Sociology
Department Overview
Sociology professors embrace a wide range of specializations in their research and teaching. We study, and teach about,
- race, class, and gender;
- intergroup relations;
- global and environmental issues;
- media, religion, the family, culture, economy, politics, and sport; as well as
- theory, methods, statistics, and more.
Explorations in Sociology
Selected 200- and 300-level sociology courses each semester incorporate exploration in sociology through special emphasis on collaborative learning, research, intensive research, service learning, or writing (designated C, R, I, S, or W, respectively, in the master schedule listing). Courses integrating an exploration in sociology carry 4 rather than 3 credit hours.
Exploring Sociology Through Collaborative Learning
The collaborative learning exploration in sociology requires that students spend three hours each week in addition to class time in small group activities, working collectively or independently to contribute to group projects. This time will be devoted to group meetings, independent work, and meetings with the instructor to advance group projects. Products of this work will be assessed by the instructor via group presentations or project papers written collaboratively, in aggregation (each student writes a section of the paper), or independently (each student writes an independent paper based on the group project). This module accommodates a wide array of cooperative group structures varying by length, membership, and size, as well as varying formats for assessment including individual and group grades. One example of a collaborative project is the assignment of a different research article to each group, with each group developing and offering a presentation to the class based on its article. Another example is a semester-long group assignment in which rotating team leaders are responsible for delivering discrete project reports (oral and/or written) based on various concrete tasks (e.g., web-based research, off-campus interviews, data analysis, and field trips).
Exploring Sociology Through Research
The research exploration in sociology requires that students spend three hours each week in addition to class time engaging in independent or collaborative research projects that are related to the course material. This time will be spent developing research questions, reviewing relevant literature, collecting data, analyzing data, and presenting research findings in written reports, oral presentations, or other media. Courses incorporating this module may provide more intensive introductions to specific elements in the research process or particular methodologies such as content analysis or quantitative analysis. Students will meet regularly with the instructor to report on their progress and to receive advice and feedback from the instructor. Students’ research will be evaluated based on their finished products (research papers, oral presentations, etc.).
Exploring Sociology Through Intensive Research
The intensive research exploration in sociology is used for 300-level seminar courses in sociology and requires that students spend three hours each week in addition to class time engaging in original research projects, individually or collaboratively, that are related to the course material. Students who take courses with this module will (1) apply an established sociological method (e.g., interview, participant observation, secondary analysis of data, content analysis) to an original research project; (2) acquire data (e.g., collect qualitative data, download the GSS, access archival evidence); (3) prepare data (e.g., transcribe interviews, remove missing data and recode variables); (4) analyze data in an appropriate manner (e.g., qualitative coding, statistical analyses); and (5) report the results via an established genre within sociology (e.g., journal-style manuscript, white paper, conference poster, public sociology essay, video ethnography, podcast).
Exploring Sociology Through Service Learning
The service learning exploration in sociology requires that students spend three hours each week in addition to class time volunteering for a campus or community nonprofit organization for a minimum total of thirty-nine hours of community service. Faculty expect that some of these hours at the beginning and end of the course will be spent on logistics, such as identifying and interviewing prospective service opportunities. Students’ service work will be integrated with the academic component of the course. Faculty will assess service work through various strategies requiring students to reflect on their service work in light of course materials and related academic projects, such as
- research papers that respond to service issues
- journals or field notes analyzing service work to be turned in to the instructor
- integrative essay questions or exams
- in-class oral presentations or
- combinations of the above
Exploring Sociology Through Writing
The writing exploration in sociology requires a fourth classroom contact hour each week. Students will undertake writing assignments integrated with the subject matter of the course. Writing assignments and their evaluation will be consistent with guidelines for Skidmore’s writing-intensive courses.
