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Sociology
Chair of the Department of Sociology,
Anthropology, and Social Work: Susan Walzer
Sociology
Faculty
Professors: William Fox, Catherine
White Berheide
Associate Professors: John Brueggemann,
Susan Walzer
Assistant Professor: David R. Karp, Rik Scarce
Lecturer: Gabriel Aquino
Sociology is the scientific study of the way groups are organized,
how they function, how they change, and how they influence and
are influenced by human behavior. The sociology curriculum analyzes
both small-scale social interaction and large-scale social structures.
The sociology major includes course work in social theory as
well as research methods and statistics. Seniors carry out empirical
research projects in the Senior Seminar offered each fall. A
sociology major prepares students for graduate education in
sociology, law, business, criminal justice, urban planning,
social work, and other fields requiring knowledge of social
science as well as for careers in teaching, research, business,
law, and other professional fields related to the graduate programs
cited. Most importantly, though, a sociology major increases
students' awareness of social forces affecting their lives,
thereby increasing competence in dealing critically and constructively
with public as well as personal issues.
THE SOCIOLOGY MAJOR: The sociology major must successfully complete
at least thirty-two credit hours in sociology, including SO101,
226, 227, either 324 or 325, and 375. SO226, 227, and 324 or
325 must all be completed by the end of the junior year. These
courses are prerequisites for SO375, which is taken in the fall
of the senior year. Courses designated sociology-anthropology
may be taken for either sociology or anthropology credit, but
not both.
THE SOCIOLOGY-ANTHROPOLOGY MAJOR: The sociology-anthropology major must successfully complete
SO101; either AN101 or 102; either SO324, 325, or AN270; either
AN326 or 327 or SO226 or 227; either AN366 or SO375; and twelve
credit hours of electives in sociology and twelve credit hours
of electives in anthropology. Courses designated sociology-anthropology
may be taken for credit in either sociology or anthropology,
but not both.
INTERDEPARTMENTAL MAJORS: In conjunction with relevant departments, the Department of Sociology,
Anthropology, and Social Work offers majors in economics-sociology,
government-sociology, and psychology-sociology. See Interdepartmental
Majors.
HONORS: Students desiring departmental honors in sociology must
meet the requisite grade-point average, receive a grade of at
least A- in SO375,
and present a senior seminar project for approval by the sociology
faculty. Students desiring departmental honors in sociology-anthropology
must meet the requisite grade-point average and must complete
a senior thesis under the supervision of a member of the department.
and must earn a grade of at least A- on a senior honors project in either sociology or anthropology.
ALPHA KAPPA DELTA, the international sociology
honor society, encourages and recognizes academic achievement
in sociology. Founded in 1920, the society has over 300 chapters
at colleges and universities throughout the world. Eligibility
requirements for membership in Alpha Kappa Delta include a demonstrated
interest in sociology, completion of at least four sociology
courses, a grade-point average of 3.2 or higher in sociology,
and a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher in all
college courses.
THE SOCIOLOGY MINOR: The sociology minor must successfully complete
at least eighteen credit hours in sociology or sociology-anthropology,
including SO101
and at least two courses at the 300 level. One of the courses
must be SO226,
227,
324,
or 325.
The student should select a minor advisor who will assist the
student in constructing a program of study. Students are encouraged
to declare the sociology minor by the end of the junior year.
EXPLORATIONS IN SOCIOLOGY: Selected 200- and 300-level sociology
courses each semester incorporate exploration in sociology through
special emphasis on collaborative learning,
research, service learning, or writing (designated C, R, S, or W, respectively,
in the master schedule listing). Courses integrating an exploration
in sociology carry four rather than three credit hours.
Service Learning This exploration in sociology
requires that students spend three hours each week in addition
to class time volunteering for a campus or community nonprofit
organization for a minimum total of thirty-nine hours of community
service. Faculty expect that some of these hours at the beginning
and end of the course will be spent on logistics such as identifying
and interviewing prospective service opportunities. Students'
service work will be integrated with the academic component
of the course. Faculty will assess service work through various
strategies requiring students to reflect on their service work
in light of course materials and related academic projects such
as (a) research papers that respond to service issues, (b) journals
or field notes analyzing service work to be turned in to the
instructor, (c) integrative essay questions or exams, (d) in-class
oral presentations, or (e) combinations of the above.
