Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work
(413) 662-5112
www.mcla.edu/soci
Chairperson: Anna Jaysane-Darr, Ph.D.
Email: Anna.Jaysane-Darr@mcla.edu
Sociology Major
The Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work offers a four-year program leading to a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology. The program emphasizes scientific and humanistic methods of inquiry to understand the dynamics of power, poverty, inequality, criminality, childhood and families, health, aging, refugee displacement, cultures of resistance, and social change. Students are encouraged to integrate formal instruction with supervised activities outside the classroom such as internships in social service agencies, community-based learning, and attendance at professional conferences. Our interdisciplinary program is guided by shared principles that promote human rights, social justice, civic responsibility, and respect for diversities to prepare students for global citizenship in the 21st century.
The major is built upon six foundational courses and one upper level elective that apply a critical perspective for the development of a sociological imagination. Advanced courses extend foundational knowledge and allow students to explore interests in Anthropology, Social Work, and specialized areas within the field of Sociology. Students have options of pursuing minors in Anthropology, Child and Family Studies, Criminal Justice Studies, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and Social Work with course requirements specific to these fields. The program prepares students for careers in counseling, child and youth services, corrections, rehabilitation, public health, community organizing, and social justice research and advocacy. Many students continue their studies in Master’s and Ph.D. programs. A common graduate degree pursued is the Master’s of Social Work (MSW).
Students graduating with a major in Sociology will be able to:
- Think critically and be able to evaluate, synthesize, and analyze social science research design and apply this knowledge in original research projects;
- Understand the sociocultural perspective, demonstrate cross-cultural awareness, and identify forms of social inequality and stratification;
- Link academic frameworks to experiential learning such as internships, community based learning, field trips, and travel courses;
- Be prepared for careers and/ or entry into related graduate programs.
Practitioner Series Courses
The social work and criminal justice practitioner series utilizes the rich experience of leading area professionals to present courses in specialty areas not covered in the general curriculum. Practitioners provide a mix of theory and practical wisdom developed over years of experience. These are evident as they teach courses in their areas of specialization (e.g., child welfare, mental health, corrections).
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Anthropology Courses
ANTH 130 Introduction to Sociocultural Anthropology3 cr
Introduces students to the basic concepts, theories and methodologies of sociocultural anthropology. Creates an awareness of the wide spectrum of cultural variation throughout the world. Demonstrates that through the study of anthropology, we may not only gain an understanding of "exotic" cultures but also of our own sociocultural experience.
Attributes: Cross-Cultural and Social Justice (CCSJ), Core Self & Society (CSS)
ANTH 130H Honors: Introduction to Sociocultural Anthropology3 cr
Introduces students to the basic concepts, theories, and methodologies of sociocultural anthropology. Creates an awareness of the wide spectrum of cultural variation throughout the world. Demonstrates that through the study of anthropology, we may not only gain an understanding of "exotic" cultures, but also of our own sociocultural experience.
Attributes: Cross-Cultural and Social Justice (CCSJ), Core Self & Society (CSS), Honors Program (HONR)
ANTH 210 Visual Anthropology3 cr
Draws upon themes in visual anthropology and visual studies to study the nature of images. Examines how images are produced and circulated, how they acquire distinct meanings within different cultures, and how they relate to human experience, affects, culture, and violence.
Attributes: Core Creative Arts (CCA), Cross-Cultural and Social Justice (CCSJ)
ANTH 240 Peoples of the World3 cr
Exposes students to the concepts and methods of sociocultural anthropology through the examination of several cultural groups around the world. Delves into several important topics within anthropology such as economic systems, indigenous peoples, migration, and health. Introduces and practices basic anthropological methods.
Attributes: Cross-Cultural and Social Justice (CCSJ), Core Self & Society (CSS), Women Gender Sexuality Studies (WMST)
ANTH 285 Special Topics in Anthropology3 cr
Provides students with an opportunity to explore topics, issues, methods, and theories in the field of anthropology at an intermediate level.
Repeatable: Unlimited Credits
ANTH 302 Ecological Disaster and Cultural Imagination3 cr
Uses frameworks developed by environmental anthropologists, social theorists, and historical ecologists to examine social and political effects of living with the risk of natural disaster within a capitalist system. Surveys cultural practices and critiques that have emerged in response to ecological disasters.
