History - Sociology Courses Descriptions

ANT 201 Cultural Anthropology (3) General survey of cultural anthropology in which different cultural groups are studied. Particular emphasis is placed on the implications of cultural variations for Christian missions. Offered every other year.

SOC 201 The Sociological Imagination (3) Develops a way of seeing the social

realm sociologically and biblically. Surveys basic sociological concepts as well

as identity, stratification, religion, and modernity. Offered every semester.

SOC 218 The Family (3) A sociological analysis of changes in the American

family and marriage in a Christian framework.

SOC 220 Social Change (3) A survey of macro and micro social change

revolving around the civil rights movement, mediating institutions, neighborhood

design, and economic foundations.

SOC 221 Social Groups (3) A study of the foundational theories and practices

of group behavior. This is developed in the framework of civic engagement

and institutional contexts.

SOC 225 Sociological Investigation (2) An introduction to social research

including epistemology, quantitative and qualitative research, and style formats.

SOC 251 American Culture Studies (3) An historical and interdisciplinary

study of culture including media, literature, and art theory set in a Christian

critique of late modernity.

SOC 254 Reconciliation: Gender, Class, and Race (3) Central sociological concepts

are surveyed and placed in a community context. The course is framed

by the biblical concept of reconciliation.

SOC 257 Work, Vocation, and Leadership (3) Foundational issues of work

and vocation are studied in relation to the emerging field of leadership studies

and the Christian notion of calling.

SOC 260 Integrative Seminar (1) Students work to consolidate the work done

in their interdisciplinary concentration into a unified perspective.

SOC 301 Social Problems (3) Investigating major social stresses such as

poverty, inequality, criminality, aging, moral decisions, war and individualism;

looking at society′s attempt at solutions. Prerequisite: SOC 201.

SOC 310 Deviant Behavior (3) Development of and social responses to normviolating

or marginalized attributes and behaviors such as murder, prostitution,

mental illness, and aging. Prerequisite: SOC 201.

SOC 320 Theory and Method (3) Methods of social research are studied in

the context of the theoretical frameworks from which they emerged and the

ends they intend. Prerequisite: SOC 225.

SOC 346 Sociology of Religion (3) The relationship between religion and

society with special attention to the role of the church in American society.

Prerequisite: SOC 201.

SOC 360 Readings in Social Theory (3) An in-depth reading of primary

sources of classic and contemporary social theory done in seminar format.

Prerequisites: SOC 201, and junior standing.

SOC 401 Utopia and Shalom (3) The sociology capstone course surveying the

historical quest of human groups for utopia contrasted with the biblical concept

of shalom. Prerequisites: SOC 201 and junior standing.

SOC 421 Seminar (3) Independent work guided by faculty lectures and class

discussion. This course will cover different topics and will only be offered as

an elective necessitated by student interest. Prerequisites: sociology major,

and junior standing.

SOC 493 Sociology Internship (3) Field experience or research related to

social practice in the community. Students are expected to spend approximately

10 hours per week in this experience. Offered every semester.

Prerequisite: junior standing.

PSY 408 Social Psychology (3) Social and environmental influences on interpersonal relationships such as friendship, perception, altruism, aggression, conflict, and peacemaking. Prerequisite: PSY 207 or permission of instructor.