Sociology (SOC)

Chair of the Department

Sociology, the scientific study of human social behavior, examines the processes and patterns of social interaction; forms of social organization; and the influences of social groups, institutions, and social structure upon human behavior.

The goals of the department are to develop the sociological imagination, including a familiarity with sociological concepts, theories, research methods, and research findings; to foster knowledge of and respect for diverse social systems and cultures; to alert students to the needs of their community and society; and to promote a spirit of social service.

The Department prepares students for careers in social work, law, administration in government or business, social research and data analysis, criminal justice, urban planning, anthropology and related fields. Internships are available for students to explore career interests and apply knowledge in field experiences.

Manhattan College’s Sociology Department is joined with the Sociology Department of the College of Mount Saint Vincent. Courses are offered on both campuses.

Requirements for Sociology Major. All majors must complete 30 credits, including a 12-credit Core and one of the five concentrations presented below. The Core consists of 304, Social Class and Inequality; 307, Survey Research; 324, Sociological Theories; and 416, Seminar in Sociology. Students will choose courses in their area of concentration only after consultation with a departmental advisor. Students should take 304 during their sophomore year, 307 and 324 during their junior year and 416 during their senior year. The department recommends that students take MATH 211 or PSYC 205 (Statistics). Majors must maintain a cumulative average of 2.0 in sociology courses and a grade of at least C- in sociology major courses.

Concentrations:

General Sociology. Recommended for students interested in research in sociology, teaching, law, business administration (personnel, sales), public administration, urban planning, and related fields. All courses are applicable for this concentration.

Anthropology. Recommended for students interested in anthropology and related careers. SOC 202, Introduction to Cultural Anthropology and any four of the following courses are required for this concentration: 204, Introduction to Urban Anthropology; 302, Race and Ethnicity; 306, The Family; 317, Anthropology of Drugs; 328, Societies and Cultures of Latin America; 331, Anthropology of Work and Occupations; 335, Culture, Health, and Illness; 345, New York City Ethnic Communities; 399, Gender Roles. Students are encouraged to take courses outside their area of concentration.

Criminal Justice. Recommended for students interested in police work, probation/parole work, law, or related criminal justice careers. SOC 309, Criminology is required. Students must take two technical Criminal Justice courses dealing with particular kinds of crimes and the structure and function of the Criminal Justice system (SOC 361, Criminal Justice Administration; 362, Organized Crime; 363, Prisons and Probation; 364, Criminal Law and Society; 365, Police and Society; 366, White Collar Crime; 367, Criminal Investigations; 368, Minorities in Policing; 369, Current Controversies in Criminal Justice); and two courses dealing with the social context of criminality (SOC 301, Social Problems; 302, Race and Ethnicity; 306, The Family; 308, Juvenile Delinquency; 310, Sociology of Deviance; 317, Anthropology of Drugs; 345, New York City Ethnic Communities). Students are encouraged to take courses outside their area of concentration.

Education and Society. Recommended for students interested in teaching and other careers related to education. SOC 302, Race and Ethnicity; and any four of the following courses are required for this concentration: 202, Introduction to Cultural Anthropology; 210, Introduction to Social Work; 301, Social Problems; 306, The Family; 308, Juvenile Delinquency; 310, Sociology of Deviance; 311, Individual in Society; 327, Power and Conflict; 328, Societies and Cultures of Latin America; 345, New York City Ethnic Communities; 399, Gender Roles. Students are encouraged to take courses outside their area of concentration.

Social Work. Recommended for students interested in social-service related careers. SOC 210, Introduction to Social Work; 312, Social Work Practice I, and any three of the following courses are required for this concentration: 202, Introduction to Cultural Anthropology; 301, Social Problems; 302, Race and Ethnicity; 305, Urban Sociology; 306, The Family; 308, Juvenile Delinquency; 310, Sociology of Deviance; 311, Individual and Society; 319, Social Work Practice II; 328, Societies and Cultures of Latin America; 335, Culture, Health and Illness; 345, New York City Ethnic Communities; 399, Gender Roles. The Department strongly recommends that two of the remaining three courses be SOC 319, Social Work Practice II, and an Internship. Students are encouraged to take courses outside their area of concentration.

Requirements for Sociology Minor. Fifteen credits chosen by the student after consultation with a departmental advisor. Students will be required to take (a) one course dealing with social differentiation: Social Class and Inequality, Race and Ethnicity, or Gender Roles; (b) one course emphasizing the application of sociological analysis to one or several institutions of society: Family, Deviance, or Social Problems. In addition, students take three more courses from the courses listed below. Minors cannot take the Senior Seminar or internship. Minors must maintain a cumulative average of 2.00 in sociology courses.

