Sociology

College of Natural and Behavioral Sciences
Department of Sociology

Program Description

The study of Sociology offers students the opportunity to develop a critical understanding of society, its processes, and structures, so as to understand and intervene in life and work in our diverse global society. Students apply the tools of social analysis to a broad range of social and institutional situations such as those of the family, schooling, and policing. The methods and knowledge developed by sociologists reflect the complexity of human organization, social life, inequalities, and social justice. The newly emerging patterns of social change continue to alter our life, making the effective applications of social analysis more important than ever before in solving problems of inequalities, human organization, and justice at a local and global level.

The department of Sociology at CSUDH is committed to its mission, “sociology in service to the community.” The department is composed of a diverse, innovative and stimulating faculty who teach and pursue research in a variety of areas that are important in today's global societies. The sociology department offers undergraduate and graduate programs with several emphases that respond directly to the needs of today's students. We offer a wide range of opportunities to engage in theory building, service learning, applied research, community studies, and organizing.

Undergraduate majors, minors, and graduate students may concentrate their studies in a variety of areas including theory building, applied research, community studies, criminology, justice studies, the helping professions, and social change in a global context. Sociology prepares students for careers in social work, law, criminal justice, government, non-profit and community and international organizations, education, gerontology, medicine, community service, urban planning, politics, business, academia, human resources, and applied research.

Undergraduates majoring in sociology may elect to concentrate their studies in any of the areas mentioned above or in an area designed in consultation with faculty to best fit their academic or professional goals. Students majoring in other disciplines or professional programs may tailor a minor in sociology to complement their major field of study. A minor in Sociology complements a wide range of majors, including psychology, political science, computer science, liberal studies, human services, public administration, and many others. Graduate students often plan their studies in the context of more specific career and professional goals, or to augment their current professions.

Academic Advisement

Sociology faculty provide advisement for majors, minors, and graduate students in sociology. Students are advised to meet with a faculty advisor early, in order to take the best advantage of the opportunities offered by the Department. Although undergraduates may go to any faculty member for Sociology advising, each term an instructor has extended office hours dedicated to Sociology advising. Contact information for faculty and GE advisors can be found on the department website. For graduate studies, Dr. LaTanya Skiffer should be contacted. Faculty are available for both daytime and night students. For faculty office hours and general questions, please call the department office at (310) 243-3431.

Preparation

High school students contemplating a major in sociology are encouraged to take college preparatory courses, including English, mathematics, and social sciences. Courses in computers, logic, and life science also are recommended.

Students planning to transfer from a community college should consult with their counselor or advisor to assure that appropriate lower-division courses are completed before the transfer.

Student Internships

Student internships are made available in locations related to the subject areas in the Sociology Department including criminology and justice studies, helping professions, social change in global contexts, social inequalities and applied research and community studies and others where faculty research and professional practice provide such opportunities. Students interested in internships can enroll in the SOC 381 Field Studies in Urban Problems course which is offered in the Fall and Spring semesters. Internships can also be arranged under special circumstances with individual faculty. Interested students should talk with faculty involved in such areas.

Student Organizations

The department has a chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta, the International Sociology Honor Society, for students who meet honor society requirements. There is a Sociology Student Club and a Pre-Law Club.

Graduation with Honors

An undergraduate student may be a candidate for graduation with honors in Sociology by meeting the following criteria:

A minimum of 36 units in residence at CSU Dominguez Hills;
A minimum GPA of at least 3.5 in all courses used to satisfy the upper-division requirements in the major.

Career Possibilities

The Sociology Department's programs are designed to prepare students for graduate study in sociology and for professional positions and careers in a variety of fields in federal, state, and local agencies as well as for jobs in private business and non- profit institutions and applied research. Studies in sociology provide great preparation for careers in academia, social work, counseling, law, probation, and criminology as well as community organizing, labor unions and public service. In addition to career advancement in the preceding areas and other areas, students completing a master's degree in sociology can teach at a community college and work toward a Ph.D. A degree in sociology also complements technical and administrative programs by broadening students' understanding of social organizations, social inequalities, social structures, global and local processes, and human behavior. Contact the department office to for a list of faculty advisors to help you with your career choices and planning.

