Department of Sociology
Sociology
Social and Behavioral Sciences Building, Room 327
(909) 537-5541 Department of Sociology website
The Sociology major offers students a rigorous program of study to examine social phenomena, develop theoretical and methodological proficiencies, and apply a critical understanding of complex social issues and processes. The curriculum is designed to provide students with a solid sociological foundation to analyze social structures and contribute to transforming and diversifying our social world.
We offer a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, a Sociology minor, and a Certificate in Gerontology. Our faculty also teach in interdisciplinary programs including Gender & Sexuality Studies, Ethnic Studies, Social Sciences, and the Master of Arts in Social Sciences & Globalization. Our curriculum is designed to prepare students to examine and analyze social phenomena from a sociological perspective. Through our student-centered and applied coursework, students develop critical analysis skills, theoretical and methodological proficiencies, research experience, and internship/service-learning opportunities that prepare them for graduate degrees and professional careers.
As an adjunct to the curriculum, there are two student organizations for sociology majors. The Sociology Club has a varied program of social, community service, and academically-oriented activities. In addition to general sociology majors, students in human services and students in social services actively participate in the club. A chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta, the sociology honor society, is open to junior sociology majors with a 3.5-grade point average and to seniors and graduate students with a 3.0-grade point average.
Undergraduate Degrees
Bachelor of Arts
- Sociology
- with concentrations in:
- General Sociology
- Social Service and Community Research
Emerita
B.A. 1986, M.A. 1990, Ph.D. 1994, University of California, Riverside
M.A. 1987, Ph.D. 1993, University of California, Riverside
Current Faculty
MA. 2007, East Carolina University
Ph D. 2018, University of Arizona
M.A. 2010, Washington State University
Ph.D. 2015, Washington State University
M.A. 2017, Stanford University
Ph D. 2019, Stanford University
MA. 2012, University of Southern California
Ph D. 2019, University of Southern California
M.A. 1988, Dartmouth College
M.S. 1993, Ph.D. 1994, Stanford University
M.A. 1981, M.A. 1983, School of International Training
Ph.D. 1995, Northwestern University
M.A. 1996, University of California, Irvine
Ph.D. 2002, University of California, Irvine
M.A. 1998, California State University, Dominguez Hills
Ph.D. 2008, State University of New York, Stony Brook
M.A. 2001, California State University, East Bay
Ph.D. 2006, University of New Mexico
Ph.D. 2011, University of California, Irvine
M.A. 2006, San Francisco State University
Ph.D. 2012, University of Toronto
M.S. 2011, Ph.D. 2015, University of Wisconsin, Madison
M.A. 1998, Texas Tech University
Ph.D. 2007, Rutgers University
Emeriti
Courses
SOC 1000. Introduction to Sociology. Units: 3
Using a sociological perspective to examine how social forces, cultural processes, and institutional arrangements shape human behavior. Satisfies GE Category D3. Formerly SOC 100.
SOC 1100. Latino Communities, Wellness, and Life Skills. Units: 3
The course is designed to provide students with lifelong understanding and development of their capacities as members of a community, health promotion and decision making, the value of multidisciplinary study, and learning how to learn. Graded A through C-/no credit. Satisfies Category E; DI designation.
SOC 1800. Critical Thinking about Social Issues. Units: 3
Develop students' skills to analyze a range of social problems, focusing on their causes, consequences, mechanisms of change, and potential solutions. Satisfy GE Category A3. Formerly SOC 180.
SOC 3010. Qualitative Analysis & Field Research. Units: 3
Semester Prerequisite: SOC 1000. Quarter Prerequisite: SOC 100
This course focuses on qualitative research methods such as participant observation, in-depth interviews, and unobtrusive methods and the analysis of qualitative data to examine social problems and other issues. Formerly offered as SOC 301.
SOC 3020. Introduction to Community-Based Research. Units: 3
Semester Prerequisite: SOC 1000 or instructor consent. Quarter Prerequisite: SOC 1000
Examination of community-based participatory research as an approach to collaborative research between academic partners and community-based organizations and social service agencies. Emphasis on issues of power, trust, social justice, and empowering communities in building knowledge through research. Students in the Social Services and Community Research concentration are required to take this course to fulfill their qualitative research methods requirement.