Collaborative Learning This exploration in sociology
requires that students spend three hours each week in addition
to class time in small group activities, working collectively
or independently to contribute to group projects. This time
will be devoted to group meetings, independent work, and meetings
with the instructor to advance group projects. Products of this
work will be assessed by the instructor via group presentations
or project papers written collaboratively, in aggregation (each
student writes a section of the paper), or independently (each
student writes an independent paper based on the group project).
This module accommodates a wide array of cooperative group structures
varying by length, membership, and size, as well as varying
formats for assessment including individual and group grades.
One example of a collaborative project is the assignment of
a different research article to each group, with each group
developing and offering a presentation to the class based on
its article. Another example is a semester-long group assignment
in which rotating team leaders are responsible for delivering
discrete project reports (oral and/or written) based on various
concrete tasks (e.g., Web-based research, off-campus interviews,
data analysis, and field trips).
Research This exploration in sociology
requires that students spend three hours each week in addition
to class time engaging in independent or collaborative research
projects that are related to the course material. This time
will be spent developing research questions, reviewing relevant
literature, collecting data, analyzing data, and presenting
research findings in written reports, oral presentations, or
other media. Courses incorporating this module may provide more
intensive introductions to specific elements in the research
process or particular methodologies such as content analysis
or quantitative analysis. Students will meet regularly with
the instructor to report on their progress and to receive advice
and feedback from the instructor. Students' research will be
evaluated based on their finished products (research papers,
oral presentations, etc.).
Writing This exploration in sociology
requires a fourth classroom contact hour each week. Students
will undertake writing assignments integrated with the subject
matter of the course. Writing assignments and their evaluation
will be consistent with guidelines for Skidmore's writing-intensive
courses.
SO 101. SOCIOLOGICAL
PERSPECTIVES 3 The basic concepts and principles
of major sociological perspectives. Attention is given to how
these perspectives have been developed and used by social scientists
to explain social phenomena. Recommended as an introduction to the discipline. (Fulfills
social sciences requirement.) The Department
SO 201, 201H. SOCIAL
ISSUES 3 Analysis of contemporary social
issues such as racial and gender inequalities, environmental
protection, and crime. Attention is given to the roots and dimensions
of these issues by introducing core sociological theories and
methods. The course also includes critical examination
of current social policies that address these issues. (Fulfills
social sciences requirement.) D. Karp
SO 202. THE
INDIVIDUAL IN SOCIETY 3 A variety of social psychological
approaches to the experiences of individuals as they influence
or are influenced by social interactions and structures. The
course introduces a sociological orientation known as "symbolic
interactionism," which assumes that among the key elements
in the social environment are the symbols and understandings
possessed by people in the group. (Fulfills social sciences
requirement.) S. Walzer
SO 206. COMMUNITIES 3 Comparative analysis of different
types of communities and their relationships to each otherfrom
rural towns and communes to the crowded metropolis. Prerequisite:SO101 or permission of instructor. W.
Fox
SO 208. SOCIAL
INEQUALITY 3 Analysis of social classes, power,
and status groups, and their origins and functions, within a
historical, comparative, and contemporary framework. Prerequisite:
SO101 or permission of instructor. J.
Brueggemann, G. Aquino
SO 211H. SOCIOLOGICAL
IMAGINATIONS 4 A review of "great works"
that have made an impact in the field of sociology. This course
will examine a number of classic and contemporary social scientific
books. Students will investigate the content and perspective
of sociology, the defining questions of the discipline, and
the "sociological imagination." This will entail exposure
to important sociological ideas and arguments as well as some
sense of the intellectual history of the field.This course will
emphasize informed and engaged discourse about the big ideas
of these great works. Prerequisite:SO101 and permission
of instructor. J. Brueggemann
SO 212. SOCIOLOGY
OF WORK AND OCCUPATIONS 3 An analysis of the nature and
conditions of work and the relationship between work and the
individual worker. Issues covered include the meaning of work
and leisure, alienation, and job satisfaction. Selected occupations
and professions are considered in terms of such factors as their
social origins, how the occupation became a profession, typical
career patterns, and social characteristics of members. Discrimination
on the basis of gender, race, and class are examined. Prerequisite:
SO101 or permission of instructor. C.
