Faculty
Roberta Goldberg, Associate Professor of Sociology (Program Chair)
Konia Kollehlon, Associate Professor of Sociology
Roxana Moayedi, Associate Professor of Sociology
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Description
Sociology is the scientific study and interpretation of group
life. It provides a human perspective on the study of urban life,
family patterns and relationships, work, and organizational
structures. Gender, race, social class, social change, and
current social issues are the focus of research and analysis.
The primary goal of this program is to enable students to develop a
"sociological imagination," giving them the ability to connect
individual private experience with social structure through concrete
experiences and a strong theoretical perspective. Teaching this
deceptively simple insight, that people are affected by social forces
and that social institutions are affected by their members, is the major
focus of the discipline.
Majoring in sociology prepares students for graduate school and a
wide variety of careers, such as social psychology, social research,
social work, public administration, business, education, market
research, law, and community planning.
A sociology major is offered to students in the College of Arts and Sciences;
the minor is offered in both the College of Arts and Sciences and the
School of Professional Studies. A new undergraduate minor in
Criminal Justice is currently being offered to Trinity students; the
undergraduate major in Criminal Justice will commence in Fall 2004
(please see Sociology Program faculty for details). The Sociology Program also
supports the human relations major.
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Major Requirements
Required Courses (33 credits)
ALL of the following courses:
SOCY 100 Introduction to Sociology
SOCY 311 Research Methods for Social Scientists
SOCY 421 Sociological Theory
SOCY 499 Senior Seminar
ONE course in statistics:
MATH 110 Introduction to Statistics
SIX additional courses in sociology or other approved courses
Recommended Courses
SSC 107 Social Science Writing
SOCY 491 Internship
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Minor Requirements
Required Courses (18 credits)
ONE introductory course:
SOCY 100 Introduction to Sociology
ONE course chosen from between:
SOCY 321 Inequality in Society
SOCY 421 Sociological Theory
FOUR additional courses in sociology or other approved courses,
excluding field work
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Program Policies
Advanced Placement:
Credits earned through AP examinations do not fulfill requirements of
the sociology major.
CLEP Policy: Credits
earned through CLEP examinations do not fulfill requirements of the
sociology major.
Grades in Major Courses:
Students are required to earn a grade of "C" or better in all
courses counted to fulfill requirements for the major. In
addition, students must achieve a passing grade on the senior
comprehensive portfolio.
Pass/No Pass:
Courses fulfilling major requirements may not be taken pass/no pass.
Senior Assessment:
Students are required to submit a Senior Comprehensive Portfolio
Assessment Project prior to graduation. Specific requirements and
due dates are distributed to seniors the fall semester of their
graduation year.
TELL Policy:
Students applying for credit in experiential learning should consult
with the program faculty.
Transfer Credits:
Credits in courses equivalent to those required for the major from a
similar institution may be accepted toward a major. Students
majoring in sociology must take a minimum of four sociology courses at
Trinity College in addition to the Senior Seminar.
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Course Descriptions
SOCY 100 Introduction to Sociology
Introduces students to the science of sociology and prepares students for upper-level social science course work.
Formerly SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology.
3 credits
FLC Area V
Core II
SOCY 103 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
Studies the nature of culture, sub-culture, cultural change, and cross-cultural comparisons.
Formerly SOC 280 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology.
3 credits
SOCY 105 Social Crisis and Social Policy
Examines the political and economic organization of society and its impact on social problems. The goal of this course is to enable students to understand the social nature of social problems. Students focus on how social problems result from cultural and social arrangements. Critical scrutiny of polity and economy provides clues for the bias of society. Explains how political and economic processes affect what is currently being done about social problems and thus why so many social policies fail.
Formerly SOC 200 Social Crisis and Social Policy.
3 credits
FLC Area V
SOCY 131 Global Social Issues
Surveys the global problems of hunger, overpopulation, energy, pollution, war, and extremism (slavery, apartheid, relocation, genocide), and how they are built into society.
Formerly SOC 254 Global Social Issues.
3 credits
FLC Area V
Core II
SOCY 201 Sociology of Education
Studies the United States education system from sociological perspectives. This course identifies the major problems with the United States educational system and discusses solutions.