SOC 3070. Quantitative Analysis & Survey Research. Units: 4
Basic concepts and techniques of survey research and statistical analysis. 3 hours of Lab activities in addition to 3 hours of lecture. Formerly offered as SOC 307 and SOC 309. Materials fee required.
SOC 3110. Sociological Theory. Units: 3
Semester Prerequisite: SOC 1000. Quarter Prerequisite: SOC 100
Exploration of classical and contemporary sociological theories, with applications to contemporary social life. Formerly offered as SOC 311.
SOC 3300. Aging and The Lifecourse. Units: 3
Semester Prerequisite: SOC 1000. Quarter Prerequisite: SOC 100
Issues facing individuals, families and communities in a rapidly aging world. Includes social, psychological, physical and economic aspects of aging. Formerly offered as SOC 330.
SOC 3360. Black Women and Feminism. Units: 3
Semester Prerequisite: SOC 1000. Quarter Prerequisite: SOC 100
Examines Black women in the US, their experiences and work on behalf of women's rights, focusing on the interplay of racism, sexism, and class stratification within women's movements. Formerly offered as SOC 336.
SOC 3390. Socialization. Units: 3
Semester Prerequisite: SOC 1000. Quarter Prerequisite: SOC 100
Comprehensive examination of socialization throughout the life course, childhood to adulthood. Theories and processes of socialization will be introduced by exploring social roles, norms, and agents of socialization such as the family, peer groups, schools, religious organizations, work, and mass media. Formerly offered as SOC 339.
SOC 3400. Sociology of Families. Units: 3
Semester Prerequisite: SOC 1000. Quarter Prerequisite: SOC 100
A systematic and comparative analysis of family structures, processes, and effects of social change on families. Topics include: marriage, reproduction, child rearing, and diversity of family structures. Formerly offered as SOC 340.
SOC 3410. The African American Family. Units: 3
Macro and Micro forces affect the contemporary African American family, emphasizing the socio-historical experience of these families. Satisfies the GE Category D4 and DI designation. Formerly SOC 341.
SOC 3420. The Latino Family. Units: 3
Quarter Prerequisite: SOC 100
Study of the changing Latino family patterns, and how these patterns shape Latino identities, social mobility, and social engagement in a multicultural society. The course will also examine regional and social class variations in Latino family structures and dynamics. Formerly offered as SOC 342.
SOC 3430. Sociology of Violence. Units: 3
Semester Prerequisite: SOC 1000
Examining the prevalence, causes, and effects of selected violent relations as social phenomena, including family violence, domestic abuse, and intimate partner violence. Formerly offered as SOC 343.
SOC 3500. Criminology. Units: 3
Semester Prerequisite: SOC 1000. Quarter Prerequisite: SOC 100
Comprehensive examination of crime and theories of its causes with an emphasis on sociological factors. Formerly offered as SOC 350.
SOC 3540. Deviant Behavior. Units: 3
Semester Prerequisite: SOC 1000. Quarter Prerequisite: SOC 100
Examination of deviance and understanding of how such behavior is perceived as deviant by society; processes of personal-social interactions in developing individual and group deviance. Formerly SOC 354.
SOC 3550. Medical Sociology. Units: 3
Semester Prerequisite: SOC 1000. Quarter Prerequisite: SOC 100
Sociological examination of health and disease, training and socialization of health care providers, doctor-patient interactions, and health beliefs and behavior. Critical analysis of U.S. healthcare system and the economic and political factors that contribute to health inequalities. Formerly offered as SOC 355.
SOC 3560. Sociology of Mental Health. Units: 3
Semester Prerequisite: SOC 1000. Quarter Prerequisite: SOC 100
Social factors, race, class, gender, etc in mental health, including cultural variations in definitions of mental health and mental disorders, social processes in defining and labeling mental health, stigma, treatment of mental disorders, prevalence of mental disorders and indicators of quality of life. Formerly offered as SOC 356.
SOC 3600. Social Psychology. Units: 3
Semester Prerequisite: SOC 1000. Quarter Prerequisite: SOC 100
The study of social interaction as it influences the development of self, role behavior, attitudes and values. Emphasis on field research and symbolic interaction as a school of thought . Formerly offered as SOC 360.