ANTH 304 Anthropology of Violence3 cr
Draws upon anthropological resources to examine how violence appears in structural, symbolic, and direct forms; how it poisons the past, harms human togetherness in the present, and makes the future precarious, and; how ending violence requires empathy with the vulnerability of others and re-imaging the idea of the "social" itself.
ANTH 305 Anthropology of Refugees and Displacement3 cr
Explores the refugee experience in socio-cultural perspective. Considers the role of nationalism, capitalism, ethnicity, race, violence, trauma, and human rights in refugee processes. Examines and critiques the four components of the refugee journey: displacement, the refugee camp, asylum processes, and the durable solutions.
Attributes: Cross-Cultural and Social Justice (CCSJ)
ANTH 306 Cross-Cultural Documentaries3 cr
Introduces students to the history of documentary as an art of socially engaged visual storytelling. It examines the different political and ideological properties of documentaries and studies documentary as a distinctive signifying practice and a powerful project for representing culture.
ANTH 307 Culture and the Brain3 cr
Uses anthropological theories and methods for understanding the brain, thinking, behavior, emotion, and mental health in social-cultural perspective. Practices ethnographic field methods to ask and answer research questions about human thinking and behavior. Areas of focus include: evolution of the brain, neurodiversity, mental illness, and addiction.
Prerequisite: Any Self and Society course
ANTH 310 Global Health3 cr
Explores global health issues and crises such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, polio, and food insecurity in social and cultural perspective. Critically examines the colonial history, socio-medical impacts, and cultural contexts of global health interventions. Investigates a current event in global health.
Attributes: Cross-Cultural and Social Justice (CCSJ)
ANTH 315 Community Health3 cr
Examines the impact of social inequality, culture, violence, environment, and gender on health outcomes. Investigates the socio-cultural components of major local health issues, including food insecurity, metabolic disease, mental health, and addiction. Assesses the effectiveness of public health interventions both locally and globally. Introduces anthropological approaches to developing public health interventions.
ANTH 323 Culture and Conflict in Africa3 cr
Scrutinizes the experience and legacy of colonialism, independence, and social change in parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Challenges common representations of Africa in media and scholarship. Possible topics include: the aftermath of revolution, religious practices, health, inequality, urban life, and cultural productions.
Attributes: Cross-Cultural and Social Justice (CCSJ)
ANTH 325 Culture in India3 cr
Introduces India, its diversity, complexities and socio-historical issues, as a subject of anthropological inquiry. Explores ways in which anthropologists and other scholars illuminate different aspects of the lived realities of people in India and their varied cultures.
ANTH 345 Culture, Health and Illness3 cr
Compares medical beliefs and practices in Western and non-Western societies. Examines cultural beliefs, social behaviors, and economic and environmental factors that influence susceptibility to disease. Addresses issues concerning patient-doctor communication and psychosocial management of illness.
Attributes: Cross-Cultural and Social Justice (CCSJ)
ANTH 365 Gender Roles and Culture3 cr
Examines the roles and statuses of women and men in Western and non-Western societies, treating gender as a social construct rather than a biological given. Considers theories about the bases of sexual inequality and the relationship between gender and other social hierarchies. Investigates how cultural notions of gender influence an individual's religious, political, sexual and familial experiences.
Attributes: Child & Family Studies Minor (C&FS), Women Gender Sexuality Studies (WMST)
ANTH 370 Culture, Power and Protest3 cr
Compares the forms of resistance practiced by oppressed groups in a variety of societies. Considers the assumptions that have influenced researchers' assessments of social action. Emphasizes that numerous cultural practices, ranging from religious rites to oratory to spirit possession, have political implications.
Attributes: Cross-Cultural and Social Justice (CCSJ)
ANTH 380 Gender and Health3 cr
Focuses on issues related to gender and health in the U.S. and around the world. Examines topics such as: reproduction, fertility, reproductive justice, eating disorders, gender-based violence, sexuality, medical technologies, gender confirmation surgeries, and health activism.
Attributes: Child & Family Studies Minor (C&FS), Women Gender Sexuality Studies (WMST)
ANTH 395 Special Topics in Anthropology3 cr
A course or seminar for students who have taken a substantial number of anthropology courses. Such courses or seminars may explore any of a variety of topics concerning social anthropology, physical anthropology, archeology, applied anthropology or linguistics, or courses in theory and method.
