The curriculum in Sociology is grounded in core courses in research methods and social theory, but emphasizes flexibility by allowing students to design programs that fit their particular needs and objectives. Elective Courses focus on the critical issues and institutions in contemporary society — deviance and criminology, inequalities of race, class and gender, work and organizations, health and welfare, the family, and law. Students with more well-defined vocational aspirations may elect to follow more structured programs described in the concentrations.

The Sociology degree is part of a broad liberal arts education. The liberal arts approach focuses on training for citizenship and involvement in society. This is accomplished by a core of courses and experiences designed to:

• offer broad preparation for social science-based careers,
• equip students with knowledge of the social, economic, political and legal institutions,
• develop skills in oral and written communication, and quantitative reasoning,
• reveal the nature and philosophy of social research,
• stimulate critical thinking, intellectual curiosity and encourage informed public policy decisions.

Recognition of the need for more specialized training for undergraduates interested in pursuing careers in specific fields led us to create Concentrations within the Sociology major. Each includes a configuration of courses within the department and related courses in other departments, and culminates with a five-week, full-time Practicum (internship) in an organization in the field during Winter Session. We currently offer four Concentrations: Emergency and Environmental Management, Health Care, Law and Society, and Social Welfare.

Approximately one-half of all Sociology majors elect to pursue a Concentration, and upon graduation, four out of ten students either find employment in the area of their Concentration or pursue graduate work related to it.

The Practicum is a key feature of the program. The Practicum is a four-credit, pass-fail course that meets during Winter Session, but these credits do not count toward the 31 credits required for the major. Faculty directors of the Practicum maintain extensive contacts with organizations in the tri-state area and secure placements related to student interest, match them with mentors, and monitor their progress during the course of the semester.  In addition, all students  meet weekly for an on-campus seminar to discuss progress and problems.

The range of Practicum opportunities is broad enough to cater to the interest of virtually any student. For example, recent internships included field placements in hospitals and clinics, social service agencies, government, and law firms.
 

Many forms of experiential learning are a feature of the undergraduate program. This is most evident in the Practicum experiences associated with the Concentrations in sociology, but not limited to this. Students not enrolled in Concentrations may earn credit for Independent Research (SOCI 368), act as undergraduate Teaching Assistants (SOCI 496) or pursue Internships (SOCI 464) under the direction of individual faculty members. Students are encouraged to discuss these opportunities with their advisors, or any other faculty member.

There are also a number of opportunities both within the department and the university to participate in Study Abroad programs. The university offers full semester programs in London, Paris and Madrid as well as a variety of Winter Session courses. The department also features the opportunity for courses and Internships in London during the summer. For more information on these opportunities, please visit the Office of International Programs
and Special Sessions Web site: http://www.udel.edu/studyabroad/index.html
 
 

Considering the broad training that Sociology majors acquire over the course of their college years they are well-equipped to choose among a wide variety of career options. The following list provides some idea of the
range of jobs that are available to Sociology majors.

   * social services: rehabilitation, recreation, social work

   * community work: environmental groups, non-profits, urban planning

   * business: advertising, human resources, consumer research

   * Criminal Justice: corrections, law enforcement, probation and parole

   * higher education: admissions, alumni relations, career placement

   * health: family planning, substance abuse clinics, geriatrics

   * publishing: journalism, research, editing

The major in Sociology requires 31 credits in Sociology with a grade of C- or better, distributed as follows: 2.0 GPA is required to transfer into Sociology

Required Courses (10 credits):
SOCI 201 Introduction to Sociology
SOCI 301 Research Methods
SOCI 312 Theories of Society

Electives (21 credits): Seven electives with
A maximum of 3 additional courses at the 200 level.
A minimum of 2 courses at the 400 level.

Related Work (15 credits):
Five courses in related disciplines selected with the advice and approval of the faculty advisor. Courses are usually chosen from areas such as Anthropology, Black American Studies, Criminal Justice, Political Science or Psychology, but may also come from other disciplines.

Students in Concentrations must meet some additional requirements in addition to SOCI 201, 301, 312.

Emergency and Environmental Management Concentration:

Dr. Joanne Nigg, Advisor

Required 2 courses in addition to 201, 301, 312:

SOCI 324, SOCI 325, SOCI 470

Practicum: 326

Recommended electives: SOCI 204, 209, 311, 322, 323, 327, 331, 341, 361

Recommended related work: Fifteen additional credits of related work are required and may include the following: ANSC 270, ANTH 101, COMM 245, COMM 256, GEOG 203, GEOG 235, GEOG 236, GEOG 310, GEOG 320, GEOG 449, GEOL 112, POSC 220, POSC 240, POSC 303, POSC 311, POSC 350, POSC 456, or other courses chosen with the approval of the advisor.

