Introduction to sociology. Theory, methods, and approaches to the study of society. The use of several key sociological perspectives such as culture, social class, social psychology, and organizational power to analyze contemporary social issues. (Gen.Ed. SB, DU)

This course examines who, why, and how different groups immigrate to the U.S. and what happens once they arrive -- how they are received by mainstream society and how they perceive their experience in a new country. Specific topics include entry, immigration controls, education, identity, discrimination, employment, language, legal status, belonging, settlement, trans-nationalism, political participation, and examples of efforts to reform U.S. immigration laws. (Gen.Ed. SB)

The evolution and current status of labor and work in the U.S. Examines multiple perspectives on workers, unions, workplace systems, and worker rights.

An introduction to the major subfields of the profession, the populations social workers serve, the types of interventions they use, the theories behind those interventions, and the obstacles to success.

This course will help you see the world sociologically and understand how your own life is affected not only by yourself and other individuals, but also by the social structures and social circumstances in which you live. You will learn to translate complex sociological ideas and concepts into clear sophisticated written arguments that illustrate a nuanced understanding of our social world.

Aspects of drugs (alcohol, cannabis, stimulants, psychedelics, depressants, opiates): historical and cross-cultural perspectives; behavioral effects; social and cultural factors affecting use; addiction (including alcoholism); political economy of drugs; drugs and social reality. (Gen.Ed. SB)

This course will explore the role that community supervision plays in the U.S. Criminal Justice System. The course will span the evolution of probation services from the 19th Century father of probation, John Augustus, to the modern day focus on evidence based practices supervision. Likewise, the history of parole will be explored from its origin in England and Ireland to its current practice in community corrections. We will also focus on the federal probation system, which is practiced across the United States and its territories.

This courses focuses on five data collection techniques: participant observation, respondent interviewing, informant interviewing, systematic observation of naturally occurring behavior, and documents and archives.

This course uses a sociological framework to understand the various aspects that impact the four year college experience: race; class; gender; sexuality; institutional structure, resources, and priorities; social networks; academic preparedness; work; participation in athletics, mental health; etc. We will pay particular attention to the ways in which certain characteristics can support or inhibit successful and timely completion of a four-year college degree.

The social causes of religion and religion's influence on social life. Topics include the definition of religion, fundamentalism, organized religion, private religion, world religions, religion and ethnic identity, religion and politics. (Gen.Ed. SB)