The student interested in sociology and related specializations should take both 101 and 280. These courses are recommended for all beginning students and are required for a major or minor in sociology and a major in criminology. Most higher level courses specify one or both of these introductory courses as prerequisites.
Normally, students should follow the introductory courses with at least one or two 200-level courses before attempting more advanced courses. In some areas there is a progression from less to more advanced courses and following such progressions is strongly recommended even when the lower level course is not explicitly listed as a prerequisite for the higher level course.
Note that courses applied toward a major degree may not be used for any of the minor degree programs. In cases of overlapping required or elective courses, students must take additional courses as approved by the sociology undergraduate advisor.
Courses
SOC 101.
Introduction to Sociology.
(3)
Fiala, Lopez
Basic concepts, topics and theories of contemporary sociology. Meets New Mexico Lower-Division General Education Common Core Curriculum Area IV: Social/Behavioral Sciences (NMCCN 1113). Prerequisite for more advanced courses in sociology.
SOC 200.
Foundations of Social Welfare.
(3)
Coughlin
Overview of social welfare institutions in Western societies related to social change, stratification, economy, politics, dependency, poverty, wealth, and unemployment in U.S. and other countries; examines social work and related human service occupations.
Prerequisite: 101
SOC 205.
Crime, Public Policy and the Criminal Justice System.
(3)
Broidy, Lyons
The study of crime, the criminal justice system and crime-related public policy. Discussion of key criminological concepts, measurement of crime and delinquency, its distribution in society, victimization, public opinion, the criminal justice system, crime control strategies and policies.
Prerequisite: 101
SOC 211.
Social Problems.
(3)
Description and analysis of major social problems facing American society. Foci may include: poverty, homelessness, alcohol and drug problems, race and ethnic relations, aging and mental illness.
Prerequisite: 101
SOC 213.
Deviance.
(3)
Broidy, Lyons, Tiano
Survey of major forms of norm-violating behavior in American society, such as drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness, criminal behavior and sexual deviance. Discussion of sociological explanations of the causes of, and attempts to address, these behaviors.
Prerequisite: 101
SOC 216.
The Dynamics of Prejudice.
(3)
Ibarra, Lopez
The study of prejudice and discrimination, including their historical and contemporary sources and prospects for their reduction, with applications to American institutions.
SOC 221.
Global Issues.
(3)
Tiano, Schrank
(Also offered as PCST 221)
The global context of patterns of development in nation-states with an emphasis on industrializing countries. Selected topics of social, economic and cultural change. Inequality, war, reform and revolution in global perspective. Meets New Mexico Lower-Division General Education Common Core Curriculum Area IV: Social/Behavioral Sciences.
Prerequisite: 101
SOC 225.
Marriage, Family and Their Alternatives.
(3)
Hood
Comparative analysis of contemporary family and household forms such as dual-worker, single-parent and homosexual couple households. Focus on links between large-scale social changes and changing family composition and interaction patterns. Meets New Mexico Lower-Division General Education Common Core Curriculum Area IV: Social/Behavioral Sciences (NMCCN 2213).
Prerequisite: 101
SOC 230.
Society and Personality.
(3)
The social psychology of personalities, relationships, small groups and organizations.
Prerequisite: 101
{Offered upon demand}
SOC 280.
Introduction to Research Methods.
(3)
Hood, J. Roberts, Santoro
A survey of the major methods of social research: foundations of social research, research design, sampling and measurement, quantitative and qualitative research methods and data analysis.
Prerequisite: 101
SOC 300.
Social Welfare: Policies and Programs.
(3)
Coughlin
The development and operation of the U.S. social welfare programs (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid), unemployment insurance, workers compensation, public assistance, and political ideologies shaping the public debate and attitudes toward social programs.
Prerequisite or Corequisite: 200
SOC 303.
Sociology of Political Behavior.
(3)
Fiala
Examination of the social bases of political behavior. Major topics include the character and expansion of the state, the social bases of various forms of political rule and political change in the contemporary world.
Prerequisite: 101
{Offered upon demand}
SOC 305.
Environmental Sociology.
(3)
Examination of humans and the environment from an ecological perspective. Focus on industrial and economic growth, natural resources development, environmental values and movements, resource management, and comparative perspective on people’s relationship to the environment.
Prerequisite: 101
SOC 306.
