Course Descriptions

SOC 1001 (Formerly SO 201A)
Principles of Sociology - 4 cr.

The objectives of this introductory course are: (1) to
cultivate the sociological perspective by acquainting
students with basic sociological theories, methods,
concepts and findings; (2) to use the basic concepts and
principles of sociology to examine the various sectors of
social life; and, (3) to develop an awareness of how and
why social forces influence the experiences of everyday life.
The course usually begins with a brief review of sociology’s
historical origin, its major theoretical perspectives and its
various research methodologies. The nature of culture,
social interaction, group dynamics, bureaucracy,
socialization, deviance, crime, urbanization, collective
behavior, and social change are some of the topics
studied. The course also explores some of the institutions
of society, such as the family, the political economy,
religion, education, and the medical system. A central
focus of the course is understanding the nature of social
inequality as it exists in the United States and across the
globe in terms of age, gender, race, and social class.
Prerequisite: None. Required for majors and minors.
Satisfies the social science distribution requirement.
Three hours a week.

SOC 2002 (Formerly SO 302A)
Social Problems - 4 cr.

“The difficulty, in sociology, is to manage to think in
a completely astonished and disconcerted way about
things you thought you had always understood”
Pierre Bourdieu. 1991. “On Delegation and Political
Fetishism.” Language and Symbolic Power.
Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, p. 207.
This course will focus on sociological explanations of
social problems in contemporary American society.
A primary focus of this course is the social construction
of social problems, in other words -- who
defines a social problem, how, when, and why?
Specific topics we will examine include: poverty and
unequal access to resources, unemployment and
underemployment, drug use, environmental issues,
racism, and sexism. Throughout the course, we will
consider the following questions: How do we as a
society define what constitutes a social problem?
What are the roles of powerful groups in a society in
determining what is or is not a social problem? How
does the existing social structure actually perpetuate
social problems?

SOC 2050 (Formerly SO 450A)
Social Work - 4 cr.

This course is designed to introduce students to the
broad field of social work. Students who take this
course become competent in the multi-disciplinary
foundation of social work including values and
ethics, diversity, populations-at-risk, social and economic
justice, human behavior and the social environment,
social welfare policy and services and social
work practice. Special attention is given to services
for children and families, people with disabilities,
gays and lesbians, the elderly, people with addiction
and/or mental illness, and individuals in the criminal
justice system. In addition, students are introduced
to the various methods that social workers use
including casework, group work and community
organization. Prerequisite: SOC 1001 or consent of
the instructor. Satisfies the social science distribution
requirement. Three hours a week.

SOC 2200 (Formerly SO 320A)
Cultural Anthropology - 4 cr.

Cultural Anthropology studies the social, symbolic,
and material lives of humans in various societies.
Emphasis in this course is placed on the social evolution
of the human species, its primate heritage, and a
comparative study of social, economic, religious and
political activities of living and ancient cultures.
Prerequisite: SOC 1001 or consent of the instructor.
Satisfies the social science distribution requirement.
Three hours a week.

SOC 3040 (Formerly SO 304A)
Juvenile Delinquency - 4 cr.

This course focuses on the social problem of juvenile
delinquency and the ways that this problem is
defined and addressed through formal and informal
means in society. What are the sources of juvenile
delinquency? How are other social institutions (family,
schools, economy) related to the decisions of
youths to engage in deviant and/or unlawful behavior?
How are the issues or race/ethnicity, social
class, and age and gender categories implicated in the
ways that this problem exists and is addressed by the
larger society? Particular attention will be given to
the history of the juvenile justice system and how it
currently functions (police, courts, corrections).
Non-punitive approaches to addressing this problem
will also be covered (e.g. community-based corrections,
restorative justice). The primary focus of the
course is on the reality of juvenile delinquency in the
U.S., but some international comparisons are included.
Prerequisite: SOC 1001 or consent of the
instructor. Satisfies the social science distribution
requirement. Three hours a week.

SOC 3050 (Formerly SO 305A)
Female Deviance, Crime, and Social Control - 4 cr.