Faculty

Billy Wagner-Huang, Department Chair
Kara Dellacioppa, Undergraduate Program Advisor
LaTanya Skiffer, Graduate Program Coordinator

Kara Dellacioppa, Kelin Li, Alexis McCurn, Joanna Perez, Katy Pinto, Jose Prado, La Tanya Skiffer, Sohaila Shakib, Billy Wagner-Huang (Department Chair)

Department Office: SBS B-334, (310) 243-3431

Emeriti Faculty

Faye Arnold, William R. Blischke, Robert M. Christie, Charles Hohm, Fumiko Hosokawa, John C. Quicker, Steve Riskin

Courses

SOC 101. The Individual In Society. (3 Units)

An introduction to the study of self, socialization, and social interaction. Interpersonal relations and the structure of social roles; deviance and normality in everyday life.

Offered Fall, Spring, All terms

SOC 102. Understanding Social Relationships in a Global Perspective. (3 Units)

Dynamics and histories of basic institutions of society such as the family, work, economy, education, class, crime, race, culture and gender. Course content focuses on the global and comparative aspects of these institutions.

Offered Fall, Spring, All terms

SOC 204. Health, Stress & Coping Work. (1.3 Units)

Offered Infrequent, All terms

SOC 220. Analytical Statistics. (4 Units)

Prerequisite: Algebra I is recommended. Statistical techniques for the description and analysis of sociological data. Tabular, graphic, and parametric analytical procedures. Three hours lecture and three hours laboratory per week.

Offered Fall, Spring, All terms

SOC 302. Workshop in Social Research. (3 Units)

Prerequisites: Consent of instructor is required; SOC 220, SOC 305, SOC 355 are recommended. Workshop in research methods and theory applied to actual research projects culminating in public reports. Repeatable course. Six hours of workshop per week.

Offered Fall, Spring, All terms

SOC 303. Qualitative Methods. (3 Units)

Use and application of unstructured, structured, and participant observation methods to sociological phenomena. Unobtrusive and non-reactive procedures of research.

Offered Infrequent

SOC 304. Computer Applications. (3 Units)

Prerequisite: SOC 220 or its equivalent is recommended. Applications of computers in the Social Sciences; data processing, modeling, simulation, data base management, bibliographic searches. On-line and batch applications. One hour of lecture and four hours of activity per week.

Offered Infrequent

SOC 305. Methods Of Soc Research. (4 Units)

Prerequisite: SOC 220. Examination of methods employed in the investigation of sociological phenomena. Consideration of the research process as a whole, including quantitative and qualitative techniques. Includes supplemental workshop. Three hours of lecture and two hours of activity per week.

Offered Fall, Spring, All terms

SOC 306. Program Evaluation. (3 Units)

Emphasis on the role of program evaluation in decision making, improvement, and accountability. Students will become involved in evaluation activities.

Offered Infrequent, All terms

SOC 307. Micro Computer Data Base Applications in Social Science. (3 Units)

Exploration of individualized data base systems for social science. Creation and management of data base files, both user generated and commercial software. Emphasis on the usefulness of the microcomputer in storing, accessing and analyzing social science data, report generation and accessing mainframe archives. One hour of lecture and four hours of activity per week.

Offered Infrequent

SOC 308. Field Applications Socio. (3 Units)

Offered Infrequent

SOC 309. Writing Skills in Sociology. (3 Units)

Introduction to basic research and presentational skills of sociology and social and behavioral sciences. Skills development in research and writing, using library and other data sources, organizing projects, writing reports. One hour of lecture and four hours of activity per week.

Offered Infrequent

SOC 310. Social Stratification. (3 Units)

Offered Infrequent

SOC 311. Global Organizations and Social Processes. (3 Units)

Examination of processes of globalization and contemporary social systems in a global context. This includes corporations, education, the family, the global economy, the military, religion and social movement organizations. Attention given to patriarchy, post-colonialism, race and ethnicity.

Offered Fall, Spring, All terms

SOC 315. Sociology Of Work. (3 Units)

Sociological analysis of work in industrial society. Examination of the labor force, industrial organization, occupational roles, and careers. Consideration of impact of technological change.

