Sociology
SOC 100X 3 Credits
Individual, Society and Culture (s)
An examination of the complex social arrangements guiding individual
behavior and common human concerns in contrasting cultural contexts.
Also available via Independent Learning. (3 + 0) Offered
Fall, Spring
SOC 101 3 Credits
Introduction to Sociology (s)
The science of the individual as a social being, emphasizing the
interactional, structural and normative aspects of social behavior.
An attempt is made to construct a cross-cultural framework in understanding
and predicting human behavior. (3 + 0) Offered Fall
SOC 201 3 Credits
Social Problems (s)
A study of major contemporary social problems, analysis of factors
causing these problems. Emphasis on cross-cultural differences in Alaska
and other parts of the world. (3 + 0) Offered Spring
SOC 242 3 Credits
The Family: A Cross-Cultural Perspective (s)
Analysis of conceptual frameworks in family research, and a cross-cultural
comparison of variations in family and kinship structures, both past
and present. Examination of contemporary developments in family forms,
the dynamic roles and patterns of relationships, and links with other
social institutions. Emphasis on how social forces such as gender,
race, ethnicity and social class shape the family and experiences of
family life. (Prerequisite: SOC 101 or permission of instructor.) (3 + 0)
Offered Spring
SOC 250 3 Credits
Introductory Statistics for Behavioral Sciences
(Cross-listed with PSY 250)
Basic overview of the following, applied to social scientific topics: descriptive
statistics, frequency distributions, sampling distributions, elementary probability,
estimation of population parameters, hypothesis testing (one and two sample
problems), correlation, simple linear regression and one-way analysis of variance.
Also available via Independent Learning. (Prerequisite: MATH 107X or 131X or
200X.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall, Spring
SOC 301 3 Credits
Rural Sociology (s)
Societal processes, changing values, economic development, demographic
change, agrarian reforms, planned change and rural community networks.
Part of focus on rural communities of Alaska. (Prerequisite: SOC 101
or permission of instructor.) (3 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants
SOC 307O 3 Credits
Demography (s)
A study of formal demographic variables such as fertility, mortality
and migration and their interaction with social demographic variables
like social class, religion, race, residence, attitudes and values.
Alaskan population dynamics examined. (Prerequisite: COMM 131X or 141X.)
(3 + 0) Offered Spring
SOC 309 3 Credits
Urban Sociology (s)
Origin and development of urban society as an industrial-ecological
phenomenon; the trends of migration and metropolitanism with futuristic
implications; and the rural-urban dichotomy in the Alaskan context.
(3 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants
SOC 310 3 Credits
Sociology of Later Life (s)
An analysis of the social status and role of the aging in America,
with comparisons with elderly in Alaska as well as those elsewhere.
(Prerequisite: SOC 101.) (3 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants
SOC 320 3 Credits
Sociology of Gender (s)
(Cross-listed with WMS 320)
Comprehensive survey of sociological inquiry and feminist revisions for studying
gender in U.S. society and culture. Interrogates the meanings of gender and
the interactional, cultural, organizational and institutional arrangements
that underlie the social construction of gender and gender inequality. (Prerequisite:
One lower-division social science course, WMS 201, or permission of instructor.
Next offered: 2005-06.) (3 + 0) Offered Alternate Spring
SOC 330 3 Credits
Social Psychology (s)
(Cross-listed with PSY 330)
Analysis of intergroup relationships in terms of process and value orientation,
their influences on the personality, and aspects of collective behavior on
group and person. Aspects of social interaction that have cultural and intercultural
variation. (Prerequisite: SOC 101 or PSY 101.) (3 + 0) Offered Spring
SOC 333 3 Credits
Human Sexuality Across Cultures (s)
(Cross-listed with PSY 333 and WMS 332)
Exploration of how people in a variety of cultures experience and express themselves
as sexual beings. Sexuality includes awareness of gender, and capacity for
erotic experiences and responses. Interdisciplinary study includes psychology,
anthropology, sociology, biology and related fields. Includes how sexual behavior
and experience reflects our biological capabilities, psychological characteristics,
and social and cultural influences. Also available via Independent Learning.
(Prerequisite: Junior standing. Next offered 2005-06.) (3 + 0) Offered
Alternate Fall
SOC 335 3 Credits
Deviance and Social Control (s)
Analysis of classical and contemporary theoretical perspectives
used to understand, explain and control criminal and non-criminal forms
of deviance. Emphasis on the social dimensions of the creation of deviant
categories and persons, the consequence of societal reactions to selected
forms of deviance, and implications for social policy (prevention)
and social control (corrections). (Prerequisite: SOC 101.) (3 + 0)
Offered Fall
SOC 345 3 Credits
Sociology of Education (s)
(Cross-listed with ED 345)
Theoretical perspectives on various dimensions of the relationship between
education and society, including the institutional context for schooling, the
impact of schooling on social stratification, and social organization within
the school and classroom. Special attention given to issues of equity and contemporary
educational reform efforts. (Prerequisite: SOC 101 or permission of instructor.