Gateway to the Study of Sociology
The gateway course has no prerequisite, and serves as a prerequisite for most other sociology courses. It introduces students to core sociological concepts (i.e., social structure; social inequality; socialization; social norms; social roles; social identity; institutions; social theory; social research) and key skills (i.e., written and oral presentation; reading empirical research; active application of sociological concepts). This course is most appropriate for first- and second-year students.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SO 101 | Sociological Perspectives | 3 |
Intermediate Courses in Sociology
These courses require students to have completed the gateway course:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SO 201 | Social Issues | 3 |
| SO 202 | The Individual in Society | 3 |
| SO 203 | Femininities and Masculinities | 3 |
| SO 204 | Introduction to Race, Class, and Gender | 3 |
| SO 211H | Sociological Imaginations | 4 |
| SO 212 | Work and Inequality in the United States | 3 |
| SO 213 | Crime and Victimization | 3 |
| SO 215 | China and Globalization | 3 |
| SO 216 | Food and Society | 4 |
| SO 217 | Families in the United States | 3 |
| SO 219 | Race and Power | 3 |
| SO 221 | Media Sociology | 3 |
| SO 223 | Environmental Sociology | 3 |
| SO 224H | Close Relationships | 4 |
| SO 225 | Quantifying Women | 3 |
| SO 227 | Social Research Methods | 3 |
| SO 228 | Statistics for the Social Sciences | 4 |
| SO 230 | Sociology of Conflict Resolution | 3 |
| SO 251 | Special Topics in Sociology | 3 |
| SO 299 | Professional Internship in Sociology | 3 |
Advanced Courses in Sociology
While these courses typically only require students to have completed one gateway course and one other sociology course, their advanced level presumes that students will have taken at least one intermediate sociology course:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| SO 304 | Sociology of Emotions | 3 |
| SO 305 | Sociology of Folklore | 3 |
| SO 306 | Sociology of Religion | 3 |
| SO 314 | Deviance and Social Control | 3 |
| SO 315 | Economy and Society | 3 |
| SO 316 | Women in Modern Society | 3 |
| SO 322 | Political Sociology | 3 |
| SO 324 | Classical Sociological Theory | 3 |
| SO 325 | Contemporary Social Theory | 3 |
| SO 326 | Social Theories of the Environment | 3 |
| SO 328 | Social Movements and Collective Action | 3 |
| SO 329 | Criminal Justice | 3 |
| SO 331 | Women in Global Economy | 3 |
| SO 333 | Sociology of the Body | 3 |
| SO 336 | Immigration, Race, and Shifting Color Lines in the U.S. | 3 |
| SO 351 | Advanced Special Topics in Sociology | 3 |
| SO 371 | Independent Study in Sociology | 3 |
| SO 374 | Senior Coda in Sociology | 2 |
| SO 375 | Senior Seminar in Sociology | 4 |
| SO 376 | Senior Thesis in Sociology | 3 |
| SO 377 | Presenting Sociological Research | 1 |
| SO 399 | Professional Internship in Sociology | 1-4 |
Chair of the Department of Sociology: Xiaoshuo Hou
Professors: Catherine White Berheide (The Tisch Family Distinguished Professor), John Brueggemann, Xiaoshuo Hou, Andrew Lindner, Rik Scarce
Associate Professors: Amon Emeka, Jennifer Mueller
Assistant Professors: Katie Billings, Rebecca Gleit
Sociology B.A.
Effective for Students Who Entered Skidmore Prior to Fall 2024
The sociology major must successfully complete at least 32 credit hours in sociology, including:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Gateway Course | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Sociological Perspectives | ||
| Social Issues | ||
| The Individual in Society | ||
| Femininities and Masculinities | ||
| Introduction to Race, Class, and Gender | ||
| Core Courses 1 | ||
| Statistics | ||
| SO 228 | Statistics for the Social Sciences | 4 |
| or SO 226 | Statistics for the Social Sciences | |
| Methodology | ||
| SO 227 | Social Research Methods | 3 |
| Theory | ||
| SO 324 | Classical Sociological Theory | 3 |
| or SO 325 | Contemporary Social Theory | |
| Sociology Coda Course | ||
| SO 374 | Senior Coda in Sociology (Coda is taught as a 2-credit course now) | 2 |
| Elective Courses | ||
| Select additional credits in sociology to achieve the required 32 credits in the major | 17 | |
| Total Hours | 32 | |
- 1
Must all be taken for a letter grade
Effective for Students Who Entered Skidmore in Fall 2024 and Beyond
The sociology major must successfully complete at least 10 courses with a minimum of 32 credit hours in sociology, including:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Gateway Course | 3 | |
| Sociological Perspectives | ||
| Core Courses 1 | ||
| Methodology | ||
| SO 227 | Social Research Methods | 3 |
| Statistics | ||
| SO 228 | Statistics for the Social Sciences | 4 |
| Theory | ||
| SO 324 | Classical Sociological Theory | 3 |
| or SO 325 | Contemporary Social Theory | |
| ANY I-DESIGNATED COURSE | (Research-Intensive Seminar) | 4 |
| Sociology Coda Course | ||
| SO 374 | Senior Coda in Sociology (Coda is taught as a 2-credit course now) | 2 |
| Elective Courses | ||
| Select additional credits in sociology to achieve the required 32 credits in the major | 13 | |
| Total Hours | 32 | |
- 1
Must all be taken for a letter grade
Writing in the Major Requirement
Students will fulfill the writing in the major requirement upon satisfactory completion of a theory course (SO 324 Classical Sociological Theory or SO 325 Contemporary Social Theory). Students will learn to:
- Apply sociology’s writing conventions to their written work, including formulation of a sociological question, appropriate use of sociological concepts, proper organization of research papers, and correct citing and referencing formatting;
- Undertake a major writing project that includes discussion of the theoretical perspective(s) and an extensive literature review;
- Present a substantial piece of written work that evinces an understanding of proper English grammar, syntax, punctuation, and usage.