Peace and Conflict.
(3)
(Also offered as PCST 306.)
This course addresses peace and conflict issues arising from the global search for scarce mineral resources and indigenous communities and cultures threatened by extractive industries.
SOC 307.
Nonviolent Alternatives.
(3)
(Also offered as PCST 307.)
This course studies the dynamics of violence and nonviolence at the interpersonal, institutional, cultural, and global level from a variety of disciplinary perspectives.
SOC 308.
Sociology of Gender.
(3)
Hood, Lopez
How and why societies create gender categories. How do definitions of “masculinity” and “femininity” vary? What are the costs and benefits of being male or female in contemporary American society?
Prerequisite: 101
SOC 310.
Sociology of Aging and the Aged.
(3)
Descriptive and theoretical study of the social situation of older persons in contemporary industrial societies; the impact on societal institutions of an increasing percentage of older citizens.
Prerequisite: 101
{Offered upon demand}
SOC 312.
Causes of Crime and Delinquency.
(3)
Broidy, Lyons, M. Velez, Socia
A survey of criminological theories exploring why some people are more likely to engage in crime than others and why crime rates vary over time and space and across social groups. Attendant policy issues will also be discussed.
Prerequisite: 205 or 211 or 213
SOC 313.
Social Control.
(3)
Broidy, Lyons, Wood
The study of informal and formal social control strategies for guiding and monitoring individual behavior and social interaction. Discussion of key social control agents and institutions, including the family, schools, peers, media, religion and the criminal justice system.
Prerequisite: 205 or 211 or 213
SOC 326.
Sociology of New Mexico.
(3)
Ibarra
New Mexico as a social system; the infrastructure of communities and ethnic groups, stratification, major social institutions, deviance and inter-group relations.
Prerequisite: 101
SOC 331.
Social Movements.
(3)
Santoro
The study of riots, disturbances, social movements and other forms of contentious collective behavior. Strategies of conflict and conflict resolution are considered.
Prerequisite: 101
SOC 335.
Sociology of Mass Communication.
(3)
(Also offered as CJ 335)
Mass communication in society with emphasis on Western industrial societies, the impact of mass communication on social movements and on sectors of the social structure; social psychology of mass communication.
{Offered upon demand}
SOC 340.
Sociology of Medical Practice.
(3)
Huyser
An introduction to the delivery of health care in the U.S. and selected other countries is pursued with an emphasis on the interaction of patients, professionals and health care institutions.
SOC 342.
Social Epidemiology.
(3)
Examines the influence of social variables on human’s health, illness and death. The complex role of lifestyle, socioeconomic status, marriage, occupation, culture and other variables are examined as they are related to survival.
Prerequisite: 101
{Offered upon demand}
SOC 345.
Youth and Society.
(3)
An assessment of the creation and dynamics of childhood and youth in human societies. Consideration of historical and cross-cultural material; and issues such as deviance and popular culture.
Prerequisite: 101
{Offered upon demand}
SOC 350.
Rural Society in Latin America.
(3)
Analysis of agricultural modes of production, including the relationship of crop, tenancy and land ownership patterns and social institutions stemming from them, from Spanish colonial times to the present. Effects of the commercial revolution and agrarian reforms.
Prerequisite: 101
{Offered upon demand}
SOC 351.
The Urban Community.
(3)
The forms and development of urban community; demographic, spatial, functional and temporal patterns; metropolitan development and city-hinterland relations.
Prerequisite: 101
{Offered upon demand}
SOC 354.
Introduction to Latin American Society I: Social Sciences.
(3)
(Also offered as LTAM 354, POLS 354)
Introduction to Latin American Studies through the social sciences examines major themes including colonialism, agrarian transformation, urbanization, demographics, family, human rights, inequalities, violence, and social movements. Emphasis given to insights gained from making interdisciplinary connections.
SOC 371.
Classical Sociological Theory.
(3)
Burris, Fiala, Huaco
The study of 19th century sociological theory, with particular emphasis on Marx, Durkheim and Weber.
Prerequisite: 101
{Fall, Spring}
SOC 381.
Sociological Data Analysis.
(3)
Fiala, A. Roberts, J. Roberts
An introduction to the basic statistics (both descriptive and inferential) employed in the analysis of quantitative sociological data.
Prerequisite: 280
SOC 390.
