Mar 28, 2024  
Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog 2015-2016 
    
Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog 2015-2016 [ARCHIVED CATALOG] See drop-down menu above to access other catalogs.

Course Descriptions


Note: See Catalog Addenda  as that information supersedes the published version of this catalog.

The course descriptions include all courses that are taught for academic credit at the university. They are arranged in alpha-numerical sequence by course subject code. At present, the majority of the 500-600 level courses are offered in the evening hours. Students should be aware that not all courses are offered in the evening or every semester.

Students who are only able to enroll in classes 4 pm or after should consult the appropriate department chairperson for information about the availability of evening sections of courses required in a specific major, concentration and/or minor. Students are urged to consult “Available Course Sections” through the InfoBear link each semester to determine when specific courses are offered.

Click here  for information on how to read course descriptions.

 

 

Social Work

  
  • SCWK 485 - Honors Thesis

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: Open to Commonwealth and Departmental Honors students
    One-hour weekly meetings with the thesis director will culminate in an honors thesis. With the consent of the Department Honors Committee and the thesis director, this course may be extended into a second semester for three additional credits depending upon the scope of the project. Whether the final version of the thesis qualifies the student to graduate with honors will be determined by the department honors committee. This course may be taken twice for a maximum of six credits. Offered either semester.

  
  • SCWK 498 - Field Experience in Social Work

    (6 credits for each semester)
    Prerequisite: Admission to the social work program; SCWK 320 with a minimum grade of “C”; and SCWK 338 with a minimum grade of “C”; and SCWK 380 with a minimum grade of “C”; consent of department; formal application required
    The field experience provides opportunities for students to learn how to apply knowledge and to develop skills in direct services to clients under the direction of a qualified agency field instructor. A minimum of 410 hours is spent in a wide variety of community agencies from September-May of the senior year. This experience continues to build upon the practice sequence of SCWK 338, SCWK 431, and SCWK 432. A weekly seminar throughout the year allows students to integrate social work theory and practice into a unified whole as part of their development as beginning professional practitioners. This course may be taken twice for a maximum of 12 credits. Offered both semesters in fall-spring sequence. (CWRM)

  
  • SCWK 499 - Directed Study in Social Work

    (1-3 credits)
    Prerequisite: Consent of the department; formal application required
    Directed study is open to juniors and seniors who have demonstrated critical and analytical abilities in their studies and who wish to pursue a project independently. This course may be taken twice for a maximum of six credits. Offered either semester.

  
  • SCWK 500 - Policy I: Social Welfare Policy

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: Matriculation in the MSW program
    The course introduces students to the American social welfare systems and the social policies that serve as its underpinnings. It provides a historical perspective, with attention to important social, economic and political contexts. Analysis of different values and ethical positions will illustrate the degree to which they promote social and economic justice and serve underrepresented populations. Students will be introduced to a framework for policy analysis for use in evaluating policy responses to key social problems including poverty, health care, substance abuse, housing, child welfare, mental health, hunger and issues facing the elderly. Special attention will be paid to social problems and policy responses in Southeastern Massachusetts. Offered once annually.

  
  • SCWK 502 - Dynamics of Diversity and Oppression

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: Matriculation in MSW program; may be taken concurrently with SCWK 500
    This course introduces students to the concepts of diversity and oppression in our society as a foundation for the later infusion of these concepts throughout the MSW curriculum. Students will explore the dynamics of diversity, power differences and oppression as part of an examination of systems of privilege and disadvantage based on race, gender, age, sexual orientation, (dis)ability, class and economic status, religion and other forms of social differentiation and stratification. Offered once annually.

  
  • SCWK 503 - Directed Study

    (1-3 credits)
    Prerequisite: Consent of the MSW program director
    Directed study is designed for the graduate student who desires to study selected topics in a specific field. For details, consult the paragraph titled “Directed or Independent Study” in the “College of Graduate Studies” section of this catalog. This course may be repeated for a maximum of six credits.

  
  • SCWK 508 - Policy II: Policy Advocacy, Development and Analysis

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: Matriculation in the MSW program and SCWK 500 and SCWK 502
    This course offers students an opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to become effective policy advocates. As policy advocates, social workers work to influence and change social policies in communities, agencies or legislative settings, with the goal of addressing social problems, increasing social justice and assuring access to essential social resources, especially for groups that lack relative power in our society. The course will introduce skills for analyzing, developing, implementing, and assessing policy at varying levels of sponsorship and implementation. Offered once annually.

  
  • SCWK 510 - Human Behavior in the Social Environment I

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: Matriculation in the MSW program; may be taken concurrently with SCWK 500 and SCWK 502
    This course introduces students to the multiple contexts in which people function – communities, organizations and families – and to the theoretical base that underlies social work practice. Building on the contributions to our understanding of human functioning provided by biology, psychology, sociology, economics and political science, it explores the challenges and opportunities created by multiple systems and by diverse and sometimes conflicting theoretical explanations of human behavior. Offered once annually.

  
  • SCWK 511 - Human Behavior in the Social Environment II

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: Matriculation in MSW program and SCWK 500 and SCWK 502 and SCWK 510
    This course will present theories related to strengths-based practice such as social constructivism, narrative theory and family systems theory which foster understanding of resiliency used throughout the lifespan to face selected developmental challenges. A life span approach will highlight the common development themes of each stage along with an appreciation of inherent strengths that come from an integrated biopsychosocial cultural and familial understanding. Offered once annually.

  
  • SCWK 512 - Human Behavior in the Social Environment III: DSM-The Art and Science of Clinical Diagnosis

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: Matriculation in MSW program and SCWK 511; or consent of program coordinator
    This course will expose students to the most commonly used perspective in assessing and diagnosing adults, adolescents and children, the DSM system for the classification of mental disorders. Students will learn how to assess and diagnose a client within the framework of the mental health system which relies upon the DSM. Students will use their experience with clients to understand the impact of mental illness on client and family functioning. The ethics of using the DSM in assessment will be explored as well as the ongoing debate on the validity and usefulness of the DSM system. Offered fall and spring semesters.