Repeatable: Unlimited Credits
ANTH 475H Honors: Religion and Ritual3 cr
Introduces students to concepts and methods that anthropology employs to understand the phenomenon of religion as a complex social and experiential phenomenon. Approaches religion as deeply enmeshed within the broader cultural systems as well as a contested category for classifying varied systems of belief and ritual.
Attributes: Honors Program (HONR)
ANTH 495 Advanced Special Topics in Anthropology3 cr
Provides advanced anthropology students an opportunity to explore advanced topics, current issues, methods, and theories in the field of anthropology.
Repeatable: Unlimited Credits
ANTH 499 Teaching Assistant in Anthropology3 cr
Supervised academic class presentation(s), assistance with study sessions and tutorials, attendance at all classes, final paper and other duties negotiated with course instructor. Must have completed a minimum of four (4) courses in the discipline, have a 3.0 overall GPA or better, and a B+ or better in the course. This course can be taken for either pass/fail or traditional letter grading. The course requires approval of the department prior to enrollment.
Prerequisite: Junior status
ANTH 500 Independent Study1-3 cr
Open to juniors and seniors who wish to read in a given area or to study a topic in depth under the direction of an anthropologist. Requires written reports and frequent conferences with the advisor.
Prerequisite: Junior status, department approval
Repeatable: Maximum of 12 credits
ANTH 501 Research Assistant1-3 cr
Students will assist faculty member in conducting original quantitative and/or qualitative research projects. The responsibilities may include collecting archival, ethnographic, interview, or focus group data, working with data sets, or other research activities. This course is repeatable for a maximum of 6 credits.
Prerequisite: SOCI 331, junior status, instructor approval
Repeatable: Maximum of 6 credits
ANTH 540 Anthropology Internship3-15 cr
Placement of advanced students in a public or private organization which actively apply anthropology, archeology or ethnohistory as part of their work routine. Internships may be developed in such areas as interethnic services, cultural resource management, museum work, local history, etc. Internships are awarded from 3 to 15 credits per semester, depending on the extent of student involvement.
Prerequisite: ANTH 130 or ANTH 240, minimum of 6 credits of related coursework at the 200-level or higher, junior status, department approval
Repeatable: Maximum of 15 credits
Sociology Courses
SOCI 100 Introduction to Sociology3 cr
Introduces the history, major concepts, and methods of sociology. Examines elements of social organization, sociological analysis of groups and relationships between major institutions of society. Emphasizes the idea of the sociological imagination and its application to contemporary issues.
Attributes: Cross-Cultural and Social Justice (CCSJ), Core Self & Society (CSS)
SOCI 201 Social Problems3 cr
Studies problems and disorganization in modern industrial society such as: poverty, racism, sexism, environmental pollution, militarism and family issues.
Attributes: Cross-Cultural and Social Justice (CCSJ), Core Self & Society (CSS)
SOCI 201H Honors: Social Problems3 cr
Studies problems and disorganization in modern industrial society such as: poverty, racism, sexism, environmental pollution, militarism, and family issues.
Attributes: Cross-Cultural and Social Justice (CCSJ), Core Self & Society (CSS), Honors Program (HONR)
SOCI 210 Families3 cr
Explores contemporary American families (the forms they take, the functions they serve, the problems they face) within the context of families of other historical time periods, and other cultures. Presents an interdisciplinary examination of topics such as: gender roles, marriage, divorce and blended families, nonmarital lifestyles, parenting, family policy and technology's impact on family life.
Attributes: Child & Family Studies Minor (C&FS), Core Human Heritage (CHH), Women Gender Sexuality Studies (WMST)
SOCI 282 Social Constructions of Deviance3 cr
Analyzes social definitions of and responses to deviance, as well as explanations of its causes. Examines drug and alcohol use and abuse, mental illness, sexual and gender differences, and other issues frequently considered deviant.
SOCI 285 Special Topics in Sociology3 cr
Provides students with an opportunity to explore topics, issues, methods, and theories in the field of sociology at an intermediate level.
Repeatable: Unlimited Credits
SOCI 305 Latinas in US Society3 cr
Addresses the modern lives of young Latinas in the U.S. Topics to be discussed include, but are not limited to, family, friendship, romance, appearance, identity, and socioeconomic status. In particular, the subject of "voice" or "voz" and the strength Latinas gain in society through expressing their opinions and giving testimony will be explored. The subject of the commodification and national/intercultural expectations of the body of Latinas will also be given much attention.
