Sociology/Anthropology (SOA)

SOA 101. Introduction to Sociology. 3 Hours.

An introductory "survey" course in sociology that will introduce basic theories and concepts relevant in all sociological work. Students are given the opportunity, later in the semester, to pursue more detailed research and information in their own personal interests within the discipline. Course Information: This course fulfills a general education requirement at UIS in the area of Social and Behavioral Sciences. (IAI Code S7 900).

SOA 103. Introduction to Anthropology. 3 Hours.

Introduction to the discipline of anthropology through a global exploration of homes as places where people work, negotiate identities, and construct gender and kinship. Survey of cultural, archaeological, biological and linguistic subfields with emphasis on combining these to achieve a holistic study of humanity past and present. Comparison of global case studies to explore relationships between households and their cultural and natural environments. Course Information: This course fulfills a general education requirement at UIS in the area of Social and Behavioral Sciences (IAI Code: S1 900N).

SOA 106. Peoples of the Past. 3 Hours.

This course combines historic and archaeological approaches to explore major social, political and cultural transformations in several different world regions, with particular attention to the rise of agriculture, cities, states, and writing systems. No prerequisites. Course Information: Same as HIS 106. This course fulfills a general education requirement at UIS in the area of Comparative Societies Social Sciences.

SOA 107. Soundtrack of Your Life: Sound as Expressive Culture. 3 Hours.

Students learn to use research tools developed by anthropologists, folklorists, linguists, ethnomusicologists, etc. to understand and appreciate socio-cultural functions of sound as expressive culture around the world. Course Information: Restricted to First-Year students. This course fulfills a general education requirement at UIS in the area of First-Year Seminar and in the area of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

SOA 133. Women and Gender in Mexico and the US. 3 Hours.

Course examines the gendered lives of women and men in Mexico and the U.S. By comparing gender across cultures, students inquire into whether masculinity and femininity is universal or open to change. Stereotypes about Mexicans are challenged. Course Information: Same as WGS 133. Students enrolled in WGS 133 or SOA 133 cannot also enroll in WGS 301 or SOA 301 or SWK 382. This course fulfills a general education requirement at UIS in the area of Comparative Societies Social Sciences.

SOA 141. The American Dream. 3 Hours.

This course examines various perceptions of "The American Dream" via essays, works of fiction, and political theory focused on socio-economic systems and in particular, capitalism. The course involves a significant amount of reading and involves in-depth discussions regarding the ways in which the capitalist framework shapes the American value system. Course Information: This course fulfills a general education requirement at UIS in the area of First-Year Seminar and a general education requirement at UIS in the area of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

SOA 191. Musics of the World. 3 Hours.

This course is designed to introduce students to the diversities and commonalities of music cultures from around the world. Course Information: Same as MUS 191. This course fulfills a general education requirement at UIS in the area of Comparative Societies Humanities.

SOA 204. ECCE: Global Women. 4 Hours.

Women are actively changing the world and yet continue to face issues of gender stereotypes, undervalued work and unequal access. How have women in Somalia been active in the face of war? What does it mean for women to work the night shift in a call center in India? Course Information: Same as PSC 205 and WGS 204. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of Global Awareness.

SOA 205. Introduction To Archaeology. 3 Hours.

Introduction to archaeological study of past human cultures. Emphasis on archaeological method and theory, with consideration of the ethics of conservation and ownership of cultural heritage. Archaeological examples from early human societies to historic times. Course Information:This course fulfills a general education requirement at UIS in the area of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

SOA 206. Latina Lives: Frida to Selena. 3 Hours.

Explore the landscape of US Latinas: Mexican & Puerto women & more! With histories of indigeneity, conquest & migration, themes include bodies, health, sexuality, violence, arts, popular culture, spirituality, politics & sheroes. A Latina Studies focus draws from anthropology, sociology, history, political science, memoir & arts. Course Information: Same as WGS 206. This course fulfills a general education requirement at UIS in the area of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

SOA 221. Social Problems. 3 Hours.

