Sociology and Anthropology(SOAN)

SOAN 242. Principles of Anthropology. 3 Credit Hours.

This course studies the consequences of globalization for human beings as they come to understand and value themselves, their relations to others, and their "place in the world." Students discuss a number of challenges to traditional concepts of "culture" important to understanding an anthropological approach to the concept of globalization. The course approaches "globalization," the movement of information, goods, services, capital and people throughout the global space, from a variety of perspectives, including discussion of global migration and diaspora and consideration of the globalization of media.
Session Cycle: Every Semester.

SOAN 243. Honors: The Anthropology of Globalization. 3 Credit Hours.

In this course, students interpret global transformations through studying anthropological texts and films that provide in-depth analysis of local-level instances of globalization. These ethnographic studies allow students to improve their specific knowledge of people and places throughout the world and also to develop more theoretically rigorous approaches toward explaining what is meant by the term globalization. To this end, students examine, among other themes, ethnicity to better comprehend issues of power, resources, and land in conflict situations; the movement of textiles to recognize post-Fordist social and economic practices; human trafficking to conceptualize commodification of the human body; and refugee migrations to understand transnationalism. In short, this course offers micro-level case studies, methods, and approaches toward learning about and explaining broad social and cultural processes.
Prerequisites: Honors Program
Session Cycle: Every Fall Semester.

SOAN 251. Principles of Sociology. 3 Credit Hours.

In this foundational course, students explore the major aspects of sociology as a discipline, such as classic and contemporary theories, research principles and methods, culture, and socialization. Through real-world examples and activities, students come face-to-face with pressing social issues, including various forms of inequality, and the challenges facing modern social institutions. Students will leave this course with a deeper understanding of, and appreciation for, how humans come together to form the structures and groups that shape day-to-day life.
Session Cycle: Every Semester.

SOAN 253. Honors Sociology. 3 Credit Hours.

This course is a more advanced introduction to sociology, students explore the major aspects of sociology as a discipline, such as classic and contemporary theories, research principles and methods, culture, and socialization. Through real-world examples and activities, students come face-to-face with pressing social issues, including various forms of inequality and the challenges facing modern social institutions. Students will leave this course with a deeper understanding of, and appreciation for, how humans come together to form the structures and groups that shape day-to-day life.
Prerequisites: Honors Program
Session Cycle: Every Spring Semester.

SOAN 301. From Asylums to Zoloft: The Sociology of Mental Health. 3 Credit Hours.

We often think of mental health and illness as personal experiences that affect an individual and require individual resolution (e.g., therapy, medication, etc.). However, there are social dimensions to mental health that warrant exploration as well, such as: How have definitions and treatments of mental illness changed over time and across cultures? How do sociodemographic differences (e.g., gender, race, socioeconomic status) inform how people experience mental healthcare, both historically and in modern times? What effects do recent events and trends, like COVID-19 and social media use, have on people’s mental wellbeing? To begin addressing these and other sociological questions, students will review of-the-moment research, engage in critical discussions, and reflect on their own views regarding mental health; participation in this course will culminate with an experiential “deep dive” into a current mental health-related issue.
Prerequisites: One of SOAN 242, SOAN 243, SOAN 251, SOAN 253
Session Cycle: Varies.

SOAN 302. Global Perspectives on Community Development. 3 Credit Hours.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are just one example in a long history of global collaboration aimed to improve the lives of the world’s most marginalized communities. This course examines this global development project from an anthropological, people-centered lens. It focuses on three aspects of the project. First, it evaluates the achievements and shortcomings of the project from the perspectives of the everyday people they are intended to serve. Second, it examines how everyday people have challenged and redefined development. And third, it examines models for working in partnership and solidarity with people as they seek to improve their lives.
Prerequisites: One of SOAN 242, SOAN 243, SOAN 251, SOAN 253 or ECO 367 or by permission
Session Cycle: Every Fall Semester.

SOAN 303. Global Policy Challenges. 3 Credit Hours.

This course explores contemporary global policy issues—such as inequality, migration, public health, and climate justice—through anthropological and sociological lenses, emphasizing how local experiences and cultural contexts shape and are shaped by global forces. For six weeks during the semester, students study case studies, ethnographies, and theoretical frameworks to understand global issues within a specific country. The course culminates in a faculty-led study abroad experience.
Prerequisites: Sophomore Standing
Session Cycle: Every Spring Semester.

SOAN 351. Social Problems Social Solutions. 3 Credit Hours.

