Approved Courses
The following list includes undergraduate courses that have been approved as of June 2010. Courses added after that date do not appear in this list. Courses eliminated after that date may still appear. Not every course is offered regularly. Students should consult the Schedule of Classes at www.testudo.umd.edu to ascertain which courses are actually offered during a given semester.
COURSE NUMBERING SYSTEM
| Number |
|
Eligibility |
| 000-099 |
|
Non-credit course |
| 100-199 |
|
Primarily freshman course |
| 200-299 |
|
Primarily sophomore course |
| 300-399 |
|
Junior, senior course not acceptable for credit toward graduate degrees |
| 386-387 |
|
Campus-wide internship courses; refer to information describing Experiential Learning |
| 400-499 |
|
Junior, senior course acceptable for credit toward some graduate degree |
| 500-599 |
|
Professional School course (Dentistry, Architecture, Law, Medicine) or post-baccalaureate course |
| 600-899 |
|
Course restricted to graduate students |
| 799 |
|
Master Thesis credit |
| 899 |
|
Doctoral Dissertation credit |
Use the search box below to view the approved courses.
Courses in "SOCY-Sociology"
SOCY - Sociology
SOCY 100 Introduction to Sociology (3)
The fundamental concepts and principles of sociology. Includes
consideration of culture, patterns of social interaction, norms,
values, social institutions, stratification, and social change.
SOCY 105 Introduction to Contemporary Social Problems (3)
An examination of contemporary social problems through sociological
perspectives; ways in which social problems are part of the
organization of society; a detailed study of selected social problems
including social conflict and social inequality.
SOCY 201 Introductory Statistics for Sociology (4)
Three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory per week.
Prerequisite: SOCY100 and MATH111; or students who have taken courses
with similar or comparable course content may contact the department.
Restriction: Must not have completed STAT400, BMGT231, or ENEE324.
Credit only granted for: BIOM301, BMGT230, ECON321, EDMS451, GEOG305,
GVPT422, PSYC200, or SOCY201.
Elementary descriptive and inferential statistics. Construction and
percentaging of bivariate contingency tables; frequency distributions
and graphic presentations; measures of central tendency and dispersion;
parametric and nonparametric measures of association and correlation;
regression; probability; hypothesis testing; the normal, binomial and
chi-square distributions; point and interval estimates.
SOCY 202 Introduction to Research Methods in Sociology (4)
Prerequisite: SOCY201.
The underlying logic, major strategies, specific techniques and skills
of sociological research. Research design, measurement, data
collection, sampling, field research experiments, surveys, index and
scale construction, data analysis, interpretation and report writing.
SOCY 203 Sociological Theory (3)
Prerequisite: SOCY100.
Development of the science of sociology; historical backgrounds; recent
theories of society. Required of all sociology majors.
SOCY 227 Introduction to the Study of Deviance (3)
Credit only granted for: SOCY227 or SOCY327. Formerly: SOCY327.
An introduction to the sociological study of deviant behavior, covering
such topics as mental illness, sexual deviance, and the use of drugs.
SOCY 230 Sociological Social Psychology (3)
Theoretical perspectives and their applications. Socialization through
the life course, the self-concept, attitudes, emotion, attribution,
interpersonal relations, group processes, deviance, and social change.
SOCY 241 Inequality in American Society (3)
The dynamics of inequality: its social production, politics, future,
and ideological bases. Utopian communities, efforts to eliminate
inequality.
SOCY 305 Scarcity and Modern Society (3)
Prerequisite: 3 credits in SOCY courses.
Resource depletion and the deterioration of the environment.
Relationship to lifestyles, individual consumer choices, cultural
values, and institutional failures. Projection of the future course of
American society on the basis of the analysis of scarcity, theories of
social change, current trends, social movements, government actions,
and the futurist literature.
SOCY 325 The Sociology of Gender (3)
Prerequisite: 3 credits in SOCY courses. Also offered as: WMST325.
Credit only granted for: SOCY325 or WMST325.
Institutional bases of gender roles and gender inequality, cultural
perspectives on gender, gender socialization, feminism, and gender-role
change. Emphasis on contemporary American society.
SOCY 370 Transition from Undergrad to Professional (1)
Prepares Sociology majors to make the transition from undergraduate to
entering graduate school and/or the professional work world. Topics
include career options in Sociology, skills for conducting a job
search, resume writing and interview preparation, and the graduate
application process.
SOCY 380 Honors Independent Reading in Sociology (3)
Restriction: Permission of BSOS-Sociology department. Formerly: SOCY378.
This course permits sociology honor students to undertake a program or
reading on a particular problem in sociology or a subfield therein. The
reading will be done under the supervision of a member of the sociology
faculty. Required of sociology honor students.
SOCY 381 Honors Independent Research in Sociology (3)
Prerequisite: SOCY380. Formerly: SOCY388.
This course permits sociology students to define a particular problem
in sociology or a subfield therein and to develop a research plan for
use as a thesis topic. The work will be done under the supervision of a
member of the sociology faculty.
