Sociology and Anthropology (SOAN)
SOAN 050 Community Service Program 0.0 SH [ ]
In local, national, and international communities, with agencies, and institutions, students work together with others committed to meeting social needs. Students are encouraged to learn from those they serve, broaden their knowledge of diversity, develop social responsibility and realize their obligation to serve our global community.
SOAN 095 Internship - No credit 0.0 SH [ ]
Field experience in social service agency, organization, or institution. Application of interpersonal and organizational skills, plus knowledge gleaned from courses. Includes regular faculty contact and a final metacognitive paper. May be taken a maximum of four times.
Class Level Restriction: Sophomore and Junior and Senior only.
Field of Study Restrictions: Sociology and Anthropology Majors and/or Minors only.
SOAN 100 Intro to Global Sociology 3.0 SH [GESS]
An introduction to the basics of sociology as a way of understanding the world. This course is designed to provide a general introduction to the discipline of sociology. Although a domestic (US) sociological perspective is examined, a global sociological perspective is at the core of the course. Students will be introduced to the field by focusing on key sociological topics, including but not limited to social theory, the social construction of knowledge, socialization, social stratification, "race" and ethnicity, gender, culture, geography, religion, global social movements, globalization, global stratification, post-colonialism, and global ecology.
Class Level Restriction: Freshman and Sophomore only.
SOAN 130 Introduction to Archaeology 3.0 SH [GESS]
A survey course which explores theory, methods, and techniques for investigating, reconstructing, interpreting, preserving, and learning about human behavior in the past. It reviews human cultural chronology from the earliest Paleolithic ages, to the present, and examines the artifact remains. Throughout the course archaeology as anthropology and the relevance of archaeology to modern society and politics is emphasized.
Class Level Restriction: Freshman and Sophomore only.
SOAN 150 Intro to Cultural Anthropology 3.0 SH [GESS]
Introduction to the field of cultural anthropology. Explores various cultures around the world using some or all of the following as a basis of comparison: gender roles, language, social structure, family and kinship, identity, and spirituality. Also examines how cultures have been impacted by globalization.
Class Level Restriction: Freshman and Sophomore only.
SOAN 160 "Race" and Ethnicity 3.0 SH [GESS]
Examines the Native, African, Latino/Latina, Asian, and European American experience. Also, provides a critical and comparative analysis of racial ideology and the social construction of "race," its origins and present day consequences from a global perspective. Ethnicity, ethnic conflict, genocide, and conflict solutions are examined as well.
Class Level Restriction: Freshman and Sophomore only.
SOAN 175 Gender, Sexuality, & Society 3.0 SH [GESS]
Examines how people experience gender, sex, and sexuality in a variety of cultural contexts. Investigates how social identities, such as race, ethnicity and class intersect with gender. Identifies and analyzes the factors that lead to gender inequity within various social institutions including media, work, and politics. Discusses ways forward with these issues. Also listed as GSWS 175.
Class Level Restriction: Freshman and Sophomore only.
SOAN 180 Social Stratification 3.0 SH [GESS]
Explores some of the fundamental concepts and major theoretical issues involving social class and power at a global level. Topics include socio-economic inequality, class consciousness, power and privilege, social mobility, and the place of race and gender.
Class Level Restriction: Freshman and Sophomore only.
SOAN 200 Criminology and Criminal Law 3.0 SH [GESS]
Explores criminological theories, the criminal judicial system, and the consequences of crime in the United States and around the world. Typologies and case studies of crimes include, but are not limited to contemporary, historical, celebrity, corporate, crimes against humanity, and "terrorism".
SOAN 215 Soc Science Research Methods 4.0 SH <GEM>[GESS]
Explores qualitative and quantitative research methods used in the social sciences. Students conduct social research projects to learn various research designs, their strengths and weaknesses, and their applications. Students collect, analyze, and interpret data, as well as test hypotheses and develop theories. Also listed as POLS 215.
SOAN 230 Archaeological Field Studies 3.0 SH [GESS]
This course is an on-site, practical program in the methods and techniques of archaeological excavation and interpretation. In this course students will learn archaeological field skills including survey, mapping, excavation, classification, and recording of features and artifacts. Students will learn to identify features in the ground and in the landscape and to use a variety of precision surveying equipment.