Health Services Concentration:

Dr. David Ermann, Advisor

Required courses in addition to 201, 301, 312: SOCI 311;

SOCI 341 (for students interested in health care administration) OR SOCI 348 (for students interested in medical social work)

Practicum: SOCI 410

Recommended electives: SOCI 346

Recommended related work: Eleven additional credits of related work are required and will be selected in consultation with the student's advisor. Departments offering courses filling the needs of health concentration students include Anthropology, Business Administration, Center for Science and Culture, Economics, Individual and Family Studies, Philosophy, Psychology, and Women's Studies.

Law and Society Concentration:

Dr. Gerald Turkel, Advisor

Required courses in addition to 201, 301, 312:

SOCI 345, 456 or 454

Practicum:SOCI 442

Electives: See advisor for further information.

Recommended related work: Twelve credits from the following courses are recommended: CRJU 320, CRJU 347, CRJU 357, CRJU 425, CRJU 4XX, POSC 402, POSC 404, POSC 405, POSC 406, PHIL 201, PHIL 446, HIST 301, HIST 309, and a second writing course in any department; a course in oral communication is suggested.
 

Social Welfare Concentration:

Dr. Jeffrey Davidson, Advisor

Required courses in addition to 201, 301, 312:

SOCI 341 and 348

Practicum: 441

Recommended electives: SOCI 202, 204, 303, 304, 305, 308, 346, 361, 415, 418 or 448

Recommended related work: Eleven additional credits of related work are required and may include the following: POSC 411, PSYC 301, PSYC 322, PSYC 325, PSYC 334, ECDE 334, IFST 235, or other courses chosen with the approval of the advisor.

The department offers a minor in Sociology. The requirements are listed below:

Eighteen (18) credit hours of course work in Sociology, with a grade of C- or above, including a minimum of nine (9) credit hours at the 300 level or above.

Required:

Sociology 201: Introduction to Sociology
Sociology 301: Introduction to Sociological Research (or equivalent courses), OR
Sociology 312: Theories of Society
OR
An equivalent course in another social science discipline, such as PSYC 309, ECON 422, ECON 426, MATH 205, POSC 300, POSC 434 OR POSC 435.

     (Full course descriptions can be found online at http://chico.nss.udel.edu/CourseDesc/
 

Sociology 201 Introduction to Sociology 3
An overview of the sociological perspective on the study of society, social organization and social institutions with special emphasis on the social causes and consequences of human behavior. No prerequisite.

Sociology 203 Individual and Society 3
Analysis of the social formation of the individual. Particular emphasis on socialization and personality development. The contribution of the individual patterns of behavior to the functioning of social systems. No prerequisite.

Sociology 204 Urban Communities 3
May be cross-listed with BAMS204.
Urbanization, rural-urban social differences and the organization of urban communities. No prerequisite.

Sociology 209 Social Problems 3
Topics may include poverty, intergroup conflicts, war, mental illness, aging, adolescence and environmental pollution. No prerequisite.

Sociology 213 Men and Women in American Society (multi-cultural) 3
May be cross-listed with WOMS213.
This course is designed to provide students with a sociological framework for analyzing sex and gender relations in contemporary American society. Topics include the social construction of gender, patterns of sex-role socialization, gender stratification in the paid work force, gender relations in the family and other social institutions. No prerequisite.

Sociology 215 – Race in Society 3
Social definitions of race, how race is incorporated into social institutions and how race structures relationships among diverse groups in society. Includes analysis of rights and privileges denied or extended to groups and how disadvantaged groups work toward racial equality.

Sociology 266 – Independent Study 1 – 3

Sociology 301 Introduction to Sociological Research 4
Survey of research methods and data analysis employed in sociology.
Prerequisite: SOCI201 and completion of the College of Arts and Science math requirement
Restrictions: Strongly recommended – Junior status and 12 social science credits

Sociology 302 – Social Deviance 3
May be cross listed with CRJU302
Defining deviance, research on deviance and explaining deviance.