Sociology Minor
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses 1 | ||
| Select one gateway course | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Social Research Methods | ||
| Statistics for the Social Sciences | ||
| Classical Sociological Theory | ||
| Contemporary Social Theory | ||
| Select additional credits in sociology to achieve the required 18 credits in the minor | 12 | |
| Total Hours | 18-19 | |
Must successfully complete at least 18 credit hours in sociology, at least 6 of which are at the 300 level
Honors
Students desiring departmental honors in sociology must have a GPA of at least 3.500 in the major and an overall GPA of 3.000 or higher. Students must also be recommended by the department.
Effective for Students Who Entered Fall 2024 and Beyond:
Students desiring departmental honors in sociology must have a GPA of at least 3.700 in the major and an overall GPA of 3.000 or higher. Students must also be recommended by the department.
Alpha Kappa Delta
The international sociology honor society, encourages and recognizes academic achievement in sociology. Founded in 1920, the society has more than 300 chapters at colleges and universities throughout the world. Eligibility requirements for membership in Alpha Kappa Delta include:
- a major in sociology, a self-determined major closely related to sociology, or a minor in sociology;
- completion of at least four sociology courses;
- a GPA of 3.600 or higher in sociology courses;
- a cumulative GPA of 3.500 or higher in all college courses; and
- a class status of junior or senior.
Course Listing
SB 315 - Work, Family, and Organizations
Credits: 3
The analysis of various white-collar and blue-collar occupations and their relationship to work and family life. Topics include the changing nature of work; professionalization; working within organizations; and occupational socialization, careers, and mobility.
SO 101 - Sociological Perspectives
Credits: 3
The basic concepts and principles of major sociological perspectives. Attention is given to how these perspectives have been developed and used by social scientists to explain social phenomena. Recommended as an introduction to the discipline.
Note(s): Fulfills Social Sciences requirement.
SO 101H - Hon:Soc Perspectives
Credits: 3
SO 201 - Social Issues
Credits: 3
Analysis of contemporary social issues such as racial and gender inequalities, environmental protection, and crime. Attention is given to the roots and dimensions of these issues by introducing core sociological theories and methods. The course also includes critical examination of current social policies that address these issues.
Prerequisites: SO 101.
Note(s): Fulfills Social Sciences requirement.
SO 201H - Hon: Social Issues
Credits: 3
Analysis of contemporary social issues such as racial and gender inequalities, environmental protection, and crime. Attention is given to the roots and dimensions of these issues by introducing core sociological theories and methods. The course also includes critical examination of current social policies that address these issues.
Note(s): Fulfills Social Sciences requirement.
SO 202 - The Individual in Society
Credits: 3
A variety of social psychological approaches to the experiences of individuals as they influence or are influenced by social interactions and structures. The course introduces a sociological orientation known as "symbolic interactionism," which assumes that among the key elements in the social environment are the symbols and understandings possessed by people in the group.
Prerequisites: SO 101.
Note(s): Fulfills Social Sciences requirement.
SO 203 - Femininities and Masculinities
Credits: 3
An analysis of gender in contemporary social life. By examining the intersections between race, ethnicity, class, sexuality, and age, this course explores how differing types of femininities and masculinities are constructed, reinforced, and maintained in U.S. culture and society. Dating and relationships, body image and appearance, and institutional inequities are among the topics examined.
Prerequisites: SO 101.
Note(s): Fulfills Social Sciences requirement.