An exploration of major contemporary social problems, examining the key explanations for them. These explanations are used to assess the likely success of current and proposed social solutions. Key problems studied include inequalities linked to race, ethnicity, gender, immigration status, education, age, and criminal justice—as well as overpopulation and environmental degradation. U.S. problems and their possible solutions are illuminated with cross national comparisons.
Prerequisites: One of SOAN 242, SOAN 243, SOAN 251, SOAN 253.

SOAN 355. Social Determinants of Health. 3 Credit Hours.

Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) are conditions, forces, and systems that influence health outcomes. Structural determinants include economic and social policies that impact food security and early childhood development; governing processes that influence the funding and support for equitable education and fair housing; legal policies that shape access to medical resources and safe working conditions; and forms of discrimination that unjustly favor some populations over others. In this course, we examine SDOH in different global contexts and draw on the field of medical anthropology to explore policies and approaches to solving public health issues. During the semester, we learn broadly about human behavior and health through drawing on an interdisciplinary source of readings, films, and ethnographies. Students work on both comprehending the sources of health problems and designing solutions that can foster more equitable health outcomes.
Session Cycle: Every Spring Semester.

SOAN 356. Sociology of Family. 3 Credit Hours.

The central goal of this course is to lead students to a deeper understanding of the ways in which American families are changing. Through an examination of the family in sociological and historical perspectives, students gain insight into the mythology of the "traditional American family" and its formation. We discuss the diversity of current family forms and the ways in which the family is tied into the larger structure of society. The course also examines hooking up, partnering, parenting, the division of household labor, and divorce.
Prerequisites: One of SOAN 242, SOAN 243, SOAN 251, SOAN 253
Session Cycle: Every Fall Semester.

SOAN 360. Sociology of Sport. 3 Credit Hours.

This course provides an overview of the discipline of sociology of sport. The course focuses on the global aspects of sport, with an emphasis on the relationship between sport and race, class, gender, sexual orientation, and national identity. It provides students with the theories, concepts and perspectives that allow them to better understand the relationships between sport, society and culture.
Prerequisites: One from SOAN 242, SOAN 243, SOAN 251, or SOAN 253
Session Cycle: Every Spring Semester.

SOAN 370. Crime and Justice. 3 Credit Hours.

This course applies sociological theory and research to the study of crime and justice. Students engage in policy discussions and projects focused on the philosophy and practice of how societies address major issues of crime and justice (e.g., in education, immigration, drug control, and other areas). Students will learn not only about the criminal justice system but also about the role that multiple social institutions - like family, the market, social media, etc. - play in a sociology of crime and justice.
Prerequisites: One of SOAN 242, SOAN 243, SOAN 251, SOAN 253
Session Cycle: Every Fall Semester.

SOAN 389. Fieldwork in Local Communities. 3 Credit Hours.

This course introduces students to mixed methods research through a hands-on, fieldwork-centered approach. Students learn to design and carry out projects that integrate qualitative techniques—such as interviews, participant observation, focus groups, and qualitative coding—with quantitative tools including descriptive statistics, regression analysis, and data visualization. The course emphasizes how combining ethnographic insights with numerical data produces more comprehensive understandings of culture, everyday life, and broader social patterns. Particular emphasis is placed on conducting research in collaboration with communities and ensuring that projects are responsive to community perspectives and priorities. By the end of the course, students are equipped with the skills and confidence to conduct research that is both methodologically rigorous and meaningfully engaged with the communities they study.

SOAN 390. Exploring Culture through Photographs, Maps, and Media. 3 Credit Hours.

This course introduces students to visual anthropology, focusing on the use of visual media to study and represent culture, society, and human behavior. Students will explore research methods such as photovoice, auto-photography, photoelicitation, photojournalism, and GIS mapping. Through hands-on assignments and weekly readings, they will learn to document, analyze, and communicate anthropological insights using visual data. The course also addresses the ethical challenges of using visual media in research, with attention to issues of representation, authenticity, and manipulation, including the use of AI-generated images and deepfakes. Students will develop the ability to critically assess visual content and apply visual methods to complex social and cultural problems.
Prerequisites: Sophomore Standing
Session Cycle: Alternate Spring Semesters.

SOAN 401. Health and Wellbeing in Global Perspective. 3 Credit Hours.

What does it mean to be “healthy” in a world shaped by social media, stress, unequal access to care, and global health crises? This course explores health and wellbeing beyond medicine, examining how culture, history, politics, and biology shape wellness, illness, and care. Drawing on anthropology and public health, students investigate how physical health, social connection, meaningful work, caregiving, and spiritual beliefs influence wellbeing across childhood, adulthood, and later life. Through ethnographic research, historical case studies, and public health research, students trace changing approaches to healing—from traditional medical practices to contemporary debates about mental health, chronic illness, and global health interventions—highlighting the ways health and wellbeing matter in everyday life and across societies.
Prerequisites: ANTH242, ANTH243, SOC251, SOC253, SOAN242, SOAN243, SOAN251, or SOAN253 and Sophomore Standing
Session Cycle: Alternate Fall Semesters.