Prerequisite: SOCI 100
Attributes: Child & Family Studies Minor (C&FS), Cross-Cultural and Social Justice (CCSJ), Women Gender Sexuality Studies (WMST)
SOCI 306 Men and Masculinities3 cr
Provides an overview of the sociology of men and masculinities. Drawing on theoretical, historical, and contemporary empirical research, the course examines how masculinities are socially constructed; how and why these constructions change over time; and how experiences of masculinity vary based on social categories such as race, age, class, and sexuality.
Prerequisite: SOCI 100
Attributes: Women Gender Sexuality Studies (WMST)
SOCI 307 Representations of Mental Health3 cr
Explores how film, television, memoir, novel, and many other aspects of popular culture, mental illness is presented as painful and deviant, often encompassing gendered and racialized discriminatory portrayals. Pop culture and self-help approaches to mental health and illness in the U.S. are increasingly found in the global marketplace of human culture.
Prerequisite: SOCI 100
Attributes: Child & Family Studies Minor (C&FS), Women Gender Sexuality Studies (WMST)
SOCI 308 Sociology of the Body3 cr
Explores the ways social practices shape the physical body both corporeally and symbolically. Close attention is paid to issues of power, particularly the ways that social practices and cultural meanings related to the body both produce difference and justify inequality. Course material also examines the ways that social actors exercise agency to resist social norms regulating the use of the body and dominant cultural meanings about the body that reproduce system.
Prerequisite: SOCI 100
Attributes: Women Gender Sexuality Studies (WMST)
SOCI 309 Sociology of Identity3 cr
Examines classical and contemporary sociological theorizing about identities. Particular attention will be paid to gender, race, class, and sexual identities, with a focus on the ways that these identity categories intersect. Course material will explore the role that social institutions (families, schools, religion, media, workplaces, etc.) play in shaping individual and collective identities.
Prerequisite: SOCI 100
Attributes: Child & Family Studies Minor (C&FS), Women Gender Sexuality Studies (WMST)
SOCI 312 Sociological Theory3 cr
Explores the meaning of theory and its utility in the sociological enterprise. Examines foundational works of major classical theorists (Comte, Marx, Weber, Durkheim) and introduces contemporary perspectives such as symbolic interactionist, critical, feminist, and postmodern theories.
Prerequisite: SOCI 100
SOCI 316 Sociology of Sport3 cr
Analyzes sport as a microcosm of society. Specifically focuses on American sport from youth through the professional levels. Studies sport and the following: socialization, business, mass media, ethical dilemmas, race, gender, structural inequality and secular religion. Examines the sociological reasons why contemporary sport is organized and functions as it does.
Prerequisite: SOCI 100
SOCI 321 Race and Ethnic Relations3 cr
Explores the intersection of race, ethnicity, and issues of diversity in the U.S. and beyond. Begins by establishing what race and ethnicity are in the U.S. Course topics related to race will include family relations, friendships, urban life, gender, socioeconomic status, stereotypes, community, and space/location. Occurrence of racism and related inequality in its various forms is a central discussion thread throughout the course.
Prerequisite: SOCI 100
Attributes: Cross-Cultural and Social Justice (CCSJ)
SOCI 331 Methods of Social Research3 cr
Examines sociological methods commonly used in the study of the social world, as well as ethical and political issues related to the research process. Explores the various steps of research design, data collection (questionnaire construction, interviewing, observation, content analysis) and data analysis. May include an independently designed research project.
Prerequisite: SOCI 100, one SOCI elective
SOCI 351 Criminology3 cr
Studies the nature of crime and theories of criminal behavior; operation of courts, police systems and correctional institutions; probation, parole and crime prevention.
Prerequisite: SOCI 100
Attributes: Cross-Cultural and Social Justice (CCSJ)
SOCI 395 Special Topics in Sociology3 cr
A course or seminar for students who have taken a substantial number of sociology courses. Such courses or seminars may explore any of a variety of topics concerning social groups, social institutions, social interaction patterns, or any of the vast array of topic areas dealt with by sociologists.
Prerequisite: SOCI 100, additional prereqs to be announced
Repeatable: Unlimited Credits
SOCI 402 Genocide3 cr
Examines legal definition and cases of genocide to understand structural preconditions and effective prevention strategies.
