Sociology
Admission and Degree Requirements
- MA in Sociology (see listing for PhD in Sociology)
- PhD in Sociology
SOC 401. Sociological Statistics. 4 hours.
Descriptive and inferential statistics for graduate and advanced undergraduate sociology majors and related fields. Tests of means, regression, correlation, analysis of variance, and related topics. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): SOC 201 and two additional 200-level sociology electives; or graduate standing or consent of the instructor. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory and one Lecture-Discussion.
SOC 402. Intermediate Sociological Statistics. 4 hours.
Covers general linear models emphasizing regression, analysis of variance and covariance, simple structural equation models, simple categorical methods and elementary matrix algebra. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): SOC 401. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory and one Lecture-Discussion.
SOC 405. Writing in the Social Sciences. 3 or 4 hours.
Leads to effective, clear writing for a social science audience. Teaches how to organize ideas, avoid tiresome jargon, and write with precision. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): 6 hours of upper-division social science courses.
SOC 407. Seminar in Comparative Racialization. 3 or 4 hours.
Provides an interdisciplinary and comparative approach to the making and remaking of "race" and the resultant racialized experiences of different groups in the U.S. and globally. Course Information: Same as BLST 407. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): BLST 207 or SOC 207 or BLST 225 or SOC 225 or LALS 225; and senior standing or above; or consent of the instructor.
SOC 409. Senior Research Practicum. 3 hours.
Provides students with an opportunity to conduct their own sociological research. Over the course of the semester, students will refine a research question, gather and analyze data, and draft an academic paper based on their results. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Credit or concurrent registration in SOC 201 and SOC 300; and Sociology majors in their final year of undergraduate study; and consent of the instructor.
SOC 424. Sociology of Gender. 3 or 4 hours.
Variety and change in gender roles; patterns and consequences of gender inequality; gender and sexuality; gender and social institutions such as family, economy. Course Information: Same as GWS 425. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): SOC 224, or any 100 or 200-level GWS course and an additional 200 or 300-level elective in sociology or gender and women studies; Junior standing or above; or graduate standing; or consent of the instructor.
SOC 425. Race and Ethnicity. 3 or 4 hours.
Critical examination of the conceptual frameworks and empirical findings in the study of race and ethnicity. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): SOC 225 an additional 200- or 300- level elective in Sociology; or consent of the instructor.
SOC 426. Topics in Race, Ethnicity, and Gender. 3 or 4 hours.
Intensive examination of a specialized topic in race, ethnicity and gender. The specific topic of the course varies depending on the faculty offering it. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated up to 2 times. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): SOC 224; or SOC 225; and junior standing or above and an additional 200 or 300-level elective in sociology; or consent of the instructor.
SOC 428. Asian/Asian American Women in the Global Economy. 3 or 4 hours.
Examines the racialization and feminization of a global division of labor and focuses primarily on Asian and Asian American women's participation and incorporation as workers and key actors in the development of the global economy. Course Information: Same as GLAS 428 and GWS 428. 3 undergraduate hours; 4 graduate hours. Previously listed as ASAM 428. Prerequisite(s): At least one GLAS or GWS or SOC course; or consent of the instructor.
SOC 433. Latin American Migration to the U.S. 3 or 4 hours.
Latin American migration to the U.S. International migration theories, family remittances, transnational linkages, dual citizenship, and past and current U.S. immigration policy debates. Course Information: Same as LALS 433. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): One course in LALS or SOC; or consent of the instructor.
SOC 440. Topics in Organizations and Institutions. 3 or 4 hours.
Intensive examination of a specialized topic announced when the class is scheduled. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated up to 2 times. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): SOC 244 or MGMT 340, and an additional 200-level sociology elective, and junior standing; or consent of the instructor.
SOC 441. Social Stratification. 3 or 4 hours.
The nature of systems of differentiation and ranking in societies and their consequences; emphasis on class structure in the United States; prestige, status, power, and social mobility in the United States and other societies. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): SOC 241 and an additional 200 or 300-level elective in Sociology; and Junior standing or above; or consent of the instructor.
SOC 444. Race and Gender in Organizations. 3 or 4 hours.
Examines how organizations operate in society, creating racial/gender inequalities and making space for resistance, and how race and gender are constructed and embodied in them. Course information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): SOC 244 or MGMT 340.
SOC 445. Sociology of the Family. 3 or 4 hours.
Variety and change in family patterns; family formation and break-up; parents' and childrens' effects on each other; influences of culture and political economy; consequences for other institutions. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): SOC 224, or SOC 245 and an additional 200 or 300-level Sociology elective; and Junior standing or above; or consent of the instructor.
SOC 446. Race, Ethnicity, and Gender in American Religion. 3 or 4 hours.