  
  • SCWK 530 - Social Work Practice I

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: Matriculation in the MSW program; must be taken concurrently with SCWK 590
    This course introduces social work practice skills for working with individuals, families, and small groups. Students are introduced to the problem-solving process and to the process of building a professional relationship. Policies, purposes, and functions of social service agencies are examined. Attention is given to the development of culturally congruent social work practice skills in relation to age, ethnicity, gender and other variables.

  
  • SCWK 531 - Social Work Practice II: Groups and Community-Based Practice

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: Matriculation in the MSW program and SCWK 530; must be taken concurrently with SCWK 591; or consent of program coordinator
    This course introduces the knowledge, skills and values needed to enhance the responsiveness of communities and organizations to the needs of their constituents. The health and resilience of individuals and families depends substantially on the policies and practices of the communities and social institutions in which they dwell. The course aims to prepare social workers to work with community members to ensure the provision of needed resources to all and to enable human services agencies to deliver effective services. Techniques for analyzing communities and organizations and skills for facilitating system change such as coalition-building, lobbying, and using the media will be covered.

  
  • SCWK 540 - Introductory Social Research

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: Matriculation in the MSW program
    This course introduces students to the role of research in social work and familiarizes students with the basic concepts and methods of social science research. It emphasizes ethical decision-making within the research process as it introduces students to research techniques including surveys, experiments, single-subject designs, qualitative methods and program evaluation. The stages of the research process including question formulation and hypothesis generation, research designs development of research instruments, and understanding findings will be addressed. Throughout, attention will be paid to the evaluation and application of existing social science research in social work practice and to the contributions made by social workers to new knowledge. Offered once annually.

  
  • SCWK 541 - Research: Evaluating Practice

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: Matriculation in MSW program and SCWK 540; or consent of program coordinator
    The second required course in the research sequence builds on the skills introduced in SCWK 540 and introduces students to issues and procedures involved in analyzing social science research data. Students will learn what questions to ask regarding the selection of analytic strategies, how to understand the data analysis process, and how to use SPSS as an analytic tool. They will increase their skills in evaluating the data analysis decisions of other researchers, and, thus, their findings. They will also be introduced to the process of presenting analytic data through graphs and tables and through written reports. Offered once annually.

  
  • SCWK 550 - Social Work Practice III: Intergenerational Strengths-Based Practice with Families

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: Matriculation in the MSW program or as an Advanced Standing student; must be taken concurrently with SCWK 593
    This is the first of two concentration practice courses. This course will present theoretical analysis of clinical models for working with families and integrate those models with current best practices for social work practice. This course will also focus on community employed models of community intergenerational family-based social work practice with diverse families. Offered once annually.

  
  • SCWK 551 - Social Work Practice IV: Intergenerational Strengths-Based Practice with Individuals

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: Matriculation in the MSW program; must be taken concurrently with SCWK 592
    This is the second of two concentration practice courses. This course will present theoretical analysis of clinical models for working with individuals and integrate those models with current best practices for social work practice. This course will also focus on community employed models of community intergenerational individual-based social work practice with diverse individuals. Offered once annually.

  
  • SCWK 559 - Study Tour in Social Work

    (3 credits)
    (Country to be determined) This course will offer students a first-hand, supervised cross cultural travel and study experience from a historical and social perspective of social problems in the country they visit. Students will participate in lectures, site visits, research and other academic experiences, including pre and post-travel activities, as appropriate. Topics focus on historical development of world cultures, practices, beliefs and response to social problems. This course is interdisciplinary in nature, drawing upon perspectives such as visual and performing arts, religious traditions, political organization, economic development, social and family life. This course may be repeated for different destinations.

  
  • SCWK 572 - Social Policy III: Mental and Physical Health Care Policy

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: Matriculation in the MSW program and SCWK 508; or consent of MSW coordinator
    This advanced policy course will examine mental and physical health care policy to promote students’ in-depth knowledge regarding policy in the United States and globally. Utilizing a social justice knowledge base, students will examine mental and physical health care policy, the history, present and future as it impacts various client systems, including individuals, families, groups and communities. The focus will include the role that social policy plays in social work practice as well as the role of the social work profession in the development of health care policy. Students will consider the social construction of “health” and “illness” as it relates to policy development. Students will explore issues relating to confidentiality, ethical practice, as well as equitable access to quality care. They will conduct in-depth examinations of the role of the various levels of government in the provision of services, as well as the organizational structures of service delivery, including financing and delivery of mental and physical health care. Finally, students will become knowledgeable in mental and physical health care policy in Massachusetts.

  
  • SCWK 580 - Special Topics

    (1.5-3 credits)
    Prerequisite: Dependent on topic
    Special topics of current relevance in social work will be offered each semester. Topics to be addressed will be announced prior to registration. May be repeated for different topics.

  
  • SCWK 590 - Field Practice and Seminar I

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: Matriculation in the MSW program; must be taken concurrently with SCWK 530
    This is the first of a two-semester practicum that provides for the integration of the student’s learning into the field. Students are placed in a single social work setting for 16 hours per week, working directly under the supervision of an MSW professional. Students meet in lecture sessions once a week for two hours for the purpose of integrating field practice experiences and the application of social work theory, knowledge, skills and values. Barriers to full participation by the disadvantaged in society’s economic, political, and social processes are explored, as are the economic and ethical challenges to professional practice. Graded on a (P) Pass/(N) No Pass basis. Offered once annually.

  
  • SCWK 591 - Field Practice and Seminar II

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: Matriculation in the MSW program; must be taken concurrently with SCWK 531
    This is the second of a two-semester practicum that provides for the integration of the student’s learning into the field. Graded on a (P) Pass/(N) No Pass basis. Offered once annually.