Prerequisite: SOCI 100, junior status
Attributes: Cross-Cultural and Social Justice (CCSJ)
SOCI 408 Sociology of Sexualities3 cr
Explores theoretical and empirical work that highlights how sexual identities, desires, and practices are socially constructed. The course material examines the ways that sexuality intersects with other markers of social difference such as gender, race, class, age, and nationality. Close attention will be paid to issues of power, privilege, and inequality.
Prerequisite: SOCI 100, junior status
Attributes: Women Gender Sexuality Studies (WMST)
SOCI 410 Sociology of Education3 cr
Uses a race, class, gender analytic structure to investigate social inequalities in education. School choice, urban schools, school sports, space/location, and friendship are some of the areas that will be explored. Family involvement in school choice, tracking, and magnet programs will also be considered. Grade school through college educational outcomes will be addressed.
Attributes: Child & Family Studies Minor (C&FS), Women Gender Sexuality Studies (WMST)
SOCI 415 Sociology of Happiness3 cr
Explores attainment and production of human happiness at individual and societal levels. It examines happiness theory and research from sociology, philosophy, anthropology, social psychology, health, political science, economics, public policy, and other fields to provide a comprehensive understanding of wellbeing and its multiple sources.
Prerequisite: SOCI 100, junior status
SOCI 425 Sociology of Childhood3 cr
Explores the sociology of childhood. The course will begin by establishing definitions for the child and the sociology of childhood. Methodological issues surrounding children as research subjects, meaning making, sense of belonging, inequality, and culture in the worlds of childhood will be addressed. There will be a special focus in this course on the existence and displays of agency and interpretive reproduction in children's lives.
Prerequisite: SOCI 100, junior status
Attributes: Child & Family Studies Minor (C&FS)
SOCI 432 Doing Social Research4 cr
Provides opportunities for students to advance their understanding of social science inquiry in Sociology, Anthropology or Social Work by engaging with research methods, ethical principles and challenges, and research processes within qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methodologies. Students will gain advanced practical knowledge and skills through the application of qualitative, quantitative, and/or mixed methods.
SOCI 441 Social Stratification3 cr
Explores and analyzes stratification systems, theories of stratification, social mobility, types of inequality, methods of measuring inequality, and the impact upon life style and personality.
Prerequisite: SOCI 100, junior status
Attributes: Cross-Cultural and Social Justice (CCSJ)
SOCI 470H Honors: The Posthuman Child3 cr
Different iterations of posthumanity are examined to gain understanding of how child and youth posthumans relate to new, altered, or unaccepting societies and worlds. Drawing on posthuman and childhood studies theories, posthuman children and youth are contextualized by their positions as or relationships to various entities including aliens, animals, spirits, robots, vampires, witches, and clones.
Prerequisite: SOCI 100, junior status
Attributes: Child & Family Studies Minor (C&FS), Honors Program (HONR), Women Gender Sexuality Studies (WMST)
SOCI 475H Honors: Children's Geographies3 cr
Studies how the importance of space, place, location, and time in the lived realities of children and youth contextualizes the environments they occupy. Children's and youth's constructions of and interactions with definitions of carework, home, family, neighborhood, emotions, bodies, nature, friendship, animals, and school are examined on the local and global scale.
Prerequisite: SOCI 100, junior status
Attributes: Child & Family Studies Minor (C&FS), Honors Program (HONR), Women Gender Sexuality Studies (WMST)
SOCI 495 Advanced Special Topics in Sociology3 cr
Provides advanced sociology students with an opportunity to explore advanced topics, current issues, methods, and theories in the field of sociology.
Prerequisite: SOCI 100, junior status
Repeatable: Unlimited Credits
SOCI 499 Teaching Assistant in Sociology3 cr
Supervised academic class presentation(s), assistance with study sessions and tutorials, attendance at all classes, final paper and other duties negotiated with course instructor. Must have completed a minimum of four (4) courses in the discipline, have a 3.0 overall GPA or better, and a B+ or better in the course. This course can be taken for either pass/fail or traditional letter grading. This course requires approval of the department prior to enrollment.
Prerequisite: Junior status
Repeatable: Maximum of 6 credits
SOCI 500 Independent Study - Sociology1-3 cr
Open to juniors and seniors who wish to read in a given area or to study a topic in depth under the direction of a sociologist. Requires written reports and frequent conferences with the advisor.
Prerequisite: Junior status, department approval
Repeatable: Maximum of 3 credits
SOCI 501 Research Assistant1-3 cr
Students will assist faculty member in conducting original quantitative and/or qualitative research projects. The responsibilities may include collecting archival, ethnographic, interview, or focus group data, working with data sets, or other research activities. This course is repeatable for a maximum of 6 credits.