Offered Fall, Spring, Summer, All terms

SOC 316. Sociology Of Adult Life: Aging. (3 Units)

The developmental processes occurring throughout the life-cycle with special focus on problems and issues surrounding middle and old age. Utilization of demographic, cross-cultural, family, community, and societal studies to explore the social dimensions of aging.

Offered Fall, Spring

SOC 317. Class Status Power & Work. (3 Units)

Offered Infrequent, All terms

SOC 320. The Family. (3 Units)

Study of the social processes and structural patterns affecting contemporary family life in American society.

Offered Fall, Spring, Summer, All terms

SOC 321. Sociology Of Education. (3 Units)

Examination of the organization and functions of educational institutions, comparison of American educational systems with educational systems in industrial and developing nations. Special attention given to the impact of schools on the life choices of culturally diverse groups.

Offered Fall, Spring

SOC 322. Social Environment of Education. (3 Units)

An integrative study of socialization factors of the young child from various backgrounds and patterns of relationships between the teacher, parent, and community figures in culturally diverse situations.

Offered Fall, Spring, All terms

SOC 325. Sociology Of Religion. (3 Units)

Study of religion from sociological perspective: how religions are enacted and expressed as social and cultural events; the relation of religion to social structures; emphasis of the awareness of religion as an aspect of complex multiethnic society.

Offered Infrequent

SOC 326. Sociology Of Health. (3 Units)

Social and cultural aspects of health, health behavior, and health organizations. Research on the distribution of disease in society, organization of health professions, social change, health care, stress and disease. Examination of social and cultural factors affecting utilization and structure of health services.

Offered Fall, Spring

SOC 327. Sociology of Sports. (3 Units)

In this course, sports is examined as a social institution. This course provides an analysis of the organization and social functions of sport, popular sports media and history. It examines how sports challenges and reproduces cultural ideas about masculinity, femininity, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, social class, work, fun, achievement, competition, violence and aggression.

Offered Infrequent

SOC 328. Social Agencies: Practice and Power. (3 Units)

Study of the sources of power and the practical function of social agencies evaluated in their social context and for their impact upon the individual.

Offered Spring

SOC 331. Minority Racial and Ethnic Relations. (3 Units)

Investigation of current American racial and ethnic problems in world-wide and historical perspective.

Offered Fall, Spring, All terms

SOC 334. Women In Society. (3 Units)

Analysis of the changing role of women in different historical and cultural settings. Emphasis on the conflict women face from the value and belief systems of their cultures, those of their broader society and their social identity as women. The course will draw on material from diverse cultures, including both industrialized and developing countries.

Offered Fall, Spring

SOC 335. Social Movements. (3 Units)

A study of major social movements with varying specific emphasis on topical problems or relevant issues from semester to semester. For example, a specific semester may be devoted to Social Movements: Black Awareness; or Social Movements: Utopias. Repeatable course.

Offered Fall, Spring, Summer

SOC 337. Critical Sociology Through Film. (3 Units)

Students will examine how documentary and non-documentary film depicts and addresses social issues while communicating sociological theories and concepts in tangible visual formats. Through this process students will learn to critically examine media images using a sociological lens.

Offered Spring, Summer

SOC 340. Social Psychology: Sociological Perspective. (3 Units)

The reciprocal influence that individuals and groups exert on one another from a sociological perspective. Focus on language and other symbolic processes, role taking and role playing, and the importance of the self-concept in interpersonal behavior.

Offered Fall, Spring, All terms

SOC 341. Seminar In Small Groups. (3 Units)

Study and discussion of social interaction in small groups. Historical and theoretical background, research findings, leadership, and the small group as a social system. Classroom exercises in group dynamics. Three hours of seminar per week.

Offered Fall

SOC 355. Modern Sociological Theories. (4 Units)

Analysis of contemporary sociological theories with attention to historical origins. Relationship of theory to research and theory construction. Includes supplemental theory building workshop. Three hours of lecture and two hours of activity per week.

