Department of Sociology & Crime, Law and Justice
Department of Sociology & Crime, Law and Justice
211 Oswald Tower
The Pennsylvania State University
University Park, PA 16802
Phone: 814-865-2527
Fax: 814-863-7216
Sociology (SOC)
For some courses, a more detailed description may be available, accessible by clicking on the course number. All course descriptions are updated periodically.
SOC 001 (GS) INTRODUCTORY SOCIOLOGY ( 3) The nature and characteristics of human societies and social life.
SOC 001W (GS) INTRODUCTORY SOCIOLOGY ( 3) The nature and characteristics of human societies and social life.
SOC 003 (GS) INTRODUCTORY SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY ( 3) The impact of the social environment on perception, attitudes, and behavior.
SOC 005 (GS) SOCIAL PROBLEMS ( 3) Current social problems such as economic, racial, and gender inequalities; social deviance and crime; population, environmental, energy, and health problems.
SOC 007 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL RESEARCH ( 3) Fundamental concepts and problems in social science research; design, measurement, sampling, causation, validity, interpretation.
SOC 012 (GS) (ADM J;CLJ) CRIMINOLOGY ( 3) Explanations and measurement of crime; criminal law; characteristics of criminals and victims; violent, property, white-collar, organized, and sexual crimes.
SOC 013 (GS) (ADM J) JUVENILE DELINQUENCY ( 3) Juvenile conduct, causes of delinquency, current methods of treatment; organization and function of agencies concerned with delinquency.
SOC 015 (GS) URBAN SOCIOLOGY ( 3) City growth and decline; impact of city life on individuals, families, neighborhoods, and government; urban life-styles.
SOC 023 (GS) POPULATION AND POLICY ISSUES ( 3) Local, national, and international population trends; basic techniques of demographic analysis; population problems; implications for public planning and policy.
SOC 030 (GS) SOCIOLOGY OF THE FAMILY ( 3) Family structure and interaction; functions of the family as an institution; cross-cultural comparisons.
SOC 035 SOCIOLOGY OF AGING ( 3) Introduction to the sociological study of aging.
SOC 047 (S T S) WILDERNESS, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY ( 3) Impact of developments in science, literature, and art on changing attitudes toward nature; consequences for conservation, preservation, environmental ethics.
SOC 055 (GS) WORK IN MODERN SOCIETY ( 3) The nature of work in varied occupational and organizational settings; current trends and work life in the future.
SOC 083S (GS) FIRST-YEAR SEMINAR IN SOCIOLOGY ( 3) Critical approaches to issues in the structure of society.
SOC 103 (US) (AAA S;WMNST) RACISM AND SEXISM ( 3) Critical analysis of the structure of race and gender inequality in the contemporary United States.
SOC 109 SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES ( 3) Intensive and critical analysis of the bases of the social order, change, values, knowledge, and conflict.
SOC 110 (GS;US) (WMNST) SOCIOLOGY OF GENDER ( 3) Changing sex role expectations and behavior for men and women in contemporary society.
SOC 111 SOCIOLOGY OF HUMOR ( 3) Humor: its nature, types, and functions in society; sociological and social psychological approaches in contemporary and classic humor.
SOC 119 (GS;US) RACE AND ETHNIC RELATIONS ( 4) Historical patterns and current status of racial and ethnic groups; inequality, competition, and conflict; social movements; government policy.
SOC 174 PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SOCIOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF DEATH ( 3) An introductory, interdisciplinary approach to the psychology and sociology of death, stressing the significance of, and attitudes toward, mortality.
SOC 187 SOCIOLOGY FRESHMAN SEMINAR ( 3) The meaning and advantages of a Liberal Arts education in context of a specific discipline. Prerequisite: first-semester standing and enrollment in the College of the Liberal Arts
SOC 197 SPECIAL TOPICS ( 1 - 9)
SOC 207 RESEARCH METHODS IN SOCIOLOGY ( 3) Experiential-based course covering the four main social research methods: available data, survey research, experiments, and field research. Prerequisite: 3 credits in Sociology
SOC 287W INTERCULTURAL COMMUNITY BUILDING ( 3) An intercultural analysis of diversity issues.