  
  • SCWK 592 - Field Practice III

    (4 credits)
    Prerequisite: Matriculation in the MSW program; must be taken concurrently with SCWK 551
    This is the second year, two-semester practicum that offers the student ongoing opportunities to integrate classroom learning in the field. Students are placed in a single social work setting for both semesters for 24 hours per week, working directly under the supervision of an MSW professional. Students meet on a scheduled basis with their faculty advisor to assess progress and problem-solve. Graded on a (P) Pass/(N) No Pass basis. Offered once annually.

  
  • SCWK 593 - Field Practice IV

    (4 credits)
    Prerequisite: Matriculation in the MSW program; must be taken concurrently with SCWK 550
    This is the second semester of the second year, two-semester practicum that offers the student ongoing opportunities to integrate classroom learning in the field. Students are placed in a single social work setting for both semesters for 24 hours per week, working directly under the supervision of an MSW professional. Students meet on a scheduled basis with their faculty advisor to assess progress and problem-solve. Graded on a (P) Pass/(N) No Pass basis. Offered once annually.


Sociology

  
  • SOCI 102 - Introduction to Sociology

    (3 credits)
    This course covers such areas as social structure, basic human institutions, analysis of social processes and major social forces. Offered either semester. (CMCL; CSOC)

  
  • SOCI 103 - Social Problems

    (3 credits)
    Contemporary social problems which are reflected in the behavior of individuals, but whose origins and causes lie outside of individuals. Topics treated will include drug abuse, crime, juvenile delinquency, divorce and other family problems, mental illness and other health problems, social class, and selected social issues. Offered either semester. (CMCL; CSOC)

  
  • SOCI 104 - Global Social Problems

    (3 credits)
    This course treats major world problems with particular emphasis upon those faced by non-Western peoples. The interdependence between economically developed and underdeveloped parts of the world will be explored according to such themes as collective versus individual good, short- versus long-term planning and cooperation versus competition. Offered either semester. (CGCL; CMCL; CSOC)

  
  • SOCI 120 - Mentoring for Social Change

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: Consent of instructor
    Mentoring and leadership are two skills most useful to students in their college and post-college lives. This course will explore the literature on these topics and on at-risk youth. Guest speakers will discuss different approaches to leadership and mentoring. Students will be given assignments, exercises and techniques geared toward improving their mentoring capacities. Successful students will be asked to participate in an exciting mentoring collaboration for local at-risk youth.

  
  • SOCI 135 - Freshman Honors Colloquium

    (1 credit)
    Prerequisite: Open to Commonwealth Honors students and to others at the discretion of instructor
    Freshman Honors Colloquia allow honors students to explore challenging topics in discussion-based small classes. Specific topics vary by semester and instructor. May be repeated for a maximum of six credits. Offered fall semester.

  
  • SOCI 136 - Freshman Honors Colloquium

    (1 credit)
    Prerequisite: Open to Commonwealth Honors students and to others at the discretion of instructor
    Freshman Honors Colloquia allow honors students to explore challenging topics in discussion-based small classes. Specific topics vary by semester and instructor. May be repeated for a maximum of six credits. Offered spring semester.

  
  • SOCI 199 - First Year Seminar

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: Open to all freshmen with a writing placement score of 3 or above or a SAT score of 500 or above or who have completed ENGL 101. Students with 24 or more transfer credits will have this requirement waived.
    First Year Seminars (FYS) are writing-intensive, topic courses that introduce students to academic thought, discourse and practices. FYS courses prepare and orient students toward productive and fulfilling college careers by actively engaging them in a specific academic area of interest. Students will improve their writing, reading, research and basic information and technology skills while learning to work both collaboratively and independently. These courses will fulfill the First Year Seminar requirement and may fulfill other requirements for the core curriculum. Each course may fulfill different requirements and topics may change each semester. Only one FYS course may be taken for credit. (CFYS)

  
  • SOCI 203 - The Family

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 or consent of instructor
    This course examines the family as a social institution in terms of its historical and cultural development. Students will also analyze psychological and social factors of contemporary family life. Offered either semester. (Formerly SOCI 303)

  
  • SOCI 204 - Gender, Sexuality and Society

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 or consent of instructor
    Sexuality is a central aspect of human social life. This course closely examines the theories, concepts, practices, and ramifications relating to issues of sex, gender, sexuality and identity. It will increase students’ understanding of the connections between human sexual attitudes and behaviors and larger social forces, and will examine taken-for-granted societal assumptions about human sexuality. Topics include the social construction of sex, gender, and sexual orientation; the interaction of gender roles and sexual attitudes; pornography; prostitution; date rape; and sexual harassment. (CMCL; CSOC; CWRT)

  
  • SOCI 205 - Sports in Society

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 or consent of instructor
    Sport is a multi-dimensional phenomenon. It is so pervasive in the Western world that its mark has been stamped on every social institution. This course will use the conceptual frameworks, theories, and research methods of sociology to look at and better understand sport within the social context. The course will examine specific problems such as those faced by women in sport, ethnic outsiders and iconic sports figures. Topics including politics, education, deviance, the family, collective behavior, violence and stratification will be addressed. Offered alternate years.