This course explores literature from social history,
sociology, criminology, and law to address issues concerning
female deviance, crime, and both informal
and formal methods of social control. Women’s
experiences with deviance and social control can be
understood only within the context of cultural definitions
of femininity. Our societal images of girls
and women shape our beliefs of how they should
behave and how they should be treated when they
deviate. Deviance and criminality are defined as differing
from the norm, but our norms are often
expressed in stereotypes and strict gender roles. In
this class, we will discuss girls and women who misbehave
-- who break norms and laws. We will also
explore the societal reactions to these transgressions.
We will consider feminist literature within criminology
and the sociology of law to ask how are societal
notions of female offenders changing and how
should the criminal justice system address female
criminality. Prerequisite: SOC 1001 or consent of
the instructor. Satisfies the social science distribution
requirement. Three hours a week.

SOC 3060 (Formerly SO 306A)
White Collar Crime - 4 cr.

The purpose of this course is to examine various topics
and issues related to criminal, deviant and other
harmful behaviors committed for economic advantage
by both individuals and organizations in the
business sector. How do we define white collar
crime? How prevalent is white collar crime? What
are the sources and motivations of white collar criminal
behavior? What are the social and economic
costs to local and national communities? How effective
are the sanctions utilized to deter and control
individual and corporate crimes? How is corporate
crime related to governmental crimes and organized
crime? Some attention will be given to the international
dimensions of this phenomenon as well as to
corporate crimes that have affected the Merrimack
Valley region. Prerequisite: SOC 1001 or consent of
the instructor. Satisfies the social science distribution
requirement. Three hours a week.

SOC 3100 (Formerly SO 410A)
Formal Organizations - 4 cr.

As the famous German sociologist, Max Weber,
pointed out, the most dramatic characteristic of
modern society was change in the way society organized
its activities and the principles on which the new
organizational form was based. The formal organization
associated with bureaucracy was identified by
Max Weber as the social process of rationalization
underlying the emergence of modern society. This
course undertakes an analysis of the characteristics of
complex modern organizations and their impact on
individuals, communities and societies. The course
places emphasis on the structure and dynamics of
formal organizations, and variables influencing organizational
pathology and effectiveness. Prerequisite:
SOC 1001 or consent of instructor. Satisfies the
social science distribution requirement. Three hours a
week.

SOC 3120 (Formerly SO 312A)
Sociology of Law - 4 cr.

This course addresses the social context of law, the
legal structure, and the relationship between law and
society. Law is at base a social phenomenon; we create
laws to address social problems, settle disputes,
and exert power over others. Just as society and culture
are always changing, so does the law. In turn,
as law evolves, it also affects culture. There are hundreds,
even thousands, of laws constructed each year
in this country. In the U.S., with fifty state legislatures
and the federal government enacting new laws,
and with the enactment of thousands of municipal
and county ordinances, the sheer magnitude of law is
overwhelming. Additionally, there are court decisions
at the state and federal levels which often create
new laws or modify existing laws. In this course, we
will only examine a fraction of these. The larger goal
of this course is to gain an understanding of the significant
relationship which law plays in our everyday
lives and its role in society. Throughout the course,
we will address several questions: What can a sociological
perspective contribute to the study of law?
How and why do laws arise? How do legal systems
reflect the values of the society? What is the relationship
between law and inequality in our political
economy? How can laws promote (or inhibit) social
change? Prerequisite: SOC 1001 or consent of the
instructor. Satisfies the social science distribution
requirement. Three hours a week.

SOC 3150 (Formerly SO 315A)
Social Movements - 4 cr.

This course examines how social change happens by
focusing on one particularly important agent of
change: social movements. The course is organized
around key sociological questions about social movements:
When and why do they occur? Who joins,
supports, and leaves them? How are movements
organized, and what do they do? How are they influenced
by external forces, such as the state and mass
media? Finally, why do movements decline, and how
can we measure any changes that they ultimately
bring about? In the process of finding answers to
these questions, we will examine the dominant theoretical
paradigms in social movement scholarship,
which include rational-choice theory, resource mobilization,
political opportunity theory, and more
recently, cultural approaches to the study of movements.
Prerequisite: SOC 1001 or consent of the
instructor. Satisfies the social science distribution
requirement. Three hours a week.

SOC 3200 (Formerly SO 420A)
Criminology - 4 cr.

