What Kind of Classes Will I Take?
Students will take classes in medical sociology, sociology of murder, geographic information systems in society, and the sociology of alcohol and drugs.
Undergraduate Classes:
Medical Sociology (SYO4400)
Who is it designed for?
Medical Sociology is designed for anyone interested in understanding the links between health and society. Biomedical and health sciences students are prepared for entrance into medical, nursing, and health profession schools. Social science students benefit by learning how the institutions of medicine are central to individual, social, economic and political life in the United States.
What will I learn?
The course explores health, illness, and disease as an individual social and biological experience; a set of structured cultural phenomena; and a means to organize individual, social, economic, political and institutional actions. Health, illness, and disease are also explored as unique economic engines that drive a complex modern society.
When is it offered?
Medical Sociology is a required course in the Medical Sociology minor and it is offered in the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters.
Sociology of Murder (SYP3511)
Who is it designed for?
This course is designed for Sociology majors, Crime, Law, and Deviance minors, as well as for all other majors (with appropriate prerequisites) who are interested in learning about murder, why it occurs and ways to prevent it.
What will I learn?
This course will provide students with an advanced overview of the study of murder and violence in the United States. We will discuss different types of homicides, homicide patterns related to both victims and offenders, theoretical approaches to explaining homicide, and punishment options. Special topics covered will include serial murder, school homicide, medical murder, hate homicides, terrorism and cult killings.
When is it offered?
This course is offered on a regular basis in the fall, spring, and summer semesters.
Graduate Classes:
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Society (SYA6356)
Who is it designed for?
The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Society course is designed for students majoring in Sociology or pursuing the graduate GIS Certificate, as well as for other majors and professionals who have an interest in learning GIS.
What will I learn?
In this course, students will learn geographical concepts and spatial knowledge, create maps and perform spatial data analysis, use GIS software like ArcGIS Pro, and apply GIS and spatial statistics in social and environmental sciences.
When is it offered?
The course is offered every fall semester.
Sociology of Alcohol and Drugs (SYP6555)
Who is it designed for?
This course is designed for any student who wants to learn how a sociologist approaches the study of drug use and can be used as a restricted elective for the Crime and Deviance or Medical Sociology areas of emphasis in the doctoral program.
What will I learn?
Students will learn about the methods, theories and core concepts sociologists apply to understand drug use. Students will gain a better understanding of how society frames drug use, how demographic characteristics are associated with drugs use, social determinants of drug use, specific types of drug use (i.e., alcohol, cannabis, prescription and other illegal drugs), how drug use is associated with crime and public health and various policy strategies.
When is it offered?
This course will be offered spring 2024 and is generally offered every other year.