Analysis of contemporary social problems such as those involving individuals and families, and specifically those relating to crime, inequality and power, poverty, human diversity, militarism, drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness, environment, and modernization. Course Information: This course fulfills a general education requirement at UIS in the area of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

SOA 222. American Society. 3 Hours.

This course will examine the culture and structure of American society from historical, comparative, and contemporary perspectives. Topics include American political culture, key institutions, industrialization, the welfare state, interlocking systems of inequality, and the constitution of American citizenship. Course Information: This course fulfills a general education requirement at UIS in the area of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

SOA 223. Sociology of the Family. 3 Hours.

This course is designed to help students discover how their individual family experiences relate to societal patterns of family life. Also, examining how laws and social policies have helped define what counts as a family, who is a family member, and what rights and responsibilities those members have. Course Information: This course fulfills a general education requirement at UIS in the area of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

SOA 231. ECCE: Introduction to Race & Ethnicity in the U.S.. 3 Hours.

Survey of the ways that U.S. society had been shaped by the interaction of diverse racial and ethnic groups and immigration. Examines race and ethnicity as culture and power in relation to African, Latina/o, Asian European, and indigenous Americans. Students explore the ways we are produced and positioned by racial and ethnic categories and ideas. Course Information: This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of U.S. Communities.

SOA 232. Juvenile Delinquency. 3 Hours.

Theoretical explanations of juvenile delinquency, with critical view of their value in the field, followed by practical and analytical view of juvenile justice systems in operation. Course Information: Same as CCJ 231. This course fulfills a general education requirement at UIS in the area of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

SOA 235. ECCE: Working USA and the 99%. 3 Hours.

This course provides an overview of the world of work, the lives of employees, and the politics of class in the US. We look at economic, social, and political issues facing working people, and the ways that they come together across races and cultures to better their lives historically and today. Course Information: This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of U.S. Communities.

SOA 241. The Media" and You: Perspectives from Media Sociology. 3 Hours.

This class will teach students academic theories and empirical findings about media in broader society and their own lives, especially as related to race, gender, and other identities. We will also discuss media issues like fake news and political bias. Course Information: This course fulfills a general education requirement at UIS in the area of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

SOA 281. Music, Technology, and Culture. 3 Hours.

Course develops music listening, analysis, and compositional skills and familiarizes students with music technology in a broad array of historical and geographical musical environments. Students create an original instrument, compose and perform a work for the new instrument and computer, and explain choices made during this creative process. Course Information: Same as MUS 281. This course fulfills a general education requirement at UIS in the area of Visual, Creative, and Performing Arts.

SOA 301. ECCE: Introduction to Women and Gender Studies. 4 Hours.

Introduction to basic concepts and terminology in Women and Gender Studies: history of women's movements; feminist theories and concepts; issues such as socialization, work, violence, sexuality, marriage, media representation. Course Information: Same as WGS 301 and SWK 382. Not intended for first year students. Students enrolled in WGS 301 or SOA 301 or SWK 382 cannot also enroll in WGS 133 or SOA 133. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of U.S. Communities.

SOA 302. Understanding Cultures. 4 Hours.

Learn skills to understand other cultures and your own through this introduction to cultural anthropology. See how beliefs, power, the production of goods, social identities, equality/inequality, and relationship to the environment fit together in different types of cultures. Learn social science writing skills. Course Information: This course fulfills a general education requirement at UIS in the area of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

SOA 304. Human Evolution: Biological and Cultural. 4 Hours.

Human biological and cultural evolution from the earliest human ancestors to the origins of agriculture and civilization. Emphasis on major factors that have shaped humanity: hominid evolution, origins of human societies, origins of agriculture, birth of cities, and development of the state. Course Information: This course fulfills a general education requirement at UIS in the area of Social and Behavioral Sciences (IAI Code: S1 902).