This course explores crime, justice, and punishment
from a sociological perspective. In recent opinion
surveys, crime has been judged to be one of the
nation’s most crucial social problems. In the midst
of sensationalized news headlines and exaggerated
political rhetoric, what can sociology contribute to
an understanding of crime? In this course, the causes
of crime and the solutions and policies in place to
deter or solve crime will be critically examined. We
will also examine the social processes whereby crime
is defined and detected, and offenders are apprehended
and punished. The overall objective of the
course is to examine crime and punishment within
the context of the society and culture which surrounds
it. These topics are connected to inequalities
of race, class, and gender, which will be key concerns
throughout this course. Coverage of crime and punishment
in the popular media is also a central focus
of this course. Prerequisite: SOC 1001 or consent of
the instructor. Satisfies the social science distribution
requirement. Three hours a week.

SOC 3250 (Formerly SO 425A)
Social Change - 4 cr.

This course is about the substance of social change
in the world today. It includes major sociological
ideas, concepts, and methods of inquiry which help
the student understand social change. The class
begins with social change in recent American society
and expands to include global social change processes.
Thus, the goal for the student is to internalize
these major sociological ideas, concepts, and methods
of inquiry and then use them in analyzing and
understanding both social change in American society
and the larger, global society. Prerequisite: SOC
1001 or consent of the instructor. Satisfies the social
science distribution requirement. Three hours a week.

SOC 3300 (Formerly SO 330A) - WRITING INTENSIVE
Sociology of Education - 4 cr.

This course focuses on the structure, process, and
social functions of education. It addresses a variety of
sociological questions about the relationship between
schools and society, including: Who is involved in
the process of education, and what roles do they
play? How and why are schools, classrooms, and cur118
ricula organized in the ways that they are? How do
schools socialize and integrate children and adolescents
into society? How do schools reproduce stratification
and inequality? How is the education system
connected to other social institutions? Finally, what
are some alternative models to the traditional education
system? The primary goal of the course is to
encourage students to understand their own educational
backgrounds from a sociological, rather than
individualistic, perspective. Prerequisite: SOC 1001
or consent of the instructor. Satisfies the social science
distribution requirement. Three hours a week.

SOC 3330 (Formerly SO 333A)
Racial and Ethnic Minorities - 4 cr.

The purpose of this course is to examine racial and
ethnic diversity in the United States both historically
and currently. The course will introduce students to
a number of sociological explanations and theoretical
issues in the study of minority and majority group
relations. The specific experiences of different racial
and ethnic groups in contemporary U.S. society will
also be examined. We will also explore the interrelationships
of gender, race, ethnicity, and class to gain
an understanding of current social conditions which
affect us all. By examining the intersections of race,
class, and gender we can see a diversity of experiences
and think about ways in which these experiences
can (and do) reshape and enrich our society. .
Prerequisite: SOC 1001 or consent of the instructor.
Satisfies the social science distribution requirement.
Three hours a week.

SOC 3350
Alternative Approaches to Criminal Justice - 4 cr.

This course covers various alternative approaches
to the practice of criminal justice that are being
developed and implemented around the world. 
The dominant model of criminal justice in the United
States with its strong emphasis on punishment and
deterrence is being challenged by approaches based
on notions of restoration and re-integration.  These
newer models are being applied to individual criminal
cases as well as to reconciling violent situations at
community, national and international levels.  For
example, there are a growing number of community-
based restorative justice programs focused on juvenile
delinquency issues and also larger nation-wide efforts
such as the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions in
South Africa and Peru.  This course examines how
these approaches critique and can potentially transform
various stages of a criminal justice system.  We will
discuss how notions of rehabilitation, empowerment,
forgiveness, accountability, victim’s rights, reconciliation
and restoration are defined and utilized.  How can a
criminal justice system help to promote a sense of
community and wholeness in individuals (both victims
and offenders) and the larger communities where
violence has occurred in more widespread ways?  What
role do these approaches currently play in established
criminal justice systems?  These and other questions
will be addressed in the class.  Prerequisite: SOC 1001
or consent of the instructor. Three hours a week.

SOC 3370 (Formerly SO 337A)
Urban Sociology - 4 cr.