The joined Department of Sociology at Manhattan College and the College of Mount Saint Vincent offer the following courses:

201. Introduction to Sociology. An introduction to the nature and scope of the science of sociology. Emphasis on societies, social structures and institutions, social groups, and on the various social processes associated with social organization, socialization, and social change. (Not open to students who have completed LLRN 122.) (Cr.3)

202. Introduction to Cultural Anthropology. An introduction to the basic concepts, aims and methods of sociocultural anthropology. A comparative examination of human culture, past and present. (Cr.3)

204. Introduction to Urban Anthropology. An anthropological examination of various aspects of urban life from an evolutionary and cross-cultural perspective. Fieldwork experience in studying neighborhoods. (Cr.3)

210. Introduction to Social Work. The foundation of social work as a profession, its historical and philosophical development, its social purpose, value assumptions, and theoretical base. A review of the current methodologies for social work practice. Case studies and analyses of programs, policies and issues. (Cr.3)

301. Social Problems. A critical analysis of the causes and impact of social problems using the major theoretical approaches developed in sociology. Topics include population problems, the environment, corporate power, terrorism, et al. (Cr.3)

302. Race and Ethnicity. Theories, concepts, and research findings from sociology and anthropology as they relate to dominant and minority
relations in various countries. Sociological study of conflict, prejudice, and discrimination. (Cr.3)

304. Social Class and Inequality. Analysis of the class structure of the United States. Economic and noneconomic characteristics of different classes. How class status affects one’s life (physical and mental health, food and shelter, education, crime, and political power). The factors influencing what class one ends up in adulthood. The impact of welfare reform. Variations in class inequality across societies and across different time periods in the U.S. Varying explanations of and solutions to class inequality. (Cr.3)

305. Urban Sociology. New York City serves as a model for studying cities and urbanization. Central issues, such as growth and decline, gentifrication, ethnic and racial change, neighborhoods, business, and cultural concentrations will be studied through field visits, readings, and reports. (Cr.3)

306. The Family. The nature and structure of the family as a group and as a social institution. Cross-cultural, historical and contemporary variations in family structure and interaction. Patterns in mate selection, marriage, parenthood and divorce, and their correlation with such variables as income, ethnicity, religion and education. (Cr.3)

307. Survey Research. The logic and skills of social scientific research. Research design, conceptualization and measurement, sampling, and data analysis. Student experience in data collection and analysis. (Cr.3)

308. Juvenile Delinquency. Sociological perspectives on the nature, causes, and prevention of delinquency. (Cr.3)

309. Criminology. A sociological examination of crime and theories of crime causation. Topics also include the extent of crime, types of crimes, indices of crime, and societal reactions to crime. (Cr.3)

310. Sociology of Deviance. Study of stigmatized social behavior, including areas such as drug dependence, prostitution, swinging, homosexuality, and violence. Sociological theories to explain deviance are analyzed. (Cr.3)

311. Individual in Society. The influence of social structure, social processes and social change on individual attitudes and behavior. Topics include socialization and the development of self, attitude organization and change, social influence processes and social power, group structure and processes, and the effects of variables such as ethnicity, class and religion on personality and behavior. (Cr.3)

312. Social Work Practice I. This course introduces the student to basic social work methods. Concentration in this course will be working with individuals and families. Students will learn about the helping process, starting with the initial phases, assessment, and termination. (Cr.3)

315-316. Special Topics in Sociology. New course offerings in any area of sociology. Topics will be listed in the pre-registration booklets. Course outlines will be posted in the sociology department before the pre-registration periods. (Cr.3, 3)

317. Anthropology of Drugs. An exploration of the use of drugs cross-culturally, focusing on their political, economic, and cultural ramifications. Study of alcohol, marijuana, and coca. Qualitative and quantitative data will be used in the course. (Cr.3)

319. Social Work Practice II. Students will explore the theories used in Social Work practice. Issues such as helping people in crisis will also be discussed. The focus will be on generalist practice, and the different roles and methods social workers use in working with groups and communities. (Cr.3)

324. Sociological Theories. A survey of sociological theories of the 19th and 20th centuries, e.g., symbolic interactionism, functionalism, conflict theory, exchange theory, ethnomethodology. Special emphasis is given to the contributions of major sociologists: Comte, Durkheim, Mead, Marx, Weber, Parsons, Goffman, Garfinkel, et al. (Cr.3)

327. Power and Conflict. Analysis of the nature of political power and the dynamics of political change in the U.S. Different theories of the distribution of political power in the U.S. Different devices used by political groups to influence government. The political interests, tactics, and impact of social movements; minorities, women, labor, and environmentalists. Varying proposals to change the distribution of political power. (Cr.3)