Sociology 303 Juvenile Delinquency 3
May be cross-listed with CRJU303.
Delinquency as a form of socially deviant behavior; definition of the extent of limitations of statistics; theories of causation, and the delinquent subculture; prevention and treatment.
Prerequisite SOCI201 or SOCI209.

Sociology 304 Criminology 3
May be cross-listed with CRJU304.
The nature, kinds and causes of crime. Criminal liability, criminal career and organized racketeering.
Prerequisites: SOCI201 or SOCI209.

Sociology 305 Social Class and Inequality 3
Internal differentiation as a basis for inequality and differential life chances of human societies.

Sociology 306 Personality and Society 3
Interaction of personality and society, including such segments as complex organizations and small groups. Particular emphasis on the social formation of personality, and its role in the production of various modes of social behavior and the dynamics of social change.
Prerequisites: SOCI 201, SOCI 203, or PSYC 201.

Sociology 308 The Family (multi-cultural) 3
The comparative study of the family in various societies provides a background for the analysis of family organization in modern America. Prerequisites SOCI201, or SOCI203 or SOCI209.

Sociology 311 Sociology of Health Care 3
May be cross-listed with CSCC311.
Professionalization of health occupations, hospitals as social systems, medical education and practice organizations, health care organizations and their interrelationships (Politics of Health), and health service patterns.

Sociology 312 Theories of Society 3
Covers writings of Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, Max Weber and related current approaches. Focuses on theoretical perspectives concerned with social development, social conflict, solidarity, social class and gender.
Prerequisites SOCI201.

Sociology 320 Personality and Politics 3
The role of personality in political behavior. Considerations include the social and psychological motivations for political activity and the differential relationship of personality to variations in political systems, roles, ideologies and dynamics, such as political consensus and cleavage. Attention given to particular methods of research in these specific areas of social behavior.
Prerequisites SOCI201 or SOCI203 or PSYC201 or POSC150.

Sociology 322 Crowds, Cults and Revolutions 3
Maybe cross-listed with CRJU322.
Analysis of forms of behavior in relatively unstructured situations such as crowds, panics, riots and demonstrations; and processes of interaction: susceptibility, contagion, polarization and communication.
Prerequisite SOCI201.

Sociology 323 – Sociology of Risk 3
Focuses on how individuals, organizations, and government agencies assess various types of risk and act with respect to those assessments. Topics include: risk perception, risk assessment, risk management under conditions of scientific uncertainty, and public debates about safety.
Prerequisite SOCI201.

Sociology 324 - Issues in Emergency Management 3
Overview of the development of emergency management in the United States as a profession. Issues associated with emergency management are also discussed with reference to the disaster research literature.
Prerequisite: SOCI210

Sociology 325 – Disasters and Society 3
Sociological introduction to the field of disaster studies, including the ways in which societies attempt to prepare for, respond to, and recover from their impacts.
Prerequisite SOCI201.

Sociology 326 – Emergency and Environmental Management Practicum and Seminar 4 PF
This course will provide the student with an internship experience in an organization or agency responsible for emergency or environmental management. The Practicum is usually offered during the Winter term but may also be provided at other times depending on special conditions. With approval of the area Coordinator, the student will be assigned to an organization where s/he will become familiar with the issues, policies and practices that pertain to disasters. The student will be under the direct supervision of the agency personnel while in the placement position. In addition to the hours spent each week in the organization, the student will be expected to meet in a seminar with the area Coordinator and other students to discuss issues and experience.

Sociology 327 Sociology of Organizations 3
Business enterprises, the military, governmental bureaus and other large-scale organizations. Bureaucratic structure, internal systems of status and authority, division of labor, social control, and the individual in the organization.
Prerequisite SOCI 201.

Sociology 328 – Work in a Global Economy 3
The role of work in contemporary society. Social, institutional and cultural influences on work. Special emphasis on problem areas such as job satisfaction, professionalism, career patterns, leisure and occupational choice.

Sociology 330 Population, Law and Society 3
Interrelationships among population, law and social structure with an emphasis on analyzing strategies of adaptation to change. Introduction to demographic techniques; contemporary issues such as family planning, population policies, migrations, marriage and divorce.

Sociology 331 – World Population: Profiles and Trends (multi-cultural) 3
Study of the size, composition and distribution of world populations. An examination of the structure and dynamics of selected countries and the specific problems—causes, consequences and possible solutions. Population problems are examined in relations to social organization, environment and technology.

Sociology 341 Welfare and Society 3
Institutional apparatus created to deal with the welfare problems of an industrial society, development of welfare institutions, their structure and functioning.
Prerequisites 18 credit hours in sociology, psychology, political science or economics.