Prerequisite: SOCI 331, junior status, instructor approval
Repeatable: Maximum of 6 credits
SOCI 505 ProSeminar3 cr
Prepares students for the start of potential graduate studies in the social sciences or a related discipline. The seminar will focus on and facilitate student exploration of graduate education and training opportunities including such topics as: the graduate school/program research and selection process; crafting curriculum vitae and/or business resumes; constructing a statement of purpose; and editing writing samples for graduate applications.
Prerequisite: Instructor approval
SOCI 540 Sociology Internship3-15 cr
Placement in public or private organizations that apply knowledge and approaches from the social sciences. Internships are available in community development, criminal justice, educational programs and institutions, and governmental agencies. Internships are awarded from 3-15 credits per semester, depending on the extent of student involvement.
Prerequisite: Minimum 6 credits of related coursework at the 200-level or higher, junior status, department approval
Repeatable: Maximum of 15 credits
Social Work Courses
SOWK 100 Introduction to Social Work3 cr
Provides an introduction to the discipline of social work, covering its history, ethics, and current fields of practice. Social work's ethical commitment to issues of privilege and oppression, diversity, and social justice play a central role in all course material. Emphasis is placed on the social systems and institutions through which social workers interact with individuals and communities as well as on how students' own identities and life experiences may impact such interactions.
Attributes: Core Self & Society (CSS)
SOWK 248 Social Work Values and Practice3 cr
Introduces students to the skills and values of social work practice. Deep listening and empathy are at the core of what this course offers. Focus on relationship building and self-care (a key element contributing to the sustainability of social work). Explores an intellectual and practical understanding of social work skills, and the context in which social workers operate.
SOWK 285 Special Topics in Social Work3 cr
Provides students with an opportunity to explore topics, issues, methods, and theories in the field of social work at an intermediate level.
Repeatable: Unlimited Credits
SOWK 301 Conflict and Reconciliation3 cr
Engages students to think deeply about what conflict means and to identify the necessary skills and steps to address conflict. Approaches conflict from an interpersonal, and then a social/institutional, perspective. Trains students to be better able to recognize historical roots of conflict, engage in consensus building strategies, and enhance their communication and critical thinking skills.
Prerequisite: Any Self and Society course
SOWK 302 Intergroup Dialogue3 cr
Brings students from different social identity groups together in a cooperative, small group, learning environment to engage in open and constructive dialogue and develop skills for addressing and bridging differences in diverse social settings. Facilitated by co-instructors, students analyze and learn about their own and others' social identifies and explore ways of taking action to create and bridge differences at the interpersonal and social/community levels.
Prerequisite: Any Self and Society course
SOWK 303 Working with Youth3 cr
Applies a theoretical and practical approach to the best ways of working with youth in various settings. Fosters critical examination of the social, emotional, and physical development of children into teenagers. Creates opportunities for students to explore peer-leadership and group facilitation skills.
Prerequisite: SOCI 210 or any Self and Society course
Attributes: Child & Family Studies Minor (C&FS)
SOWK 340 Inequality and Social Policy3 cr
Examines various forms of inequality, how they intersect, and the social policies and programs designed to address them. Emphasis on socioeconomic and racial inequalities in the United States, exploring how economic, historical, and political contexts shape both social "problems" and social policy.
Prerequisite: Any Self and Society course
Attributes: Child & Family Studies Minor (C&FS), Cross-Cultural and Social Justice (CCSJ), Women Gender Sexuality Studies (WMST)
SOWK 355 Community Organizing3 cr
Explores community organizing as a means of empowering citizens to make successful changes in the social issues impacting their communities. Involves the study of theories of community organizing and social change and participation in projects offering a chance to learn about community organizing through practice.
Prerequisite: Any Self and Society course
Attributes: Cross-Cultural and Social Justice (CCSJ), Leadership Minor (LDRS)
SOWK 395 Special Topics in Social Work3 cr
A course or seminar for students who have taken a substantial number of social work/social service courses. Such courses or seminars may explore any of a variety of topics concerning casework, group work, community organization, social planning, social policy or other courses which deal with techniques or theory related to social work/social service practice.