SOA 305. Women and Work in India and the US. 3 Hours.

Work is going global, drawing more women into paid work. This course is an adventure into the challenges of work and home for women in two countries: the ongoing occupational segregation of women, comparable worth, and fair treatment. How can women earn a living wage, recognition and have a life? Course Information: Same as WGS 305.

SOA 312. ECCE: Perspectives on Poverty. 3 Hours.

A service-learning course in which students gain an understanding of major sociological and anthropological theories and methodologies related to poverty. Students will participate in at least 60 hours of community service during the course of the semester with a non-profit organization in Springfield. Course Information: Same as IPL 312. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of Engagement Experience.

SOA 319. ECCE: Music and Social Justice. 4 Hours.

This course provides a forum for students to engage with social justice issues through music. With a combined geographical and topical approach, students examine the role of music in various social justice movements and develop a vocabulary to discuss music as a medium for change in various cultural contexts. Course Information: Same as MUS 319. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of Global Awareness.

SOA 322. ECCE: LGBTQ People in U.S.. 4 Hours.

Interdisciplinary survey of topics, questions, issues, and approaches in the field of gay/lesbian/bisexual/trans/queer studies. Course Information: Same as WGS 322. Intended for students with junior or senior standing. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of U.S. Communities.

SOA 324. ECCE: Brazil in Movies. 3 Hours.

This course introduces Brazil through movies that celebrate culture and/or identify social problems. These are paired with documentaries, novels, music, and especially social science concepts (through lecture and readings) that provide more historical and social context. Note: Language, violence, rape, drugs, sexuality. Course information: This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of Global Awareness.

SOA 325. ECCE: Latina/o USA. 4 Hours.

Introduction to the study of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican, and Central/South American communities in the U.S. Main themes are immigration, identity, gender and racial constructions, labor, education, and activism. Other topics include demographic trends, political participation, and relations with origin communities in Latin America and the Caribbean. Course Information: This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of U.S. Communities.

SOA 329. ECCE: Global Sex and Gender. 4 Hours.

Examines a variety of topics related to the phenomena of globalization and transnationalism through the lens of critical gender and sexuality studies. Course Information: Same as WGS 329. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of Global Awareness.

SOA 332. ECCE: Chicago: Life in the Big City from Hot Dogs to Hip Hop. 3 Hours.

Explore Chicago history & cultures: starring Black & Latinx communities, also indigenous roots & European immigrants. Using sociology, history, memoir, arts & more, we learn about organizations (Black Panthers, Young Lords) & individuals (DuSable, Jane Addams, Al Capone, Harold Washington, Rudy Lozano, the Obamas). Course Information: This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common experience requirement at UIS in the area of U.S. Communities.

SOA 333. ECCE: Sexual Orientation and Public Policy. 3 Hours.

Interdisciplinary examination of factual basis of majority ideas about sexual orientation, gender identity, or sexuality used to assign important legal rights and disabilities to lesbian, gay bisexual, transgender and queer communities. Explores political movements and issues involved in the struggle for civil rights for sexual minorities. Requires an open mind. Course Information: Same as LES 333, PSC 333, and WGS 333. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of U.S. Communities.

SOA 334. ECCE: LGBTQ Law and Politics. 3 Hours.

This course examines the U.S. sexual minority community through the prism of politics and law. It explores the history and contemporary dynamics of the LGBT rights movement and investigates the ways in which dynamics in U.S. law politics have limited and advanced the movement. Course Information: Same as LES 334, PSC 334, and WGS 334. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of U.S. Communities.

SOA 335. Jazz in American Culture. 4 Hours.

Explores development of jazz as a popular art form, the influence of American culture (e.g., race, class, gender relations, religion and moralism, and the dominance of commercial values) on the shape of this art form, its performance and enjoyment, and the reciprocal influence of jazz on American culture. Course Information: Same as MUS 335. This course fulfills a general education requirement at UIS in the area of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

SOA 338. Sex, Gender, and Popular Culture. 4 Hours.