SOC 294 RESEARCH PROJECT ( 1 -12)
SOC 296 INDEPENDENT STUDIES ( 1 -18)
SOC 297 SPECIAL TOPICS ( 1 - 9)
SOC 298 SPECIAL TOPICS ( 1 - 9)
SOC 300 PRECEPTORSHIP IN SOCIOLOGY ( 1 - 4 per semester, maximum of 8) Supervised experience as a teaching assistant under the supervision of an approved faculty member. Prerequisite: 3 credits in course work related to the subject of the course
SOC 309 SOCIOLOGY OF HEALTH ( 3) Sociological concepts and principles operative in public and private areas of health and illness, including cultural, ethnic, and ecological factors. Prerequisite: 3 credits in Sociology
SOC 381H JUNIOR HONORS SEMINAR IN SOCIOLOGY ( 1) Supervised experience in planning the honors thesis and a sociological career. Prerequisite: sociology major, junior standing, and admission to the Schreyer Honors College
SOC 400W SENIOR RESEARCH SEMINAR ( 3) Major concepts and principles of sociology through reading, data analysis, and writing. Capstone course for senior Sociology majors. Prerequisite: SOC 470
SOC 401 SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS ( 3) Development, nature, and function of major social institutions and their impact on individual life in modern society. Prerequisite: 6 credits in Sociology
SOC 403 ADVANCED SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY ( 3) Analysis of the major theoretical approaches and research findings of contemporary social psychology. Prerequisite: SOC 003
SOC 404 SOCIAL INFLUENCE AND SMALL GROUPS ( 3) The study of social influence, leadership and status, and social cohesion and commitment processes in small groups. Prerequisite: SOC 003 or PSY 417
SOC 405 SOCIOLOGICAL THEORY ( 3) Overview of the development of sociological theory; current issues and controversies. Prerequisite: 3 credits in the Sociology
SOC 406 (ADM J;CLJ) SOCIOLOGY OF DEVIANCE ( 3) Theory and research concerning deviant behaviors and lifestyles viewed as significant departures from a group's normative expectations. Prerequisite: SOC 005 , SOC 012 , or SOC 013
SOC 408 URBAN ECOLOGY ( 3) Spatial and temporal aspects of urban structure; urban growth, neighborhoods, racial and ethnic groups, mental illness; cross-cultural perspectives. Prerequisite: 3 credits in sociology
SOC 409 (US) (AAA S) RACIAL AND ETHNIC INEQUALITY IN AMERICA ( 3) The impact of inequality and discrimination on individual and group identity among various racial and ethnic groups. Prerequisite: 3 credits in Sociology
SOC 411 (HD FS) RACIAL AND ETHNIC DIVERSITY AND THE AMERICAN FAMILY ( 3) This course will explore the nature and determinants of racial and ethnic variation in family processes in the United States. Prerequisite: 3 credits in sociology
SOC 412 (ADM J) CRIME, SOCIAL CONTROL, AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM ( 3) Legal and extralegal control; public opinion on crime; criminal justice and correctional processes; legal sanctions; control strategies. Field trip. Prerequisite: SOC 005 , SOC 012 , OR SOC 013
SOC 413 (CLJ) ADVANCED CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORY ( 3) This course provides an in-depth look at theories of crime and examines influential empirical studies designed to these theories. Prerequisite: SOC 012
SOC 414 (ADM J) CRIMINAL CAREERS AND THE ORGANIZATION OF CRIME ( 3) Research on and theory of criminal careers and crime organizations, emphasizing recruitment and disengagement; offender characteristics and life- styles; policy implications. Prerequisite: SOC 005 , SOC 012 , OR SOC 013
SOC 416 (EDTHP) SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION ( 3) The theoretical, conceptual, and descriptive contributions of sociology to education. Prerequisite: 3 credits in Sociology
SOC 419 RACE AND PUBLIC POLICY ( 3) Seminar format course in which sociological theory and research are applied to current race policy issues. Prerequisite: 3 credits in Sociology
SOC 419 (US) RACE AND PUBLIC POLICY ( 3) Effective Date: SP2006 Seminar format course in which sociological theory and research are applied to current race policy issues. Prerequisite: 3 credits in Sociology
SOC 420 (EM SC;S T S) ENERGY AND MODERN SOCIETY ( 3) Technology and economics of energy resources, production, and consumption; environmental factors, exhaustion, new technology. Prerequisite: 3 credits in Sociology
SOC 422 WORLD POPULATION DIVERSITY ( 3) Survey of world diversity in national population growth/composition; the impacts of demographic change on the economic/social life of nations/people. Prerequisite: 3 credits in Sociology
SOC 423 SOCIAL DEMOGRAPHY ( 3) Social demographic perspectives on fertility, mortality, morbidity, migration, population density, demographic transitions, social mobility, family, the aged, and minorities. Prerequisite: SOC 023 or SOC 422