SOC 3700. Sociology of Globalization. Units: 3
Semester Prerequisite: SOC 1000. Quarter Prerequisite: SOC 100
Examines three dimensions of globalization: the economic, the cultural/social, and the political. Explore key debates and perspectives on globalization, different aspects and consequences of globalization, and inequalities between countries and within countries. Satisfies GE designation GP only.
SOC 3750. Population and Society. Units: 3
Semester Prerequisite: SOC 1000. Quarter Prerequisite: SOC 100
Examines social issues and problems influenced by population, population distributions, and population dynamics (fertility, mortality, and migration). Formerly known as SOC 335/3350. Satisfies GE G designation.
SOC 3800. Sociology of Religion. Units: 3
Semester Prerequisite: SOC 1000. Quarter Prerequisite: SOC 100
Theoretical analysis of religion as a social institution in complex societies. The course will explore the social organization of both established religions and emerging religious movements. Themes include the structures and functioning of religions and religious movements, their leadership and the potentials of social change that underlie many religious groups and organizations. Formerly offered as SOC 380.
SOC 3900. Sociology of Education. Units: 3
Semester Prerequisite: SOC 1000
Theoretical analysis of education as a social institution. The course will explore the social organization of education in the United States, including K-12 and postsecondary institutions. Topics include school segregation, tracking, and achievement gaps.
SOC 3940. Topics in Sociology. Units: 3
In-depth study of a selected subfield in Sociology. May be taken three times for a total of nine units as topics change.
SOC 4100. Sociology of Race and Ethnicity. Units: 3
Semester Prerequisite: SOC 1000. Quarter Prerequisite: SOC 100
Historical and contemporary analysis of racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. Examination of social, political, and economic factors that contribute to racial and ethnic inequality. Formerly offered as SOC 410.
SOC 4180. Social Welfare in the U.S.. Units: 3
Quarter Prerequisite: SOC 100
Survey of the development, implementation, and social implications of social welfare policies in the US. Analysis on the impact of the economy, politics, and social change on welfare programs, and contemporary social problems. Formerly offered as SOC 418.
SOC 4200. Social Movements. Units: 3
Quarter Prerequisite: SOC 100
Study of collective behavior and social movements. Covers historical and contemporary cases to examine theories of the emergence and mobilization of social movements and the culture and consequences of them. Formerly offered as SOC 420.
SOC 4220. Sociology of Work. Units: 3
Quarter Prerequisite: SOC 100
Examines the ways in which both paid and unpaid work in families and places of employment are organized by gender and other forms of power, difference and inequality such as race, class, and migration/citizenship status. Formerly offered as SOC 422.
SOC 4240. Social Networks. Units: 3
Quarter Prerequisite: SOC 100
Examining how social connections shape individual outcomes, organizational performance, and community well being. Using the technique of social network analysis (SNA), this course also surveys how social structures arise and maintain themselves. Formerly offered as SOC 424.
SOC 4300. Urban Sociology. Units: 3
Quarter Prerequisite: SOC 100
Nature, causes and consequences of urbanization; metropolitan areas; location and types of cities; social and demographic characteristics of urban populations. Formerly offered as SOC 430.
SOC 4320. Political Sociology. Units: 3
Quarter Prerequisite: SOC 100
Examination of political process from the perspective of sociology, exploring in depth the nature, distribution and exercise of power, and related areas of interest. Formerly offered as SOC 432.
SOC 4340. Community Organization. Units: 3
Quarter Prerequisite: SOC 100
Programs of action, operative and proposed, for the organization of the community and the solution of its problems. Formerly offered as SOC 434.
SOC 4360. Group Dynamics. Units: 3
Quarter Prerequisite: SOC 100
Groups are fundamental units of society. This course surveys group structures, processes, and change in the social psychological and social interactionist traditions. Formerly offered as SOC 436.
SOC 4400. Social Inequality. Units: 3
Quarter Prerequisite: SOC 100
Understanding different forms of social inequality and processes that produce variable outcomes for groups and individuals in terms of access and barriers to resources. The course highlights the intersection of social class, race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, and physical abilities. Formerly offered as SOC 440.
SOC 4410. Black Americans in Contemporary Society. Units: 3
Quarter Prerequisite: SOC 100
An examination of contemporary social issues facing Black Americans, including social stratification, social mobility, and the organized efforts for social change. Formerly offered as SOC 441.