Formerly SOC 201 Sociology of Education.
3 credits
FLC Area V
Core II
SOCY 203 Individual and Society: Understanding Human Interaction
Examines how society influences individuals and, in turn, is influenced by them. Using a scientific approach, the course identifies factors that shape people's feelings, behavior, and thought in social situations. What are the influences-actual, implied, and imagined-that shape women and men and the world they inhabit? This course examines some of these influences and particularly addresses the issues of diversity: gender, social (cultural and ethnic), and individual.
Formerly SOC 260 Individual and Society: Understanding Human Interaction.
3 credits
SOCY 205 Criminology: An Introduction
Introduces students to the scientific study of crime by focusing on definitions, history, types, causes, and consequences of crime as well as the responses of the criminal justice system to crimes, criminals, and the victims of crimes.
Formerly SOC 202 Criminology: An Introduction.
3 credits
SOCY 211 Data Analysis Using SPSS
Introduces elementary data analysis, with an emphasis on the use of SPSS/PC in such analysis. The course will briefly cover such analysis and topics such as creating, editing, and managing data files; descriptive data analysis; and presenting data in tabular and graphic forms. This course is primarily intended to prepare students for SOCY 311 Research Methods for Social Scientists.
Formerly SOC 242 Data Analysis using SPSS.
3 credits
SOCY 221 Community Development and Urban Problems
Focuses on the city and its sub-worlds, discusses its problems and strengths, and suggests a people approach to solutions.
Formerly SOC 237 Community Development and Urban Problems.
3 credits
SOCY 231 International Migration
Surveys key issues in international migration. Provides basic information about issues such as the intersection and implications of international migration and race/ethnicity within the destination, the brain drain, the socioeconomic adaptation of immigrants, transnationalism, the economic and cultural impacts of international migration, and the trafficking and exploitation of women and children, among others.
Formerly SOC 259 International Migration.
3 credits
SOCY 241 Work and Occupations
Studies the world of work from a sociological perspective. This course traces the historical development of work in industrial society and examines the modern American workplace. Topics include occupational stratification, the relationship of work to the economy, and the future of work.
Formerly SOC 346 Work and Occupations.
3 credits
Prerequisites: SOCY 100
SOCY 251 Sociology of Health and Illness
Discusses the unequal distribution of disease. Who gets sick and why? Explores social organization of medical area: professionalization, monopoly, medical industries, and problems of financing; medicine in practice; comparative health policies.
Formerly SOC 376 Sociology of Health and Illness.
3 credits
SOCY 261 Family and Society
Introduces students to the role of the family in the social structure. Examines the family in historical perspective, the institution of marriage, socialization, the importance of gender, and current issues in the modern family.
Formerly SOC 261 Family and Society.
3 credits
Prerequisites: SOCY 100
FLC Area V
SOCY 301 Sociology of Religion
Analyzes the relationship between society and religion to gain insight into the role that religion plays in people's lives.
Formerly SOC 324 Sociology of Religion.
3 credits
SOCY 311 Research Methods for Social Scientists
Introduces the student to various research methods used in the social sciences. Topics include causal analysis survey, observational, and evaluating strategies; feminist methods; database management; and statistical data analysis
(SPSS). Formerly SOC 342 Research Methods.
3 credits
Prerequisites: SOCY 100 and MATH 110
SOCY 321 Inequality and Society
Examines classical and contemporary theories of social stratification. Are we all created equal? Can we become equal? Particular emphasis is on the American class structure, its impact on social institutions, and the importance of gender and race as factors contributing to inequality in society.
Formerly SOC 378 Inequality and Society.
3 credits
Prerequisites: SOCY 100
SOCY 323 Race and Racism
Traces the history of race relations, prejudice, and racism within the United States. Special emphasis will be given to the relationship of racism and the changing economic, political, demographic, and educational structure of society. Examines the roots of prejudice, its expression, and its impact on individual, families, communities, and societal institutions. Addresses the critical role of social science theory and research in increasing understanding of race relations and racism, and suggests intervention strategies for improved relations.