Religious institutions in the U.S. as a crucible for racial, ethnic, and gender identities, group formation, and intergroup relations; major world religions represented in the U.S. Course Information: Same as RELS 446. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): SOC 246 and an additional 200 or 300- level elective in Sociology; and Junior standing or above; or consent of instructor.
SOC 447. Organizations. 3 or 4 hours.
Characteristics of business, government, and not-for-profit organizations; approaches used to study organizations; theoretical and empirical analysis of organizational processes. Course Information: Same as MGMT 447. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): SOC 241 or MGMT 340 or SOC 244 and an additional 200 or 300-level elective in sociology; and junior standing or above; or consent of the instructor.
SOC 448. Sociology of Development. 3 or 4 hours.
Historical, economic, political, social, and geographic factors shaping national and international development experiences and outcomes. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): 6 hours of upper-division social science courses or consent of the instructor.
SOC 451. Medical Sociology. 3 or 4 hours.
Survey of major topics in sociology of health and medicine including social definitions of health and illness, patient practitioner interaction, the organization of health institutions and professions. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours.
SOC 455. Topics in Medical Sociology. 3 or 4 hours.
Intensive examination of a specialized topic announced when the class is scheduled. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated to a maximum of 12 hours. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): SOC 451 or consent of the instructor.
SOC 465. Topics in Sociology of Politics. 3 or 4 hours.
Intensive examination of a specialized topic announced when the class is scheduled. Course Information: Same as POLS 465. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated to a maximum of 12 hours. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): 6 hours of upper-division sociology or consent of the instructor.
SOC 471. Population. 3 or 4 hours.
The measurement and study of major trends and differentials in fertility, mortality, migration, growth, and compositional characteristics of the population of the United States and other nations. Course Information: Same as EPID 471. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): SOC 201 and an additional 200 or 300-level course in sociology; and junior standing or above; or consent of the instructor.
SOC 473. Cities and Regions. 3 or 4 hours.
Characteristics, conditions, and consequences of structure and change of cities and metropolitan regions. Spatial, political economy, cultural perspectives. Census, ecological, historical, comparative data for cities. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): SOC 201 and an additional 200 or 300-level course in sociology; and junior standing or above; or consent of the instructor.
SOC 476. Topics in Urban Sociology. 3 or 4 hours.
Intensive examination of a specialized topic announced when the class is scheduled. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated to a maximum of 12 hours. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): 6 hours of upper-division sociology or consent of the instructor.
SOC 485. Classical Social Theory. 3 or 4 hours.
Survey and analysis of classical European and American social theory. Examination of how theorists such as Marx, Weber, Durkheim, Veblen and Park defined and described society within their own social contexts and how we derive meaning from these theories. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): SOC 385; and senior standing or above; or consent of the instructor.
SOC 487. Current Social Theory. 3 or 4 hours.
Review and evaluation of major currents in sociological theory since the 1940s. Course Information: 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite(s): SOC 385; and senior standing or above; or consent of the instructor.
SOC 490. Igniting Sociological Futures: Senior Capstone Experience. 4 hours.
Focuses on sociological concepts, competencies and complete a hands-on experience with a community organization while developing a professional portfolio highlighting their accomplishments and preparing them for their professional and educational goals. Course Information: Previously listed at SOC 400. Field work required. Prerequisite(s): SOC 300 and SOC 385; and senior standing or above; and one 400-level elective in sociology; and consent of the instructor. Enrollment is restricted to sociology majors in their last year of study. Class Schedule information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Lecture and one Discussion.
SOC 496. Independent Study or Research. 1-9 hours.
Extensive readings in specialized areas of sociology or empirical research for advanced undergraduate or graduate students. Course Information: May be repeated with approval. Students may register in more than one section per term. Approval to repeat course granted by the department. Undergraduate students may repeat course for maximum of 9 hours of credit. Prerequisite(s): 18 hours of sociology, excluding SOC 296 and SOC 299, consent of the instructor, and approval of the department. Class Schedule Information: This course counts toward the limited number of independent study hours accepted toward the degree and the major.
SOC 499. Senior Thesis. 1-4 hours.
Individual study for students working on a senior thesis under the supervision of a faculty advisor. This course is required for students graduating with highest departmental distinction. Course Information: May be repeated to a maximum of 8 hours, with approval of the department. Students may register for more than one section per term. Previously listed as SOC 299. Prerequisite(s): SOC 490; and senior standing or above; and consent of the instructor.
SOC 500. Sociological Research Methods I. 4 hours.
Introduction to research design, data gathering and data reduction; logic of problem formulation, units of analysis, measurement, data analysis.
SOC 501. Sociological Research Methods II. 4 hours.
Evaluating sociological research, data analysis and reporting; proposal writing and evaluation; professional issues including research ethics; student presentation of master's research proposals. Course Information: May be repeated to a maximum of 12 hours. Prerequisite(s): SOC 500.