SOC 4420. The Latino Experience in the U.S.. Units: 3
The Latino Experience in the U.S. course will provide material on social, political and economic institutions and behavior, and their historical background as it relates to this community. The goal of this course is to give an overview of sociological, economic, and political and public policy, other issues about Chicano/Latino populations in the U.S., with particular attention to the experiences of persons of Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Salvadoran origin populations. The course can explore multiple topics which include the migration experience to the U.S., the construction of a Chicano/Latino racial identities, political integration of Latino migrants into U.S. domestic politics, social stratification, education, housing, gender inequality, popular culture, and U.S. born Latinos. Graded A through C-/no credit. Satisfies GE Category D4; DI designation.
SOC 4440. Sociology of Sex and Gender. Units: 3
Quarter Prerequisite: SOC 100
Study of how sex and gender, as organizing principles of contemporary society, shape and is shaped by social institutions, cultural understandings, and social interactions. The course also examines how sex and gender relations affect individuals, their identities, and collective life in contemporary society. Formerly offered as SOC 444.
SOC 4510. Sociology of Migration. Units: 3
The course explores migration as a social process, focusing on the cultural, political, and historical contexts of immigration and the ways in which migrants interact with different institutions and identities, such as gender and race. Issues of assimilation, integration, incorporation, and diversity will be discussed to understand the impact of migration on individuals and society.
SOC 4520. Social Change and Innovation. Units: 3
Survey sociological theories on social change . Explore how structural and institutional transformation emerge and become routinized in society. Additionally, the course explores how social change spreads through social networks, affecting social interactions at various levels of society.
SOC 4530. Citizenship, Status, and Inequality. Units: 3
This course examines the concepts of citizenship and non citizenship, and how they are mobilized to produce social inequality. Themes include the production of migration "illegality" through law, media, and institutions. The course will also explore the strategies of undocumented migrants to negotiate their status, and the ways immigration status interlocks with other modes of oppression including race, gender, sexuality, age, and disability.
SOC 4550. Sexualities and Society. Units: 3
This course provides an introduction to the sociology of sexualities. We often think of sex and sexuality as deeply personal and private, but in this class, we'll also learn how sexualities are profoundly social - that is, how sexualities are situated in larger social contexts. In this class, we will critically unpack how sex and sexuality are socially constructed, experienced, regulated, and contested in society.
SOC 4840. Social Casework. Units: 3
Processes used by social work agencies to assist and empower individuals facing various challenges and ways to effectively cope with their issues. Formerly SOC 484.
SOC 5250. Indian Nations and Native America. Units: 3
Semester Prerequisite: SOC 3010 or 3020 and SOC 3070 and SOC 3110 or senior standing or consent of instructor
Reviews the 500 years of conquest, genocide, resistance, and survival, including the contemporary realities of indigenous peoples. Satisfies GE designation WI. Formerly SOC 525.
SOC 5300. Global Aging. Units: 3
Semester Prerequisite: SOC 3010 or 3020 and SOC 3070 and SOC 3110 or senior standing or consent of instructor
Current research, issues, and societal changes related to global population aging. Satisfies GE designations G and WI.
SOC 5400. Sociology of Higher Education. Units: 3
Semester Prerequisite: SOC 3010 or 3020 and SOC 3070 and SOC 3110 or senior standing
Sociological analysis of higher education institutions in the United States, issues of inequality in the college-going process, specific attention to application, enrollment, and graduation. Satisfies GE designation WI only. Formerly SOC 540.
SOC 5440. LGBTQ Families. Units: 3
Semester Prerequisite: SOC 3010 or 3020 and SOC 3070 and SOC 3110 or senior standing. Quarter Prerequisite: SOC 100
Social forces affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) families. Emphasis on the socially constructed ways in which people who identify as LGBTQ create and define families. Topics include: legal issues, fertility and parenting concerns. Formerly offered as SOC 344 and SOC 3440.
SOC 5450. Indigenous Peoples. Units: 3
Semester Prerequisite: SOC 3010 or 3020 and SOC 3070 and SOC 3110 or senior standing or consent of instructor
Sociological study of Indigenous Peoples from the local to the global. Formerly SOC 545/3450.
