests in law and society. A directed study is usually in an area that the department's normal course offerings do not cover. Students meet regularly with their faculty supervisor and earn 1 to 4 units of credit and up to 8 units if the course is repeated. Individual research projects may involve library or field research.

Students can earn up to 8 units in a directed internship program (SOC 398 or 498) by arranging a work agreement with an approved agency (such as a government agency, business, or citizen group) and their faculty adviser the quarter before enrolling in the course.

Minor in Social Gerontology

The Minor in Social Gerontology is designed to prepare individuals for occupations related to the needs and activities of older persons, and for advanced research in the field of aging.  The minor requires completion of 24–28 units.

Requirements for the Minor  (24–28 units)

Select up to 8 units from each group, with adviser approval:

*Only When Topical Area is Gerontology.

Graduate and Postbaccalaureate Programs

Master of Arts Degree

The Master of Arts degree in Sociology provides advanced study in sociological theory and methods of research with a variety of subject matter emphases that students plan with a graduate adviser.  The program prepares students for doctoral studies, teaching at the secondary or community college level, or working in a professional capacity in government agencies or private organizations.  Two options are offered.  Option A requires a thesis and Option B requires a comprehensive examination.

Admission to the Program 

Fall and spring are the admission quarters for the MA Program in Sociology. In addition to the university application, students who graduated from a school other than CSULA must submit copies of their official transcripts directly to the Sociology Department. Student's will be accepted until the deadlines established by the university for fall and spring admissions.

Prerequisites to admission are course equivalents to SOC 201, 210AB, 390, 412, 414, and the four other most recently completed, upper-division* sociology courses not including independent supervision courses. Satisfactory equivalents will be determined by a graduate adviser in sociology. Applicants must have achieved a grade point average of 2.75 or above in the last 90 quarter units of the undergraduate program and a grade point average of 3.0 or above for the initial completion of all prerequisite courses, in addition to meeting university requirements for admission to graduate study.

*(If taken at CSULA, these must be 400 level courses.)

Requirements for the Degree  (45 units) 

A total of 45 units is required, with at least 23 in 500-level courses.

These 17 elective units do not include electives substituted for required courses above. These 17 elective units must include a minimum of 8 units of 500-level courses specifically designated as SOC seminars for students who elect Option A and a minimum of 12 units for students who elect Option B.

NOTE: SOC 594, 597, and 598 are: Independent supervision electives and do not count as seminars.
Option A students must also take 6 units of Thesis in addition to the required seminars.

Students elect Option A or Option B in accordance with college and department policy.

The comprehensive examination (SOC 596) is a written examination in three fields of concentration: theory, methods, and one other field selected by the candidate and approved by the adviser.  Students should expect to take the comprehensive examination the quarter they complete all coursework on their program and must comply with college and department requirements.  Students are allowed a maximum of two attempts to complete the comprehensive examination successfully.

List of Courses (SOC) - Undergraduate Level

Lower Division Courses

SOC 101 Social Problems  (4)

Methods that social institutions and interest groups use to define “social problems,” including poverty, substance abuse, delinquency, racism, sexism, crises in education and health care, and urban/environmental issues; policy implications.

SOC 120 Intimate Relationships in Our Diverse Society (4)  (also listed as CHDV 120)

Principles of interaction in intimate relationships in our diverse society.  Understanding/valuing diversity and similarity (gender, ethnicity, class, etc.) in achieving intimacy.  Developing knowledge/skills for dealing with relationship issues.  Some sections may be offered online.      GE E

SOC 201 Principles of Sociology  (4) 

Social institutions and group behavior; social order and change.  Issues include hegemony, pluralism, distribution of privilege and power, sources of cooperation and conflict, deviance and social control.        GE D

SOC 202 Society and Individual Development  (4)

Service Learning Course . Some sections to be offered online with required community service.
Social, psychological, and physiological processes affecting individual development throughout the life span. Identity issues family, socialization, and social institutions, as interconnected with gender, age, ethnicity/race, economics, and diverse populations.      GE E

SOC 209 Microcomputer Applications in Sociology  (4)

Use of microcomputers in sociology. Use of word processing, spreadsheet, database, and other software in preparing reports, charts, graphs, mass mailing, data processing, and managing information.