SO 204 - Introduction to Race, Class, and Gender
Credits: 3
An introduction to sociological analysis of race, class, and gender in contemporary social life. This course explores how race, class, and gender are constructed, reinforced, and maintained in U.S. society. Using readings (historical, theoretical, sociological, and autobiographical), films, class discussion, current issues/events, and exercises, we will critically examine questions such as: What is sociological imagination? How can it help us understand the intersections of race, class, and gender in social life? How do systems of power and inequality affect cultural norms, social interactions, and institutional structures? How can we move from social inequality to social change? By grappling with these questions, students will develop an appreciation for the multidimensional and complex nature of the issues underlying constructions of race, class, and gender in the United States.
Prerequisites: SO 101.
Note(s): Fulfills Social Sciences requirement.
SO 207C - Race and Education
Credits: 4
An analysis of racialized curricula within K-8 education. Students explore how race is constructed and reproduced within K-8 educational structures of power and privilege. They will explore the implicit and explicit messages children learn in school about race, power, and justice in the contemporary U.S. Students will also consider the skills and resources teachers need to better prepare all students to engage in these critical conversations. Finally, students will examine which pedagogical approaches might best prepare children to navigate a racially diverse world. Students will collaborate with a local school to implement a race-related change project.
Prerequisites: Permission of instructor and SSP 100.
Note(s): Fulfills Cultural Diversity requirement; fulfills Bridge Experience requirement.
SO 208 - Social Inequality
Credits: 3
Analysis of social classes, power, and status groups, and their origins and functions, within a historical, comparative, and contemporary framework.
Prerequisites: SO 101.
SO 211H - Sociological Imaginations
Credits: 4
A review of "great works" that have made an impact in the field of sociology. This course will examine a number of classic and contemporary social scientific books. Students will investigate the content and perspective of sociology, the defining questions of the discipline, and the "sociological imagination." This will entail exposure to important sociological ideas and arguments as well as some sense of the intellectual history of the field. This course will emphasize informed and engaged discourse about the big ideas of these great works.
Prerequisites: SO 101, and permission of instructor.
SO 212 - Work and Inequality in the United States
Credits: 3
An introduction to the sociology of work, focusing on the relationship between work and inequality. This course examines how inequality is produced and reproduced in the workplace, particularly how social identities, particularly gender and race, structure labor market outcomes and how labor market outcomes shape social identities. It explores issues of power and justice in the economy. Students examine a variety of policies and practices designed to reduce inequality in the labor market.
Note(s): Fulfills Bridge Experience requirement.
SO 213 - Crime and Victimization
Credits: 3
An introduction to the sociology of crime. This course examines contemporary crime trends and problems in the measurement of crime; major theories that explain criminal behavior; and topical foci on various types of crime such as homicide, sexual assault, organized crime, white collar crime, property crime, or juvenile delinquency.
Prerequisites: SO 101.
SO 215 - China and Globalization
Credits: 3
An exploration of changes in Chinese society since its market reforms in 1978 and its increasing involvement in the global economy. Specifically, students will learn the sociological theories on market transition and globalization, discuss the role of the Chinese state and social networks in its economic development, and analyze how the reforms and China's participation in globalization have affected Chinese culture, governance, migration, social classes, genders, ethnic minorities, the environment, and the global order.
Note(s): Fulfills Global Cultural Perspectives requirement.
SO 216 - Food and Society
Credits: 4
Exploration of the sociology of food and agriculture. Students will reflect on how their individual food taste and preferences are socially constructed, explore how industrial agriculture has changed their relationship to food, and investigate the various controversies over alternative food systems such as organic food, local food, vegetarian and vegan food, and techno-food. Students will also explore how the global capitalist food system championed by the US has transformed food provision and consumption in other countries, creating the concurrent existence of hunger and obesity in the world today. At the end of the semester, students will develop actionable plans to address their selected issues of food justice.
Note(s): Fulfills Social Sciences requirement; fulfills Bridge Experience requirement.
SO 217 - Families in the United States
Credits: 3
An analysis of families as a social institution, sites of interaction, and sources of identity. The course examines changes that have altered families in the United States over time and created issues for public policy. The course will pay particular attention to diversity in family experiences by social status including generation, race, ethnicity, culture, class, sexuality, and gender. Marriage, divorce, fertility, parenthood, and the challenges of integrating work and family life today are among the topics examined.
Note(s): Fulfills Bridge Experience requirement.