The study of the urban form at its most elementary
level, is the study of the fundamental social nature of
human life. Urban Sociology is the study of the
diverse and complex patterns of social life associated
with people and places in large scale settlements. It
examines the various historical, cultural, geo-political
and economic factors that help explain the origin
and development of the city as a social invention and
changing human form. The sociological study of the
city, therefore, explores the range of topics that
relate to the promises and problems of social life of
those who live or work or visit the urban setting.
The course begins with a general review of the historical
origins of urbanization and a more specific
focus on urbanization, suburbanization and the
growth of metropolitan regions in the United States.
Traditional and American theories of urbanization
are reviewed. Life as it is experienced in the city and
its neighborhoods is examined in terms of class, gender,
race-ethnicity, and lifestyles. Common problems
of urban life such as poverty, racism, crime, and
homelessness are addressed. Patterns and theories of
political power at the local level are explored. A brief
look at urbanization in the Third World serves as a
stark juxtaposition to the experience of industrialized
or western societies. The course concludes by considering
the impending impact of the environmental
issue on urban prospects and the role that metropolitan
planning will play in shaping the form and place
collective life will assume in the future. Prerequisite:
SOC 1001 or consent of the instructor. Satisfies the
social science distribution requirement. Three hours a
week.

SOC 3400 (Formerly SO 340A)
Population Problems - 4 cr.

Current population problems are examined through
an analysis of the basic demographic variables of fertility,
mortality, and migration. Population data
relating to the contemporary U.S. social setting are
explored. Attention is given to the issue of development
in both the poorer and richer countries of the
world. Prerequisite: SOC 1001 or consent of the
instructor. Satisfies the social science distribution
requirement. Three hours a week.

SOC 3430
Criminal Justice and Mental Health - 4cr.

This course provides an overview of mentally ill individuals’
involvement in the criminal justice system and a historical
perspective on how we have arrived to this point.  Topics
include development of mental health practice and policies,
commitment statutes, profile of mentally ill individuals who
get incarcerated, violence and mental illness, diversion,
and unique challenges of special populations including
women, juveniles and sex offenders. Prerequisite: SOC
1001 or consent of the instructor. Three hours a week.

SOC 3450 (Formerly SO 345A)
Sociology of the Family - 4 cr.
This course provides an overview of the family as a
major institution of society using a sociological perspective.
The family is studied from both the macro
and micro levels with special attention devoted to
the significant transformations and changes the family
is undergoing in its form and functions. The
changing nature of the family is discussed in terms of
its effects on us individually as well as the impact the
changes are making in society.
The objectives of this course are: (1) to introduce
students to the essential concepts, theories, and
research used in sociology to analyze the family; (2)
to enhance the students’ understanding of the complexity
of family life and how family experience is
shaped by race, social class, gender, and culture; (3)
to enable students to identify and examine sociologically
relevant problems and issues within the contemporary
family; and (4) to encourage critical thinking
and writing skills that demonstrate the students’ abilities
to understand and analyze social phenomena.
Prerequisite: SOC 1001 or consent of the instructor.
Satisfies the social science distribution requirement.
Three hours a week.

SOC 3500 (Formerly SO 350A)
Domestic Violence - 4 cr.

This course explores the social character and the
causes of domestic violence. Various forms of abuse
and violence are addressed on both a micro and a
macro level. Each form of abuse and violence is discussed
using sociological theories of causality. The
objectives of this course are to enhance students’
abilities to: (1) gain knowledge and refute myths
about domestic violence; (2) to understand the
impact of social and cultural factors on violence; (3)
to become familiar with the literature on domestic
violence; (4) to become familiar with current controversies
in the area of domestic violence; and, (5) to
develop skills in discussing and dealing with controversial
and sensitive topics. Prerequisite: SOC 1001
or consent of the instructor. Satisfies the social sci119
ence distribution requirement. Three hours a week.

SOC 3600 (Formerly SO 360A)
Sociology of Health - 4 cr.

