2010-2011 University of Richmond Undergraduate Catalog

Sociology

Department of Sociology and Anthropology

Carol Wharton, Chair
Associate Professors Hass, Neff, Nourse, Obi, Wharton
Assistant Professors French, Ransom, Baykal, Briddell, Richards
Professionals from the field also are employed as adjunct faculty. Upper-level courses are taught on a rotating basis.

Sociology is the systematic study of social life in order to understand the causes and consequences of human action. Sociologists study the structure and processes of modern, industrial societies. They examine how social structures (groups, organizations, and communities) and social institutions (family, education, religion, etc.) affect human attitudes, actions, and life-chances. Sociologists use various theoretical perspectives to understand such areas as culture, socialization, conformity and deviance, inequality, family patterns, race and ethnic relations, and social change. Combining theoretical perspectives with empirical research allows constant testing and refinement of the body of knowledge that comprises the field of sociology. Sociology offers students an opportunity to develop new insights and a different perspective on their lives and to understand everyday social life as a combination of both stable patterns of interaction and ubiquitous sources of social change.

The Sociology Major

Note: The grade point average of the sociology coursework comprising the major must be no less than 2.00 with no course grade below C- (1.7).

10 units, including

SOC 101 Foundations of Society: Introduction to Sociological Analysis
SOC 211 Sociological Research Methods and Data Analysis
SOC 221 Sociological Theory
One unit from each of the three areas of concentration and three additional units, selected in consultation with the student's major advisor
SOC 401 Capstone Experience

Notes:

Upper-level courses are taught on a rotating basis.
Completing at least three units in one area constitutes a concentration in that area.
Only one 200-level course may be taken within any single concentration.
No more than two 200-level courses, excluding SOC 211 and SOC 221, may be taken for credit toward the sociology major.
No more than two anthropology courses may be counted towards the major.
Students must earn a grade of C or better in either SOC 211 or SOC 221 in order to take 300 or 400-level sociology courses.
For the sociology major no more than three courses (two courses for the sociology minor) may be taken at other institutions, including study abroad institutions.
Students are expected to fulfill all prerequisites necessary for courses within the major/minor. Prerequisites do not count toward the major/minor unless otherwise noted.

The Sociology Minor

Note: The grade point average of the coursework comprising the minor must be no less than 2.00 with no course grade below C- (1.7). A maximum of two courses may be taken at another accredited institution or through an approved study abroad program, with departmental approval.

6 units, including

SOC 101 Foundations of Society: Introduction to Sociological Analysis
SOC 211 Sociological Research Methods and Data Analysis
SOC 221 Sociological Theory
3 elective units, chosen from the three areas of concentration within the sociology major, with a minimum of 2 from the 300 level

Notes:

Upper-level courses are taught on a rotating basis.
No more than one 200-level course, excluding SOC 211 and SOC 221, may be taken for credit towards the sociology minor.
No more than one anthropology course may counted towards the minor.
Students must earn a grade of C or better in either SOC 211 or SOC 221 in order to take 300 or 400-level sociology courses.
SOC 326, 388, and 389 may not be counted toward the sociology minor.

Concentrations

Power, Inequality and Diversity SOC 216 Social Inequalities SOC 218 Sociology of the Black Experience SOC 279 Selected Topics (as approved by the department) SOC 302 Social Movements SOC 304 Power, Control and Resistance SOC 316 Race and Ethnicity SOC 319 Social Constructions of Gender and Sexuality SOC 320 Race, Class, and Schooling SOC 379 Selected Topics (as approved by the department) ANTH 279 Selected Topics (as approved by the department) ANTH 300 Sexuality and Gender Across Cultures ANTH 336 Politics, Power and Ritual ANTH 350 Sex and Gender in the Middle East ANTH 360 Power and Society in the Middle East ANTH 379 Selected Topics (as approved by the department)

Regional and Global Studies SOC 230 Introduction to the Study of Africa SOC 231 Across the Pond: Europe vs. USA SOC 232 Postsocialism in Russia and Eastern Europe SOC 279 Selected Topics (as approved by the department) SOC 306 Social Change in a Global Perspective SOC 308 War SOC 335 Feast and Famine: Inequalities in the Global Food System SOC 379 Selected Topics (as approved by the department) ANTH 279 Selected Topics (as approved by the department) ANTH 307 Indigenous Peoples of the Americas ANTH 308 Latin America: An Ethnographic Perspective ANTH 338 Africa: Cultural Change in a Post-Colonial Setting ANTH 339 Pacific Island Cultures and Ethnographies ANTH 340 Southeast Asia: Cultural Representations ANTH 379 Selected Topics (as approved by the department)

Social Institutions and Structures SOC 207 Crime and Justice in a Post-Modern Society SOC 250 Social Organizations and Institutions SOC 255 Sport in Society SOC 279 Selected Topics (as approved by the department) SOC 303 Sociology of Families SOC 305 Conformity, Deviance and Institutions of Social Control SOC 313 Field Investigation of the Juvenile and Adult Criminal Justice Systems SOC 324 Law and Society SOC 379 Selected Topics (as approved by the department) ANTH 279 Selected Topics (as approved by the department) ANTH 304 Ritual, Witchcraft and Divination ANTH 328 Anthropology of Human Rights ANTH 379 Selected Topics (as approved by the department)

Honors Program

The goal of the Sociology honors program is to give those students with superior interests and talents in the field to explore both sociology and personal intellectual interests and themes beyond the limits of typical courses offered. This will prepare these advanced students for possible graduate work or more advanced career prospects. Successful completion of the Honors Program is shown on the student's permanent academic record and on the diploma.