SO 219 - Race and Power
Credits: 4
A critical analysis of race, racism, and racial justice in the United States, as set in a global, historical context defined by power. In addition to traditional modes of teaching-learning, students use intergroup dialogue and collaborative group work to explore and communicate how race is constructed, experienced, reproduced, and transformed within hierarchical systems of domination and subordination. Topics include racial identity development and the ways individuals internalize and ‘live race’ in relation to other identities (e.g., gender, sexuality, disability and class); historical mechanisms of racialization, through which bodies, groups, practices, and space are ‘raced’; institutional dimensions of race, racialization, and racial inequality (e.g., in law, education, popular culture); and practices for resisting racism and pursuing racial justice—in groups and organizations, across society more broadly, and within one’s embodied experience.
Note(s): Fulfills Cultural Diversity requirement; fulfills Bridge Experience requirement.
SO 221 - Media Sociology
Credits: 3
An exploration of social, political, and economic forces that influence contemporary mass media. Students will examine a range of social scientific methods that have been used to document the nature of media content and understand how it is produced. Topics include the consequences of concentration in media ownership, the dynamic relationship between producers and consumers of media, and the study of class, race, and gender inequalities in media content.
SO 223 - Environmental Sociology
Credits: 3
An exploration of social-environment interactions. More than any other species, humans adapt their environments to suit their purposes. This course explores those purposes, including the roles that corporations, public policy, class, gender, and other social factors play in altering the environment and the resulting effects on people and places. Specific topics addressed include the environmental movement, environmental justice, and the political economy of the environment.
SO 224H - Close Relationships
Credits: 4
Exploration of intimate relationships through a sociological lens. Examines personal interactions as public processes with implications for the organization of society. Students investigate attraction, sexuality, friendship, and love as relational experiences embedded in social structures and norms, and develop their abilities to ground social analysis with research.
Prerequisites: SO 101.
SO 225 - Quantifying Women
Credits: 3
An introduction to the empirical study of changes in women's experiences in areas such as work, family, health, religion, and politics. The diversity of women's attitudes, behaviors, and experiences in the United States are explored using the logic and mathematics of social research. Students use microcomputers and statistical software to analyze sociological data sets that investigate a series of issues related to women, such as the gender gap in politics, pay differences between men and women, and attitudes toward abortion rights.
Prerequisites: QR1.
Note(s): Fulfills QR2 requirement.
SO 227 - Social Research Methods
Credits: 3
Examination of methods employed in the investigation of sociological problems. This course analyzes the research process as an integral whole including political and ethical issues in conducting research. Topics include conceptualization, measurement approaches, design of surveys, and methods of interviewing and observation. Students design studies using various methodological techniques.
Prerequisites: SO 101 or by permission of instructor.
Note(s): Letter grade only.
SO 228 - Statistics for the Social Sciences
Credits: 4
Examination of quantitative analysis in the social research process. This course involves the study and application of statistics for solving problems in the social sciences. Students use computers as tools for social research as they analyze sociological data sets.
Prerequisites: QR1 or placement at the AQR level or completion of an FQR course and two courses in SO, EC, PS, PL, AN and/or SW, or permission of the instructor.
Note(s): Letter grade only. Fulfills Applied QR requirement.
SO 229 - Visual Sociology
Credits: 4
An introduction to visual sociology as both an analytical tool for more deeply understanding the visual in society and as a means of conveying the results of sociological research. Students will develop the theoretical and conceptual tools necessary to ask more critical questions of the visual world around them and, by producing a sociological documentary of their own, the technical skills to communicate in visual media. No prior experience with videography is required. Students are strongly encouraged to have taken at least one Sociology course beyond the gateway class.
Prerequisites: SO 101.
SO 230 - Sociology of Conflict Resolution
Credits: 3
An introduction to interpersonal and intergroup conflict analysis and conflict resolution practices. Students will develop basic conflict resolution skills while examining a variety of conflict scenarios such as family arguments, racial and ethnic tension, legal disputes, criminal violence, war, and genocide. Special focus will be placed on mediation, restorative justice, and peacebuilding.
SO 232 - Studying Student Worlds
Credits: 3
An in-depth introduction to qualitative research methods as vehicles for exploring and describing social experiences, focusing in particular on the lives of students. Course topics include field research, qualitative interviewing, and the role of the researcher. Students examine ethnographic studies of academic settings and collect and analyze qualitative data about Skidmore's culture.
Prerequisites: SO 101.