328. Societies and Cultures of Latin America. A study of the native and contemporary cultures of Latin American societies from an anthropological perspective. Analysis of the processes of socio-cultural change and the external forces affecting Latin American cultures. (Cr.3)

331. Anthropology of Work and Occupations. The study of the structure and operation of bureaucracies (such as corporations, hospitals, labor unions, government bureaus, and the military) and the organization of work and occupations in human societies. Topics include structural determinants of behavior in organizations, job satisfaction studies, effects of work on families and effects of social, economic, and political factors on work, occupations, and complex organizations. (Cr.3)

335. Culture, Health, and Illness. Application of anthropological and sociological methods and theory in the comparative analysis of illness, medical practices, and health systems. (Cr.3)

338. Schools and Society. Examination of how schools in U.S. and abroad are organized and operate, why there are class, race, and sex differences in how much education people get, why better educated people get the best jobs, and what must be done to reform our schools. (Cr.3)

345. New York City Ethnic Communities. New York City will serve as a model for studying ethnic communities. Central sociological themes, such as population, ethnic transition, assimilation, community structure, etc., will be studied through field visits, readings, and reports. (Cr.3)

361. Criminal Justice Administration. An analysis of the various agencies in the administration of justice, the nature of law enforcement, the prisons, court system and rehabilitation agencies. (Cr.3)

362. Organized Crime. Analysis of the origin, organization, control, and consequences of organized crime in the United States. Emphasis on conflicting theories and current research. (Cr.3)

363. Prisons and Probation. The correctional system in relation to punishment, treatment, and reclamation of offenders. Types of correctional institutions; parole and probation. Theories and methods of corrections emphasized. (Cr.3)

364. Criminal Law and Society. An exploration of the development of legal systems in different societies. Criminal law in the United States will be discussed within the context of social and political influences on its making, administration and enforcement. An underlying question to be examined: “Is law an effective form of social control?” (Cr.3)

365. Police and Society. A socio-historical and comparative analysis of the structure, functions and organization of contemporary police departments. This course will address the patrol, investigative and specialized operations in policing; police discretion and decision making; police culture and personality; police misconduct and current issues. (Cr.3)

366. White Collar Crime. Street crimes command the attention of politicians and the mass media. But white collar crimes cost our society far more in lives hurt and lost, and property damaged. These white collar crimes take such diverse forms as professional misconduct, deliberate industrial pollution, and governmental repression of political opponents. The course examines the content, causes, and means of controlling these various white collar crimes. (Cr.3)

367. Criminal Investigations. This course will explore the social process of criminal investigations. It will draw upon the sciences of criminalistics and sociology in a way that links technical and forensic principles with human action. (Cr.3)

368. Minorities in Policing. This course will examine the history of minorities and women in law enforcement. It will focus on current issues and problems facing members of these groups. (Cr.3)

369. Current Controversies in Criminal Justice. Current and controversial issues in criminal justice will be explored and analyzed in this course. The topics will be debated in a classroom setting which will combine traditional lectures with student presentations and full class discussions. (Cr.3)

375. Internship Program. Students work in agencies related to their prospective careers (e.g. legal services, urban planning, polling bureaus, corrections, probation offices, counseling centers, social work agencies, etc.). Students should obtain the permission of their advisor before registering for an internship and will register through the Career Services and Cooperative Education Office. Six credits of internship are permitted; three credits will count for sociology major credit (Co-op 403) and other three for elective credit (Co-op 402). (Cr.3)

380. Sport and American Society. An interdisciplinary course on the history of American sport from the colonial era to the present. Special emphasis will be given to the economic, sociological, political, and psychological aspects of twentieth century American sport. (Cr.3)

399. Gender Roles. The impact of political, economic, and social forces on the development and definition of sex roles. Analysis of contemporary roles of men and women and their consequences within societies. Consideration of historical and cross-cultural variations. (Cr.3)

416. Senior Seminar. An application of sociological theory and research to the topic of the seminar. Prereq-uisites: SOC 304, 307 and 324. (Cr.3)

460. Independent Study. A course of study designed for students with particular research interests not covered in the department’s curriculum. Topics and methods of research are carefully worked out by the student in consultation with the supervising professor. This course is ordinarily open only to those students who have completed SOC 307 and have a minimum of 3.0 GPA. Before registration, topics must be approved by the supervising professor and the department chair. (Cr.3)

465. Research in Sociology or Anthropology. Participation in current research projects in the department. Permission of Chair and supervising professor required before registration. Prerequisite: SOC 307. (Cr.3)