Formerly SOC 350 Race and Racism.
3 credits
FLC Area V
SOCY 325 Mentoring and Diversity
Integrates activism and scholarship by examining students' experiences as mentors through the lenses of race, class, and gender. This approach to sociological theory combines academic learning with community service. Students are required to become mentors to high school students from diverse backgrounds. The goal is to facilitate personal and/or academic empowerment of the high school students, as well as of the mentors, while exploring the issue of diversity in contemporary American society.
Formerly SOC 365 Mentoring and Diversity.
3 credits
SOCY 331 Population Studies
Explores theories of population growth, trends in population growth, problems associated with uncontrolled population growth, problems that result from urbanization in the Third World and strategies for slowing population growth.
Formerly SOC 359 Population Problems.
3 credits
SOCY 333 Women and Third World Development
Examines insights that the feminist perspective brings to the issues of development, challenging the assumption that "integrating women into development" will solve problems caused by plans and policies that neglect women. This course is meant to be a guide to recent thinking and literature about women and development, and to the feminist critique of these. The course focuses on multinationals, rural development, and food production, including appropriate technology and income generation, health, migration, education, and communication.
Formerly SOC 310 Women and Third World Development.
3 credits
SOCY 341 Women, Men and Complex Organizations
Develops the student's understanding of sex and gender as organizational variables: the ways in which the structure and processes of organization reflect power relations that are interlaced with dominant forms of gender relations. Attention is given to a broad range of personal, social, and organizational influences that shape gender identity and behavior and the way in which gender behavior affects organizational behavior.
Formerly SOC 368 Women, Men and Complex Organizations.
3 credits
SOCY 351 Women’s Health and Public Policy
Focuses on gender issues in health policy and health care. Health policy is related to the stratification system/social structure of our society; thus, race, gender, and class are the context for understanding women's health policy. Readings and discussion include the responsibilities/role of women in policy making and policy change and a discussion of some manufacturers of illness and disease, alternative models of health policy, and alternative forms of healing as well as alternative healers.
Formerly SOC 210 Women’s Health and Public Policy.
3 credits
SOCY 361 The Black Family
Provides a multidisciplinary approach to the study of Black families. The course covers four broad content areas: historical/theoretical approaches to the study of Black families; Black family patterns (including socioeconomic, demographic, and intergenerational patters); socialization within Black families; and advocacy for and gender relations within Black families.
Formerly SOC 302 The Black Family.
3 credits
SOCY 381 Understanding AIDS: Interdisciplinary Seminar
Provides students with a multi-dimensional approach to understanding AIDS. The course examines AIDS as a social construct utilizing Writing Across the Curriculum and cooperative learning techniques to build an interdisciplinary knowledge of AIDS. Formerly INT
340 and SOC 340 Understanding AIDS: Interdisciplinary Seminar.
3 credits
FLC Seminar II
SOCY 421 Sociological Theory
Investigates the origin and development of classical sociological theory and how it is used in contemporary sociology.
Formerly SOC 486 Sociological Theory.
3 credits
SOCY 461 Advanced Seminar on the Family
Explores in depth current issues causing conflict and change in the contemporary family. Alternate family forms, working families, reproductive technology, AIDS and other health issues, and family violence are among the issues examined. Students are expected to contribute to the class through their own research and analysis of selected issues. Designed for students who have a background in the sociology of the family.
Formerly SOC 461 Advanced Seminar on the Family.
3 credits
FLC Seminar II
SOCY 491 Internship
Provides students with two days a week work experience in a variety of settings, research, human services, and criminal justice.
Formerly SOC 595 Internship.
3 credits
SOCY 498 Independent Study
Provides an opportunity for directed study as approved by the program chair.
Formerly SOC 498 Independent Study.
3 credits
SOCY 499 Senior Seminar
Serves as a capstone course that explores contemporary sociological concepts through new research and theory in the discipline. Students will contribute to class discussion through written work and oral presentations.
Formerly SOC 460 Senior Seminar.
3 credits
Prerequisites: Senior status in the major
Additional Accepted Courses
HRE 301 Seminar: Perspectives on Gender
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