Sociology 345 – Sociology of Law 3
Maybe cross-listed with CRJU345.
Analysis of law as a social process in both historical and comparative perspective. Focuses on various theories of law and society and relevant empirical research.

Sociology 346 Sociology of Aging 3
Empirical and theoretical investigation of the aging process.
Prerequisite: SOCI201 or SOCI203 or PSYC201.

Sociology 348 Theories of Social Work Practice 3
Methods of social work practice: casework, group work, community organization; sociological and psychological foundations underlying social services. Prerequisite: SOCI201.

Sociology 350 – Social Inequality and Film 3
Using a sociological framework for understanding equality, major films are used to explore the depictions and representations of race, gender sexuality and social class issues. Examines the ideologies presented in films, the contexts that create them and how they contrast with social realities.
Prerequisite: SOCI201

Sociology 360 Sociology of Religion 3
May be cross-listed with JWST360.
Sociological analysis of major religions and the societies with which they have been associated; social settings of particular systems of belief; the relation of status; religious affiliation and personal behavior in modern societies.
Prerequisite: SOCI 201.

Sociology 361 – Racial Inequality (multi-cultural) 3
May be cross-listed with BAMS361.
A detailed examination of racial inequality, including the social construction of race, the nature of oppression and advantage, government policies and resistance strategies. There will be attention to the status of men and women and social class diversity within racial-ethnic communities
Prerequisite: SOCI 201.

Sociology 366 – Independent Study 1 – 3  

Sociology 368 – Independent Research 1 – 6
Independent Research under the supervision of a faculty member. Requirements include preparation of a research report consistent with the professional literature in the field. Student and faculty member will file a learning contract describing the research and a report with the department chair.
Restrictions: Requires the permission of instructor.

Sociology 399 - Practicum: Teaching Sociology 3 PF
Practical experience in undergraduate education is gained by serving as a discussion leader in a course taught by a regular member of the faculty. Restrictions: Requires permission of instructor. Not for major credit.

Sociology 401 Advanced Sociological Methods 3
Conceptualization, design, data collection and data analysis in sociological research.

Sociology 402 – Urban Studies Practicum and Seminar 4 PF
Field experience and related seminar. Placement in urban planning and service agencies where students work for approximately 160 hours under professionally trained supervisors. Students meet in a weekly seminar with coordinator.
Prerequisite: SOCI204.

Sociology 407 Sociology of Sex and Gender 3
May be cross-listed with WOMS407.
Seminar on sex and gender relations from a sociological perspective. Course surveys current research on gender stratification in the paid work force, the feminization of poverty, gender relations in the family, sexual violence, and feminism as a social movement. Special attention is given to current theoretical debates on the origins and persistence of sexual inequality and the intersection of gender with race and class in patterns of social stratification.
Prerequisites: SOCI201, SOCI213 or WOMS201.
Restrictions: The course is restricted to junior and senior sociology and women’s study majors.

Sociology 410 - Health Services Practicum & Seminar 4 PF
Field experience and related seminar. Placement in health service settings where student works for about 160 hours under supervision of health service administrators. Students meet in a weekly seminar with coordinator.
Restrictions: Requires permission of instructor

Sociology 411 Techniques of Demographic Analysis 3
Study of demographic equation (fertility, mortality and migration) population processes (composition and distribution) and the use of computers to analyze demographic data.
Prerequisite: SOCI301

Sociology 412 – Research Practicum 4 PF
Field experience and related seminar. Placement in research, planning and service agencies where students work for approximately 160 hours under professionally trained supervisors. Student meet in a weekly seminar with coordinator.
Prerequisite: SOCI301.
Restriction: Requires permission of instructor.

Sociology 415 Race, Class and Gender 3
May be cross-listed with BAMS415 and/or WOMS415.
Analysis of current American social issues that show interrelationship of race, class, and gender. Readings from sociology, Afro-American studies, feminist studies, history and literature.

Sociology 416 Social Thought and Contemporary Society 3
Seminar focuses on ways in which social though defines and analyzes contemporary society. Explores how alternative theories and methods serve to create knowledge and contemporary concerns with everyday life, democracy, equality, social structure and power.
Prerequisite: SOCI312.

Sociology 418 – Race, Gender and Poverty 3
May be cross-listed with BAMS418 and/or WOMS418.
An examination of contemporary American poverty with attention to race and gender as fundamental dimensions of inequality. Social policy, employment and family composition are key topics.
Prerequisite: SOCI201.