SOC 210AB Elementary Statistics  (3, 3)

Recommended prerequisite: Basic college mathematics course.  Basic social statistics, covering descriptive statistics, tables, charts, summary measures, regression and correlation, and statistical inference, sampling, predictive models, analysis of variance, non parametric and parametric tests, and simple multivariate analysis.  Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 2 hours.

SOC 263 Asian-American Experience  (4)

Comparative experiences of the Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, Pacific Islander, Southeast Asian refugee, and other Asian groups in the United States.  Immigration, adaptation, discrimination, identity, alienation, stratification, and other contemporary issues.      GE D

Upper Division Courses

SOC 201 normally is prerequisite to all upper division courses in sociology and may be waived only with instructor consent.

SOC 300 Cultural Emotions (4)  

Prerequisites: Completion of Basic Subjects (Block A) and one course from Block D.  Human emotions as organized within social relationships and institutions of family, religion, education, government, and economy; cultural norms and vocabulary; ethnic, sex, and social class diversity in feeling and expression.      GE Theme E

SOC 301 Writing for Sociology  (4)

Prerequisite:  ENGL 102*, satisfactory completion of Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR).  Reasoning and writing skills for comprehending and communicating information in sociology.

*Students subject to catalogs earlier than 1993-95 satisfy this prerequisite with ENGL 101.

SOC 322 Socialization: Childhood and Adolescence  (4)

Social-psychological approaches to socialization, from early childhood to adolescence.  Emphasis on basic issues of social control and change. Topics are correlated with the California standards for the Multiple Subject Credential.

SOC 323 Socialization: Maturity and Aging (4)

Prerequisites: Completion of Basic Subjects (Block A) and one course from Block D. Emphasizes social-psychological approaches to socialization, and development. Addresses cultural variation as adulthood and aging change family and work relationships. Addresses issues of social control and change in a diverse world. Some sections of this course require service learning.      GE Theme F

SOC 325 Social Issues in Wellness  (4)

Prerequisite:  Completion of lower division GE Block D requirement before enrollment.  Changing social definitions of wellness; social expectations; role of society and culture in wellness-related decision making. No credit toward sociology majors and minors.

SOC 330 Social Issues in the Urban Setting (4)

Prerequisites: Completion of Basic Subjects (Block A) and one course from Block D.  Social issues in urban setting; ethnic, cultural, and class diversity; cross-cultural comparisons; population and environmental concerns; and social planning.

     GE Theme D

SOC 331 The Dynamics of Poverty (4)

Service Learning Course

Some sections to be offered online with required community service. Extent and characteristics of poverty in the United States. Analysis of the social construction of poverty, including theoretical background and myths. Socio-structural responses, change models, and community action are discussed.

This course requires service learning. Student placements arranged through EPIC with community agencies are part of the course requirements.

SOC 341 Sociology of Gender Roles (4)

Prerequisites: Completion of Basic Subjects (Block A) and one course from Block D.  Examination of: research on changing roles of men and women across social institutions; social movements for equality; theories of gender role differentiation; historical, cross-cultural, and racial/ethnic/class variations.       GE Theme C

SOC 348 Class, Race/Ethnicity, and Gender (4) (also listed as AAAS 348, CHS 348, and PAS 348)

Prerequisites: Completion of Basic Subjects (Block A) and one course from Block D.  Examination of social class, sex/gender, and ethnicity/race as bases of inequality and the processes by which inequalities are maintained or reproduced. Some course sections may require service learning. Some course sections may be offered online.                                                             GE Theme H

SOC 383 Violence in American Society  (4)

Prerequisites: Completion of Basic Subjects (Block A) and one course from Block D.  Forms of violence in American society  (e.g., criminal, domestic, revolutionary, official, sexual) examined through a critical review of social scientific literature; assessment of causes, consequences, and possibilities for control.      GE Theme B

SOC 390 Methods of Social Research  (4)

Prerequisite:  SOC 210AB.  Application of scientific method to sociological data; research design, data collection, elementary analysis procedures; survey and experimental designs, measurement, scale, and index construction; and prediction models.  With instructor consent, one unit of SOC 499 may be taken concurrently.

SOC 398 Cooperative Education (1-4)  (see UNIV 398)

400-level Courses

All 400-level courses may be applied toward master’s degree requirements subject to limits established by the department and approval of the graduate adviser.