Next offered: 2005-06.) (3 + 0) Offered Alternate Fall
SOC 350W 3 Credits
Childhood and Society (s)
Concepts, theories and empirical research in the sociology of childhood.
Broad themes include social structure and its consequences for children’s
lives, children’s agency and the diversity of childhood experiences.
Includes an overview of the problems children face and recommendations
for solutions. (Prerequisite: ENGL 111X; ENGL 211X or ENGL 213X
or permission of instructor. Next offered: 2004-05.) (3 + 0)
Offered Alternate Fall
SOC 363 3 Credits
Social Inequality and Stratification (s)
Comprehensive analysis of the current sociological debates and
diverse theoretical approaches used to address social stratification
and inequality. Examines dimensions of inequality, including those
related to race, class and gender at the local, national and global
levels. (Prerequisite: SOC 101.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall
SOC 370 3 Credits
Drugs and Drug Dependence (s)
(Cross-listed with PSY 370)
A multidisciplinary approach emphasizing acute and chronic alcoholism, commonly
abused drugs, law enforcement and legal aspects of drug abuse, medical uses
of drugs, physiological, psychological and sociological aspects of drug abuse,
recommended drug education alternatives and plans, and treatment and rehabilitation
of acute and chronic drug users. Also available via Independent Learning. (Prerequisite:
PSY 101 or SOC 101 or permission of instructor. Next offered: 2005-06.) (3 + 0)
Offered Alternate Fall
SOC 402 3 Credits
Theories of Sociology (s)
Major sociological theories and theorists of Western civilization.
Review of important contributions and approaches of various "national
schools” with emphasis on current American and European trends.
(Prerequisite: SOC 101.) (3 + 0) Offered Spring
SOC 405O 3 Credits
Social Movements and Social Change (s)
Focus on collective behavior, social change and social movements
at the local, national and global levels. Analysis includes historical,
technological and legal implications of large-scale social change.
(Prerequisite: SOC 101, COMM 131X or 141X or permission of instructor.
Next offered: 2004-05.)
(3 + 0) Alternate Spring
SOC 407 3 Credits
Formal Organizations (s)
Theoretical and analytical approaches to the study of contemporary
complex formal organizations, including their coordination, status
and role interrelationships, and their diverse publics. Formal organizations
unique to Alaska’s multicultural population considered. (Prerequisite:
SOC 101.) (3 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants
SOC 408 3 Credits
Race and Ethnic Relations (s)
Principles and processes that shape the patterns of relations among
racial and ethnic groups in Alaska, America and elsewhere in the world.
Focus on relations between dominant (majority) and subordinate (minority)
groups in these societies. The sociological perspective takes into
account the effects of social institutions in understanding intergroup
relations and their diverse forms. (Prerequisite: SOC 101.) (3 + 0)
Offered Fall
SOC 473W 3 Credits
Research Methods in the Social Sciences (s)
(Cross-listed with SWK 473W)
Course has a two-fold objective: to help students become critical consumers
of research in the social sciences, and to allow students to carry out beginning
research studies. Course sequentially covers phases of the research process,
whether quantitative or qualitative. Research phases include problem formulation,
conceptualization, sampling, data presentation and analysis, and conclusions.
Also available via Independent Learning. (Prerequisites: ENGL 111X; ENGL 211X
or ENGL 213X or permission of instructor; and PSY/SOC 250.) (3 + 0)
Offered Fall
SOC 480W 3 Credits
Qualitative Social Science Research (s)
(Cross-listed with PSY 480W)
Introduction to classical and contemporary research within the qualitative
(or interpretive) paradigm of social science. Discusses the theoretical frameworks,
historical traditions, epistemological and ethical issues of qualitative approaches.
Uses hands-on experience in the practicalities and excitement of a variety
of methods for gathering qualitative data and conducting qualitative analysis.
(Prerequisites: ENGL 111X; ENGL 211X or ENGL 213X; and one lower-division
social science research methods course; or permission of instructor.) (3 + 0)
Offered Spring
SOC 638 3 Credits
Proseminar in Community Psychology
(Cross-listed with PSY 638)
Analysis of important topics in community psychology including community mental
health, empowerment, social change, cross-cultural issues and intervention
program development in rural contexts. Particular attention placed on policy
issues as they relate to changing community mental health concerns. (Prerequisite:
Graduate standing or permission of instructor.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall
SOC 645 3 Credits
Prevention Theories and Strategies
(Cross-listed with PSY 645)
Environmental and psychosocial approaches in the prevention of mental and emotional
disturbances. Theories that focus on situational stress are examined, as well
as methods for coping effectively with situations in order to reduce the stress.
The unique environmental problems of rural areas and problems in cases of cultural
conflict are particularly noted. (Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.)
(3 + 0) Offered Alternate Fall