Berheide
SO 213. CRIME AND VICTIMIZATION 3 An introduction to the sociology
of crime. This course examines contemporary crime trends and
problems in the measurement of crime; major theories that explain
criminal behavior; and topical foci on various types of crime
such as homicide, sexual assault, organized crime, white collar
crime, property crime, or juvenile delinquency. Prerequisite:
SO101 or LW200. D. Karp SO 214. FAMILY AND
GENDER 4 An analysis of family and gender
as social institutions, sites of interaction, and sources of
identity. The course examines how families in the United States
are influenced by definitions of femininity and masculinity
as well as how meanings and experiences associated with gender
are reproduced and revised in families. Family life courses,
roles and relationships, and intersections between work and
family are among the topics examined. Prerequisite:SO101
or permission of instructor. C. Berheide, S. Walzer
SO 218. ETHNICITY
AND INEQUALITY 3 Examination of the emergence
and maintenance of ethnic identities such as African American,
Hispanic American, Italian American, and Jewish American. This
course analyzes the dynamics of relations among ethnic communities
with special attention to issues related to inequality. Prerequisite:SO101 or permission of instructor. J.
Brueggemann, G. Aquino
SO 220. SOCIOLOGY
OF CITIES AND TOWNS 3 Sociological study of urban places
ranging from small towns to large metropolitan areas. Topics
include development of cities, historical and crosscultural
variations in cities, uses of urban space, and processes by
which people create urban environments that in turn affect social
behavior and relationships. Prerequisite:SO101 or permission
of instructor. W. Fox
SO 222. POLITICAL
SOCIOLOGY 3 Focus upon the causes and consequences
of power distributions within and between societies and the
factors leading to stable or changing allocations of power.
Some concepts to be considered: state and civil society; the
structure, distribution, operation, and conflict over power;
ruling class; class struggle; pluralism; democracy—formal and/or
substantive. Prerequisite:SO101 or permission of instructor. R. Scarce
SO 223. ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIOLOGY 3 An exploration of social-environment interactions. More than any other species, humans adapt their environments to suit their purposes. This course explores those purposes, including the roles that corporations, public policy, class, gender, and other social factors play in altering the environment and the resulting effects on people and places. Specific topics addressed include the environmental movement, environmental justice, and the political economy of the environment. Prerequisite:SO101 or
ES100 R. Scarce
SO 225. QUANTIFYING
WOMEN 3 An introduction to the empirical
study of changes in women's experiences in areas such as work,
family, health, religion, and politics. The diversity of women's
attitudes, behaviors, and experiences in the United States are
explored using the logic and mathematics of social research.
Students use microcomputers and statistical software to analyze
sociological data sets that investigate a series of issues related
to women, such as the gender gap in politics, pay differences
between men and women, and attitudes toward abortion rights.
Prerequisite: QR1. (Fulfills QR2 requirement.) C.
Berheide
SO 226. SOCIAL
RESEARCH ANALYSIS 4 Examination of quantitative analysis
in the social research process. This course involves the study
and application of statistics for solving problems in the social
sciences. Students use computers as tools for social research
as they analyze sociological data sets. Prerequisites: QR1
and two courses in the social sciences, or permission of instructor.
(Fulfills QR2 requirement.) W. Fox
SO 227. SOCIAL
RESEARCH DESIGN 3 Examination of methods employed
in the investigation of sociological problems. This course analyzes
the research process as an integral whole including political
and ethical issues in conducting research. Topics include conceptualization,
measurement approaches, design of surveys, and methods of interviewing
and observation. Students design studies using various methodological
techniques. Prerequisite: Two courses in the social sciences
or permission of instructor. D. Karp, S. Walzer
SO 251. SPECIAL
TOPICS IN SOCIOLOGY 3 An examination at the intermediate
level of special topics, methods, and areas in sociology, such
as population dynamics, collective behavior, juvenile justice
system, and social control. Specific topics to vary by instructor
and semester. The course, in a different subject area, may be
repeated for credit. Prerequisite:SO101 or permission
of instructor. The Department
SO 299. PROFESSIONAL
INTERNSHIP IN SOCIOLOGY 3 or 6 Internship opportunity for students
whose curricular foundations and cocurricular experience have
prepared them for professional work related to sociology. With
faculty sponsorship and department approval, students may extend
their educational experience through internships in human service
agencies, the criminal justice system, business, governmental,
and other formal organizations, community groups, and related
areas. Prerequisite:SO101. Non-liberal arts.