  
  • SOCI 206 - Cities and People: Urban Sociology

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 or consent of instructor
    This course examines cities and urbanization in comparative perspective. It will also focus on changing urban social structures, the nature of city life, urban planning and grassroots participation in urban change. Offered either semester. (Formerly SOCI 306)

  
  • SOCI 207 - Social Inequality

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 or consent of instructor
    This course explores inequality in the U.S. within a global context. The class focuses on the major dimensions of social inequality: class, race and ethnicity, and gender. It examines the causes, processes, and consequences of inequality and stratification. Topics covered include wealth and poverty inequality, crime, and criminal justice inequality and health; education and social mobility; and policy questions related to inequality and poverty. Offered every semester. (Formerly SOCI 304)

  
  • SOCI 208 - Sociology of Religion

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 or consent of instructor
    Comparative study of religious systems and institutions; function and role of religion and the church in society; professional status, history and relations of the clergy. Offered spring semester. (Formerly SOCI 108)

  
  • SOCI 211 - Homelessness in U.S. Society

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 or consent of instructor
    This course will explore the causes of and possible solutions to homelessness as a feature of contemporary life in urban, suburban and rural settings. The course will also examine homelessness in the context of what home means for us as individuals and as a society. Although home means different things for different people, it is generally understood as a socializing force that shapes how we understand both the world and ourselves. This course examines cultural conceptions of home as an anchor for personal identity. (CSOC; CWRT)

  
  • SOCI 213 - Family Violence

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 or CRJU 201 or consent of instructor
    This course examines violence in the family from sociological and criminological perspectives. It also examines the response of the criminal justice system to family violence. The course examines the extent, types and causes of violence in families and domestic units and will also analyze the reasons why most family violence is directed against women and children. The course considers recommendations for family intervention and policies for the prevention of family violence, as well as the social and legal implications of those recommendations. Offered alternate spring semesters. (Formerly SOCI 313)

  
  • SOCI 214 - Middle Eastern Societies

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 or consent of instructor
    This course introduces the cultures and social structures of Middle Eastern societies, with a focus on social change in the region. Topics covered include the role of Islam, patterns of leadership, the distribution of wealth and power, family patterns, the position of women and the nature of work. (CGCL; CMCL; CSOC)

  
  • SOCI 215 - Death, Dying and Bereavement

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 or consent of instructor
    The study of death deals with questions at the roots of human experience. Encounters with death are individual, yet socially constructed. Human reactions to death and the rituals surrounding it are influenced by various social factors including family, peers, gender, race and ethnicity and our own identity. This course will help students appreciate the diversity of death and bereavement practices and will offer students critical-thinking skills that will be useful as they encounter death-related issues. Topics will include end-of-life care, suicide, euthanasia, funeral practices, bereavement and loss and near death experiences. (Formerly SOCI 317)

  
  • SOCI 216 - Latin American Societies

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 or consent of instructor
    This course introduces the socio-cultural structures of Latin American societies, with a focus on social change in the region. Topics covered include the distribution of wealth and power, development, tourism and sport, work and economy, family patterns, the position of women and rural-urban contrasts. (CGCL; CMCL; CSOC)

  
  • SOCI 217 - East Asian Societies: China and Japan

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 or consent of instructor
    This course examines the cultural and social structure of traditional and modern China and Japan. The course will focus on topics such as work and economy, rural-urban contrasts, family and kinship, the position of women and the relationships between state and society. The course will conclude with an assessment of the positions of these two societies in the contemporary world. (CGCL; CMCL; CSOC)

  
  • SOCI 218 - Chinese Society and Culture

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 or consent of instructor
    This course provides a general introduction to Chinese society and culture. It examines the structure of Chinese society and the characteristics of Chinese culture. The course pays particular attention to China’s economic reform and its social and political consequences. Topics covered include Confucianism, Chinese martial arts, free market within a communist regime, China’s political future, changing Sino-U.S. relations, and growing prosperity and inequality in China. (CGCL; CSOC)

  
  • SOCI 219 - Population and Society

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 or consent of instructor
    This course describes the mutual influence of demography and social structure. Trends in population growth and their effect on industrialization and urbanization will be covered in the context of developed and Third World nations. Offered alternate years. (CSOC; CWRT)

  
  • SOCI 220 - The Developing World

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 or consent of instructor
    This course introduces the sociological aspects of comparative international development and the role of the developed world in that process. The course will address issues such as industrialization, urbanization, education, globalization, population growth, environmentalism, class structures, political structures, and contrasting development models. (CGCL; CMCL; CSOC)

  
  • SOCI 222 - African World Perspectives

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 or SOCI 104 or consent of instructor
    This course will examine some of the key events in African history from European colonialism to present including continental colonialism; apartheid in South Africa; the HIV/AIDS epidemic; war, conflict, and genocide; the impacts of globalization and political economy; social outcomes such as child labor, access to education, women’s rights, and infrastructural poverty; and people’s movements for social change and social justice. (CGCL; CMCL; CSOC)

  
  • SOCI 226 - Food and Society

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 or consent of instructor
    Food is central to human survival and social life. This course examines food from social and cultural perspectives. Beginning with a focus on the global food system, the class examines changing agricultural systems and their effects on food from both social structural and cultural perspectives. Topics covered include food security and hunger; inequality and food; food and culture, food and gender; alternative food systems; food, agriculture and sustainability; global transitions in food and their relationships to authenticity; ethnic and immigrant food traditions and how people use them to retain aspects of their cultural identity; and global food commodity chains in the world economy. Offered alternate fall semesters. (CGCL; CMCL; CSOC; CWRT)

  
  • SOCI 227 - Deviance and Social Control

    (3 credits) Cross Listed with CRJU 227
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 or CRJU 201 or consent of instructor
    This course examines deviant acts with an eye toward understanding social order and change. Topics covered include the types and causes of deviance, the social conditions and elements of deviant acts, and the effects of deviance and mechanisms for prevention, punishing and rehabilitating deviant individuals and groups. Offered every semester. (Formerly SOCI/CRJU 327)

  
  • SOCI 228 - Criminology

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 or consent of instructor
    This course will be concerned with theories of crime causation, and perspectives on administration, treatment, prevention and prediction. Consideration will be given to the influence of social class and other factors in criminal behavior. (Formerly SOCI 328)

  
  • SOCI 230 - Art and American Society

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 or consent of instructor
    This course will provide a sociological perspective on the arts in America. It will explore the social interactions, actors, and institutions of artistic production and consumption; the societal context of traditional and nontraditional art forms; and the intersection of race, class, and gender within the art world. (CSOC; CSPI)