SOAN 451. From the Cradle to the Grave: Society and Population Health. 3 Credit Hours.

What exactly is a “population?” How do we tell how a “population” is faring? What kinds of challenges do modern “populations” face? In this course, we will begin to answer these questions as we investigate human groups, particularly the U.S. population. Using key metrics and concepts from demography to build a foundation for inquiry, this course then explores in depth three factors popularly used to gauge population health: fertility, morbidity, and mortality. Through examining rigorous academic research and real-world journalism, students will confront and consider issues related to childbirth, including the politicization of pregnancy and the challenges of family life; sickness, including modern threats to human health (e.g., the opioid epidemic, COVID-19 pandemic, etc.); and death, including both causes and cultural anxieties about end-of-life and what comes next.
Prerequisites: One from SOAN 242, SOAN 243, SOAN 251, SOAN 253.

SOAN 452. Jobs, Gigs, and Hustles: The Sociology of Work. 3 Credit Hours.

From Uber drivers to TikTok creators, from freelance coders to AI-powered customer service bots-work today looks nothing like it did a generation ago. This course explores how technology, algorithms, and family life are reshaping labor, identity, and inequality. Students will examine the rise of gig work, the impact of artificial intelligence on employment, and the social consequences of working without traditional protections or permanence. In this course we’ll ask: What does it mean to “have a job” in the 21st century? Who benefits-and who gets left behind?.
Prerequisites: One from SOAN 242, SOAN 243, SOAN 251, SOAN 253
Session Cycle: Alternate Spring Semesters.

SOAN 453. Race and Ethnicity. 3 Credit Hours.

This course examines and uses theories to understand the treatment and life chances of racial and ethnic subpopulations, with an emphasis on U.S. society. Students explore the many ways stereotypes, prejudice, racism, and privilege become part of our everyday interaction and reinforce institutional discrimination.
Prerequisites: One from SOAN 242, SOAN 243, SOAN 251, SOAN 253
Session Cycle: Every Spring Semester.

SOAN 454. Social Theory: The Study of Isms and Phobias. 3 Credit Hours.

This seminar is first and foremost a study of classical and contemporary social theory. It also examines the ways in which a variety of these theories, both classical and contemporary, view and explain social inequalities. More specifically, we will use theories, theorists, and concepts from theories to help us better understand "isms and phobias" including racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, homophobia, transphobia, ethnocentrism and xenophobia.
Prerequisites: One from SOAN 242, SOAN 243, SOAN 251, SOAN 253
Session Cycle: Every Fall Semester.

SOAN 455. Urban Realities: Exploring the City Through Sociology. 3 Credit Hours.

This course invites students to critically explore the urban landscape through the dual lenses of sociological theory and immersive experience. Blending traditional fieldwork with cutting-edge virtual reality (VR) technology, students will investigate how cities shape — and are shaped by — social forces such as protest, gentrification, street art, and identity. This is a hands-on, course designed for students who want to move beyond the classroom and into the city — both physically and virtually — to understand the complex dynamics of urban life.
Prerequisites: One from SOAN 242, SOAN 243, SOAN 251, SOAN 253.

SOAN 456. The Human Spark: How Innovation and Creativity Shape Society. 3 Credit Hours.

This course takes a sociological perspective on creativity and innovation exploring the sociological context of each. Combining readings and lectures, class activities and a community engaged project, students will learn about the social context of creativity and innovation, and they will also understand more deeply their own creative processes and strengthen these processes.
Prerequisites: One from SOAN 242, SOAN 243, SOAN 251, SOAN 253.

SOAN 491. Sociology and Anthropology Capstone. 3 Credit Hours.

Designed for student majoring in Sociology and Anthropology, this senior-level capstone seminar asks students to explore, either as an individual directed-study or as part of a weekly seminar, some aspect of an important social issue as it relates to the operation of a social institution.
Prerequisites: One from SOAN 242, SOAN 243, SOAN 251, SOAN 253 and Junior standing
Session Cycle: Every Spring Semester.

SOAN 497. Directed Study in Sociology and Anthropology. 3 Credit Hours.

This course is an opportunity for students to do independent, in-depth study or research for academic credit. The student works on an individual basis under the direction of a member of the sociology faculty. The main requirement of the course is the development of a substantial paper or project.
Prerequisites: One from SOAN 242, SOAN 243, SOAN 251, SOAN 253.