SOC 410 Advanced Statistics  (4)

Prerequisites:  SOC 210AB and SOC 490 must have been completed with a grade of B or better.  Specialized treatment of probability, prediction and correlation, analysis of variance and covariance, OLS regression analysis and regression models for limited dependent variables.

SOC 412 Classical Sociological Theory  (4)

Historical development of sociological theory with special reference to its European origins; e.g., Comte, Saint-Simon, Marx, Spencer, Durkheim, Simmel, and Weber.

SOC 414 Contemporary Sociological Theory  (4)

Functionalism, conflict sociology, interactionism, critical-radical sociologies, systems analysis, and phenomenological perspective. Some course sections offer a service learning option

SOC 415 Political Sociology  (4)

Prerequisite:  POLS 150 or SOC 201.  Social factors underlying democracy and totalitarianism, social movements and revolutions, conflict and conflict resolution, voting behavior, and political socialization.

SOC 416 Feminist Theories and Contemporary Society (4) (also listed as WOMN 416)

Examination of the various feminist theories, all of which focus on some aspect of gender inequality. Implications of each theory and it's applications to contemporary society are also discussed.

SOC 418 Crowd Behavior and Social Movements  (4)

Analysis of crowd types, formation, and dynamics, including mobs, riots, panics, mass hysteria, rumors, fads, and fashion.  Development, tactics, ideologies, and effects of social movements, cults, and rebellions.

SOC 420 Small Groups  (4)

Small group processes in industry, the family, schools, peer and colleague groups; reference-group behavior, relation to larger social systems, group structure and communication; development of research techniques.

SOC 421 Social Sources of Human Sexuality  (4)

Effects of social environment on emergence, justification, and maintenance of sexual attitudes and behavior; social factors influencing sexual behavior; changing sociosexual mores and behavioral patterns, and emerging sexual life styles.

SOC 422 Social Psychology  (4)

Inquiry into social-psychological dimensions of group behavior, emphasizing interactive processes involved in communication, group behavior, perception, attitude formation, motivation, socialization, and evolvement of self-concept.

SOC 423 Political Sociology of Globalization and Resistance (4.0) (also listed as POLS 425)

Political and sociological analysis of globalization as a contested process; emergence of global societies and movements; social forces advancing global neo-liberalism; resistance by workers', indigenous, women's, and environmental transnational movements.

SOC 424 Mass Communications and Public Opinion  (4)

Sociological analysis of print and electronic mass media of communications; examination of their functions, sociocultural evolution, organizational/occupational bases, cultural content, audiences; consideration of individual, collective effects on public opinion.

SOC 425 Medical Sociology  (4)

Role of the hospital and socialization process on professional development of personnel in the healing professions; social epidemiology of physical and mental disorders.

SOC 426 Deviant Behavior  (4)

Basic theoretical orientations to social and personal disorganization resulting from role conflict, social conflict, normlessness, or alienation; individual and social deviance related to group processes and structures.

SOC 427 Society and Mental Illness  (4)

Lay and professional ideas about mental illness in historical and cross-cultural perspective; organizational treatment of the mentally ill;  identity, stigma, and adaptations.

SOC 428 Self and Identity (4)

The development and maintenance of the sense of self or identity among children and adults, particularly emphasizing how understanding theories of the self contributes to community service. Service learning required.

SOC 430 Urban Sociology  (4)

Urban community and urbanization as contemporary social process; consideration of urban areas, institutions, values, and problems; social and demographic characteristics, urban and suburban change and planning.

SOC 432 Science, Technology, and Social Character  (4)

Effects of scientific and technological development upon social life and culture, especially family, work and leisure, modes of thinking and feeling.  Differences among social classes, ethnic groups, women and men.

SOC 433 Bioethics and Sociology  (4)

Sociological analysis of ethical and legal issues concerning health, including dilemmas in health care delivery, reproduction, the beginning and end of life, institutional ethics committees, genetic testing, and new medical technologies.

SOC 434 Social Aspects of Population Trends  (4)

Population facts, changes, problems, and policies; population dynamics, especially births, deaths, and migration; national action programs; world coverage, with emphasis on the U.S.

SOC 435 Asian Societies  (4)

Comparative analysis and exploration of transformations in Asian societies, through historical and contemporary examination of institutions, education, development, urbanization, and deviance/crime.