SOC 502. Sociological Statistics. 4 hours.
Descriptive and inferential statistics for graduate and advanced undergraduate sociology majors and related fields. Tests of means, regression, correlation, analysis of variance, and related topics. Course Information: Previously listed as SOC 401. Prerequisite(s): SOC 201; and consent of the instructor. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory and one Lecture-Discussion.
SOC 503. Intermediate Sociological Statistics. 4 hours.
The second course in the graduate statistics sequence in sociology. The course picks up where SOC 502 leaves off, reinforcing basic concepts of ordinary least squares (OLS) regression and expanding these concepts. Course Information: Previously listed as SOC 402. Prerequisite(s): SOC 502. Class Schedule Information: To be properly registered, students must enroll in one Laboratory and one Lecture-Discussion.
SOC 509. Seminar: Sociological Research Methods. 4 hours.
Research practicum of specialized social science research methods. Course Information: May be repeated to a maximum of 12 hours. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): SOC 500 and SOC 501.
SOC 515. Sociology of Childhood and Youth. 4 hours.
Topics in childhood and youth across various settings, assessing a range of theories and topics that pertain to childhood and youth. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.
SOC 520. Seminar: Race, Ethnicity, and Gender. 4 hours.
Intensive analysis of specialized topics. Course Information: May be repeated to a maximum of 12 hours. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.
SOC 524. Gender. 4 hours.
Review of a wide range of theories that explain the development and maintenance of gender, focusing on how gender stratification has developed historically and how and why individuals "do gender" in their daily lives. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.
SOC 525. Sociology of Race and Ethnicity. 4 hours.
A survey of classical and contemporary research on "race" and "ethnicity" focusing on how their meaning is both ascribed and achieved and the relationship of these categories to individual and collective life chances. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.
SOC 528. Societal Analysis of Aging, Health and the Life Course. 3 hours.
Analysis of health, aging and health care issues from life course perspectives, including the application of concepts, theories and methods from both sociology and public health. Course Information: Same as CHSC 528. Prerequisite(s): Graduate or professional standing; or approval of the department.
SOC 540. Seminar: Social Institutions. 4 hours.
Intensive analysis of specialized topics in social institutions. Course Information: May be repeated to a maximum of 12 hours. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.
SOC 541. Sociology of Social Stratification. 4 hours.
Provides students with an overview of sociological research on social stratification emphasizing individual and structural elements. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.
SOC 542. Sociology of Inequality. 4 hours.
Topics in social inequality across various settings and across societal levels—from interpersonal inequality to inequality in organizations to structural inequalities. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.
SOC 543. Prison Aesthetics and Policy. 4 hours.
This class will take aesthetic and political approaches to study the Illinois carceral landscape, particularly focusing on the daily lives of prisoners, the dynamics of the prison administration, and systems of classification and identification. Course Information: Same as ART 541. Field trips required at a nominal fee. No previous art experience is necessary for this class.
SOC 547. Social Organization. 4 hours.
Intensive analysis of specialized topics. Course Information: May be repeated to a maximum of 12 hours. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.
SOC 549. Global and Transnational Sociology. 4 hours.
Introduction to global socioeconomic and political processes, the history of the modern world-system, shifts in global capitalism and interstate relations, the cultural dynamics of globalization, and patterns of global migration. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.
SOC 565. Seminar: Political Sociology. 4 hours.
Intensive analysis of specialized topics. Course Information: May be repeated to a maximum of 12 hours. Students may register in more than one section per term.
SOC 572. Sociology of Education. 4 hours.
Education as a social institution in interaction with other institutions, such as the economy. Topics include the emergence of national systems of education, purposes of education, inequality and educational reform. Course Information: Same as EDPS 572. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.
SOC 585. Classical Sociological Theory. 4 hours.
Examination of how theorists have defined and described society within their own social contexts and how we derive meaning from these theories. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.
SOC 587. Contemporary Sociological Theory. 4 hours.
Sociological theory since World War II. Course content will be both "substantive", covering widely divergent schools of thought, and "methodological", analyzing and constructing theories as explanatory systems. Course Information: Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor.
SOC 593. Colloquium on College Teaching of Sociology. 4 hours.
Covers strategies and techniques for contemporary university teaching and for the teaching of sociology at the college level. Course Information: May be repeated.
SOC 595. ProSeminar. 1 hour.
Presentation and discussion of issues of professional concern to sociologists including current research, consulting, teaching and applied sociology. Course Information: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term.
SOC 596. Independent Study. 1-12 hours.
Research on special problems not included in the graduate thesis. Course Information: May be repeated. Students may register in more than one section per term. Prerequisite(s): Consent of the instructor and approval of the department.
SOC 599. Thesis Research. 0-16 hours.
Supervised dissertation research. Course Information: Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory grading only. May be repeated.