Latin American Thought II.
(3)
(Also offered as HIST, RELG, PHIL 390)
Positivism through contemporary thought.
{Offered upon demand}
SOC 398.
Special Topics in Sociology.
(3, no limit Δ)
SOC 399.
Advanced Undergraduate Workshop in Sociology.
(3)
Santoro
First of a six-credit Sociology Honors Thesis Program; students develop skills to write an honors thesis proposal; culminates in the completion of a senior honors thesis written in SOC 499.
Prerequisite: 280
Restriction: permission of Department’s Honors Coordinator.
SOC 400.
The Welfare State.
(3)
Coughlin
Social, economic, and political aspects of programs and policies of the modern welfare state, from Europe to other industrialized nations; the future of the welfare state related to economic, political, and demographic changes.
Prerequisite: 200
{Spring}
SOC 412.
Sociology of Police and Social Control.
(3)
Study of the relationship between society and law enforcement agencies, including the societal context of policing and how law enforcement impacts society. Discussion of law enforcement practices, training and management; the interface of police and communities; historical and contemporary models of policing; and efforts at police reform.
Prerequisite: 312 and 313
{Fall, Spring}
SOC *414.
Sociology of Corrections.
(3)
Study of the perspectives of corrections, its relationship to other criminal justice agencies, various forms sentencing and punishment, corrections administration and issues in the field. Visits may be made to several facilities.
Prerequisite: 312 and 313
{Fall, Spring}
SOC *415.
Social Stratification.
(3)
Structure and dynamics of class, status and power in society; social consequences of stratification.
Prerequisite: 312 and 313
{Offered upon demand}
SOC 416.
Sociology of Law.
(3)
Broidy
Social science perspectives of the law, legal institutions and the impact of law on behavior. Topics include theories of law and legality; comparative legal systems; lawyers, judges and juries; and the use of social science in the courts.
Prerequisite: 312 and 313
SOC *418.
Selected Topics in Criminology.
(3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)
Broidy, Lyons, Velez, Socia
This course will explore in detail some aspects of research on the causes or characteristics of crime, such as juvenile delinquency, drug and alcohol-related behavior or child abuse.
Prerequisite: 312 and 313
SOC 420.
Race and Cultural Relations.
(3)
Gonzales, Ibarra, Lopez
Comparative and structural analysis of intergroup relations in the United States and/or other countries and regions.
SOC 421.
Sociology of Education.
(3)
Fiala, Ibarra, Lopez
Structure and functioning of educational institutions in the United States and other societies.
Prerequisite: 101
SOC 422.
Sociology of Religion.
(3)
Wood
(Also offered as RELG 422)
Study of belief, commitment, and practice within religious and spiritual traditions and institutions, with a focus on contemporary United States, Latin America, and the Middle East.
Prerequisite: 101 or RELG 107 or RELG 263 or RELG 264
SOC 423.
Gender and Crime.
(3)
Broidy
This course will outline similarities and differences in offending patterns across males and females and discuss various explanations for these differences. Discussions will also focus on the dynamics of female offending, the formal social control of female offenders and the role of women in the correctional system.
Prerequisite: 312 and 313
SOC 424.
Race, Class and Crime.
(3)
Lyons, Velez
This class will examine the relationships between race, ethnicity, socio-economic status and involvement in criminal behavior, focusing on the influence of structural, cultural and historical influences. We will also explore contemporary criminal justice issues pertaining to race and class.
Prerequisite: 312 and 313
SOC 425.
From Youthful Misbehavior to Adult Crime.
(3)
Broidy
Causes and consequences of offending at various stages in the life course, focusing on the ways in which adolescent and adult roles, responsibilities and opportunities shape aggregate and individual level patterns of involvement in juvenile delinquency and adult criminality.
Prerequisite: 312 and 313
SOC 426.
Drugs, Crime and Social Control.
(3)
Lyons
Study of the development of social policies concerning illicit substance use; its impact on social behavior; strategies for prevention and intervention with substance use; investigation, adjudication and supervision of drug offenders; and the relationship between criminal justice, education, public health and government policies.
Prerequisite: 312 and 313
SOC 428.
Sociology of Mexican Americans.
(3)
Gonzales, Lopez
The historical, comparative and contemporary study of the Mexican American in the U.S. Race and ethnic relations theories and the Chicano Movement.
