Courses - Sociology - Gettysburg College

SOC-101 Introduction to Sociology

SOC-102 Introduction to Sociology: Special Focus-Film

SOC-103 Introduction to Sociology

SOC-202 Wealth, Power & Prestige

SOC-203 Population

Examination of the components of population composition (fertility, mortality, and migration) to understand how they interact to produce particular population structures and population growth rates. Course emphasizes the study of relationships between social and demographic variables, and the consequences of different population structures and population growth rates for societies as a whole and for various social groups. Special attention is given to the relationship between population dynamics and social change in the United States. Prerequisite: Sociology 101, 102 or 103.

SOC-204 Sociology of Mass Media & Popular Culture

SOC-206 Sociology of the Family

SOC-209 Race and Ethnicity

SOC-212 Deviance, Diversity & Difference

SOC-217 Gender Inequalities

SOC-220 Childhood and Adolescence

SOC-225 Sociology of Education

Explores the structures, practices, content, and outcomes of schooling in relation to the broader society in which schools are situated using a sociological perspective. Uses this perspective to challenge common assumptions about schools and try to understand why they are organized the way they are, how they sort people into their adult roles, and how current reforms are changing the structure of education in our society. Prerequisites: SOC 101, SOC 102, or SOC 103.

SOC-231 Political Sociology of Latin America

The course focuses on social theories developed to explain the recent social, economic, and political transformation of Latin America. It draws on theories of neoliberalism, development, hegemony, social transformation, and state theories to illuminate the place of Latin America in global context. It pays particular attention to the rise and rule of progressive governments in the 21st century and the resurgence of neoliberal right-wing governments in the region.

SOC-239 Health, Medicine and Society

Analysis of social factors that influence health and illness and of health care as a social institution. Topics include the cultural construction of health and illness, the sick role, the effects of social inequality on health and illness, health occupations and professions, and the social organization of health care systems in various societies. Prerequisite: Sociology 101, 102 or 103. SOC 239 and PP 239 are cross-listed.

SOC-240 Sexualities

Exploration of how sexualities are socially constructed and controlled. In this course we use a sociological lens to examine how sexualities directly and indirectly shape our daily lives. We adopt both a life-course perspective and a cross-cultural perspective to understand the fluidity of sexual identities (lesbian, straight, gay, and bisexual) throughout our lives and within different cultural contexts. Topics include categorization of sexualities, representation of sexualities, sexual identities, sex practices, sexual health and disease, commercial sex, and social control of sexualities. Prerequisite: Sociology 101, 102 or 103 or permission of instructor.

SOC-242 Sociology of Tourism

Examination of the tourism industry through a sociological lens. The course educates students on the delicate balance between business profit-maximization and social responsibility. The course uses interdisciplinary theoretical frameworks but filter them through a sociological lens to understand the industry. The course takes current tourism marketing and market segmentation approaches and examines explicit and implicit biases in business models and strategies and how they reflect, maintain, or even promote systematic societal inequalities and stereotypes. Prerequisite: Soc 101, 102, 103 or permission from instructor. SOC 242 and MGT 242 are cross-listed.

SOC-243 Chinese Diaspora

Examination of relationships between China’s political and socio-economic changes and the Chinese Diaspora over the past century. Course explores how the diaspora has been affected by China's changing global positions. North America and Singapore are used as case studies to examine the relationship of overseas Chinese people with China. Prerequisite: Sociology 101, 102 or 103 or permission of instructor.

SOC-244 Global Sexualities

Comparative examination of inequalities within local sexual systems and situating them within a global context. Topics include social control and categorization of sexualities, and sexual identities and practices. The course investigates how religion and tradition shape these local systems. It also examines the hierarchies created by class and race within these systems. Last, the course discusses how these systems are being contested through activism. Throughout the course, discussions include how these systems simultaneously resist and accept the influences of globalization. Prerequisite: Sociology 101, 102 or 103 or permission of instructor.

SOC-245 Visual Sociology

Examination of the use of visual dimensions and materials we produce as data for analysis through a sociological lens. The goal of the course is to allow students to understand how visual materials carry powerful messages that explicitly or implicitly reflect societal attitudes, norms and values. The course teaches students how to collect visual materials, thematically code them, quantify these codes, and conduct statistical analysis. The course discusses research ethics in Visual Studies. Prerequisite: SOC 101, SOC 102, or SOC 103.

SOC-247 Environment, Society & Justice

Examines the ways in which the problems of humanity—violence, inequality, discrimination, denialism—are also at the root of major environmental concerns. This course focuses on the exploitative nature of colonial resource extraction; the structure of environmental racism; the increase in unnatural disasters; the foundations of climate change denial; and the role of capitalism in fueling environmental degradation and catastrophe. The semester concludes with a discussion of sustainability, resiliency, and post-humanism. Prerequisite: SOC 101, 102, or 103; or ES 121 or 196. SOC 247 and PP 247 are cross-listed.