SOC 424 SOCIAL CHANGE ( 3) Critical review of classical and recent theories of social change, emphasizing the transformations occurring in the modern world. Prerequisite: 3 credits in sociology
SOC 428 HOMELESSNESS IN AMERICA ( 3) Survey of social science research on homelessness in the contemporary United States. Prerequisite: 3 credits in Sociology
SOC 429 SOCIAL STRATIFICATION ( 3) Structure and dynamics of class, caste, and status systems; class differentials and social mobility; current theoretical and methodological issues. Prerequisite: 3 credits in sociology
SOC 430 FAMILY IN CROSS-CULTURAL PERSPECTIVE ( 3) Sociological analysis of family systems in various cultures and subcultures. Prerequisite: 3 credits in Sociology
SOC 431 (HD FS) FAMILY DISORGANIZATION: STRESS POINTS IN THE CONTEMPORARY FAMILY ( 3) Focuses on divorce, remarriage, incest, family violence as well as problems associated with family formation and parent-child relations. Prerequisite: 6 credits of human development and family studies, psychology, or sociology
SOC 432 SOCIAL MOVEMENTS ( 3) Why and how people mobilize to promote or retard social change. Factors predicting success or failure of social movements. Prerequisite: 3 credits in sociology
SOC 435 (HD FS) SOCIAL GERONTOLOGY ( 3) An analysis of the demographic, social, and cultural factors affecting the aged population in American society. Prerequisite: 3 credits in Sociology
SOC 436 POLLING AND PUBLIC OPINION ( 4) Methods of public opinion polling; attitude theory and research. Prerequisite: 3 credits in Sociology
SOC 437 BIOSOCIAL PERSPECTIVES ON THE FAMILY ( 3) The implications of knowledge from behavioral endocrinology, behavior genetics, and evolutionary psychology for understanding family relationships and child development. Prerequisite: six credits of SOC or HD FS
SOC 440 FAMILY POLICY ( 3) An in-depth examination of family policy. Prerequisite: 3 credits of SOC or HD FS
SOC 444 COMPLEX ORGANIZATIONS ( 3) Analysis of the nature and types of complex organizations and their impact on the social life of modern nations. Prerequisite: 3 credits in sociology
SOC 446 POLITICAL SOCIOLOGY ( 3) Sociological analysis of types of political organization and their relations with other elements of social life. Prerequisite: 3 credits in sociology
SOC 447 (COM S) ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY, AND SOCIETY ( 3) Sociological perspectives on causes and consequences of natural resource scarcity and pollution, with emphasis on environmental policies in industrial societies. Prerequisite: 3 credits in Sociology
SOC 454 (US) THE CITY IN POSTINDUSTRIAL SOCIETY ( 3) Effective Date: SP2006 Postindustrial social organization in the United States and Europe; consequences for metropolitan social stratification, community power, and environmental quality. Prerequisite: 3 credits in Sociology
SOC 455 WORK AND OCCUPATIONS ( 3) Work and occupational life in modern society; work in the past, present, and future. Prerequisite: 3 credits in sociology
SOC 456 (WMNST) GENDER, OCCUPATIONS, AND PROFESSIONS ( 3) The role of gender in shaping contemporary North American patterns of employment, occupational roles, and statuses. Prerequisite: WMNST 001 or 3 credits in Sociology
SOC 461 (RL ST) SOCIOLOGY OF RELIGION ( 3) Contemporary religion in the United States: beliefs, structure, and function of major denominations and religious cults. Prerequisite: 3 credits in sociology or religious studies
SOC 467 (CLJ;ADM J) LAW AND SOCIETY ( 3) Law and society studies the social origins of law and legal systems; occupational careers, and decision-making of legal officials. Prerequisite: CLJ 113 , ADM J 240W
SOC 470 INTERMEDIATE SOCIAL STATISTICS ( 4) Descriptive and inferential statistics in social research: central tendency and variation, normal distribution, measures of association, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing. Prerequisite: SOC 207
SOC 471 QUALITATIVE RESEARCH METHODS IN SOCIOLOGY ( 3) Theory, methods, and practice of qualitative data collection, including observation, participant observation, interviewing; supervised projects in natural settings. Prerequisite: 3 credits in Sociology
SOC 481H SENIOR HONORS SEMINAR IN SOCIOLOGY ( 1) Supervised experience in planning and writing the honors thesis. Prerequisite: sociology major, senior standing, and admission to the Schreyer Honors College
SOC 494 RESEARCH PROJECT ( 1 -12)
SOC 496 INDEPENDENT STUDIES ( 1 -18)
SOC 497 SPECIAL TOPICS ( 1 - 9)
SOC 499 (IL) FOREIGN STUDY--SOCIOLOGY ( 2 - 6) Study, in selected foreign countries, of groups, institutions, and social problems. Prerequisite: 3 credits in Sociology
(*) Students may take only one course for General Education credit from SOC 001 GS or R SOC 011 GS.
(+) Students may take only one course for General Education credit from SOC 030 or HD FS 129 GS.