Offered Fall, Spring, All terms

SOC 362. Gangs and Adolescent Subcultures. (3 Units)

Examines gang phenomena nationally and regionally. Focus on organizational, behavioral, etiological, and preventive factors associated with development and perpetuation. Street, motorcycle, prison, ethnic and other subcultural formations are examined.

Offered Fall, Spring, Summer

SOC 363. Sociology of Alcohol and Other Drug Use. (3 Units)

Introduction to drugs and alcohol as a contemporary social problem. Sociological analysis of drug use and abuse. Course includes systematic review of policy implications and therapeutic applications of sociology of drug use, especially chemical dependency and alcoholism.

Offered Fall, Spring, Summer

SOC 364. Corrections. (3 Units)

Analysis of various sociological aspects of correctional operations: correctional settings, institutional life, types of correctional programs, rehabilitation, recidivism, alternatives to prisons, probation and prevention, the adjudicative process, and theoretical and empirical considerations of correctional systems.

Offered Fall, Spring

SOC 365. Deviant Behavior. (3 Units)

Consideration of deviant behavior. Study of the forms and processes of deviance, and the distribution of its occurrence. A systematic analysis of particular kinds of violations of normative rules as related to general processes of interaction in everyday social activities.

Offered Fall, Spring, Summer

SOC 367. Sociology Of Law. (3 Units)

The social context within which legal systems function, the effectiveness of law as a mechanism of social control, the relationship between law and social change, and the social basis for the administration of justice and punishment.

Offered Spring, Summer

SOC 368. Criminology. (3 Units)

Theories of the genesis of crime: patterns of criminal behavior; nature of criminal organizations; analysis of relationship of crime to the social structure; criminal statistics and crime rates: police and the criminal justice system.

Offered Fall, Spring, All terms

SOC 369. Juvenile Delinquency. (3 Units)

Social context, definition, implications, and causes of juvenile delinquency as a social phenomenon; analysis of factors associated with delinquent behavior. Problems of adjustment of delinquents and factors in treatment and in post-treatment adjustment.

Offered Fall, Spring, Summer, All terms

SOC 370. Moot Court. (3 Units)

Prerequisites: POL 304 and THE 120 are recommended. Training course of the Stanley Mosk Moot Court Competition. Case study of a selected problem and its progress through the legal system. Emphasis on difference between social and legal solutions. Students argue case before attorneys and judges. Repeatable course for up to three times. Two hours of lecture and two hours of activity per week.

Offered Infrequent

SOC 380. Urban Sociology. (3 Units)

This class examines the general courses, processes, and consequences of urban development. Interdisciplinary perspectives and research methodologies for studying urban settings will be reviewed.

Offered Fall, Spring

SOC 381. Field Studies in Urban Problems. (3 Units)

Field experiences in the urban setting, with special emphasis upon investigation and understanding of the human and social dimensions of urban problems. Two hours of lecture and two hours of activity per week.

Offered Fall, Spring, All terms

SOC 382. Sociology of Latina/o Communitites. (3 Units)

Offers offers introductory discussion and analysis of topics that pertain to Latinas/os throughout North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean. Explores experiences of different Latina/o communities. These include colonialism, post-colonialism, gender, immigration, race, etc.

Offered Infrequent

SOC 383. Black Communities: Class, Status and Power. (3 Units)

An analysis of the structure of the Black community: class, economic and political power, the role of leadership, and the conditions for social development.

Offered Fall, Spring, All terms

SOC 384. Community Organizing. (3 Units)

Study and project of community change. Analysis of the global context of local community organizing, including economic restructuring, environmental justice, immigration and the role of the state. Theories of community engagement and multi-cultural alliances, with an emphasis on women's roles.

Offered Fall, Spring

SOC 386. Sociology of the Helping Professions. (3 Units)

Analysis of the importance of social and environmental factors within the helping context. Particular emphasis on variety of settings for helping, and on issues of social ethics and cultural sensitivities.

Offered Fall, Spring, All terms

SOC 387. Theory and Research in Globalization. (3 Units)

This course provides students with an understanding of the basic theories and concepts related to the economic, social, political, and cultural processes of globalization. Students will work on a research project on a global issue.