SO 235 - Black America Becoming: An Empirical Analysis of Social Change in Black America
Credits: 4
A survey of 20th century sociological research on Black communities to inform original analysis of African-American experiences and community dynamics in the contemporary U.S. Special attention will be paid to the scholarship and research program of W.E.B. Du Bois. Students will be instructed in basic statistical techniques to gauge changing patterns of segregation, education, occupation, incarceration, family formation, and general well-being among Black Americans through the 20th and 21st centuries. Students will be required to develop sociologically informed presentations suitable to deliver to campus and community audiences during Black History Month.
Prerequisites: SSP 100.
Note(s): Fulfills Bridge Experience and FQR requirements.
SO 251 - Special Topics in Sociology
Credits: 1-4
An examination at the intermediate level of special topics, methods, and areas in sociology, such as population dynamics, collective behavior, juvenile justice system, and social control. Specific topics to vary by instructor and semester.
Prerequisites: SO 101.
Note(s): The course, in a different subject area, may be repeated for credit.
SO 251H - Hon: Special Topics in Soc
Credits: 4
SO 299 - Professional Internship in Sociology
Credits: 1-4
Internship opportunity for students whose curricular foundations and cocurricular experience have prepared them for professional work related to sociology. With faculty sponsorship and department approval, students may extend their educational experience through internships in human service agencies, the criminal justice system, business, governmental, and other formal organizations, community groups, and related areas.
Prerequisites: SO 101. Not for liberal arts credit.
SO 304 - Sociology of Emotions
Credits: 3
Analysis of how human emotions influence and are influenced by the social and cultural environment. The course examines the physiological and social psychological components of human emotion, the cross-cultural and historical variability of emotions, emotional socialization, and the emotional aspects of social interaction, relationships, and institutions.
Prerequisites: SO 101, and one additional sociology course.
SO 305 - Sociology of Folklore
Credits: 3
Analysis of the social context of folklore, with special emphasis on contemporary American folklore. Social scientific theories of folklore, the social bases and dynamics of folk groups, folklore and processes of social change, and folklore research methods.
Prerequisites: Two courses in the social sciences.
SO 306 - Sociology of Religion
Credits: 3
An examination of the sources, meanings, and implications of religious phenomena. This course explores myth, ritual, and symbol in social contexts with special consideration for the contemporary American scene. Attention is given to religious evolution in the light of social modernization; how religious organizations are related to other social institutions will also be considered.
Prerequisites: SO 101 and one additional sociology course.
SO 307 - Video Ethnography
Credits: 4
Video can be used as a research tool to better understand social life. Students will explore key theoretical and empirical works in visual sociology and visual studies and will enhance their skills in ethnographic data gathering and analysis. Students will work on a semester-long research project to produce a sociologically-informed ethnographic documentary from start to finish, becoming conversant in methodological and filmmaking practices. Prior experience with video equipment and editing software is not a requirement
Note(s): Fulfills Social Sciences requirement.
SO 310 - Medical Sociology
Credits: 3
SO 314 - Deviance and Social Control
Credits: 3
An introduction to the sociology of deviance. This course examines sociological theory and evidence that explain deviant and/or nonconforming behavior in society. Attention is given to forms of deviance that generate conflicts over values or between groups in society and to the mechanisms of social control that increase conformity to social norms.
Prerequisites: SO 101 and one additional sociology course.
SO 315 - Economy and Society
Credits: 3
A survey of the growing field of economic sociology. Students will compare the different approaches that sociologists and economists take in studying the economy and explore how social institutions, social networks, power, gender, race, class, and cultural values affect economic practices and behaviors. Students will also explore the social meanings of economic rationality, money, value, consumption, capitalism, and the market across different identities and cultural and historical contexts.
Prerequisites: SO 101 and one additional course in sociology or permission of instructor.
SO 316 - Women in Modern Society
Credits: 3
An examination of the effects of the social construction of gender on women in modern societies. The course analyzes the intersection of race, class, and gender in women's lives. The changing social status of women in the United States today is compared to that of women in other countries. Particular contemporary women's issues emphasized each year may vary, but typically include economic issues, such as occupational segregation and unequal pay, family issues, such as power relations and violence, and political issues, such as women's grassroots political activism and national policies.