  
  • SOCI 232 - Understanding Japanese Society

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 or consent of instructor
    This course introduces students to Japanese society and culture. By focusing on central aspects of the Japanese cultural heritage, the course provides a solid foundation for understanding key features of contemporary Japanese culture and social structure. Among the topics covered are class and stratification, work and labor, gender stratification, the family, diversity and discrimination, food culture, popular culture, education, and the political system. The course also examines the regional and global roles of Japan. (CGCL; CSOC; CWRT)

  
  • SOCI 238 - Game Theory and Society

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 or consent of instructor
    This course will use game theory to examine social interaction. Game theory as a tool of analysis offers powerful insights into how people, groups and societies make decisions. Situations discussed may include conflicts within family relationships, legal problems and disputes between different cultures. The concepts and methods of game theory also emphasize ways to restructure institutions to encourage mutually advantageous outcomes. Offered fall semester. (Formerly SOCI 338) (CQUR; CSOC)

  
  • SOCI 255 - Juvenile Delinquency

    (3 credits) Cross Listed with CRJU 255
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 or CRJU 201 or consent of instructor
    Analysis of the nature and types of juvenile behavior that violates law; the mechanisms of defining such behavior as delinquent; and the relationship between delinquency and the social situations of juvenile offenders. (Formerly SOCI/CRJU 355)

  
  • SOCI 265 - Sociology Study Tour

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: Consent of instructor and application through the International Programs Office
    This course will offer students a first-hand, supervised, cross-cultural travel and study experience from a sociological perspective. Students will participate in lectures, site visits, research and other academic experiences. Pre-departure and while traveling, students will learn about local society and culture, both current and historical, and have the opportunity to study and experience arts, religious traditions, political organizations, economy, sustainability, folklore and family life. This course may be taken twice for credit for travel to different destinations.

  
  • SOCI 280 - Genocide and Political Violence

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 or SOCI 104 or consent of instructor
    This course explores the perplexing and disturbing reality of widespread genocide and political violence throughout the world, particularly during the course of the 20th century and into the new millennium. We will explore the causes of genocide, what constitutes genocide, how genocide is rationalized and allowed to continue and what ends genocide. Case studies covered may include the Holocaust, Armenia, Rwanda, Burma, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Argentina, East Timor, Chiapas, Sierra Leone, Uganda, Sudan, Bangladesh, Tibet and Congo. Offered spring semester.

  
  • SOCI 286 - Sophomore Honors Colloquium

    (1 credit)
    Prerequisite: Open to Commonwealth Honors students and others at the discretion of the instructor
    Sophomore Honors Colloquia allow honors students to explore challenging topics in discussion-based small classes; specific topics vary by semester and instructor. Colloquia meet once per week for 50 minutes. The minimum enrollment is two and the maximum is 12. Offered fall semester.

  
  • SOCI 287 - Sophomore Honors Colloquium

    (1 credit)
    Prerequisite: Open to Commonwealth Honors students and others at the discretion of the instructor
    Sophomore Honors Colloquia allow honors students to explore challenging topics in discussion-based small classes; specific topics vary by semester and instructor. Colloquia meet once per week for 50 minutes. The minimum enrollment is two and the maximum is 12. Offered spring semester.

  
  • SOCI 298 - Second Year Seminar (Speaking Intensive)

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: _ _ _ _ 199; Open to all sophomores and juniors who have completed ENGL 101, and the speaking skills requirement. Students with 54 or more transfer credits will have this requirement waived. Cannot be taken if _ _ _ _ 298 or _ _ _ _ 299 are taken for credit.
    Second Year Seminars (SYS) are speaking-intensive, topic courses that build on the academic skills and habits introduced in the First Year Seminar. SYS courses engage students in a specific academic area of interest and provide them with the opportunity to reinforce, share and interpret knowledge. Students will improve their speaking, reading, research and basic information and technology skills while building the connections between scholarship and action that are required for lifelong learning. These courses will fulfill the Second Year Seminar requirement and may fulfill other requirements for the core curriculum. Each course may fulfill different requirements and topics may change each semester. Only one SYS course may be taken for credit. (CSYS)

  
  • SOCI 299 - Second Year Seminar (Writing Intensive)

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: _ _ _ _ 199; Open to all sophomores and juniors who have completed ENGL 101 and ENGL 102. Students with 54 or more transfer credits will have this requirement waived. Cannot be taken if _ _ _ _ 298 or _ _ _ _ 299 are taken for credit.
    Second Year Seminars (SYS) are writing-intensive, topic courses that build on the academic skills and habits introduced in the First Year Seminar. SYS courses engage students in a specific academic area of interest and provide them with the opportunity to reinforce, share and interpret knowledge. Students will improve their writing, reading, research and basic information and technology skills while building the connections between scholarship and action that are required for lifelong learning. These courses will fulfill the Second Year Seminar requirement and may fulfill other requirements for the core curriculum. Each course may fulfill different requirements and topics may change each semester. Only one SYS course may be taken for credit. (CSYS)

  
  • SOCI 300 - Seminar: Social Theory

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 and ENGL 102; or consent of instructor; restricted to majors and minors in sociology
    This course addresses the history of social theory and selected topics in modern social theories, analysis of alternative conceptual approaches and their methodological requirements. Offered either semester. (Formerly SOCI 290 and SOCI 400) (CWRM)

  
  • SOCI 305 - Sociology of Education

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 and SOCI 300; or consent of instructor
    This course examines schools as social organizations, the culture of schools, the relationships between education and social stratification and the sociology of educational reform. All levels of education are considered, from kindergarten through higher education. Offered fall semester.