SOCY 383 Honors Thesis Research (3)
Prerequisite: SOCY381. Formerly: SOCY389.
Student research under the direction of a member of the sociology
faculty, culminating in the presentation and defense of a thesis
reporting the research.
SOCY 386 Experiential Learning (3-6)
Restriction: Permission of BSOS-Sociology department; and Junior
standing or higher.
SOCY 398 Special Topics in Sociology (1-3)
Prerequisite: 3 credits in SOCY courses. Repeatable to 6 credits if
content differs.
Topics of special interest to both sociology majors and non-majors.
SOCY 399 Independent Study in Sociology (1-6)
Prerequisite: 12 credits in SOCY courses. Restriction: Permission of
BSOS-Sociology department. Repeatable to 6 credits if content differs.
Integrated reading or research under the direction and supervision of a
faculty member. A maximum of 6 credits may be earned by a student for
the same field experience in SOCY386 and SOCY399 combined.
SOCY 401 Intermediate Statistics for Sociologists (4)
Three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory per week.
Prerequisite: SOCY201; or students who have taken courses with similar
or comparable course content may contact the department; or permission
of BSOS-Sociology department. Restriction: Must not have completed
STAT400, BMGT231, or ENEE324.
Issues in the use of significance tests in sociology, one and two-way
analysis of variance, elements of multiple regression and correlation,
techniques for the analysis of nominal and ordinal data.
SOCY 402 Intermediate Procedures For Data Collection (3)
Prerequisite: SOCY202; or students who have taken courses with similar
or comparable course content may contact the department; or permission
of BSOS-Sociology department.
An intermediate survey of the major research methods used by
sociologists, including survey research, experimentation, observation,
archival research, and in-depth interviewing. The selection of an
appropriate research method, with analysis of the strengths and
weaknesses of various methods, practical issues, data collection and
preparation, and analytical techniques.
SOCY 406 Globalization (3)
Prerequisite: 6 credits in SOCY courses. Credit only granted for:
SOCY406 or SOCY498G. Formerly: SOCY498G.
An analysis of the forces driving globalization and its implications for
THE SOCIAL WORLD; politics; culture (including American popular
culture); technology; the media; the Internet; population flows;
environmental changes and problems; other negative (or deviant) flows
such as disease, crime and terrorism; inequality, as well as ways of
dealing with or resisting globalization (alter-globalization).
SOCY 407 Explaining Social Change: Historical and Comparative Methods (3)
Prerequisite: 6 credits in SOCY courses. Credit only granted for:
SOCY407 or SOCY498Y. Formerly: SOCY498Y.
Examines social change from the perspective of comparative and
historical sociology to get at the question, 'where are we now?'
Students develop a critical appreciation of how scholars construct
persuasive explanations for large-scale change focusing on four central
questions: the origins of markets and industrial capitalism; the
emergence of democracy as opposed to dictatorship; the causes and
consequences of social revolution; and the logic of armed conflict.
Explanations offered for the changes in question as well as the methods
employed are explored. Counterfactual hypotheticals for each central
question--that is, what might have been, rather than what historically
emerged--are considered.
SOCY 410 Social Demography (3)
Prerequisite: 6 credits in SOCY courses; or permission of BSOS-Sociology
department.
Types of demographic analysis; demographic data; population
characteristics; migration; mortality; fertility; population theories;
world population growth; population policy.
SOCY 411 Demographic Techniques (3)
Prerequisite: (SOCY201; or students who have taken courses with similar
or comparable course content may contact the department); and SOCY410.
Or permission of BSOS-Sociology department.
Basic techniques for analyzing population structure and demographic
processes, including fertility, mortality and migration.
SOCY 412 Family Demography (3)
Prerequisite: 6 credits in SOCY courses. Formerly: SOCY312.
Family and population dynamics. Fertility issues, such as teenage
pregnancy, the timing of parenthood, and family size; as they relate
to family behavior, such as marital patterns, child care use, and work
and the family. Policy issues that relate to demographic changes in the
family.
SOCY 418 Research in Family & Demography (3)
Prerequisite: SOCY202 and SOCY203; and One course in Family and
Demography. Repeatable to 6 credits if content differs.
This is a special topics research course for Family and Demography.
SOCY 424 Sociology of Race Relations (3)
Prerequisite: 6 credits in SOCY courses; or permission of BSOS-Sociology
department. Also offered as: AAST424. Credit only granted for: AAST424
or SOCY424.
Analysis of race-related issues, with a primary focus on American
society. The historical emergence, development, and institutionalization
of racism; the impact of racism on its victims; and racially based
conflict.
SOCY 428 Research in Inequality (3)
Prerequisite: SOCY203 and SOCY202; and Must have completed a course in
Stratification and Inequality. Repeatable to 6 credits if content
differs.
This is the special topics research course for Stratification and
Inequality.
SOCY 430 Social Structure and Identity (3)
Prerequisite: 6 credits in SOCY courses; or permission of BSOS-Sociology
department.
