Intended as a capstone course for students minoring in American Minority Studies, this seminar assumes significant prior knowledge and interest on the part of the student. It features experiential learning and strong student involvement focused on the meaning and significance of race and ethnicity. Responsibility for classroom activity will be shared by students and instructor. The course also requires field experience in the community. Topics covered include stratification, family structure, subcultural variation, religion, heritage, social psychology, interpersonal communication, and conflict resolution.
Prerequisite(s): SOC 1110 Introduction to Sociology and SOC 1330 Race Relations and Minority Groups or approval of the instructor.
(Normally offered alternate years.)
SOC 1110 Introduction to Sociology (4 hours)
This course is an introduction to using the sociological perspective as a method of social inquiry. Students explore such basic concepts as culture, socialization, social structure, social interaction, and social change. They study and apply the theories and research methodologies used to investigate human social interaction. These concepts are applied to social topics such as race, class, gender, family, crime, population, environment, and others.
(Normally offered each semester.)
SOC 1330 Race Relations and Minority Groups (4 hours)
This course uses sociological perspectives to examine the causes and consequences of a society stratisfied by racial-ethinic diversity. It looks at the way historical decisions made by the dominant group have impacted the current situation for majority-minority relations in the U.S. A structural assessment of current social relations is emphasized although individual prejudice and discrimination is examined. Concepts such as white-privilege, immigration, and institutional discrimination are investigated. The requirements of the 2330 course will be the same as the 1330 course EXCEPT that students in the higher course number will complete a 20 hour service-learning component.
(Normally offered each semester.)