SOAN 235 Environmental & Social Change 3.0 SH [GESS]
Examines the interface between social and environmental problems plus strategies to resolve such problems. Analyzes the impact of industrialization and globalization on humanity and ecosystems in traditional and more industrialized societies. Evaluates the feasibility of ecologically, economically, and socially sustainable rural and urban human settlement patterns.
SOAN 240 Native American Cultures 3.0 SH [GESS]
Develops an appreciation for Native North American cultures from a sociological and historical perspective. Examines common issues facing many Native Americans as they work to maintain their cultural practices and ways of knowing in the midst of a dominant Euro-American society. Explores contemporary political, socio-economic, and resource management issues related to ecological, economic, and social sustainability.
SOAN 244 Int'l Human Rights Law & Advcy 3.0 SH [GESS]
This course examines the global mechanisms, forces, and laws for promoting and protecting human rights; rights implementation via issues of evidence, ethics, and socio-political feasibility; legal concepts that apply to torture, political repression, war crimes and genocide, women's rights, children's rights, and violations of non-human rights; advocacy on behalf of those oppressed by violations of human and non-human rights law.
SOAN 245 Studies in Culture 1.0-3.0 SH [ ]
Analysis of selected cultures. The contents will vary, and the title will be extended to describe the current topic. May be offered for variable credit from one to three semester hours. May be taken more than once provided the topics differ.
SOAN 246 The Art of Activism 3.0 SH [GESS]
This course follows various social movements and their artistic campaigns to understand how creative ideas can change society. The course will look at campaigns using art, performance, and parody from the 18th Century in Europe to today, including the Civil Rights Movement and recent protest movements in North America, to understand how they were successful. Also listed as ARTH 246.
SOAN 250 African American Cultural Hist 3.0 SH [GESS]
An historical and cultural exploration of the African American experience from African antiquity to the present.
SOAN 251 Anthropology of India 3.0 SH [GESS]
A survey of contemporary India that examines the society through an anthropological lens. Explores the lived experiences of socio-economic class, caste, gender roles, marriage, family life, religion, politics, and globalization in the context of both rural and urban India. Uses India as a starting point from which to discuss questions pertaining to understanding cultural difference.
SOAN 255 The Anthropology of Religion 3.0 SH [GESS]
In this course we will examine the theory and methods available to anthropologists to understand ancient and indigenous religions that do not have a written record. Starting with the social and anthropological theory used to interpret religions, we will then examine the religions of Native American and other indigenous peoples to try and understand the commonalities and differences between them.
SOAN 265 Food in Society 3.0 SH [GESS]
The course will demonstrate how the political economy of the food system has emerged as a significant area of sociological/anthropological research and become essential to the study of sustainability. Drawing on interdisciplinary sources, this course explores the consequences raised by the relation of food and food consumption to inequality, diet, and food as a cultural symbol.
Class Level Restriction: Junior and Senior only.
SOAN 270 Indigenous Cultures 3.0 SH [GESS]
Explores practices of indigenous peoples around the world and uses the lens of globalization to examine present day issues. Examines the process of "modernization" and its effects on the role of the state and cultural preservation. Explores the role of indigenous peoples' values and knowledge related to resource management and environmental sustainability as well as cultural preservation.
SOAN 280 Global Urban Studies 3.0 SH [ ]
This course examines urban areas (cities) in a global context and is divided into four parts: global cities defined, living in cities, the health of cities, and the future of cities. Primary emphasis will be placed on analysis of "slums" and "ghettos" as well as the sustainable cities global movement.
Class Level Restriction: Sophomore and Junior and Senior only.
SOAN 290 African Cultures 3.0 SH [GESS]
A cultural view of Africa which studies the impact of colonialism and imperialism on contemporary African societies. In addition, the cultural influences of African liberation movements on the values and behavior of selected traditional peoples are analyzed.
Class Level Restriction: Junior and Senior only.
SOAN 300 Social Forces 3.0 SH [ ]
Comparative historical study of ideas of individuals who have contributed significantly to the development of social and cultural thought globally. Includes classical and contemporary theorists. Also focuses on explanatory value of race, ethnicity, gender, social class, and culture theories.