Eligibility and Admission

To qualify for the honors program in Sociology, a student should have: 18.5 or more units completed overall At least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average for all courses Excluding coursework primarily for first-year students, 4 or more units completed with distinction in the major field and a 3.5 cumulative grade point average for Sociology courses

To enter the honors program, the student must submit a letter of intent, with nominating support from one faculty member, by March 15 of his or her junior year. These materials must be submitted to the department's Honors Committee coordinator for inspection, after which the chairperson and student discuss the details and demands of the honors program.

A student who does not meet these qualifications may be admitted to the Program with the special recommendation of the department and the approval of the Faculty Committee on the Honors Program.

Students may request consideration by their department, or the department may invite a student to apply.

Program of Study

To receive credit for the Honors Program, the student must:

Fulfill the normal BA requirements for Sociology, with required Theory & Methods courses (Sociology 221 and 211) completed by the end of the junior year to facilitate work on the senior thesis (see below). There are two additional upper-level one-unit courses (one of which can be outside the department and must be related to the topic of the senior thesis), and independent study for the senior thesis (see below), to be completed by the end of the senior year. (This will allow juniors with a clear program of study to take a useful course that might not be offered in his or her senior year.) The program of study for Honors is 12 units (10 units for the BA + 2 units for Honors Independent Study).
Complete a senior thesis that addresses an original question or issue and that produces some original research (so as not to be a pure literature review of existing work). The thesis should be data-driven and demonstrate a grasp of existing literature and theory related to the issue at hand. While the senior thesis need not explicitly test sociological theory, it should engage relevant theory and not be purely empirical (although a purely empirical thesis is permissible if the student's advisor deems the project of having scholarly value). In preparation for undertaking the senior thesis, the student must agree with a faculty member, whose interests and expertise have the best possible fit with the student's intended thesis topic, to be his or her advisor for the thesis. The student and advisor should devise a basic plan for the project by the end of the spring semester of the junior year.
For credit for the thesis, the student will take two one-unit Honors courses in the senior year, both involving work on the senior thesis: Honors Independent Study (autumn) and Honors Thesis (spring). This will involve at a minimum meeting once a week with the thesis supervisor to discuss and monitor progress in data collection, analysis, and write-up. (The former will involve monitoring and assessing progress in data collection and analysis through regular reports--the timetable depending on the particular project, in agreement with the student and advisor. Assessment for the latter will be the thesis product itself.) The thesis will be due in time for a final grade to be submitted to the registrar--preferably the Friday before the School of Arts & Sciences Student Symposium (April). The grade for the independent study is that for the senior thesis. The department encourages students who are prepared sufficiently early to apply for a University summer grant to facilitate research. This 2-unit combination is in addition to the 10 units required for the Sociology BA.
The senior thesis will be assessed and graded by the student's thesis advisor and the chair of the Honors Program. If one person fulfills both these roles, an outside person whose expertise is sufficiently close to the thesis topic will be asked to aid with assessment. In case of disagreement, another member of the department will be asked for his/her opinion on the appropriate grade to resolve the disagreement.
The student must take two standard one-unit upper-level courses for Honors credit that include additional extra work agreed upon by the student, the course instructor, and the Honors program coordinator. One of those must be related to the intended senior thesis topic. This one course may be in any department, but in any case it should meet with the approval of the student's thesis advisor or Honors Program chair.

The student may withdraw at any time. Should he/she not complete required additional work or maintain an overall 3.3 grade point average and a 3.5 grade point average for Sociology coursework, the student will not receive credit for the Honors Program, and the department will submit a request for withdrawal to the Faculty Committee on the Honors Program.

The department will encourage students in their junior year who appear qualified to consider the Honors Program seriously as soon as possible, to facilitate preparation for the senior thesis and any required summer work/research.

The Honors program coordinator will meet with participating students no less frequently than one time per month (or via e-mail or other means of communication in the summer) to assess progress. The student and his/her advisor should develop a schedule for meetings and assessment they find most appropriate.

Courses

SOC 101 Foundations of Society: Introduction to Sociological Analysis

SOC 207 Crime and Justice in a Post-Modern Society

SOC 209 Social Problems

SOC 211 Sociological Research Methods and Data Analysis

SOC 216 Social Inequalities

SOC 218 Sociology of the Black Experience

SOC 221 Sociological Theory

SOC 231 Across the Pond: Europe vs. USA

SOC 232 Postsocialism in Russia and Eastern Europe

SOC 250 Social Organizations and Institutions

SOC 255 Sport in Society

SOC 230 Introduction to Africa: The Sociology of Africa

SOC 279 Selected Topics in Sociology

SOC 302 Social Movements

SOC 303 Sociology of Families

SOC 304 Power, Control and Resistance

SOC 305 Conformity, Deviance and Institutions of Social Control

SOC 306 Social Change in a Global Perspective

SOC 308 Sociology of War

SOC 311 Juvenile Delinquency

SOC 313 Field Investigation of the Juvenile and Adult Criminal Justice Systems

SOC 316 Race and Ethnicity in America

SOC 319 Social Constructions of Gender and Sexuality

SOC 320 Race, Class, and Schooling

SOC 324 Law and Society

SOC 326-327 Directed Independent Study

SOC 335 Feast and Famine: Inequalities in the Global Food System

SOC 379 Selected Topics

SOC 388 Individual Internship

SOC 389 Research Practicum

SOC 401 Capstone Experience

SOC 490 Honors Independent Study

SOC 491 Sociology Honors Thesis