The Department
SO 304. SOCIOLOGY
OF EMOTIONS 3 Analysis of how human emotions
influence and are influenced by the social and cultural environment.
The course examines the physiological and social psychological
components of human emotion, the crosscultural and historical
variability of emotions, emotional socialization, and the emotional
aspects of social interaction, relationships, and institutions.
Prerequisite: SO101 and one other social science course. S.
Walzer
SO 305. SOCIOLOGY
OF FOLKLORE 3 Analysis of the social context
of folklore, with special emphasis on contemporary American
folklore. Social scientific theories of folklore, the social
bases and dynamics of folk groups, folklore and processes of
social change, and folklore research methods. Prerequisite:
two social science courses. W. Fox
SO 306. SOCIOLOGY
OF RELIGION 3 An examination of the sources,
meanings, and implications of religious phenomena. This course
explores myth, ritual, and symbol in social contexts with special
consideration for the contemporary American scene. Attention
is given to religious evolution in the light of social modernization;
how religious organizations are related to other social institutions
will also be considered. Prerequisite: SO101 or permission
of instructor. J. Brueggemann
SO 312. MODERN
ORGANIZATIONS 3 Analysis of modern organizations
using theories of bureaucracy. Issues covered include formal
and informal structure, functions and dysfunctions, and the
tension between democracy and hierarchy within complex organizations.
The behavior of individuals in organizations is examined in
relation to the groups within which they interact and the organization's
structure. Specific organizations including factories, public
agencies, corporations, and total institutions are considered.
Prerequisite: SO101 or permission of instructor. C.
Berheide
SO 314. DEVIANCE
AND SOCIAL CONTROL 3 An introduction to the sociology
of deviance. This course examines sociological theory and evidence
that explain deviant and/or nonconforming behavior in society.
Attention is given to forms of deviance that generate conflicts
over values or between groups in society and to the mechanisms
of social control that increase conformity to social norms.
Prerequisite: SO101 or LW200. D.
Karp
SB 315. WORK,
FAMILY, AND ORGANIZATIONS 3 The analysis of various white-collar
and blue-collar occupations and their relationship to work and
family life. Topics include the changing nature of work; professionalization;
working within organizations; and occupational socialization,
careers, and mobility. Prerequisite: SO101 or MB224 or
permission of instructor. C. Berheide
SO 316. WOMEN
IN MODERN SOCIETY 3 An examination of the effects
of the social construction of gender on women in modern societies.
The course analyzes the intersection of race, class, and gender
in women's lives. The changing social status of women in the
United States today is compared to that of women in other countries.
Particular contemporary women's issues emphasized each year
may vary, but typically include economic issues, such as occupational
segregation and unequal pay, family issues, such as power relations
and violence, and political issues, such as women's grassroots
political activism and national policies. Prerequisite:SO101 or WS101 or permission of instructor. C.
Berheide
SO 321. AMERICAN
SOCIAL CHANGES 3 An examination of the structure
and process of social change by comparing several
areas, such as economic structure and relations, race, gender,
urban community, education, and the state. The specific historical
periods covered in the course will vary according to the changes
under consideration. American social changes will be addressed
from a variety of theoretical perspectives within sociology,
including Marxist and other conflict approaches, world-systems,
functionalist, cultural, and social-psychological perspectives.
Prerequisite:SO101 and two other social science courses
or permission of instructor. W. Fox
SO 324. THE
DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIOLOGICAL THOUGHT 3 Analysis of the philosophical
foundations, central principles, and historical development
of sociological theory from its origins in late-nineteenth-century
Europe to the present. The course critically examines the sociological
theories of Marx, Durkheim, Weber, and Mead and their relationship
to a number of more contemporary social theories. Prerequisite:
SO101 and two other social science courses. J.