Offered All terms, Fall, Spring

SOC 395. Special Topics In Sociology. (3 Units)

Intensive sociological analysis of a topic of special interest to both the faculty member and students. Repeatable course.

Offered Fall, Spring

SOC 401. Inferential Statistics. (4 Units)

Prerequisites: SOC 220 or its equivalent is required; algebra is recommended. Inferential statistical techniques as tools for analysis of sociological data. The logic of statistical inference. Parameter estimation and hypothesis testing. Three hours lecture and three hours laboratory per week.

Offered Infrequent

SOC 402. Multivariate Analysis. (4 Units)

Prerequisites: SOC 220 or its equivalent is required; SOC 401 is recommended. Consideration of the integral involvement of statistics in research, with special emphasis on multivariate techniques. Criteria for selection of appropriate techniques. Three hours of lecture and three hours laboratory per week.

Offered Infrequent

SOC 408. Survey Research. (3 Units)

Recommended Prerequisite: SOC 220. Emphasis on the skills of survey research in decision making, improvement, and data collection. Students will become involved in survey research activities.

Offered Infrequent

SOC 494. Independent Study. (1-3 Units)

Prerequisite: Consent of instructor. A reading program of selected topics conducted under the supervision of a faculty member. Repeatable course.

Offered Fall, Spring

SOC 496. Internship in Sociology. (3-6 Units)

Provides students with supervised pre-professional experience in a community agency, social justice or human rights organization.Â This internship introduces students to employment possibilities and social change work while they receive valuable field experience and build community contacts.Â Repeatable up to 9 units.

Offered As needed

SOC 498. Directed Research. (1-3 Units)

Offered Infrequent

SOC 500. Professional Development. (3 Units)

Provides an overview of university and department requirements for degree, campus resources, and exploration of career paths for Sociologists

Offered Fall, Spring

SOC 502. Graduate Workshop in Research and Theory. (3 Units)

Practicum in theory and research culminating in preparation of a public report. Entire experience is based on professional research projects in the Social Systems Research Center. Student is expected to assume some supervisory responsibility. Repeatable course. Six hours of workshop per week.

Offered Spring

SOC 503. Seminar in Ethnographic Analysis in Sociology. (3 Units)

Ethnographic fieldwork and analysis in Sociology. Theories and techniques of field observations and methods of analysis of observational data, including field notes, documents, and audio-visual records. Concentration on methods of doing sociology so as to extrapolate principles of social behavior from observation of on-going activities in organized settings. Three hours of seminar per week.

Offered Spring

SOC 505. Seminar in Sociological Research. (3 Units)

Prerequisites: SOC 305 or equivalent are required; SOC 401 or SOC 402, SOC 403 and SOC 407 are recommended; concurrent enrollment in SOC 506 required for Sociology graduate students, recommended for all others. Advanced study of sociological research techniques and strategies. Consideration of research design and analysis as they relate to theory testing. Three hours of seminar per week.

Offered Spring

SOC 506. Laboratory in Sociological Research. (1 Units)

Co-requisites: SOC 505 is required for Sociology graduate students and recommended for all others. Laboratory exercises in the application of research techniques, including formulation of the research problem, case selection, instrument design, observation, data reduction and processing, analysis, and interpretation. Three hours of laboratory per week.

Offered Spring

SOC 511. Seminar in Social Organizations. (3 Units)

An examination of the basic forms of social organization in historical and comparative perspective. The basic social scientific conceptions of social organization will be compared and contrasted in terms of methodological and policy implications. Three hours of seminar per week.

Offered Fall

SOC 518. Seminar in Marriage and the Family. (3 Units)

A sociological examination of contemporary social issues and changes affecting marriage and family life in American society. Normative and alternative family and marital life styles will be explored. Three hours of seminar per week.

Offered Fall

SOC 529. Seminar in Social Gerontology. (3 Units)

A detailed sociological discussion and presentation of theoretical and methodological issues and problems in the field of social gerontology. Fieldwork will be conducted. Three hours of seminar per week.

