Course Descriptions | Alice Lloyd College Social Science Division
101 Introduction to Sociology
Offered: Fall and Spring
3 credit hours
A study of basic concepts, including culture, subcultures, society, countercultures, social roles, stratification, socialization process, social institutions and social changes. Also an analysis of group behavior, deviancy, and social control.
102 Contemporary Social Problems
Offered: As needed
3 credit hours
The major social problems confronting society today are examined and studied. Some of these are urbanization, poverty, population, mental illness, race and ethnicity, family unit, crime and delinquency.
201 Introduction to Social Work
Offered: As needed
3 credit hours
This course provides an introduction to the knowledge, skills, and values necessary for generalist social work in contemporary society. Social welfare services, policies, and their historical origins will be presented along with the unique experiences of diverse and atrisk populations affected by various social problems. This course provides an overview of the range of public and private social services available for dealing with these problems. Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to identify social work roles, values, and ethics, as well as the role of advocacy in the social work profession. May include agency visitations, group experiences, social service projects.
203 Sociology of the Family
Prerequisite: Soc 101
Offered: As needed
3 credit hours
A study of mate selection, marriage and its alternatives, the phenomenon of love, current attitudes toward sexual behavior prior to and after marriage, parenthood, financial adjustments, divorce, widowhood, and remarriage. Also the family in cross-culture and historical perspective as a social institution and the impact of economic/social conditions on family values, functions, and roles.
211 Sociology of Race and Ethnicity
Prerequisite: Soc 102 recommended
Offered: As needed
3 credit hours
Analysis of the relationships between racial/ethnic groups and 161 behavior. Sources and results of intergroup tension, prejudice and discrimination are examined.
302 Environmental Sociology
Prerequisite: Soc 101 with a ‘C’ or better; Junior or Senior status
Offered: As needed
3 credit hours
This course is a comprehensive exploration of the relationship between human society, biological ecosystems and the physical environment. It will focus on social and environmental change, state policy and regulation, environmental constraints on communities, natural resources, population growth, community mobilization and social movements, and inequalities in environmental risk, degradation, and justice.
303 Population and Society
Prerequisite: Soc 101 with a ‘C’ or better; Junior or Senior status
Offered: As needed
3 credit hours
This course provides an analysis of population structure and dynamics as influenced by cultural, political, economic, and environmental factors. This course focuses attention to the social determinants of population problems, while exploring their consequences and policy implications for individuals, their societies, and the world.
305 Military Sociology
Prerequisite: Soc 101, Junior or Senior Status
Offered: As needed
3 credit hours
In this course we will use a sociological approach to study the US Military as a social institution and its relation to society. This study will use sociological theory, methods, and research along with personal and historical accounts to explore the military as a social institution. We will examine how it has developed over time and how it intersects with other institutions (e.g., the family), and societies and cultures (e.g., Iraq and Afghanistan). In addition, we will also examine how people become part of the military, understand their participation, and how participation affects their lives. The subject matter of this course tends to elicit deep-seated emotions, feelings, and opinions, to which students are entitled. However, regardless of their political persuasion and opinions, it is expected the course material will challenge student assumptions. The goal of this course is for students to understand the basic structure of the military, demographics of who serves, the conditions under which people serve, and the consequences of said service to themselves, their family, their society, and other societies.
312 Sociology of Religion
Prerequisite: Soc 101 with a ‘C’ or better; Junior or Senior status
Offered: As needed
3 credit hours
A sociological examination of comparative religions; the role of religion in social cohesion and conflict, continuity and change.
315 Sociology of Education
Prerequisite: junior or senior status, Sociology major, Soc 101 with a ‘C’ or better, Soc 102 recommended
Offered: As needed
3 credit hours
This class will examine the Sociology of Education. This is an important area to examine because individuals experiencing the U.S. education institution may receive drastically different outcomes.
320 Criminology
Prerequisite: Sociology or Criminal Justice major, junior or senior, Soc 101 with a ‘C’ or better, successfully completed Soc 102.
Offered: Fall, odd years
3 credit hours
This course will explore crime and criminal behavior including its historical evolution over time, types of crime and criminal behavior, 162 theories of crime (including possible causes of crime), and, the criminal justice system (including criminal courts, policing, and more). Although the course will primarily focus on crime and definitions and theories of the crime in the U.S., attention will briefly be directed at modern concerns of crime including global and cyber crime.
330 Juvenile Delinquency
Prerequisite: Soc 320, Soc 101, and Psy 101
Offered: As needed
3 credit hours
Theories of juvenile delinquencies are studied with emphasis on three approaches: the Constitutional, psychological and sociological. Discussion of the cause, prediction, control, and rehabilitation.