  
  • SOCI 315 - Race and Ethnicity in America

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 and SOCI 300; or consent of instructor
    This course explores debates on diversity within the U.S. by taking a sociological perspective on the experiences of various racially and ethnically defined groups and on the relations among those groups. Drawing on a sociological approach to immigration, race and ethnicity, stratification and conflict, the course focuses on the role of power, privilege and access to resources in the social construction of race and ethnicity. The course will also examine important policy debates, including those over Affirmative Action, poverty, crime and criminal justice; inequality and health education and social mobility; and policy questions related to inequality and poverty. (CSOC; CWRT)

  
  • SOCI 322 - Sociology of Childhood

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 and SOCI 300; or consent of instructor
    This course recognizes and examines childhood as a social construction that differs within various historical. economic, social and cultural contexts. Topics covered will include socialization; peer culture; the institutionalization of childhood; the racial, cultural, economic and gender dimensions of childhood; and the emergence of adolescence. Offered alternate spring semesters.

  
  • SOCI 323 - Sociology of Adolescence

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 and SOCI 300; or consent of instructor
    This course provides a critical examination of adolescence in North American societies, focusing on the causes and consequences of the lengthened period in which the transition to adulthood occurs. It provides a brief history of adolescence research identifying a select set of topics, themes and research problems that guide current research on adolescence and youth. These themes include, but are not limited to, peer group relations, biological influences on adolescence, employment experiences, increased autonomy, racial and gender differences, youth culture, dating patterns, family and education. Special emphasis will be placed on the relationship of adolescents’ social roles to processes of social change and stability. Offered alternate spring semesters.

  
  • SOCI 329 - Public Opinion and Mass Media

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 and SOCI 300; or consent of instructor
    Principles of mass communication and public opinion will be discussed from the point of view of the source of a message, the message itself, the audience, the channel through which the message proceeds and the effect of the message.

  
  • SOCI 330 - Women’s Roles: Sociology of Sex and Gender

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 and SOCI 300; or consent of instructor
    An analytical study of the relation of sex to power and influence in society. Differentiation in sex roles as affected by the economy and reinforced by other institutions. New alternatives for women.

  
  • SOCI 332 - Sociology of Organizations

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 and SOCI 300; or consent of instructor
    Analysis of the emergence, structure, function, culture and social significance of complex organizations. Emphasis will be placed upon the results of research in hospitals, schools, prisons and military and industrial organizations. Attention will be given to informal associations and organizational change. Offered spring semester.

  
  • SOCI 337 - Environmental Sociology

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 and SOCI 300; or consent of instructor
    Environmental sociology is the study of how complex social systems interact with complex environmental systems (ecosystems). In this writing-intensive course, we will use a sociological lens to consider issues such as: How do we define nature and what effects do those definitions have on how we treat it?; Why do natural disasters or climatic changes effect groups of people differently?; How do poverty, race and power impact the natural world?; and What are people around the world doing to change how we use and abuse the environments in which we live? Offered alternate fall semesters. (CGCL; CSOC; CWRT)

  
  • SOCI 340 - Sociology of Politics

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 and SOCI 300; or consent of instructor
    A study of the state, political practices, power and theories in the field. The emphasis is on the sociological conditions under which the above phenomena evolve.

  
  • SOCI 341 - Globalization, Political Economy and Social Change

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 and SOCI 300; or consent of instructor
    This course examines debate surrounding globalization and development through the multiple lenses of theory, public debate, public policy and research. Comparative and international development will be analyzed, with an in-depth look at transnational corporations, modern technology, and powerful international macro-governing and macro-lending organizations under the modern neo-liberal free trade model. This course examines the meaning of globalization, the impact it has on quality of life throughout the world, and the interplay of the strategies of global, national and local actors including ourselves as members of this course.

  
  • SOCI 343 - Social Structure and Social Justice

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 and SOCI 104 and SOCI 300; or consent of instructor
    This course examines the role of social actors in creating and recreating social structures, as well as how social actors create social justice movements inside these frameworks. We will examine the role of sociology and sociologists in creating social change, and how the tools of sociology have been applied in both micro and macro movements for social justice. Ultimately, we also will examine our own role as social actors working for social justice inside existing social structures.

  
  • SOCI 350 - Sociology of Work


  
  • SOCI 351 - Sustainable Cities

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 and SOCI 206 and SOCI 300; or consent of instructor
    A sustainable city is one that does not pollute the environment, that promotes economic development and the fair and equitable distribution of resources for all citizens. This course offers a sociological perspective of whether it is possible to work simultaneously to achieve these goals. Traditionally associated with environmental pollution, poverty and vice, cities throughout the world are beginning to question how to improve their quality of life and make themselves more sustainable. This course will examine the historical development of cities and suburbs, and examine innovative initiatives that have been successful in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reducing poverty and maximizing profit.

  
  • SOCI 352 - Urban Crime

    (3 credits) Cross Listed with CRJU 352
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 and SOCI 300; or CRJU 201;or consent of instructor
    This course examines urban and neighborhood crime. In addition to surveying theories of urban crime, disorder and unrest, it examines responses to urban crime, including community policing, order maintenance policing, crime prevention through environmental design and programs to ameliorate the deeper causes of crime. The course examines the effects of inequality, racial and ethnic discrimination, substance abuse and gun violence on urban crime. Another topic covered is the drop in urban crime rates during the 1990s. Offered alternate years.

  
  • SOCI 353 - Experiencing World Cities

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 300 or consent of instructor
    The world is now urban. From global cities such as New York, Tokyo and London, to large but much poorer cities such as Sao Paolo, Mexico City and Cairo, over half of the world’s population lives in cities. In order to understand cities in a global context, the course covers the processes of globalization especially as they have an impact on cities around the world. Topics covered include the global cities hypothesis, the new inequalities among and within cities, case studies of cities in the new urban global economy, global urban networks and the nature of urban life in rich and poor cities. Offered every other year. (CGCL; CSOC; CWRT)

  
  • SOCI 356 - Urban Disasters, Resilient Cities

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 and SOCI 206 and SOCI 300; or consent of instructor
    This course focuses on urban vulnerability and resilience to disasters. We will examine why certain cities are more vulnerable than others and why disasters have more serious consequences for some groups than for others. In addition to examining the causes and consequences of urban disasters, the course will look at how cities recover from disasters and what factors help them to become “resilient cities.“ We will also look at social and policy aspects of natural and man-made urban disasters. Another focus of the course will be on the relationships between urban disasters and urban sustainability. The course will examine case studies of global urban disasters.

