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Introductory Courses
100. Principles of Sociology. Open to first- and second-year students. Juniors are strongly encouraged to enroll in Soc. 400. Seniors must elect Soc. 400. No credit granted to those who have completed or are enrolled in 195 or 400. No credit for seniors. (4). (SS).
Section 001. C. Wright Mills once wrote, "The sociological imagination enables us to grasp history and biography and the relations between the two within society. That is its task and promise. To recognize this task and this promise is the mark of the classical social analysis." As a general introduction to sociology this course seeks to fulfill that promise. Through readings, lectures, and discussions, you will develop a working understanding of the concepts and phenomena of interest to sociologists and social scientists in general. The subjects researched by sociologists overlap in large part with those studied by economists, political scientists, and psychologists. These subjects include, for example, the role of social relations and culture in forming personality, and the importance of institutions and organizations in understanding politics, economics, social problems, and individual lives. Although sharing some of the assumptions and methods of other social and behavioral sciences, sociologists tend to take different perspectives than other social scientists. Understandably, this course emphasizes those approaches that are fairly unique to sociologists and, perhaps, anthropologists. For example, sociology emphasizes the importance of personal biography, immediate context, and collective history for understanding human behavior. We summarize these factors in the term: social structure. Much of the course is an attempt to define and identify social structire. We can contrast this structuralist approach to that of individualism, a way of thinking about people and their world that is profoundly embedded in American culture and society, and reflected for example in most psychological theories of human behavior. Because you are already probably so well accustomed to the individualist view, individualist explanations will probably seem more "obvious" and "true" than the alternative structuralist understanding we present. However, as a discipline with the aspirations of science, sociologists seek to determine whether what seems obvious is, in fact, true. Accordingly, we consider the diverse methods sociologists employ in their research. (Newman)
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102. Contemporary Social Issues: An Introduction to Sociology. Open to first- and second-year students. Juniors are strongly encouraged and seniors must take Soc. 400 or 401. No credit for seniors. (4). (SS). Credit is granted for a combined total of eight credits elected through Soc. 102, 202, 203, and 401, provided that the course topics are different.
Section 001. Social inequalities - that is, inequalities in economic resources and opportunities, prestige or status, cultural capital, civil rights and political power - have been a central concern of sociology from its inception. This course introduces students to sociology as a mode of inquiry by examining the most important questions that sociologists have asked about social inequalities, their answers to these questions, and the ways in which they have tried to assess the merits of competing answers. We begin with the classics - Marx, Weber, and Durkheim - in order to identify the fundamental issues and key concepts. We also examine the way in which theories of social inequality fit into larger conceptions of social order, conflict, and change. We then turn to studies that explore the causes and consequences of growing economic inequality, as experienced by different groups in the United States over the last 20 years. (Robinson)
Section 009 - Introduction to Sociology Through Culture and Intergroup Relations.
The emerging demographic diversity has raised fundamental questions about America's identity and culture. As we approach the new millennium, our understanding of the person/environment interaction seems to be taking on a more multicultural flavor. This seems to be forcing us to become citizens of a "shrinking world" rather than "the great United States." In this class we will study the influence of culture on the theories and findings of social behavior, and then investigate how culture influences our understanding of these theories. Through the exploration of a number of topics, including gender, intergroup relations, minority influence, and social representations, we will gain an international perspective on sociological research. (Harris-Reid)
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Primarily for First- and Second-year Students
220/RC Soc. Sci. 220. Political Economy. (4). (SS).
See RC Social Science 220. (Thompson)
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For Undergraduates Only
303/CAAS 303. Race and Ethnic Relations. An introductory course in sociology or CAAS. (4). (SS). (R&E).