Health, illness and healing are not merely physiological
states but also human experiences shaped by sociological
forces. As Freund, McGuire and Podhurst
point out in Health, Illness and the Social Body. A
Critical Sociology [2003: 4], “The sick body is not
simply a closed container, encased in skin that has
been invaded by germs or traumatic blows but is also
open and connected to the world that surrounds it.
Thus the human body is open to the social body.
Similarly, our material (or physical) environment,
such as the urban landscape, the workplace, or our
foods, is influenced by our culture, social structure,
and relationships. And these in turn influence our
bodies." The course begins with a brief review of the
history of past viewpoints and practices in western
civilization toward health, healing and illness leading
to the emergence of the modern medical profession,
scientific medicine, and the establishment of the
medical model as the primary paradigm of disease.
We will examine the social factors that influence who
it is that gets sick, the types of illness suffered, the
experience of being sick, the process of seeking help,
and the context in which medical care is delivered.
We will discuss the effect of stress on health and the
role that human relationships and social support play
in mediating stress. We will assess the state of our
health care system and compare it to other systems.
In general, we will depend on the theories, concepts
and findings from sociology as they apply in the
study of this area to direct our focus and inform our
analysis. Prerequisite: SOC 1001 or consent of the
instructor. Satisfies the social science distribution
requirement. Three hours a week.

SOC 3800 (Formerly SO 380A)
Sociology of Gender - 4 cr.

Sociology of Gender examines the differences in
socialization and life experiences of males and
females. The purposes of this course are: (1) to discuss
the differential experiences of females and males;
(2) to relate current sociological theory to these
experiences; and (3) to apply knowledge learned to
students’ own lives. Consequently, students’ experiences,
insights, questions, and ideas are a key part of
this course. The class considers not only what is in
terms of gender roles, but also what might be and
how we, as change agents, may act to improve our
individual and collective lives. Prerequisite: SOC
1001 or consent of the instructor. Satisfies the social
science distribution requirement. Three hours a week.

SOC 3850 (Formerly SO 385A)
Sociology of Aging - 4 cr.

Despite the elusive search for the fountain of youth
by discoverers of old and scientists of today, growing
old remains a fundamental and inevitable fact of life.
Aging corresponds to a complex process involving
biological, psychological and sociological forces that
interact and affect the nature and quality of human
development in later life. The purpose of this course
is to examine in detail the sociological dimension of
growing older and investigate the extent to which
the sociological dimension influences and shapes
other aspects or dimensions of aging. The changing
composition of the age structure of American society
is responsible for significant social changes whose
powerful repercussions are being felt at every level of
social life. The "graying" of American society has
brought in its wake a series of new and compelling
questions and challenges never before addressed.
This demographic revolution poses new questions in
an old garb regarding the fundamental relationship
of the individual and society. The course begins by
introducing the field of social gerontology and
examining some common myths of aging. Different
methods of conducting research in the field of aging
are discussed followed by a presentation of the social
theories of aging. The focus then turns to a sociohistorical
review of aging in American society with
particular attention devoted to the modern demographic
revolution responsible for the “graying” of
American’s age structure, and the policy and programs
that have developed in response to the growing
aged population. In considering the promises
and problems of growing older, such topics as family
relationships, housing, retirement, social security,
and the social service and health care maze are examined.
Also, the role that gender, class, race and ethnicity
play in creating the mosaic aging experience is
considered, and the social dimension of Alzheimer’s
disease is explored. Finally, the course concludes by
considering the politics of aging. In general, the
course depends on the theories, methods and findings
from sociology as they have been applied to the
study of aging to direct our focus and inform our
analysis. Prerequisite: SOC 1001 or consent of the
instructor. Satisfies the social science distribution
requirement. Three hours a week.

SOC 4300 (Formerly SO 430A)
Social Class in America - 4 cr.

The social class structure in America is examined in
terms of differences in wealth, prestige, and power.
What explanations have been given for the existence
of social classes? How have sociologists studied
social class differences in the United States? How
important are these differences for our day to day
lives? What changes in our social class structure can
we expect in the future? Prerequisite: SOC 1001 or
consent of the instructor. Required for majors and
minors. Satisfies the social science distribution requirement.
Three hours a week.

SOC 4600 (Formerly SO 460A)
Research Methodology - 4 cr.

An introduction to the research methods employed
in sociology. Areas that the course covers include
the following: the nature of science, ethical issues in
research, how to do a research of the literature and
relevant variables. Of central importance is a consid120
eration of available research designs and the major
options regarding methods of data collection, sampling
techniques, and measurement plans.
Prerequisite: SOC 1001 or consent of the instructor.
Required for majors and minors. Satisfies the
social science distribution requirement. Three hours a
week.

