Spring 2025 Course List

SOC 101                     Introduction to Sociology                                                Cr 3

Introduces the fundamental concepts, principles, and methods of sociology, analyzes the influence of social and cultural factors upon human behavior, and evaluates the effect of group processes, social classes, stratification, and basic institutions in contemporary society. Satisfies the General Education Social Contexts and Institutions requirement.

SOC 101-0001        MWF               10:00-10:50 AM                         Sarah Walton               Jenness 100 

SOC 101-0002       MWF                  1:00 -1:50 PM                         Sarah Walton               Murray 106

SOC 101-0190                                        Online                               Amy Blackstone           Online

SOC 101-0400/0990                    8 wk          Karyn Sporer                Online

CRJ 114                     Survey of Criminal Justice                                               Cr 3

This course is designed to provide an overview of the justice process and the criminal justice system in general. Concepts of crime, deviance and justice will be discussed. Individual rights in a democratic society will be explored, as well as the legal definitions of various crimes. The law enforcement, judicial, juvenile justice, and corrections subsystems will also be explored, and a number of reform proposals presented.

   CRJ 114-0001     MWF             11:00 – 11:50 AM          Aaron Nolan                      DPC 107

CRJ 214                     Intro to Criminology                                                           Cr 3

The police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota in May 2020 sparked nationwide uprisings and triggered many questions about the role of crime and the criminal legal system in the United States. This course will cover various issues and operations of crime and the criminal legal system in the United States through a sociological lens. Specifically, the course will provide general sociological overviews of crime, cops, courts, and corrections. Each section of the course will examine contemporary issues and theoretical understandings, while also acknowledging the historical context. As a sociological study of crime and criminal justice, the course will explore how social forces shape the way crime and the criminal legal system operates, with particular attention to the ways in which race, gender, and class intersect to influence the administration of justice. Additionally, the course will address the societal consequences of criminal justice policies on families and communities, including a focus on reentry following incarceration. This course concludes with discussions of alternatives to the criminal legal system.

CRJ 214-0001         TU-TH               5:00- 6:15 PM              Aaron Nolan                         Barrows 126

CRJ 214-0002       M                       9:00-11:50 AM               Ebonie Epinger                      Online

CRJ 219    – Police & Society                                                                     Cr 3

This course will provide students an overview of the history and evolution of the American police system. Topics will include the development and organization of law enforcement agencies, the role of police in society, core police functions, patterns of police-citizen relations, legal issues, and innovations in policing tactics.  Students will learn how changes and trends in society affect police operations and will critically examine issues related to law enforcement.

CRJ-219-0001      TU/TH           2:00- 3:15 PM                 Aaron Nolan                          Barrows 125     

SOC 240                    Topics in Sociology                                                            Cr 3

Sociology of Sports- 

Examines the role of social movements in processes of political and social change.  Pays special attention to movement strategies   and tactics, member recruitment, the dynamic interaction between activists and elites, and the mobilization of resources for movement sustainability.

SOC 240-0001        MW                  9:00 -9:50AM            Glenn Eichel             Steven 365  

F Online Online                     


Social Movements/Protest/Control

This course examines interactions between protest movements and social control institutions (e.g. police and law enforcement) from a sociological perspective. Students will learn about central theories, concepts, and debates that define the academic study of protest movements and social change. Contemporary and historical case studies may include civil rights and racial justice movements, environmental movements, and health-focused social movements. Cross-national comparative studies may also be considered.

SOC  240-0990                          Online                     Mary Okin                                       Online

SOC 310 Food Systems & Social Change                                                                     Cr 3     

This course investigates food systems as social institutions, considering both how they meet human needs and how they reflect and reproduce social and environmental inequalities. It focuses on systemic causes of and responses to food insecurity and malnutrition and considers critiques of food systems developed from perspectives of food democracy, food justice, and food sovereignty. Learning in this course concentrates on (1) understanding the historical and social contexts of food systems, (2) exploring values and positions involved in contemporary debates about food systems, and (3) gaining knowledge of food as an arena for practical, change-oriented activism.
Prerequisites: SOC 101 and Junior or Senior; or with permission

SOC 310-0001    T/TH        2:00-3:15 PM                  Michael Haedicke                                Stevens  370

CRJ 324/SOC 324    Domestic Violence                                                                        Cr 3

This class focuses on the extent, nature, causes, and consequences of domestic violence in the United States.  Specifically, the course focuses on intimate partner violence, child abuse, child-to-parent abuse, elder abuse, and related topics.  This course revolves around three themes: 1) gaining knowledge and insight about domestic violence, 2) understanding the social context of domestic violence, 3) evaluating criminal justice responses to domestic violence.

 CRJ 324-001                 TH               9:30-12:20PM             Karyn Sporer                                   Bennett 115

SOC 338 Race & Ethnicity                                                                                                Cr 3

Explores dominant/subordinate relations nationally and internationally with emphasis on socially defined racial and ethnic groups.  Origins, nature, and consequences of racial/ethnic oppression and inequality; historical and social contexts of intergroup relations and conflicts; implications of changing racial/ethnic diversity.

Soc 338-0001            MW                   1:00-1:50 PM               Glenn Eichel                                 Williams 206

                                     F                        ONLINE CRJ 340  Intermediate Topics of CRJ  – Food  Systems and Social Change                        Cr 3

This course investigates food systems as social institutions, considering both how they meet human needs and how they reflect and reproduce social and environmental inequalities. It focuses on systemic causes of and responses to food insecurity and malnutrition and considers critiques of food systems developed from perspectives of food democracy, food justice, and food sovereignty. Learning in this course concentrates on (1) understanding the historical and social contexts of food systems, (2) exploring values and positions involved in contemporary debates about food systems, and (3) gaining knowledge of food as an arena for practical, change-oriented activism.
Prerequisites: SOC 101 and Junior or Senior; or with permission

 CRJ 340-0001                  TU/TH          2:00 – 3:15 PM       Michael Haedicke                  Stevens 370

SOC 360 Major Ideas in Sociology                                                                            Cr 3

The sociological theories of Marx, Weber, Durkheim, Mead and others. Developments in sociological theory as related to methodology, social issues, and current trends in contemporary sociology.

SOC 360-001               T/TH           3:30-4:45  PM               Michael Haedicke                    Stevens 365

SOC 499                        Senior Capstone                                                                          Cr 3

Selected theoretical and empirical topics in Sociology. Serves as the capstone course for Sociology majors and will assume a knowledge of and will build upon, the material presented in the other required courses in the major. The intent of the course is to help students integrate their Sociology knowledge and to apply it in dealing with fundamental questions of social life and social theory

SOC 499-0001   M             3:30- 6:20 PM                         Sarah Walton                     Stevens 375