SOC 440 Marriage and the Family  (4)

The family as a social institution; historical and cross-cultural perspectives, social change as it affects marriage and family life.  Analysis of American courtship and marriage patterns, psychodynamics of family life.

SOC 441 Researching Gender in Social Institutions

Advanced sociological analysis of sex role differences; conducting research on differential treatment in social institutions; application of theoretical perspectives on gender.

SOC 442 Social Change  (4)

Classical and contemporary theories of sources and consequences of social change; revolutions and alternative routes to modern world; issues in historical sociology; change and social contexts of creative achievements in arts and sciences.

SOC 443 Diversity in Alternative Families (4)

Cross-cultural examination of family diversity: Inter-racial/ethnic relationships; minority and low-income single-parent households; same-sex and step-families; international/ethnic adoption; socio-legal implications of reproductive technologies.

SOC 444 Sociology of Popular Culture (4)

Art, film, literature, music, and television are examined in terms of social roles, social processes, context, and the construction of meaning. Popular culture is studied as reflecting, reinforcing, or challenging norms.

SOC 445 Sociology of Religion  (4)

Social bases of religion, religious institutions, and their modern organizational life; comparative analysis and theories of religious behavior;  religious institutions, their representatives, religious conflict, and public law.

SOC 446 Sociology of Business Organizations (4)

The sociological understanding of control in different technical, structural, and commercial settings. Corporate culture, work subcultures, role constructions, and network processes are emphasized. Case studies are used.

SOC 447 Work and the Workplace  (4)

Analysis of the social world of work: occupational trends and mobility, education and skills, meaningful work, alienation and stress, inequality and discrimination, globalization; study of selected occupations, professions, and workplaces.

SOC 448 Social Class and Inequality  (4)

Examination of sociological theory and research bearing on social stratification;  social differentiation:  class position, class interests, correlates of social class;  trends in occupational mobility; comparison of stratification systems.

SOC 449 Professionals in Society (4)

Lawyers, doctors, and other professionals and their relationships with clients, managers, and unions; professional ethics, white-collar crime, and whistle blowing; stratification by class, race, and gender; technology and professional control.

SOC 450 Sociology of Aging  (4)

Aging as a social process; emphasis on sociological theories of aging and social problems of the aged;  nature of aging process, work, retirement, family relationships, housing, income maintenance; societal response to aged.

SOC 452 Life Span Transitions: The Retirement Years  (4)

Critical evaluation of issues involved in planning for retirement; changing place of work and retirement in value system;  anticipatory behavior, patterns and modes of adjustment, maladjustment;  proposals and issues.

SOC 453 Social Aspects of Death and Bereavement  (4)

Concepts and theories of dying; meaning of death and its implications for dying persons, survivors, and professionals who attend them.

SOC 454 Selected Topics in Sociology  (1–6)

Current topics of special interest in sociology, as announced in Schedule of Classes.  May be repeated for credit.

SOC 460 Race and Ethnic Relations  (4)

Structure and change of minorities in society; theories and research: historical, contemporary, and comparative;  processes of adjustment:  patterns of immigration, prejudice, discrimination, assimilation, pluralism, conflict, and social movements.

SOC 480 Criminology  (4)

Criminal law, crime, and deviance.  Social and psychological factors in criminal behavior, criminal law, and criminal justice; prevention and control; trends in theory and correctional procedures.

SOC 481 Policing America (4)

Social role of American police. Historical, political, and social contexts of policing. Selected issues; the controversial police mandate, use-of-force/accountability, community policing, the future of policing in America.

SOC 482 Juvenile Delinquency  (4)

Extent and distribution of delinquency, with emphasis on the local area; meaning, implications, and treatment of delinquent behavior; personal and environmental conditioning factors; delinquency and the rights of children.

SOC 484 Corrections  (4)

Survey of procedures used in processing the offender, from arrest, through trial, to prison and probation; contemporary theories of criminality and rehabilitation applied to the social evaluation of these procedures.

SOC 485 Conflict and Domestic Violence  (4)

Sociological aspects of domestic violence in families (e.g., child, spouse, and elder abuse) examined in relation to ethnic, social, cultural, historical, economic, and political factors that affect individual behavior.