SOC-250 Special Topics in Sociology

SOC-262 Social Development of Latin America

A study of the development of Latin American states and societies. It first examines the various strategies employed by Latin American elites to develop capitalist societies that serve their interests. Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina are used to illustrate the implementation of these strategies. The second part of the course focuses on social movements to analyze the popular reaction to elites’ strategies of social development. It looks at social movements generally in the region, but it pays particular attention to Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina. SOC 262, LAS 262, and PP 262 are cross-listed.

SOC-267 Society and Politics in Latin America

A study of historical, social and political development of the Dominican Republic. The course looks at the tensions between dictatorship, democracy, social development, and international migration to explain contemporary Dominican society. These factors are seen in the context of international capitalist development and the nation’s re-insertion into globalization. Soc 267 and LAS 267 are cross-listed.

SOC-276 Social and Political Problems: The Case of Mexico

Study of the development of Mexico’s economic and social development in the Twentieth Century. The course focuses on two tasks: it provides an outline of economic and social development since independence and evaluates the process of industrialization in the twentieth century. The basic conceptual framework is that a socio-historical approach may help us understand the successive periods of growth and stagnation in Mexican society. What does the sociological analysis teach us about the current obstacles to social and economic development? SOC 276, LAS 276, and PP 276 are cross-listed.

SOC-296 Intro to Sociological Theory

Exploration of the nature of sociological theory and major theoretical orientations (paradigms). Course examines the origins and creation of these paradigms in the nineteenth and early twentieth century - the period of 'classical sociology' and their development, elaboration, and application in contemporary sociology. Prerequisite: SOC 101, 102, or 103, with a grade of C or higher; and one 200-level SOC course.

SOC-298 Field Methods in Social Research

Seminar on conducting qualitative fieldwork. Topics include how theory informs research, ethical issues, and developing descriptive fieldnotes. Students carry out original research projects, using field methods such as participant observation and qualitative interviewing, and learn how to gather data, analyze results, and write research reports. Prerequisite: SOC 101, 102, or 103, with a grade of C or higher

SOC-299 Data Analysis and Statistics

SOC-315 Theories of Self

Exploration of the nature of the self and how it is shaped by social experiences. Students examine classical and contemporary explanations of the origins of self and consider how individuals come to perceive themselves as gendered and sexual beings. Course includes symbolic interaction, psychoanalytic, and post-modern theories. Emphasis is on the influence of the family, work, and relationships on emotions and cognitive structures. Prerequisite: SOC 296 with a grade of C or higher, or consent of the instructor.

SOC-318 Theories of Capitalism

A survey of how various socio-theoretical perspectives conceive of, and evaluate the political, social, and economic aspects of capitalism. A variety of issues related to capitalism and capitalistic societies are explored, ranging from how capitalism emerged historically to more contemporary debates regarding the contemporary nature of capitalism. These issues are explored through the theoretical lens of Adam Smith, Karl Marx, Max Weber, Emile Durkheim, Joseph Schumpeter, Milton Friedman, Naomi Klein, Jean Baudrillard, and others. Prerequisite: SOC 296 with a grade of C or higher, or consent of the instructor. SOC 318 and PP 318 are cross-listed.

SOC-331 Political Sociology of Latin America

The course focuses on social theories developed to explain the recent social, economic, and political transformation of Latin America. It draws on theories of neoliberalism, development, hegemony, social transformation, and state theories to illuminate the place of Latin America in global context. It pays particular attention to the rise and rule of progressive governments in the 21st century and the resurgence of neoliberal right-wing governments in the region. Soc 331 and LAS 331 are cross-listed.

SOC-400 Sociology Seminar

SOC-450 Individualized Study-Tutorial

SOC-451 Individualized Study-Tutorial

SOC-452 Individualized Study-Tutorial

SOC-453 Individualized Study-Tutorial

SOC-460 Individualized Study-Research

Individual investigation of a research topic in sociology in the student's special area of interest under the guidance of a faculty member. Topic must be approved by department. Project culminates in written and oral presentations of a formal paper to the departmental faculty. One way of qualifying for departmental honors. Students must submit a proposal to the department a minimum of two weeks before the end of the semester preceding the proposed study. Prerequisite: Consent of department. Open to juniors and seniors only.

SOC-461 Individualized Study-Research

SOC-462 Individualized Study-Research

SOC-463 Individualized Study-Research

SOC-473 Individualized Study-Intern