Prerequisite: SOCI 100, additional prereqs to be announced
Repeatable: Unlimited Credits
SOWK 401 Critical Disability Studies3 cr
Develops student ability to critically engage with the definition of lived experience of disability. Applies a social worker's ethical standards to treat all persons with dignity and respect. Engages students in abstract thinking that takes a social work perspective to the issues of disability justice and ableism.
SOWK 405 Poverty and Place3 cr
Explores the relationship between poverty and location (both physical and social) in U.S. society. Examines multiple poverty contexts within the U.S. (i.e. American Indian reservations, urban communities, small towns), paying close attention to differences and similarities. Analyzes approaches to poverty reduction from the perspective of people living in each context.
Attributes: Women Gender Sexuality Studies (WMST)
SOWK 475 Family Violence3 cr
Examines violence within contemporary American families through the lenses of gender, culture, and age. Emphasis is placed on the physical and sexual abuse of women and children. We explore theory, research, and solutions from the fields of social work, sociology, psychology, and feminism.
Prerequisite: SOCI 210 or Self and Society course, junior status
Attributes: Child & Family Studies Minor (C&FS), Women Gender Sexuality Studies (WMST)
SOWK 495 Advanced Special Topics in Social Work3 cr
Provides advanced social work students with an opportunity to explore advanced topics, current issues, methods, and theories in the field of social work.
Prerequisite: SOWK 241, junior status
Repeatable: Unlimited Credits
SOWK 499 Teaching Assistant in Social Work3 cr
Supervised academic class presentation(s), assistance with study sessions and tutorials, attendance at all classes, final paper and other duties negotiated with course instructor. Must have completed a minimum of four (4) courses in the discipline, have a 3.0 overall GPA or better, and a B+ or better in the course. This course can be taken for either pass/fail or traditional letter grading. This course requires department approval prior to enrollment.
Prerequisite: Junior status
SOWK 500 Independent Study-Social Work1-3 cr
Open to juniors and seniors who wish to read in a given area or to study a topic in depth under the direction of a social worker. Requires written reports and frequent conferences with the advisor.
Prerequisite: Junior status, department approval
Repeatable: Maximum of 12 credits
SOWK 501 Research Assistant1-3 cr
Students will assist faculty member in conducting original quantitative and/or qualitative research projects. The responsibilities may include collecting archival, ethnographic, interview, or focus group data, working with data sets, or other research activities. This course is repeatable for a maximum of 6 credits.
Prerequisite: SOCI 331, junior status, instructor approval
Repeatable: Maximum of 6 credits
SOWK 540 Social Work Internship3-15 cr
Placement in social or human service agencies. Internships are available in counseling, advocacy, outreach, organizing, planning and the administration of social programs. Students gain field experience under supervision from both agency and departmental personnel. Internships are awarded 3-15 credits per semester, depending upon the extent of student involvement.
Repeatable: Maximum of 15 credits
Women Gender Sexuality Studies Courses
WGSS 201 Introduction to Women Gender and Sexuality Studies3 cr
Explores the historical, social, political, economic, and cultural forces that inform sex, gender, and sexuality within the context of feminist movements. Students learn and engage with concepts and theoretical perspectives found in the field of Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies. Understand the multiple matrices of power that shape the world and our lived experiences.
Attributes: Core Self & Society (CSS), Women Gender Sexuality Studies (WMST)
WGSS 202 Feminist Theory3 cr
Analyzes and evaluates historical and contemporary feminist works tracing the origins of feminist theories within various local and global contexts. Discuss the development and waves of feminist theory via social and political spheres, women of color feminisms, and intersectional and postmodern forms of feminist theory.
Prerequisite: WGSS 201
Attributes: Women Gender Sexuality Studies (WMST)
WGSS 395 Special Topics in Women Gender and Sexuality Studies3 cr
Examines in depth a specific topic area in women, gender, and sexuality studies. Provides advanced work in women, gender, and sexuality studies literature, theory, and/or research in a topic area. Content identified by subtitle.
Prerequisite: WGSS 201
Attributes: Women Gender Sexuality Studies (WMST)
Repeatable: Unlimited Credits
WGSS 500 Independent Study1-3 cr
Open to juniors or seniors who wish to study in depth a particular topic related to women, gender, and sexuality studies by drawing upon the perspectives of at least two different disciplines (or MCLA departments). An affiliated Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Minor faculty member must be the sponsor of the project.
Prerequisite: WGSS minor, junior status
Attributes: Women Gender Sexuality Studies (WMST)
Repeatable: Maximum of 12 credits