Class Level Restriction: Junior and Senior only.
SOAN 323 Refugees: Culture and Conflict 3.0 SH [ ]
This course looks at refugee groups around the world along with governmental and non-governmental organizations that service refugees. Explores the kinds of conflicts leading ethnic groups to become refugees; the options for resettlement for refugee groups; the issues related to resettlement; as well as how refugee groups adapt culturally to their new surroundings during the resettlement process; how "race," class, and gender impact both how refugees experience conflict and their integration into new communities. This course is intended to be a service learning course in that students are encouraged to enroll in the SOAN 050 community service at the International Institute.
Class Level Restriction: Junior and Senior only.
SOAN 325 Youth Advocacy Services 3.0 SH [ ]
Covers a wide range of youth and family issues in the USA and abroad, including child abuse and neglect, adoption and foster care, special needs children, families and children, and child welfare practices. Private and government efforts to respond to these issues are explored and evaluated.
Class Level Restriction: Junior and Senior only.
SOAN 330 Social Field Work Methods 4.0 SH [ ]
Designed for students considering human service, social work, or alternative education as a profession. Students learn about the social work profession and various social service systems. Students learn how to identify problems necessitating social work services and then devote time to skill development in interviewing, counseling, observing, and case work.
Prerequisite: Two of the following: SOAN 160, GSWS/SOAN 175, SOAN 180.
Class Level Restriction: Junior and Senior only.
SOAN 340 Peace and Conflict 3.0 SH [GESS]
Traces the creation, causes and consequences of war, war tipping points, jus bellum iustum (just war theory) and bellum averto (aversion of war) paradigms. Explores interpersonal, inter-group and international conflict, and resolution. Exposes students to cutting edge critical thinking around issues of violence and non-violent advocacy within the sociological framework of peace, war and social conflict.
Class Level Restriction: Junior and Senior only.
SOAN 370 Global Women's & LGBTQ+ Issues 3.0 SH [ ]
An in-depth study of the critical areas of concern for women and LGBTQIA+ individuals around the world. Examines ways forward on these issues including social movements working for equity for women & LGBTQIA+ individuals. Also listed as GSWS 370.
Class Level Restriction: Sophomore and Junior and Senior only.
SOAN 375 Globalization and Culture 3.0 SH [ ]
Uses both theories and case examples to explore the concept of globalization through the lens of cultural anthropology. Analyzes the global flows of money, people, commodities, media, and ideas while considering how class, gender, and ethnicity affect the way globalization is experienced around the world. Also listed as GLBS 375.
Class Level Restriction: Junior and Senior only.
SOAN 385 Ethnographic Research 4.0-6.0 SH [GESS]
Qualitative research that includes participant observation and structured and unstructured interviews. Students will conduct independent field research of a student-selected, faculty-approved topic. They will then analyze the data they collect with the purpose of developing theories and writing an ethnography, a detailed description of a culture. May be offered for variable credit from four to six semester hours.
SOAN 390 Independent Study 1.0-12.0 SH [ ]
Individual study under faculty supervision in any aspect of sociology or anthropology. Allows exploration of topics not considered in regular courses, or advanced work in areas like human services, criminology, archaeology, community organization, race, ethnicity, social class, gender roles, or family studies. May be taken for variable credit from one to twelve semester hours. May be taken more than once if topics differ.
Class Level Restriction: Junior and Senior only.
SOAN 395 Internship 1.0-6.0 SH [ ]
Field experience in social service agency, organization, or institution. Application of interpersonal and organizational skills, plus knowledge gleaned from courses. Includes field sponsor supervision, periodic self-assessments, final paper, and weekly faculty contact. May be taken a maximum of four times.
Class Level Restriction: Sophomore and Junior and Senior only.
Field of Study Restrictions: Sociology and Anthropology Majors and/or Minors only.
SOAN 400 Senior Capstone Seminar 3.0-6.0 SH [ ]
Research projects which include the application of theory and library research to contemporary social issues. May be offered for variable credit from three to six semester hours.
Class Level Restriction: Senior only.