SO 317 - Femininity, Beauty, and the Black Female Body
Credits: 3
An analysis of femininity, beauty, and the black female body; how black women are depicted within U.S. social structures; and how these images have changed over time. Students will explore these issues to develop an appreciation for the multi-dimensional and complex nature of the issues underlying constructions of black womanhood. Topics of examination include body politics, colorism, and sexual justice.
Prerequisites: SO 101; SO 227; and one additional 200 or 300-level sociology or gender studies course.
Note(s): Fulfills Cultural Diversity requirement.
SO 321 - American Social Changes
Credits: 3
An examination of the structure and process of social change by comparing several areas, such as economic structure and relations, race, gender, urban community, education, and the state. The specific historical periods covered in the course will vary according to the changes under consideration. American social changes will be addressed from a variety of theoretical perspectives within sociology, including Marxist and other conflict approaches, world-systems, functionalist, cultural, and social-psychological perspectives
Prerequisites: SO 101 and two other social science courses or permission of instructor.
SO 322 - Political Sociology
Credits: 3
How does "power" manifest itself in society? Students will explore the ways that power emerges in social movements, communities, nation states, and between international actors. A substantial portion of the course will also be devoted to sociological understandings of globalization. Readings will include classical formulations of power by Marx and Weber as well as modern and contemporary understandings of power found in pluralism, elite theory, systems theory, and other outlooks.
Prerequisites: SO 101 and one additional sociology course.
SO 324 - Classical Sociological Theory
Credits: 3
Analysis of the philosophical foundations, central principles, and historical development of sociological theory from its origins in late-nineteenth-century Europe to the present. The course critically examines the sociological theories of Marx, Durkheim, Weber, and Mead and their relationship to a number of more contemporary social theories.
Prerequisites: SO 101 and one additional sociology course.
Note(s): Letter grade only.
SO 325 - Contemporary Social Theory
Credits: 3
An examination of contemporary social theories such as functionalism, symbolic interactionism, conflict and social exchange theory. In addition, recent theoretical trends in sociology such as the feminist and environmental perspectives, and the biosocial and humanist approaches are discussed.
Prerequisites: SO 101 and one additional sociology course.
Note(s): Letter grade only.
SO 326 - Social Theories of the Environment
Credits: 3
How do we make sense of contemporary society's relationship with nature? Scholars have produced a rich array of responses to this question that often conflict with one another. These theorists are also concerned with how social thought can be used to guide solutions to environmental problems. Reading original work, we will consider the applicability, insight, and relevancy of a host of perspectives, including ecological Marxism, ecological anarchism, social constructivism, ecological realism, eco-modernization, and neo-Malthusianism.
SO 328 - Social Movements and Collective Action
Credits: 3
An exploration of the causes and consequences of social movements and episodes of collective action. Many people are dissatisfied with existing economic, political, or social arrangements, yet relatively few individuals attempt to bring about social change by participating in organized social protest. What is it that differentiates those who participate from those who do not? This course approaches this central question from a variety of theoretical perspectives. Movements as diverse as those for civil rights and the environment will be examined.
Prerequisites: SO 101 and one additional sociology course.
SO 329 - Criminal Justice
Credits: 3
Sociological analysis of the criminal justice system, including policing, the courts, and corrections. This course examines criminal justice responses to crime problems and alternative perspectives. Topics vary by semester and may include critical analysis of police use of force, racial disparities in sentencing, the death penalty, juvenile justice, the prison experience, or community justice.
Prerequisites: SO 101 and one additional sociology course.
SO 331 - Women in Global Economy
Credits: 3
A comparative analysis of women's roles in the global economy. The course examines how global economic transformations affect women as well as how women affect those processes. Topics include the effect of economic development on women's participation in various forms of economic activity, including agriculture, microenterprises, and manufacturing, as well as gender relations in families throughout the world, with particular emphasis on countries of the Southern Hemisphere. In addition, the course considers the environmental issues women face during the process of economic development, such as sustainable development, population policies, and women's environmental activism.
SO 332R - Studying Student Worlds
Credits: 4
An in-depth introduction to qualitative research methods as vehicles for exploring and describing social experiences, focusing in particular on the lives of students. Course topics include field research, qualitative interviewing, and the role of the researcher. Students examine ethnographic studies of academic settings and collect and analyze qualitative data about Skidmore's culture.
Prerequisites: SO 101 and one additional SO or GW course.
