Academic Calendar

Keys and Symbols Reference

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: SOCI 1110.

(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.

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: SOCI 1110.

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: SOCI 1110.

{Offered upon demand}

Broidy, Painter-Davis, Velez.

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: 2120 or 2210.

An overview of sociological research on the strongest social relationships and primary social groups: those of love, family and friendships.

Ibarra.

New Mexico as a social system; the infrastructure of communities and ethnic groups, stratification, major social institutions, deviance and inter-group relations.

Prerequisite: SOCI 1110.

Huyser

The historical, comparative and contemporary study of Native American peoples in the U.S. and/or other countries. Emphasis on social construction of identity, population distribution, community infrastructure, and major social institutions.

Nepstad, Santoro.

The study of riots, disturbances, social movements and other forms of contentious collective behavior. Strategies of conflict and conflict resolution are considered.

Prerequisite: SOCI 1110.

Huyser, Whooley

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.

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: SOCI 1110.

{Offered upon demand}

This course explores theories and mechanisms related to how social inequities in education, housing, employment, health care, safety, resources, money, and power contribute significantly to health disparities globally, within countries, and within specific urban environments.

This service-learning course provides students the opportunity to apply knowledge about social inequalities and health to working with community members to create change that improves health and reduces health disparities.

Prerequisite: 346.

The forms and development of urban community; demographic, spatial, functional and temporal patterns; metropolitan development and city-hinterland relations.

Prerequisite: SOCI 1110.

{Offered upon demand}

(Also offered as GEOG 254, POLS 254)

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.

Barker, Fiala, Toro-Tulla.

The study of how theory is constructed and applied by sociologists including traditions from 19th century sociological founders and contemporary theoretical formulations.

Prerequisite: SOCI 1110.

{Fall, Spring}

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: SOCI 1110.

Huyser, Painter-Davis, Thomas.

Introduction to quantitative sociological data analysis using basic statistics (both descriptive and inferential) and to the use of statistical software to analyze empirical data.

Prerequisite: 380 and MATH 1350.

Gonzales

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: 380.

Restriction: permission of Department’s Honors Coordinator.

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.

{Fall, Spring}

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.

{Fall, Spring}

Survey course on sociological explanations for current inequality dynamics and social stratification. While the focus of the class will be social inequality in American society, the course situates contemporary trends in a comparative international context.

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 or 371.

Broidy, Jackson, Lyons, Painter-Davis, Ragan, Soller, Velez.

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.

This course focuses on the links between social networks and individual offending and aggregate crime rates. Material centers on the sociological foundations of prevailing and emerging network-based theories of crime.

Prerequisite: 312.

Gonzales, Ibarra, Lopez

An exploration of empirical studies and theories on the social construction of racial and ethnic inequality at the individual, institutional and structural levels in the U.S. and/or global context.

Fiala, Ibarra, Lopez.

Structure and functioning of educational institutions in the United States and other societies.

Prerequisite: SOCI 1110.

Nepstad, Wood.

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: RELG 1110 or RELG 2110 or RELG 2120 or SOCI 1110.

Broidy, Jackson.

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.

Lyons, Painter-Davis, 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.

Broidy, Ragan.

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.

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.

Different historical and cultural frameworks for defining, making sense of, and responding to madness are examined. The social causes and social distribution of madness are critically examined.

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.

{Offered upon demand}

Focuses on how race, gender, class, ethnicity and inequalities interact in society. Students will apply intersectional epistemologies for research and policy-relevant solutions in education, health, housing, environmental justice, criminal justice, employment, and media.

How can people use democratic power to create a good, or at least better, society? We answer this question by studying the political practices of community organizing and the ideas of democratic theory.

Prerequisite: PCST 1110 or RELG 1110 or SOCI 1110.

(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}

Use of the computer as a tool of social research; utilization of data archives; problems of research design, instrumentation and analysis of empirical data. Two lectures, 1 hour lab. 

Prerequisite: 380 and 381L.

An opportunity for Sociology and 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: junior or senior standing, permission of instructor.

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.

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.

For departmental honors students only. By arrangement with department Honors and Awards Committee and approval of the chairperson.

Barker, Toro-Tulla

Advanced study of selected classical theorists.

Drawing on theoretical traditions from sociology, science studies, and the social sciences, this course attends to the complex, multifaceted ways in which power influences knowledge, is legitimated through knowledge, and is challenged by alternative knowledge(s).

The course will focus on issues of economic development, inequality, mobility, and stratification in Latin America and elsewhere in the world.

Nepstad, 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.

Examines power, authority, states, and nations within a global and transnational context. Focuses on Latin America and other regions in context of globalization; authoritarian/democratic regimes, political culture, immigration, revolution, and both state and non-governmental actors.

Fiala, Wood, Whooley 

Survey of contemporary theory, with a focus on constructing theory. Includes analysis of functional, interactionist, institutional and world-systems theory.

Broidy, Lyons, Jackson, Painter-Davis, Soller, Ragan, 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.

Content varies. Explores select substantive and theoretical topics in criminology. Topics may include Communities and Crime, Gender and Crime, Contemporary Research in Criminology.

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.

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.

Fiala.

Introduces incoming graduate students to each of the department’s regular faculty members and their work.

Offered on a CR/NC basis only.

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}

This course emphasizes writing and publishing skills, the publishing process for the social sciences and how to produce constructive peer reviews. Students will prepare one of their existing manuscripts for submission and publication.

This course emphasizes teaching skills. Topics include syllabus development, lecture preparation and delivery, interactive learning methods, and grading approaches. We explore course policies and classroom practices that prevent common problems while enhancing the learning environment.

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.

Tutorial arrangement with a member of the graduate faculty.

Ragan.

Analytical examination of traditional methodological issues including measurement, experimental design, sampling, theory construction, role of statistics and nature of probability.

Soller, Thomas.

Covers the statistical methods most commonly used in social science research, from basic descriptives to multiple regression. No prior statistical training is necessary, and the emphasis is on practical use in conducting social research.

Thomas.

Continuation of prerequisite. This course covers additional methods for quantitative social research, including models for discrete outcomes (Logistic, Poisson, etc), missing data analysis, and multilevel models.

Prerequisite: 581.

Soller, Thomas

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.

(Also offered as ECON, POLS 584; HIST 689) 

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.

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.

Offered on a CR/NC basis only.

Student works under faculty supervision in preparation for the Ph.D. comprehensive exam.

Offered on a CR/NC basis only.

Offered on a CR/NC basis only.

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