Prerequisite: 101
{Offered upon demand}
SOC *441.
Complex Organizations.
(3)
Burris
Structure and functional dynamics of formal organizations; the role of bureaucracy in modern social organization.
Prerequisite: 101
{Offered upon demand}
SOC *445.
Sociology of Work.
(3)
Burris
Overview of the field of sociology of work (historical, classical and contemporary theoretical perspectives) and empirical studies of different kinds of work and workplaces (technology/work, family/work, gender/race segregation, the corporation and globalization).
Prerequisite: 101
SOC *461.
Social Dynamics of Global Change.
(3)
Schrank, Tiano
A sociological perspective on economic, political and social trends worldwide. Implications of global change for individuals, organizations and societies.
{Offered upon demand}
SOC 471.
Contemporary Sociological Theory.
(3)
Burris, Huaco, Tiano
Comparative analysis of major contributions to sociological theory in the 20th century: Functionalism, Phenomenology, French Structuralism, Analytical Marxism.
Prerequisite: 101
SOC *478.
Seminar in International Studies.
(3)
(Also offered as ECON 478)
Designed to provide seniors from several disciplines an opportunity to apply an international perspective to their undergraduate training. Each student presents a term project drawing upon his or her major disciplinary background and related to international concerns. Open only to seniors.
{Offered upon demand}
SOC 481L.
Research Methods in Sociology.
(4)
Fiala, A. Roberts, J. Roberts, Santoro
Use of the computer as a tool of social research; utilization of data archives; problems of research design, instrumentation and analysis of empirical data. Three lectures, 1 hour lab.
Prerequisite: 280 and 381
SOC 488.
Field Observation and Experience.
(3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)
Velez
An opportunity for Sociology/Criminology students to work in a criminal justice or social service agency for course credit. Students must have a 3.0 GPA or higher in the major.
Restriction: upper-division standing and permission of instructor.
SOC 490.
Directed Study.
(1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)
Tutorial arrangement with a member of the sociology faculty. Specific arrangements must be made with a member of the sociology faculty responsible for supervising the work. Arrangements normally made at least one semester in advance.
SOC 491.
Directed Study in Criminology.
(1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)
Tutorial arrangement for investigation of selected issues in criminology. Specific arrangements must be made with a member of the sociology faculty responsible for supervising the work.
SOC 499.
Senior Honors Thesis.
(3)
For departmental honors students only. By arrangement with department Honors and Awards Committee and approval of the chairperson.
SOC 500.
Classical Sociological Theory.
(3)
Burris, Huaco
Advanced study of selected classical theorists.
SOC 506.
Seminar: Comparing Nations.
(3)
Coughlin, Fiala, Schrank
The demography, social structure and value systems of the developed and developing societies. The particular theme and concerns of the course will vary each time offered.
SOC 507.
Topics in Sociological Theory.
(3, no limit Δ)
SOC 508.
Latin American Development and Planning.
(3)
(Also offered as CRP, LTAM 578)
Interdisciplinary seminar focusing on area topics in Latin American planning, development and urbanization. It is the core course for the LAS/MCRP dual-degree program.
SOC 509.
Gender and International Development.
(3)
Tiano
Focus on women in Africa, Asia and Latin America, exploring their historical and current circumstances in light of the changing global political-economy.
SOC 510.
Social and Political Movements.
(3)
Gonzales, Santoro, Wood
Examination of historical, theoretical and empirical materials on the character and dynamics of social and political movements. Includes consideration of the global context of contemporary social and political movements.
SOC 513.
Constructing and Analyzing Contemporary Sociological Theory.
(3)
Fiala, Huaco, Wood
Survey of contemporary theory, with a focus on constructing theory. Includes analysis of functional, interactionist, institutional and world-systems theory.
SOC 514.
20th Century European Theory.
(3)
Huaco, Fiala, Wood
Analytical Marxism, Nietzsche, Spengler, Sociobiology, Foucault, Sartre, Lukacs, The Frankfurt School.
SOC 515.
Criminological Theory.
(3)
Broidy, Lyons, Velez
Overview of mainstream criminological theory, focusing on its origins as well as developments and advancements over time. Students will critically evaluate key theories and core constructs in criminology.
SOC 516.
Crime, Law, and Social Control.
