Sociology
SOC 100X (3 Credits) Fall
Individual, Society and Culture (3+0) s
An examination of the complex social arrangements guiding individual behavior and common human concerns in contrasting cultural contexts. Also available via Independent Learning and via the television as a self-paced, computer-aided course. Special telecourse fee: $30.00.
SOC 101 (3 Credits) Fall, Spring
Introduction to Sociology (3+0) 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. Also available via Independent Learning or via television as a self-paced, computer-aided course; special telecourse fee: $30.00.
SOC 102 (3 Credits) Fall, Spring
Social Institutions (3+0) s
A continuation of SOC 101: application of the concepts from short surveys of sociological phenomena. Institutions of society, such as family, political and economic order, are examined, including their operation in the Alaska rural and cross-cultural milieu. Also available via Independent Learning or via television as a self-paced, computer-aided course; special telecourse fee: $30.00. (Prerequisite: SOC 101.)
SOC 201 (3 Credits) Fall
Social Problems (3+0) 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. Also available via television as a self-paced, computer-aided course; special telecourse fee: $30.00.
SOC 242 (3 Credits) Spring
The Family: A Cross-Cultural Perspective (3+0) s
Contemporary patterns of marriage and family relationships. Developmental, systems, and social psychological approaches used to analyze these relationships. Family life cycle stages examined include mate selection, marriage, early marital interaction, parenthood, the middle and later years, and possible dissolution. Attention given to cross-cultural differences in Alaska as well as in other parts of the world. Also available via Independent Learning. (Prerequisite: SOC 101 or permission of instructor.)
SOC 250 (3 Credits) Fall, Spring
Introductory Statistics for Behavioral Sciences (3+0)
(Same as PSY 250)
Purposes and procedures of statistics; calculating methods for the description of groups (data reduction) and for simple inferences about groups and differences between group means. (Prerequisite: MATH 107X or equivalent.)
SOC 301 (3 Credits) Spring
Rural Sociology (3+0) 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. Special telecourse fee: $30.00. (Prerequisite: SOC 101 or permission of instructor.)
SOC 307O (3 Credits) Spring
Demography (3+0) 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.
SOC 309 (3 Credits) As Demand Warrants
Urban Sociology (3+0) 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.
SOC 310 (3 Credits) Alternate Spring
Sociology of Later Life (3+0) 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. Next offered: 1997-98.)
SOC 330 (3 Credits) Spring
Social Psychology (3+0) s
(Same as 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.)
SOC 335 (3 Credits) Fall
Sociology of Deviant Behavior (3+0) s
A study of the causes of deviant behavior, both criminal and noncriminal, with emphasis on the nature of social interaction and an examination of the social control groups and institutions. (Prerequisite: SOC 101.)
SOC 345 (3 Credits) As Demand Warrants
Sociology of Education (3+0)
(Same as ED 345)
The influence of social, political, and economic forces upon schools. Examines how school organization affects teaching practices, how peer groups affect student learning, and how national political and economic concerns determine what becomes an educational issue. (Prerequisites: SOC 101 and junior standing.)
SOC 363 (3 Credits) Fall
Social Stratification (3+0) s
The differential distribution of social power, privilege, and life chances in class and caste as the basis for social organization. Emphasis on occupational, educational, and other correlates which determine social structure. Also includes a comparative study of class and caste in India and the United States. (Prerequisite: SOC 101.)
SOC 370 (3 Credits) Alternate Fall
Drugs and Drug Dependence (3+0) s
(Same as 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: 1997-98.)
SOC 402 (3 Credits) Spring
Theories of Sociology (3+0) 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.)
SOC 405 (3 Credits) As Demand Warrants
Social Change (3+0) s
Philosophy of change and its affiliation to sociocultural change in terms of history, technology, axiology, and social movement. (Prerequisite: SOC 101 or permission of instructor.)
SOC 407 (3 Credits) Alternate Fall
Formal Organization (3+0) 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. Next offered: 1997-98.)
SOC 408 (3 Credits) Alternate Fall
American Minority Groups (3+0) s
An examination of the status of minority groups and intergroup relations in America, including changes in sociological, economic and political status. Theories and concepts of minority role behavior and intergroup relationships are applied to American and Alaskan racial and ethnic groups. Special telecourse fee: $30.00. (Prerequisite: SOC 101. Next offered: 1997-98.)
SOC 473W (3 Credits) Fall
Social Science Research Methods (3+0) s
(Same as PSY 473)
Techniques of social research: sampling, questionnaire construction, interviewing and data analysis in surveys; field and laboratory experiments, and attitude scaling. (Prerequisite: PSY/SOC 250.)
SOC 638 (3 Credits) Alternate Fall
Social Policy and Social Change (3+0)
(Same as 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.)
SOC 645 (3 Credits) Alternate Fall
Prevention Theories and Strategies (3+0)
(Same as 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.)