SO 333 - Sociology of the Body
Credits: 3
Analysis of the body in contemporary social life. What do bodies tell us about ourselves, about others? How do we feel in and about our bodies? Using sociological theory and qualitative research methodologies, students explore these questions by examining how the body is constructed and manipulated within social interactions and relationships. Bodily adornment practices (e.g., hairstyle choice, tattooing, exercise routines), bodily (dis)ability, and the medicalization of the body are among the topics examined.
Prerequisites: SO 101 and one additional sociology course.
SO 336 - Immigration, Race, and Shifting Color Lines in the U.S.
Credits: 3
A survey of immigration to the U.S. since 1880 paying special attention to theories and evidence of adaptation and incorporation among immigrants and their U.S. born children. Students will analyze interview and survey data to assess the extent and pace of incorporation within and across generations of immigrants who have arrived in recent decades--mostly from Asia, the Caribbean, and Latin America. Ultimately, students will draw conclusions about whether and how recent immigrant incorporation has shifted or reified existing racial boundaries in the U.S.
Prerequisites: SO 101 and one additional sociology course.
Note(s): Fulfills Bridge Experience requirement.
SO 351 - Advanced Special Topics in Sociology
Credits: 1-4
An examination at the advanced level of special topics, methods, and areas in sociology. Specific topics vary by instructor and semester.
Prerequisites: SO 101 and one additional sociology course.
Note(s): The course in a different subject area may be repeated for credit.
SO 361 - Racial Identities: Theory and Praxis
Credits: 4
An integration of sociological theory and praxis in a seminar that prepares students to facilitate dialogues on race. What factors hinder meaningful discourse about race? What skills promote interracial communication? How can we learn to engage more effectively in dialogue about race, power, and privilege in the United States? Through readings in racial identity theory, reflective and analytic writing, and experiential practice of dialogic communication skills, students learn to facilitate dialogues on controversial race-related topics, such as affirmative action, immigration reform, and interracial relationships.
Prerequisites: Grade of B or better in SO 219 and permission of instructor.
SO 371 - Independent Study in Sociology
Credits: 1-4
Individual reading and/or research in sociology under the guidance of a member of the department. Open with the consent of the department to qualified students. Individual conferences to be arranged.
SO 374 - Senior Coda in Sociology
Credits: 2
A reflection on sociology as a discipline and how it can be used to illuminate social institutions, culture, power, and identity. Students will explore several questions. What is sociology? How is it different from other disciplines? What does being a sociologist mean for you? What does sociology say about inequality in the world? How can the tools of sociology be used to illuminate power dynamics and injustice, whether it is in the sociology major, Skidmore College, the discipline of sociology and/or society in general? What can the perspective of sociology and your experience in the major do for you after college? What do you hope it will mean in terms of your thinking, experience, identity and/or vocation?
Prerequisites: Sociology majors who have completed at least 90 credit-hours of college course work.
Note(s): Fulfills Senior Experience Coda requirement.
SO 375 - Senior Seminar in Sociology
Credits: 4
The capstone course for the sociology major. The course functions as a research practicum in which students share the process of conducting an original research project. To do the research, students must build upon previous work in sociology, especially theory, methods, and statistics. Therefore, students must have completed the required statistics, methods, and theory courses for the sociology major before enrolling in Senior Seminar. Students writing the Senior Thesis are encouraged to begin thesis research in the Seminar.
Note(s): Open only to sociology majors. Designated a writing-enhanced course. Fulfills the sociology program's writing in the major requirement.
SO 376 - Senior Thesis in Sociology
Credits: 3
Independent research leading to a thesis examining a sociological question in depth. Students work under the direction of a thesis advisor and a second reader.
Prerequisites: SO 375 and permission of instructor.
Note(s): Open only to sociology majors.
SO 377 - Presenting Sociological Research
Credits: 1
Visual and oral presentations of sociological research. Students revise empirical research projects and develop effective presentations of findings for both professional and nonprofessional audiences. Emphasis is on developing effective posters and oral presentations of social scientific research findings. Students present their research in public settings on or off campus. The course meets a total of 14 hours, with most sessions early in the semester.
Prerequisites: SO 375.
SO 399 - Professional Internship in Sociology
Credits: 1-4
Internship experience at the advanced level for juniors and seniors with substantial academic and cocurricular experience related to sociology. With faculty sponsorship and department approval, students may extend their educational experience through internships in human service agencies, the criminal justice system, business, governmental, and other formal organizations, community groups, and related areas.
Prerequisites: Nine credit hours in sociology.
Note(s): Not for liberal arts credit.