(3)
Broidy, Lyons, Velez
An overview of classical and contemporary sociological perspectives in law, social control, and punishment. Explores empirical work on law and social control in various domains.
SOC 518.
Special Topics in Criminology.
(3)
Content varies. Explores select substantive and theoretical topics in criminology. Topics may include Communities and Crime, Gender and Crime, Contemporary Research in Criminology.
SOC 520.
Racial and Ethnic Relations.
(3)
Gonzales, Ibarra, Lopez
Historical and comparative analysis of race and ethnic relations in the U.S., with comparative reference to Western Europe, Latin America, Asia. Origins and maintenance of slavery; minority community development; causes and consequences of prejudice.
SOC 521.
Sociology of Education.
(3)
Lopez, Ibarra
Examination of the character and dynamics of education in human societies. Focus is on the organization and expansion of modern educational systems and the effects of education on individuals and society.
SOC 523.
Proseminar.
(1)
Fiala
Introduces incoming graduate students to each of the department’s regular faculty members and their work.
SOC 528.
Sociology of Mexican Americans.
(3)
Gonzales
The historical, comparative and contemporary study of the Mexican American in the U.S. Race and ethnic relations theories and the Chicano Movement.
{Offered upon demand}
SOC 530.
Sociology of Work.
(3)
Burris, Hood
A graduate seminar designed to provide a more in-depth study of the sociology of work, using theoretical and empirical analyses to explore different kinds of work and workplaces and how they have changed over time.
SOC 531.
Sociology Teaching Practicum.
(2)
Provides a survey of pedagogical methods and classroom teaching experience for prospective sociology instructors.
Offered on a CR/NC basis only.
SOC 532.
Sociology of Religion.
(3)
Wood
Course content of 422 plus attention to the nature of religious behavior, structure of religious organizations, and socioreligious change in contemporary societies through the works of Weber, Freud, Marx, Bellah, Geertz, Wuthnow and others.
SOC 540.
Medical Sociology and Health Policy.
(3)
Huyser
A review of major theories and research in medical sociology with special attention to health policy; focus on health and mental health problems of underserved populations; analysis of the U.S. health care system in comparative perspective.
SOC 551-552.
Problems.
(2-3, 2-3, no limit Δ)
Tutorial arrangement with a member of the graduate faculty.
SOC 570.
Sociological Research: Special Topics.
(3, no limit Δ)
SOC 580.
Methods of Social Research I.
(3)
A. Roberts, J. Roberts
Analytical examination of traditional methodological issues including measurement, experimental design, sampling, theory construction, role of statistics and nature of probability.
SOC 581.
Advanced Social Statistics I.
(3)
A. Roberts, J. Roberts
Examines theory (assumptions, properties of estimators) and application of multiple regression. Introduces matrix notation and generalized least squares.
Prerequisite: 481L
SOC 582.
Advanced Social Statistics II.
(3)
A. Roberts, J. Roberts
Additional methods for quantitative social research: regression diagnostics, logit and Poisson regression, principal components, correspondence analysis.
Prerequisite: 581
SOC 583.
Special Topics in Advanced Social Statistics.
(3, no limit Δ)
A. Roberts, J. Roberts
A close examination of the properties and application of a single quantitative method (or a few related methods). Possible topics include structural equation models, log linear models, dynamic models, scaling.
Prerequisite: 582
SOC 584.
Interdisciplinary Seminar on Problems of Modernization in Latin America.
(3)
(Also offered as HIST 689, ECON, POLS 584)
SOC 585.
Sociological Fieldwork Methods: Ethnography, Interviews, Focus Groups.
(3)
Intensive practicum on research fieldwork, including research design, human subjects review, the ethics/politics of fieldwork, and fieldwork implementation. Focuses on ethnographic and interview methods; some attention to focus groups and archives.
Prerequisite: 580
SOC 595.
Special Topics in Sociology.
(3, no limit Δ)
SOC 596.
Professional Paper.
(1-6, no limit Δ)
Student works under faculty supervision toward completion of the professional paper requirement for a Plan II master’s degree. Paper must be of professional quality and in a format suitable for publication.
Offered on a CR/NC basis only.
SOC 599.
Master’s Thesis.
(1-6, no limit Δ)
Offered on a CR/NC basis only.
SOC 699.
Dissertation.
(3-12, no limit Δ)
Offered on a CR/NC basis only.
