Sociology (SOCI)

Analysis of generalizations derived by sociology concerning how human beings live and interact.

The dynamics and structure of social organization with emphasis on large-scale systems. Critical evaluation of current research and contemporary theories of social organization.

General research methods and techniques. Behavioral science research design and related statistical analysis techniques. Prerequisite: SOCI 3381 and SOCI 4382 or PSYC 3387 or their equivalent.

Designed for project option students and requires completion of research project. Prerequisite: departmental approval. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 semester hours.

Designed for thesis option students. The course requires completion of thesis research. Prerequisite: departmental approval. May be repeated for maximum of 6 semester hours.

Current theoretical and methodological problems encountered in advanced research in major areas of sociology. May be repeated for credit when topics differ.

Literature and research in areas of sociology not otherwise treated in depth in available courses. May be repeated for credit with change in topic. Prerequisite: courses appropriate to the selected topic.

An intermediate level statistics course on linear modeling, with an emphasis on statistical data analysis; data management, data manipulation and introduction to linear modeling (ANOVA and classical linear regression). Prerequisite: SOCI 3381 or its equivalent. (Credit may not be obtained in both SOCI 5310 and PSYC 5310.)

Introduction to the concept of culture and its impact on our lives. Focus on methods of study and analysis, including the principal approaches to documenting and interpreting culture in both primitive and modern societies. Prerequisite: graduate standing.

A study of population age and sex structure; population processes such as fertility, mortality and migration and their measurements; and interactions between the human population and its larger social and cultural environment.

Survey of literature on stratification and social inequalities, with an emphasis on sociological theories of stratification in class, gender and race.

Critical analysis of the concepts of social movements and social change in terms of their essestial components; the course specifies important types of social movements, collective behavior, and group studies.

Literature on urban sociology, with an emphasis on sociological theories of urban culture in topic areas of urban life, metropolitan development, and globalization.

Literature on social minorities and social inequalities, with an emphasis on sociological theories of race and ethnicity including topics in the areas of class, gender, and age.

Literature on multiculturalism, belief systems and social inequalities, with an emphasis on sociological theories of diversity from classical sociology. Analyzes multicultural education from micro and macro sociological perspectives.

An examination of the family from both micro-level and macro-level sociological perspectives, with consideration given to change and diversity as well as methodology and substantive findings.

Course addresses the state, national and international factors currently affecting the aged population. Areas emphasized are income and economic change, housing, institutional care, health, nutrition, family relationships, new and proposed laws and programs, retirement programs and preretirement planning.

Analysis of the aging experience and quality of life for older Hispanic Americans with attention give to gender and social class issues. Prerequisite: SOCI 5341 or comparable course with approval of instructor.

Perspectives of the culturally different child. Emphasis of sociocultural awareness and diagnostic and prescriptive strategies. Taught in English.

Ethical perspectives on community development; processes by which groups within a community work together to fulfill community needs through interinstitutional cooperation; establishing cross-institutional linkages; public and private resources for community development; structures and processes of interinstitutional cooperation; examples of existing and needed structures and processes in the South Texas region.