340 Sociology of Community
Prerequisite: Soc 101 with a ‘C’ or better; Junior or Senior status
Offered: As needed
3 credit hours
This course provides an overview and analysis of community development, community leadership models and perspectives, and the importance of community diversity and connections. A study of the people of Appalachian communities, including the typical family unit, education, government, religion and employment will be included with discussion of how this subculture relates to the dominant culture of the US in terms of the general course content.
350 Deviant Behavior
Prerequisite: Soc 101 with a ‘C’ or better; Junior or Senior status
Offered: As needed
3 credit hours
This course will analyze the relationship between social structure, social control and patterns of social deviance. It will stress the social, cultural and historical context in which deviance occurs and is interpreted. It will survey and critique current social theories in light of empirical research and application of the theories to selected problem areas.
360 Social Stratification
Prerequisite: Soc 101 with a ‘C’ or better; Junior or Senior status
Offered: As needed
3 credit hours
This course explores the economic, political, and social basis of stratification and inequality in the U.S. today. Attention is given to the origins and nature of social classes as well as other social divisions such as occupation, sex, ethnicity, wealth and power.
365 Sociology of Mental Health and Illness
Prerequisite: Psy 101 with a ‘C’ or better
Offered: As needed
3 credit hours
This course presents a sociological perspective to the study of mental health and illness. The sociological perspective emphasizes what we “know” to be mental health and illness is socially constructed, which varies by place (i.e., country) , group (i.e., status position) and time (i.e., historically). As such, we attempt to answer three fundamental questions throughout this course: First, what is mental illness? That is, how mental illness is defined and experienced. Second, how do social factors influence the definition of and prevalence of mental illness? Finally, how should society prevent and respond to mental illness? That is, how does society react to those thought to be mentally ill and how is treatment structured. This course examines the sociological theories and research used to answer these three questions.
370 Introduction to Social Research
Prerequisite: Soc 101, Soc 371, Soc 460, or Soc 461 with a ‘C’ or better; Junior or Senior status or permission of the instructor
Offered: Fall
3 credit hours
The course will introduce core concepts of social research. The requirements for both qualitative and quantitative research as well as mixed methodologies will be taught. Students will also be introduced to elementary statistical analysis.
371 Statistical Analysis for Social Research
Prerequisite: Soc 101 with a ‘C’ or better or permission of the instructor
Offered: Spring
3 credit hours
Using SPSS as the analytical software, students will learn to use descriptive statistics such as frequencies and probability, variance and standard deviations, as well as inferential statistics common to the social sciences.
372 Qualitative Research Methods
Prerequisite: Soc 370 with a ‘C’ or better
Offered: Spring
3 credit hours
This course will explore various qualitative methods in the Sociology discipline, attention will also be given to the process of coding and analyzing data.
405 Organizational Theory (also Bus 405)
Prerequisite: Junior or Senior status; Business or Sociology major. Soc 101 and 102 are recommended.
Offered: Fall, odd years
3 credit hours
An intensive study of the development and historical context of organizational theory. Topics include a historical analysis of the early and late 20th century organizational theories and the implication for understanding organizational structure and change.
460 Contemporary Social Theory
Prerequisite: Soc 101 with a ‘C’ or better, SOC 461; Junior or Senior status. Soc 102 recommended.
Offered: As needed
3 credit hours
This course is designed to examine how social theory leads to the development of sociological knowledge. We will investigate how contemporary theorists (since the mid-20th century) conceptualize and analyze social issues and change, especially as they relate to major theoretical paradigms including the structural functionalist, critical, symbolic interactionist, phenomenological/ ethnomethodological, and postmodern perspectives of the discipline.
461 Classical Social Theory
Prerequisite: Soc 101 with a ‘C’ or better, Junior or Senior status, English or Sociology major. Soc 102 recommended
Offered: As needed
3 credit hours
An intensive study of the lives and works of selected classical sociologists. Readings include a historical analysis of late 19th and early 20th century social theory and primary text selections from the work of major theorists of the period. The course will be held seminar style, with student presentations and discussions of primary resources.
460-469 Special Topics in Sociology
Prerequisite: Soc 101; Junior status or permission of instructor
Offered: As needed
3 credit hours
Selected Topics in Sociology.
Soc 470 Internship in Sociology
Prerequisite: Soc 101 with a ‘C’ or better and permission of the instructor
Offered: Fall and Spring
3 credit hours
The internship Program in Sociology is intended to provide students with an applied experience relevant to their coursework and career prospects. Students in good standing while attaining the status of Junior or Senior, majoring in Sociology are eligible to enroll.
489 Senior Seminar
Prerequisite: Soc 370, 371, Soc 461, Junior or Senior status
Offered: Spring
3 credit hours
This course deals with social science methodology, theory, research and writing. This capstone course for the Social Science major requires a lengthy research paper, and an oral presentation based on the paper.