SOC 5490. Crime, Desistance, and Reentry. Units: 3
Semester Prerequisite: SOC 3010 or 3020 and SOC 3070 and SOC 3110 or senior standing
This course discusses the conduits and barriers to reentry for formerly incarcerated individuals in the United States, with special attention paid to issues affecting this population in California, including the social relationships between formerly incarcerated individuals and their family, friends, and communities. Formerly SOC 4900.
SOC 5500. Applied Sociological Research. Units: 3
This advanced course explores applied sociological and social science methods and frameworks which include evaluation research, public sociology, public policy, and community-based research. The course would include strategies for working with communities and the challenges that come with applied approaches. Satisfies non-GE designation WI.
SOC 5510. Borders, Knowledges, and Identities. Units: 3
Semester Prerequisite: SOC 3010 or 3020 and SOC 3070 and SOC 3110 or senior standing or consent of instructor
The course explores the production and reproduction of borders, not just national borders but numerous social and symbolic boundaries that underpin social mobility and immobility, inclusion and exclusion, how people interpret their social world, their identities and resistance.
SOC 5600. Social Determinants of Health. Units: 3
Semester Prerequisite: SOC 3010 or 3020 and SOC 3070 and SOC 3110 or senior standing
Overview of social determinants of health, including sociological theories and methods to examine health disparities among various social groups. The course will investigate social and environmental causes of disease, and contributors to physical and mental health. Additionally, the course will examine how health is impacted by health policies, socioeconomic status, race, gender, insurance status, etc. and ways to reduce and eliminate health disparities. Satisfies non-GE designation WI.
SOC 5753. Internship and Practicum. Units: 3
Quarter Prerequisite: SOC 1000
Quarter Corequisite: Consent of instructor
Supervised service-learning work in private companies, non-profit organizations, community-based organizations, or government agencies. Focus on hands-on practices and developing occupational skills. The course involves class meetings on work progress and career development. Consent of instructor required. In order to receive credit, students are required to complete 120 hours of volunteer work in a semester. Graded credit/no credit. Formerly SOC 575 and SOC 5751.
SOC 5900. Seminar in Sociology. Units: 3
In-depth study of a selected topic in Sociology. Survey of a specific sub-field with an emphasis on writing research papers or research proposals. May be repeated once for a total of 6 units as topics change. Satisfies non-GE designation WI. Formerly offered as SOC 590.
SOC 5951. Independent Study 1. Unit: 1
Quarter Prerequisite: senior or graduate standing, a minimum overall grade point average of 3
Special topics involving library and/or field research. Consent of instructor and departmental approval of a written proposal of a project submitted on a standard application filed in advance of the semester in which the course is to be taken. May be taken 3 times for 3 units. Formerly SOC 595D.
SOC 5952. Independent Study 2. Units: 2
Semester Prerequisite: SOC 1000
Special topics involving library and/or field research. Consent of instructor and departmental approval of a written proposal of a project submitted on a standard application filed in advance of the semester in which the course is to be taken. May be repeated once for a total of 4 units.
SOC 5953. Independent Study 3. Units: 3
Quarter Prerequisite: SOC 1000
Special topics involving library and/or field research. Consent of instructor and departmental approval of a written proposal of a project submitted on a standard application filed in advance of the semester in which the course is to be taken. May be repeated once for a total of 6 units.
SOC 5971. Honors Seminar 1. Units: 3
Quarter Prerequisite: formal application approved by department chair
First course in the honor sequence. Independent research in an area of sociology, culminating in a major research report. The research project may be quantitative or qualitative. Class meetings focus on developing research designs, refining research ideas, and discussing research ethics and other topics on professional practices. Honor sequence 1 prepares students to collect data, write up, and create presentations during sequence 2. Enrollment limited to students whose formal application for departmental honors is approved. Formerly offered as SOC 597. Satisfies Designation WI.
SOC 5972. Honors Seminar 2. Units: 3
Quarter Prerequisite: SOC 5971
Second course in the honors sequence. Independent research in an area of sociology, culminating in a major research report. The research project may be a quantitative or qualitative. Class meetings explore issues on data collection, write up, presentations, research ethics, and professional practices. Enrollment limited to students whose formal application for departmental honors is approved.
SOC 6000. Proseminar in Sociology. Units: 3
Survey of the concepts and ideas that sociologists employ to study, describe, and analyze globalization and other related issues. Formerly offered as SOC 600.