Theoretical issues in social psychology, focusing on social
construction of identity. Identity formation and transformation in
social process. Structural and cultural dimensions of social identity.
SOCY 431 Principles of Organizations (3)
Prerequisite: 6 credits in SOCY courses; or permission of BSOS-Sociology
department.
Structural and processual characteristics of organizations that make
them effective for different purposes and in different environments.
Effects of different institutional environments, small group processes,
organizational networks, and leadership. Types of organizations studied
include formal bureaucracies, professional organizations, and voluntary
associations.
SOCY 432 Social Movements (3)
Prerequisite: 6 credits in SOCY courses; or permission of BSOS-Sociology
department.
Movements that seek change in the social and political structure of
society. Origins, tactics, organization, recruitment, and success. Case
studies come from such movements as labor, civil rights, student,
feminist, environmental, neighborhood, and gay rights.
SOCY 438 Research in Organizations and Institutions (3)
Prerequisite: SOCY202, SOCY203, and one course in Organizations and
Institutions. Repeatable to 6 credits if content differs.
This is the special topics research course for Organizations and
Institutions.
SOCY 440 Sociology of the Self-Concept (3)
Prerequisite: 6 credits in SOCY courses; or permission of BSOS-Sociology
department.
The nature of the self-concept and the social forces that mold it.
Major sociological, psychological, and psycho-analytic theories of the
self-concept. Self-concept motives, mechanisms of self-defense, and the
nature of a healthy self-concept. Empirical research dealing with the
bearing of social interaction, social structure, social context and
social institutions on the self-concept.
SOCY 441 Social Stratification and Inequality (3)
Prerequisite: 6 credits in SOCY courses; or permission of BSOS-Sociology
department. Restriction: Junior standing or higher.
The sociological study of social class, status, and power. Topics
include theories of stratification, correlates of social position,
functions and dysfunctions of social inequality, status inconsistency,
and social mobility.
SOCY 443 The Family and Society (3)
Prerequisite: 6 credits in SOCY courses; or permission of BSOS-Sociology
department.
Study of the family as a social institution; its biological and cultural
foundations, historical development, changing structures and functions,
the interaction of marriage and parenthood, disorganizing and
reorganizing factors in present-day trends.
SOCY 444 Sociology of Children (3)
Prerequisite: 6 credits in SOCY courses; or permission of BSOS-Sociology
department.
Socio-historical analysis of the changing nature and meaning of
childhood. Analysis of social psychological, demographic, and
socioeconomic aspects of contemporary children's lives, with a focus on
peer groups, gender relations, family change, macroeconomic conditions,
poverty, health, and educational well-being of children.
SOCY 448 Research in Social Psychology (3)
Prerequisite: SOCY202, SOCY203, and one course in Social Psychology.
Repeatable to 6 credits if content differs.
This is the special topics research course in Social Psychology
SOCY 450 Measurement of Time, Work, and Leisure (3)
Prerequisite: 6 credits in SOCY courses.
How Americans use time, with specific reference to work, housework,
personal and free time activities. Time-use differences across methods,
social groups and cultures. Subjective time. Implications for time
management, societal quality of life, social policy, and theory.
SOCY 460 Sociology of Work (3)
Prerequisite: 6 credits in SOCY courses; or permission of BSOS-Sociology
department.
Analysis of the American work world with special attention to the
impact of social change and occupational conflicts on the individual
worker. Professionalization, career patterns, problems of minority
groups and the future of work.
SOCY 463 Sociology of Combat (3)
Prerequisite: 6 credits in SOCY courses; or permission of BSOS-Sociology
department.
Sociological theories and concepts related to combat. Influence of
historical events on relations between nations and between the
military and society. Effects of U.S. social structure on actions in
combat; effects of involvement in combat on social structure and on
members of society. Cohesion and leadership in military units.
SOCY 464 Military Sociology (3)
Prerequisite: 6 credits in SOCY courses; or permission of BSOS-Sociology
department.
Social change and the growth of military institutions. Complex formal
military organizations. Military service as an occupation or
profession. The sociology of military life. Relations between military
institutions, civilian communities and society.
SOCY 465 The Sociology of War (3)
Prerequisite: 6 credits in SOCY courses; or permission of BSOS-Sociology
department.
The origin and development of armed forces as institutions, the social
causes, operations and results of war as social conflict; the relations
of peace and war and revolution in contemporary civilizations.
SOCY 467 Sociology of Education (3)
Prerequisite: 6 credits in SOCY courses; or permission of BSOS-Sociology
department.
Sociological analysis of educational institutions and their relation to
society: goals and functions, the mechanisms of social control, and the
impacts of stratification and social change. Study of the school as a
formal organization, and the roles and subcultures of teachers and
students.
SOCY 498 Selected Topics in Sociology (1-3)
Prerequisite: 6 credits in SOCY courses; or permission of BSOS-Sociology
department. Repeatable to 6 credits.
Topics of special interest to advanced undergraduates in sociology.
Such courses will be offered in response to student request and faculty
interest.
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