Sociology 422 – Fads and Fashions 3
Examination of the dynamics of short-term enthusiasms. Emphasis will be on fads and fashions in education, science, medicine, and other institutions, rather than on fashions in clothing.

Sociology 428 Corporate Crime 3
May be cross-listed with CRJU428.
Nature and causes of deviant behaviors and crimes of large organizations. How organizations act, are accused of deviance and defend themselves in cases such as price-fixing, sale of unsafe drugs and illegal spying.

Sociology 430 Comparative Sociology (multi-cultural) 3 – 6
May be cross-listed with JWST430.
Exposes sociological similarities and differences between the United States and a selected country on a number of critical sociological topics. Topics include ethnic and religious diversity, culture, demographic structure, social institutions, social stratification and urbanization.
Restrictions: Requires permission of instructor. Only 3 credits from this course may apply toward departmental requirement of six 400 level credits. Offered only in the study aboard program and subject to acceptance by the Office of International Programs.

Sociology 435 – Sociology of American Jewry (multi-cultural) 3
May be cross-listed with JWST435.
Examines the demographic, socioeconomic, cultural and institutional dimensions of the US Jewish population in the context of models of social integration and in comparison to other immigrant groups in the population. These dimensions are used to discuss current issues facing this population sub-group.
Prerequisite: SOCI201.

Sociology 441 Social Welfare Practicum and Seminar 4 PF
Field experience and related seminar. Placement in social service agencies and where students work for approximately 160 hours under professionally trained supervisors; students meet in a weekly seminar with coordinator
Prerequisite SOCI341.
Restrictions: Requires permission of instructor.

Sociology 442 Law and Society Practicum and Seminar. 4 PF
Field experience and related seminar. Placement in court, law firm or other law-related institution where students work for approximately 160 hours under professionally trained supervisors; weekly seminars with program coordinator.
Prerequisite: SOCI345.
Restrictions: Requires permission of instructor.

Sociology 448 Community Based Treatment 3
May be cross-listed with CRJU448.
Explores issues related to the appropriateness and design of community-based programs for the mentally disabled, substance abusers, the homeless, dependent children, etc. Emphasis on analyzing client needs and community resources, and on understanding the perspective of clients, staff and neighbors about these programs.

Sociology 450 Political Sociology 3
Analysis of political organization and action, including evaluation of major approaches. Case studies of political structures and behavior.
Prerequisite: SOCI201.

Sociology 454 Lawyers' Ethics 3
May be cross-listed with CRJU454.
An exploration of the ethical, moral and legal dilemmas that confront attorneys in the practice of law and how they attempt to resolve them.
Prerequisite: SOCI201 and three additional sociology courses.
Restrictions: Open to junior and senior sociology majors only

Sociology 456 Lawyers and Society 3
May be cross-listed with CRJU456.
Seminar focusing upon the social organization and dynamics of the legal profession. Topics include professional association, law school, socialization, professional ethics and law practice.
Prerequisite SOCI201 and three additional sociology courses.

Sociology 460 Women in International Development (multi-cultural) 3
May be cross-listed with GEOG460, IFST460, and/or WOMS460.
Understanding of international development process in third world countries by examination of the roles of men and women. Analyzes processes of development with emphasis on women's participation and/or exclusion. Examines development at the project proposal or program implementation level. Hands-on experience in practical project development and proposal presentation skills.

Sociology 464 – Internship 1 - 4 PF
Provides students an opportunity to apply sociological theory and research while working in an agency or other organizational setting under supervision of department faculty. Must complete an internship agreement and secure approval from faculty member to sponsor internship.

Sociology 466 – Independent Study 1 - 3

Sociology 470 Environmental Sociology 3
A substantive and theoretical introduction to the major issues in environmental sociology; the emergence and development of the environmental movement; the development of environmental issues; and how environmental issues are related to structural, contextual and perceptual factors. Prerequisites: SOCI201 and SOCI312.
Restrictions: Requires upper division status any major.

Sociology 496 – Practicum in Teaching 1 – 3 PF
Practical exposure to undergraduate education gained by assisting a member of the faculty in carefully supervised experiences such as discussion leader, crafting questions, consulting with students. Students may not be involved in grading of student work or the assignment of grades. May be repeated for up to three credit hours.
Restriction: Requires permission of instructor. Not for major credit.