SOC 4710 (Formerly SO 491A)
Classical Social Theory - 4 cr.

Classical Social Theory involves an intensive study of
the origins of sociological thought in the nineteenth
century as a response to the conditions of modernity.
Students will study the social analysis of thinkers who
sought to make sense out of the dramatic shift from
traditional to modern society. Students will read the
original texts of such sociologists as Karl Marx,
Emile Durkheim, and Max Weber, who are considered
responsible for establishing the theoretical foundation
of the modern discipline of sociology. In
order to understand sociology’s theoretical birth and
development, the course begins with a brief review
of the historical and philosophical conditions that
preceded it. Within this framework, students read
original texts and consider the differing explanations
by classical social theorists such as Marx, Durkheim,
and Weber regarding the occurrence of social change
and the existence of social order. Specifically, students
will be introduced to different theoretical formulations
on such topics as the nature and formation
of social structures, the processes of social change,
the relationship between the individual and society,
and the nature and consequences of social classes.
Students will become familiar with each theorist’s
sociological perspective, learn what is common and
different about each of the perspectives, and identify
the utility and application that the perspectives have
for the continued development of social theory and
research. Prerequisite: SO 1001. Satisfies the social
science distribution requirement. Required for
majors, minors select one course in social theory.
Satisfies the social science distribution requirement.
Three hours a week.

SOC 4720 (Formerly SO 492A)
Contemporary Social Theory - 4 cr.

Contemporary Social Theory introduces students to
current day theoretical perspectives in sociology
which build upon and extend the intellectual tradition
that students were taught in Classical Social
Theory. Students read original texts of current social
theorists, and learn about the theoretical development
of major contemporary sociological perspectives
such as functionalism, conflict theory, interaction
theory, rational choice, and postmodernism.
Selected readings in contemporary social theory
address issues of micro-macro phenomena, culture in
society, gender, and global changes. The purposes of
this course are: (1) to acquaint students with current
sociological theory; (2) to critically analyze
these theories using empirical evidence; and, (3) to
give students the opportunity to expand their own
perceptions of the world by using these theories.
Prerequisite: SOC 1001, SOC 4710, or permission
of the instructor. Satisfies the social science distribution
requirement. Required for major, minors select
one course in social theory. Three hours a week.

SOC 4810/SOC 4815 (Formerly SO 490A)
Directed Study - 4 cr.

In lieu of a formal course, qualified upper-class students
may, with the approval of the Chair of the
Department, substitute an intensive program of reading
under the direction of a member of the department.
Prerequisite: SOC 1001 and consent of the
Chair and member of the department under whose
supervision the Directed Study will be conducted.

SOC 4860/SOC 4865 (Formerly SO 455A/SO 456A)
Social Service Field Work - 4 cr.

The Social Service Field Work course offers service learning
opportunities to students who major or minor in Sociology.
The course provides students a unique chance to experience
possible career interests, to learn from those
already working in the field, to consider the need for
further education, and to establish valuable contacts
that may be helpful in acquiring fulltime employment.
The prospect of working in the field, using
and applying the sociological perspective is an integral
and vital activity of the sociological tradition.
Students in this course select from a range of possible
supervised field work opportunities within community,
human services, criminal justice and healthrelated
agencies. In return for their contribution to
the activities of the agency, students receive direct
professional supervision, valuable field experience,
and earn four credits toward graduation.
Students volunteer at the placement agency between
12 to 15 hours a week. Students arrange with the
supervisor at their placement an agreed upon work
schedule, specific responsibilities that will be assigned
to the student, and tasks expected to be accomplished
by the student over the course of the placement.
These agreements are stipulated in a Memorandum of
Understanding document which is signed by the student,
agency and Sociology Department. In addition to the
responsibilities the students assume as part of their placement,
the academic component requires that the student meet on a
periodic basis with the Chair of the Sociology Department to
discuss Social Service Field Work experiences and progress
toward applying the sociological perspective to these experiences.
The course grade, therefore, is based on two components: A
Placement Evaluation of Student Performance and A Course
Project where the student applies some type of sociological analysis
to the field work experiences. Prerequisite: SOC 1001 or consent
of the Chair of the Department of Sociology. Twelve to fifteen
hours a week.