Brueggemann, R. Scarce
SO 325. CONTEMPORARY
SOCIAL THEORY 3 An examination of contemporary
social theories such as functionalism, symbolic interactionism,
conflict and social exchange theory. In addition, recent theoretical
trends in sociology such as the feminist and environmental perspectives,
and the biosocial and humanist approaches are discussed. Prerequisite:SO101 and two courses in the social sciences or permission of
instructor. J. Brueggemann
SO 328. SOCIAL
MOVEMENTS AND COLLECTIVE ACTION 3 An exploration of the causes
and consequences of social movements and episodes of collective
action. Many people are dissatisfied with existing economic,
political or social arrangements, yet relatively few individuals
attempt to bring about social change by participating in organized
social protest. What is it that differentiates those who participate
from those who do not? This course approaches this central question
from a variety of theoretical perspectives. Movements as diverse
as those for civil rights and the environment will be examined.
Prerequisite:SO101. R. Scarce
SO 329. CRIMINAL
JUSTICE 3 Sociological analysis of the
criminal justice system, including policing, the courts, and
corrections. This course examines criminal justice responses
to crime problems and alternative perspectives. Topics vary
by semester and may include critical analysis of police use
of force, racial disparities in sentencing, the death penalty,
juvenile justice, the prison experience, or community justice.
Prerequisite: SO101 or LW200. D.
Karp
SO 331. WOMEN
IN GLOBAL ECONOMY 3 A comparative analysis of women's
roles in the global economy. The course examines how global
economic transformations affect women as well as how women affect
those processes. Topics include the effect of economic development
on women's participation in various forms of economic activity,
including agriculture, microenterprises, and manufacturing,
as well as gender relations in families throughout the world,
with particular emphasis on countries of the Southern Hemisphere.
In addition, the course considers the environmental issues women
face during the process of economic development, such as sustainable
development, population policies, and women's environmental
activism. Prerequisite:SO101 or WS101. C.
Berheide
SO 332. STUDYING
STUDENT WORLDS 4 An in-depth introduction to qualitative
research methods as vehicles for exploring and describing social
experiences, focusing in particular on the lives of students.
Course topics include field research, qualitative interviewing,
and the role of the researcher. Students examine ethnographic
studies of academic settings and collect and analyze qualitative
data about Skidmore's culture. Prerequisite:SO101 or
permission of instructor. S. Walzer
SO 351. ADVANCED
SPECIAL TOPICS IN SOCIOLOGY 3 An examination at the advanced
level of special topics, methods, and areas in sociology. Specific
topics vary by instructor and semester. The course in a different
subject area may be repeated for credit. Prerequisite:SO101 or permission of instructor. The
Department
SA 355. LANGUAGE
IN SOCIETY 4 Examination of the varied aspects
of the social organization of language using techniques from
sociological, anthropological, psychological, and linguistic
theory. Special attention is given to regional, social, and
individual variation; nonstandard dialects and their social
impact; the relationship of language, thought, and culture;
the role of language in socialization and in the maintenance
of social structures; and the type and extent of cultural variation
in language use. Prerequisite: SO101 or AN101 or permission
of instructor. J. Devine SO 371, 372. INDEPENDENT
STUDY 3, 3 Individual reading and/or research
in sociology under the guidance of a member of the department.
Open with the consent of the department to qualified students.
Individual conferences to be arranged.
The Department
SO 375. SENIOR
SEMINAR IN SOCIOLOGY 4 The capstone course for the sociology
major. The course functions as a research practicum in which
students share the process of conducting an original research
project. To do the research, students must build upon previous
work in sociology, especially theory, methods, and statistics.
Therefore, students must have completed the required statistics,
methods, and theory courses for the sociology major before enrolling
in Senior Seminar. Students writing the Senior Thesis are encouraged
to begin thesis research in the Seminar. Prerequisites:SO226, 227, and 324 or 325; or permission of instructor. Open
only to sociology majors and sociology interdepartmental majors. The
Department
SO 376. SENIOR
THESIS IN SOCIOLOGY 3 Independent research leading
to a thesis examining a sociological question in depth. Students
work under the direction of a thesis advisor and a second reader.
Prerequisite: SO375 and permission of instructor. Open
only to sociology majors and sociology interdepartmental majors. The
Department
SO 399. PROFESSIONAL
INTERNSHIP IN SOCIOLOGY 3, 6, or 9 Internship experience at the
advanced level for juniors and seniors with substantial academic
and cocurricular experience related to sociology. With faculty
sponsorship and department approval, students may extend their
educational experience through internships in human service
agencies, the criminal justice system, business, governmental,
and other formal organizations, community groups, and related
areas. Prerequisite: nine credit hours in sociology.
Non-liberal arts. The Department