SOC 486 Probation and Parole  (4)  (also listed as SW 486)

Prerequisite:  SOC 480 or 482.  History, philosophy, legal bases, and procedures governing investigation, treatment, and supervision of adjudged juvenile offenders and adult violators placed on probation and parole.

SOC 487 Environmental Policy, Law, and Society (4)

Sociological aspects of environmental policy and law; relationship between societies and environmental problems regarding air and water quality, endangered species, toxic chemicals, energy, and natural resources; policy tools and analysis.

SOC 488 Sociology of Law (4)

Sociological perspectives on the relationship between law, culture, politics, the economy, and community; creation of law and its impact on class, race, and gender relationships; impact of globalization on law.

SOC 490 Quantitative Research Methods in Sociology  (4)

Prerequisites: SOC 410, 490 and SOC 491 must have been completed with grades of B or above prior to taking this class. Advanced study in behavioral research methodology; qualitative methods; survey design; experimental design, analysis; problems of interpretation; scaling techniques, models, simulation, computer data analysis; supervised application of methods.

SOC 491 Qualitative Research Methods in Sociology  (4)

Prerequisite:  SOC 390.  Qualitative research techniques in sociological research:  research in field settings,  problems of participant observation and interviewing,  document analysis,  typology construction,  qualitative data interpretation and presentation.

SOC 496 Law and Society Honors Thesis (4)

Prerequisites: senior standing and admission to Law and Society Option Honors Program. Independent sociological research in law and society; regular consultations with faculty research adviser and written thesis required. Graded CR/NC. May be repeated once for credit.

SOC 497 Proseminar: Introduction to Graduate Studies, the Discipline, and the Profession  (4)

Prerequisite: Admission to MA program or consent of instructor. Must be completed with a grade of B or above prior to taking SOC 512 and SOC 514. Survey of institutional history of sociology; current state of the field; careers, professional associations; competing conceptions of sociology.

SOC 498 Cooperative Education  (1-4) (see UNIV 498)

SOC 499 Undergraduate Directed Study  (1–4)

Prerequisites:  Senior standing, 2.75 overall grade point average, consent of a faculty sponsor, approval of proposed project prior to registration, and ability to assume responsibility for independent research and analysis.  Regular discussion of progress with sponsor before presentation of final written report.  May be repeated for credit.

Graduate Level Courses (SOC)

All 400-level courses may be applied toward master’s degree requirements, subject to limits established by the department and approval of the graduate adviser.

Classified graduate standing is required for admission for all 500-level courses.

SOC 512 Seminar: History of Sociological Theory  (4)

Prerequisite: Completion of SOC 497 with a grade of B or above. Historical dimensions, European and American, of development of systematic sociological theory and method; continuity and critique of major contributions to theories of society and the social processes.

SOC 514 Seminar: Contemporary Sociological Theory  (4)

Prerequisite: Completion of SOC 497 with a grade of B or above. Exploration and critique of problems, methods, and theories characteristic of contemporary sociological inquiry; their relationship and contribution to advancement of sociological theory and application to selected social problems.

SOC 521 Seminar: Sociology of Knowledge  (4)

Relationships of scientific, artistic, legal, and intellectual activities to social structure, institutions, and historical change. 

SOC 522 Seminar: Social Psychology  (4)

Prerequisite: Prior completion of SOC 422 or equivalent recommended. Analysis and critique of current approaches and investigations of the social processes that bind individuals and groups.

SOC 526 Seminar: Sociology of Deviant Behavior  (4)

Prerequisites:  SOC 426, instructor consent.  Analysis of major theoretical approaches and empirical studies in deviance; selected topics and current issues in study of social deviance. 

SOC 530 Seminar: Urban Social Systems  (4)  (also listed as GEOG 530)

Prerequisite:  Instructor consent.  Growth and nature of urban social systems in selected cities and metropolitan areas, theories of urban structure and problems, improving quality of urban life, comparisons of cities in various countries. 

SOC 534 Seminar: Population  (4)

Prerequisite:  SOC 434. Problems of population growth;  social and psychological factors in population dynamics; population planning and policy. 

SOC 540 Seminar: Marriage and the Family  (4)

Advanced study of sociopsychodynamics of marriage and the family; emphasis on recent research on family change, parent-child relationships, and family instability; successful family life.