The goal of this course is to introduce students to the social history (past and present) of racial minorities in the United States. We will begin by defining the principal concepts that sociologists use in their analysis of race relations. Central to this discussion will be the understanding of racism NOT as prejudice, ignorance, an attitude, or a set of beliefs but rather as a comprehensive historical system that changes over time. After this theoretical discussion, we will survey the historical experiences of five racial minorities, namely, African Americans, Chicanos/Mexican Americans, American Indians, Puerto Ricans, and Asian Americans. The course will conclude with a discussion of possible solutions to the racial dilemmas faced by the U.S. (Wilson)
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304/Amer. Cult. 304. American Immigration. (3). (SS).
The very foundation of American culture is built on immigration. This course will focus on immigration as an historical and social phenomena. We will explore the topic from a number of theoretical perspectives of racial and ethnic relations in order to situate the discussion in a broad context. The experiences of several immigrant groups including Europeans, Hispanics, Blacks, and Asians will be discussed and we will seek to understand how structures, institutions, and statuses have shaped the face of immigration and our view of immigrants. In addition to the historical context of immigration, this course will also address contemporary immigration issues. These issues include: the current debate about immigration policy and reform; the move by some states to restructure bi-lingual education and to enact English-only laws; California's Prop 187; and ethnic conflicts like those between Blacks and Koreans. (Harris-Reid)
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320/Psych. 310. Training in Processes of Intergroup Dialogues. Permission of instructor. Open to juniors and seniors. (3). (Excl). (EXPERIENTIAL).
This course is designed to give students a foundation in the skills and knowledge needed to facilitate multicultural group interactions, including structured intergroup dialogues. Topics include: basic group facilitation skills and their applications to multicultural settings; social identity group development; prejudice and stereotyping and their effects on groups; the nature of social oppression; facilitation of intergroup communication; conflict intervention skills; techniques of community building; and survey of some contemporary intergroup topic areas (e.g., affirmative action, sexual assault, separation/self-segregation). Students who successfully complete this training may apply to act as peer facilitators for the course Psychology 122, "Intergroup Dialogues." Recent trainees have facilitated dialogues with groups such as blacks/Jews; lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and heterosexuals; white women/women of color; blacks/Latinos/as; men/women. Class meetings to be arranged, Permission of Instructor required. Contact Psychology Department for details. (Chesler)
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321/Psych. 311. Practicum in Facilitating Intergroup Dialogues. Sociology 320 and permission of instructor. (3). (Excl). A combined total of 8 credits of Sociology 321, 389, and 395 may be counted toward a concentration in Sociology. (EXPERIENTIAL).
See Psychology 321. (Beale and Behling)
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389. Practicum in Sociology. Permission of instructor. (2-4). (Excl). Offered mandatory credit/no credit. Up to four credits of 389 may be included in a concentration plan in sociology. A combined total of eight credits of Sociology 321, 389, and 395 may be counted toward a concentration in sociology. Laboratory fee ($22) required. (EXPERIENTIAL). May be repeated for a total of eight credits.
Section 001 - Project Community. See http://www.umich.edu/~ocsl/Proj_Community/index.html. (Chesler)
Section 002 - Advanced Seminar in Leadership. See http://www.umich.edu/~salead/SAL-Education.html.
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392/REES 395/Hist. 332/Poli. Sci. 395/Slavic 395. Survey of Russia: The Russian Empire, the Soviet Union, and the Successor States. (4). (SS). Laboratory fee ($10) required.
See Russian and East European Studies 395. (Rosenberg)
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For Undergraduates and Graduates
468. Criminology. (3). (SS).
This course is an introduction to crime, criminals and society's response to both. It explores the construction of crime, problems of measurement, patterns of criminal activity and the contours of criminal careers, the problem of violence and causes of crime. Special attention will be paid to the age, race, class, and crime nexus. Major issues to be examined include; crime in the United States, the criminal justice system - doomed to failure? Also; the impact of race and class; how much violent crime exists? Finally, the imposition of the death penalty in the United States. Criminological theory and research will be used to answer questions to the nature of crime in contemporary society. (Martinez)
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