Offered Infrequent

SOC 550. Seminar in Interaction Processes. (3 Units)

Experience in both the theoretical and practical study of microsociology. Stress on the small group, with specific concern for problems such as communication, leadership, decision-making, gamesmanship, equilibrium, and change. Relevant research literature reviewed, and laboratory experiments in interaction processes conducted. Three hours of seminar per week.

Offered Spring

SOC 555. Seminar in Sociological Theory. (3 Units)

Prerequisite: SOC 355. A detailed examination of classical and contemporary sociological theory. Three hours of seminar per week.

Offered Fall

SOC 560. Seminar in the Sociology of Racial and Ethnic Relations. (3 Units)

A systematic inquiry into the experience of racial and ethnic minorities in the United States . Analysis of the sociological literature on interethnic relations, ethnic stratification and inequality. Implications for social policy. Three hours of seminar per week.

Offered Spring

SOC 561. Seminar in Aging: Minorities and Special Groups. (3 Units)

Analysis of the situation of the elderly within selected population groups including the black aged, Mexican-American aged, the aging woman, the rural and urban poor aged. Community resource persons will be invited to participate. Three hours of seminar per week.

Offered Infrequent

SOC 563. Seminar in the Sociology of Alcohol and Other Drug Use. (3 Units)

Social scientific approach to chemical substance use, misuse and dependency. Analysis of contemporary and historical definitions of alcohol and drug use. Origin, maintenance and transformation of patterns of drug use. Social responses to abuse and politics of use and abuse. Three hours of seminar per week.

Offered Infrequent

SOC 567. Sem In Sociology Of Law. (3 Units)

Offered Infrequent

SOC 568. Seminar In Criminology. (3 Units)

Analysis of specific issues in criminology. Issues that may be considered include the following: causative theories, major types of crime, formal crime control agencies, and prevention and control. Three hours of seminar per week.

Offered Spring

SOC 569. Seminar in Juvenile Delinquency. (3 Units)

Investigation of the causes, nature and consequences of Juvenile Delinquency from a sociological perspective. Reading and discussion of theoretical studies and empirical research. Three hours of seminar per week.

Offered Fall

SOC 595. Special Topics in Sociology. (3 Units)

A course designed to consider sociological analysis of a variety of special interest topics. The repeatable nature of the course makes it possible for students to work with more than one instructor on a topic of particular interest to the student. Course may be repeated once for a total of 6 units. Three hours of seminar per week.

Offered As needed

SOC 596. Practicum In Teaching Sociolog. (3 Units)

Prerequisite: Classified graduate standing. Supervised experience in teaching Sociology. Techniques and skills appropriate to instruction at the college level. Instructional and valuative experiences under supervision of sociology faculty. Repeatable for credit for a maximum of six units.

Offered Fall, Spring

SOC 597. Directed Reading. (1-3 Units)

Independent reading under direction of supervising faculty member in Sociology. Repeatable course.

Offered Fall, Spring

SOC 598. Directed Research. (1-3 Units)

Independent research under direction of supervising faculty member in Sociology. Repeatable course.

Offered Fall, Spring

SOC 599. Graduate Capstone in Sociology. (1-5 Units)

Prerequisites: SOC 505, SOC 555, SOC 511 or SOC 550 and Advancement to Candidacy in Sociology Graduate Program is required. Supervised thesis, special project, or comprehensive examination in sociology. Repeatable course.

Offered Fall, Spring

SOC 600. Grad Continuation Course. (1 Units)

Graduate students who have completed their coursework but not their thesis, project, or comprehensive examination, or who have other requirements remaining for the completion of their degree, may maintain continuous attendance by enrolling in this course. Signature of graduate program coordinator required.

Offered Fall, Spring

Sociology

Program Description

Academic Advisement

Preparation

Student Internships

Student Organizations

Graduation with Honors

Career Possibilities

Undergraduate Programs

Bachelor

Minor

Certificate

Graduate Programs

Master

Certificate

Faculty

Kara Dellacioppa, Kelin Li, Alexis McCurn, Joanna Perez, Katy Pinto, Jose Prado, La Tanya Skiffer, Sohaila Shakib, Billy Wagner-Huang (Department Chair)

Emeriti Faculty

Courses

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