  
  • SOCI 360 - Feminist Theory in Sociology

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 and SOCI 300; or consent of instructor
    This course introduces students to feminist theory in sociology and social science. It also covers the history of women in social theory as well as historical and contemporary contributions by women theorists. Feminist theories of human behavior and social life will be analyzed and compared to other theories. (CMCL; CSOC; CWRT)

  
  • SOCI 380 - Qualitative Methods and Urban Ethnography

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 and SOCI 300; or consent of instructor
    This course introduces students to qualitative research methods in social research. The course will consider the historical and theoretical background to qualitative methods, the principles of qualitative methods, as well as particular methods including participant observation, qualitative interviews, and the use of documents. Ethical issues, selection strategies and gaining access will also be addressed. Offered either semester.

  
  • SOCI 390 - Seminar: Research Methods in Sociology

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 300 and one other sociology course; or consent of instructor
    This course addresses the application of scientific methods to the analysis of social phenomena, methodological orientation in sociological research procedures and the nature of sociological variables. The course is designed for majors in sociology, criminal justice or behavioral sciences. Offered either semester. (Formerly SOCI 402)

  
  • SOCI 391 - Seminar: Social Data Analysis

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 390 or consent of instructor
    This course introduces students to quantitative data analysis. The course focuses on the major statistical techniques used in sociology and will emphasize data analysis in the context of substantive research problems. Topics covered include data analysis packages, choosing appropriate statistics, interpreting statistical results and presenting research findings. Offered either semester. (Formerly SOCI 403) (CQUR; CSOC)

  
  • SOCI 399 - Special Topics in Sociology

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 and SOCI 300; or consent of instructor
    Various special topics of current interest in sociology will be offered from time to time. Topics will be announced prior to registration. This course may be repeated for credit for different topics.

  
  • SOCI 410 - Sociology of Urban Planning and Policy

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 102 and SOCI 206 and SOCI 300; or consent of instructor
    This course examines urban and regional planning and policy from a sociological perspective. Large-scale social forces such as uneven urban development, urban sprawl, the decentralization of metropolitan areas and deindustrialization have produced changes in various dimensions of urban life, including housing, transportation, land use, urban renewal and neighborhood life. This course examines those social forces and changes to understand the rise of urban problems and how urban and regional planning and policy can help develop more livable cities and metropolitan regions. The course introduces students to the policies, issues, processes and tools of planning within the context of the history, sociology and theory of planning and regional change. In examining the social forces and structural constraints within which planning operates, the course emphasizes the importance of inequalities of race, ethnicity, class and gender. Although the course will examine planning broadly, it will at times focus on Southeastern Massachusetts. Offered every other year.

  
  • SOCI 485 - Honors Thesis

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: Admission to the Departmental Honors Program and senior status
    This course is open to Commonwealth and Departmental Honors students. One-hour weekly meetings with the thesis director will culminate in an honors thesis. With the consent of the Departmental Honors Committee and the thesis director, this course may be extended into a second semester for three additional credits depending on the scope of the project. The Departmental Honors Committee will determine if the final version of the thesis qualifies the student to graduate with Honors. This course may be taken twice for a maximum of six credits.

  
  • SOCI 496 - Senior Seminar: Critical Issues in Sociology

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 390 or consent of instructor
    This course serves as a capstone course that explores critical issues in the discipline. The purpose of this course is to integrate sociological knowledge, theory and methods, and relate them to a concentrated study of a selected substantive area in sociology. Through the application of a sociological imagination, students are asked to evaluate the analyses of groups, institutions and social structures performed by members of the discipline. The final objectives are to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the discipline and organize their knowledge in ways that are commensurate with professional standards. This course is designed for graduating seniors.

  
  • SOCI 497 - Research

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: SOCI 390 and consent of instructor
    Under the direction of the instructor, students will conduct social research. The topic will be announced before registration. Students will write reports of findings as for publication and/or conference presentation.

  
  • SOCI 498 - Internship in Sociology

    (3-15 credits)
    Prerequisite: A cumulative GPA of 2.5; consent of the department; formal application required
    The internship provides an opportunity for senior sociology majors to gain practical expertise in the field by participating in an off-campus work study experience that complements their academic preparation. In addition to working in their internship setting, students will meet regularly with a faculty supervisor. Students may work in an appropriate local, state or federal agency or private organization. Only three credits of internship may count toward the major in sociology. No more than six hours of any combination of SOCI 498 and SOCI 499 may be counted toward the first 30 hours of the sociology requirements for a major. This course may be repeated for a maximum of 15 credits. Offered either semester.

  
  • SOCI 499 - Directed Study in Sociology

    (1-3 credits)
    Prerequisite: Consent of the department; formal application required
    Directed study is open to juniors and seniors who have demonstrated critical and analytical abilities in their studies and who wish to pursue a project independently. No more than six hours of any combination of SOCI 498 and SOCI 499 may be counted toward the first 30 hours of the sociology requirements for a major. This course may be taken twice for a maximum of six credits. Offered either semester.

  
  • SOCI 503 - Directed Study


  
  • SOCI 565 - Sociology Study Tour

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: Consent of instructor and application through the International Programs Office
    This course will offer students a first-hand, supervised, cross-cultural travel and study experience from a sociological perspective. Students will participate in lectures, site visits, research and other academic experiences. Pre-departure and while traveling, students will learn about local society and culture, both current and historical, and have the opportunity to study and experience arts, religious traditions, political organizations, economy, sustainability, folklore and family life. This course may be taken twice for credit for travel to different study tour sites.