SOC 541 Seminar: Gender and Labor (4)

Advanced study of the sources and consequences of gender differentiation and inequality. Particular attention paid to occupations, earnings, household work, interactions between gender and race, and feminist perspectives.

SOC 544 Seminar: Social Organization, Institutions, and Change  (4)

Selected macrosocial structures and their related processes and functions: total societies, institutions, complex organizations; the influence of class, ethnonational groups, and gender on them; social change.  Emphasis varies.

SOC 560 Seminar: Racial and Ethnic Minorities  (4)

Prerequisite:  SOC 460 recommended.  Examination in depth of critical problems and trends affecting American minority groups; emphasis on analysis of change in strategies, tactics, ideologies, theories, and consequences of minority group relations. 

SOC 580 Seminar: Criminology  (4)

Prerequisite:  SOC 480.  Advanced study of criminal behavior, social deviance, and social structure; comparative studies of contemporary criminality, criminal justice, and criminal codes; legal, medical, and psychiatric interpretation of criminal behavior. 

SOC 584 Seminar: Corrections  (4)

Advanced study of sociological aspects of treatment of offender from arrest to release process; discussion of cross-cultural practices and current theories. 

SOC 590 Seminar: Sociological Research  (4)

Prerequisite: Both SOC 490 and SOC 491 must have been completed with a grade of B or above prior to taking this class. Advanced study in behavioral research methodology; qualitative methods; survey design; experimental design, analysis; problems of interpretation; scaling techniques, models, simulation, computer data analysis; supervised application of methods.

SOC 591 Sociology Methods Application  (1)

Prerequisites: SOC 590, 410, and SOC 490 or 491, with grades of B or better. Focused faculty and peer input on methodological issues related to preparation either for the thesis or comprehensive examination. May be repeated to a maximum of 2 units. Graded CR/NC.

SOC 592 Content Analysis  (1)

Prerequisite: SOC 490 or 491 with grade of B or better. Focused instruction from design through analysis. Students complete individually designed projects based on any appropriate content-analysis medium (historical or contemporary documents, speeches/narratives, arts, media, cyberspace, etc.). ABC/NC.

SOC 593 Teaching Sociology at the College Level   (4)

Prerequisite: Advancement to Candidacy with a graduate program GPA of 3.0 or above. May be taken alone or concurrently with SOC 594. Higher educational pedagogy training in sociology instruction. Includes: lecture; group discussion; multi-modal teaching and learning styles; creating syllabi, lessons, class materials, and exams; grading practices; course and student outcomes assessment. ABC/NC.

SOC 594 Teaching Sociology Internship  (3)

Prerequisite: Advancement to Candidacy with a graduate program GPA of 3.0 or above. May be taken alone or concurrently with SOC 593. This is a classroom-based internship. Mentor professor determines internship role (running discussion groups, guest lecturing). Non-traditional grading system. CR/NC.

SOC 595 Special Topics in Sociology (4)

Prerequisite:  Instructor consent.  Special topics in sociology including critical areas of social inquiry and special problems of sociology. Content varies; see Schedule of Classes for specific topic.  May be repeated once for credit.

SOC 596 Comprehensive Examination  (0)

See the Comprehensive Examination in the requirements for the (Master's) Degree section of this chapter.

SOC 597 Graduate Research  (1–3)

Prerequisite:  Consent of faculty sponsor.  Proposed study must be approved prior to registration.  Directed empirical research on a problem in sociology from conception through design; data gathering, analysis, and final written report.  May be repeated for credit.  Graded CR/NC. 

SOC 598 Graduate Directed Study  (1–4)

Prerequisite:  Consent of faculty sponsor.  Proposed study must be approved prior to registration.  Directed reading and critical analysis of a problem in sociology; written reports and conferences.  May be repeated for credit. 

SOC 599 Thesis  (1–3)

Prerequisites:  Advancement to Candidacy, A grade of B or better in each of SOC 512, 514, and 590, prior to enrolling in SOC 599, Thesis proposal draft approved by the official thesis committee, and compliance with all College and Departmental thesis process policies. Independent research resulting in a thesis which will be presented in a formal public defense. Must be repeated to a maximum of 6 units. Two units for each of three, quarters strongly recommended.  Graded CR/NC.