Spanish

  
  • LASP 101 - Elementary Spanish I

    (3 credits)
    An introduction to elementary syntactic, semantic, phonetic and paralinguistic structures is offered. Pertinent everyday cultural concepts are discussed. Relevant comparison and contrast with the native language is treated. Functional communication in the second language in a controlled environment is the principal objective of the course. Note: See the “Departmental Foreign Language Policy” in the “Foreign Languages” section of this catalog. (CGCL; CHUM)

  
  • LASP 102 - Elementary Spanish II

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: LASP 101; or see the “Departmental Foreign Language Policy” in the “Foreign Languages” section of this catalog
    The further study of elementary syntactic, semantic, phonetic and paralinguistic structures is offered. Pertinent everyday cultural concepts are discussed. Relevant comparison and contrast with the native language is treated. Functional communication in the second language in a controlled environment is the principal objective of the course. (CGCL; CHUM)

  
  • LASP 151 - Intermediate Spanish I

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: LASP 102
    A review of Spanish grammar with emphasis given to reading, writing, listening and speaking; systematic laboratory practice; an introduction to aspects of Hispanic culture. Conducted in Spanish. (CGCL; CHUM)

  
  • LASP 199 - First Year Seminar

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: Open to all freshmen with a writing placement score of 3 or above or a SAT score of 500 or above or who have completed ENGL 101. Students with 24 or more transfer credits will have this requirement waived.
    First Year Seminars (FYS) are writing-intensive, topic courses that introduce students to academic thought, discourse and practices. FYS courses prepare and orient students toward productive and fulfilling college careers by actively engaging them in a specific academic area of interest. Students will improve their writing, reading, research and basic information and technology skills while learning to work both collaboratively and independently. These courses will fulfill the First Year Seminar requirement and may fulfill other requirements for the core curriculum. Each course may fulfill different requirements and topics may change each semester. Only one FYS course may be taken for credit. (CFYS)

  
  • LASP 200 - Intermediate Spanish II

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: LASP 151
    This is a second semester intermediate Spanish course that continues to acquaint students with the complexities of the Spanish language and culture. Communication in the classroom is purposeful and goes beyond just “practicing” the language. The course is designed to improve both oral and written expression in Spanish. This course is conducted in Spanish. (CGCL; CHUM)

  
  • LASP 252 - Introduction to Hispanic Literature

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: LASP 151 or consent of instructor
    The student is introduced to the reading, analysis, and discussion of semi-edited modern literary and cultural texts from Spain, Latin America and the Caribbean. The emphasis is on the development of reading comprehension skills and vocabulary. Conducted in Spanish.

  
  • LASP 253 - Introduction to Hispanic Linguistics

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: LASP 200 or consent of instructor
    This course serves as an introduction to Hispanic linguistics. Various topics, covering both the fundamental areas of linguistics, as well as more specialized ones, will be covered. These entail syntax (the study of the structure of sentences), morphology (the study of the formation of words), phonetics (the study of the making of sounds from a physiological perspective), phonology (the study of the relationship between sounds in a language), historical linguistics (the study of the evolution of the language through time), language acquisition (the study of the processes through which languages are acquired), sociolinguistics (the study of the use of language within a social context) and dialectology (the study of linguistic variation). No previous knowledge of linguistics is assumed. This course is conducted entirely in Spanish.

  
  • LASP 281 - Spanish Conversation

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: LASP 370 or consent of instructor
    Fluent expression in formal and informal speech is stressed in this course. Oral proficiency is improved by the systematic study of the lexicon and speaking styles. Students must complete work in analyzing various media in Spanish. This course is conducted in Spanish.

  
  • LASP 298 - Second Year Seminar (Speaking Intensive)

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: _ _ _ _199; Open to all sophomores and juniors who have completed ENGL 101, and the speaking skills requirement. Students with 54 or more transfer credits will have this requirement waived. Cannot be taken if _ _ _ _ 298 or _ _ _ _ 299 are taken for credit.
    Second Year Seminars (SYS) are speaking-intensive, topic courses that build on the academic skills and habits introduced in the First Year Seminar. SYS courses engage students in a specific academic area of interest and provide them with the opportunity to reinforce, share and interpret knowledge. Students will improve their speaking, reading, research and basic information and technology skills while building the connections between scholarship and action that are required for lifelong learning. These courses will fulfill the Second Year Seminar requirement and may fulfill other requirements for the core curriculum. Each course may fulfill different requirements and topics may change each semester. Only one SYS course may be taken for credit. (CSYS)

  
  • LASP 299 - Second Year Seminar (Writing Intensive)

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: _ _ _ _199; Open to all sophomores and juniors who have completed ENGL 101 and ENGL 102. Students with 54 or more transfer credits will have this requirement waived. Cannot be taken if _ _ _ _ 298 or _ _ _ _ 299 are taken for credit.
    Second Year Seminars (SYS) are writing-intensive, topic courses that build on the academic skills and habits introduced in the First Year Seminar. SYS courses engage students in a specific academic area of interest and provide them with the opportunity to reinforce, share and interpret knowledge. Students will improve their writing, reading, research and basic information and technology skills while building the connections between scholarship and action that are required for lifelong learning. These courses will fulfill the Second Year Seminar requirement and may fulfill other requirements for the core curriculum. Each course may fulfill different requirements and topics may change each semester. Only one SYS course may be taken for credit. (CSYS)

  
  • LASP 300 - Spanish Composition

    (3 credits)
    Prerequisite: LASP 370 or consent of instructor
    This course is designed to acquaint students with methodology/techniques and strategies of good writing practices. Students develop writing skills utilizing sources from the Spanish-speaking world. Different writing skills and styles are introduced and practiced. Use of a bilingual dictionary is practiced. This course is conducted in Spanish. (Formerly LASP 272) (CWRM)

 

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