Survey of sex, gender and sexuality in production, reception, and content of contemporary U.S. popular culture. Themes: definitions, approaches, and functions of pop culture; race, class, gender, and sexuality in production and reception of media; representation and stylization of the body; masculinity and media violence; strategies for resisting media messages. Course Information: Same as WGS 338 and COM 334. Previous WGS coursework recommended, but not required.

SOA 345. ECCE: Latin America & the Hispanic Caribbean. 3 Hours.

Journey through the cultures of Latin America & the Hispanic Caribbean! From Mexico to Cuba to S. America, learn about indigeneities and colonization, African heritage, arts, music, religion, and activism. With attention to women and race, we use anthropology, history, journalism, and memoir, etc. for a rich picture. Course Information: This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of Global Awareness.

SOA 356. ECCE: Coffee, Chocolate and Justice. 4 Hours.

Food has been a major trade item for millennia, connecting us around the corner and across vast distances. What we eat and drink is a political, economic, and just plain comforting, from our everyday socializing to global economics. Should we buy fair trade or eat locally grown food? What are the ways we use food to signal home, difference, or even escape? Course Information: Same as WGS 356. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of Global Awareness.

SOA 357. ECCE: LGBTQ and Allies Peer Education. 3 Hours.

Experiential learning course that seeks to combat homophobia, transphobia, and heterosexism by training students in peer-education skills focused on LGBTQ issues. Interdisciplinary course materials and topics focusing on interpersonal communication, group facilitation, multicultural/social justice, and queer theory. Students become peer educators that provide workshop activities throughout the year on campus. Course Information: Same as PSC 357 and WGS 357. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of Engagement Experience.

SOA 361. Social Psychology: Sociological Perspectives. 4 Hours.

Investigation of relationship between individuals and society. Topics include socialization, the self, conformity, group processes, social inequality and prejudice, emotional labor, and impression management. We explore these topics by studying Mead, Goffman, Ridgeway, etc. Students explore the interrelation between personality, emotion, identity, and social structure. Course Information: Prerequisites: A course in social science or instructor permission.

SOA 364. Dance and American Culture. 4 Hours.

This is a survey course on the appreciation, understanding, and practice of dance in America as influenced and shaped by the presence of African Americans. This course connects the humanities and social sciences, thereby providing an integrated approach to understanding dance as a cultural, social, economic, and political phenomenon. Comparisons are made with other "traditional" dance forms to challenge student perceptions of dance and to develop critical and analytical skills in "reading" dance. Course Information: Same as AAS 364.

SOA 367. ECCE: Arts and Identity in Pacific Island Cultures. 4 Hours.

Explores the concept of identity in Pacific/Oceania Island cultures through arts. Topics: indigenous and colonial history and relationships; traditional music, dance, visual arts, and seamanship; diversity among island cultures; contemporary Oceanic arts/artists within a global society. Course Information: Same as ART 367, CAP 257, and MUS 367. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of Global Awareness.

SOA 372. ECCE: Nature, History, and Human Action. 4 Hours.

Interdisciplinary investigation of human-environment relationships from prehistory to present. Emphasis on building sense of place through study of local landscape history. Archaeological and ethnographic case studies illustrate ways in which human action has shaped the natural world and emphasize cultural diversity in attitudes toward nature and environmental problem solving. Course Information: This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of Global Awareness.

SOA 381. ECCE: Race, Class, Gender & Harry Potter. 4 Hours.

Does the world of Harry Potter give us clues to analyzing discrimination, privilege and empowerment in the United States? In this course, we will use Rowling's Harry Potter series to analyze US race, class and gender. Is Dobby, the house elf facing racism? Is Hermione, a girl, clearly leadership material? Do Draco and Ron's lives mirror US class inequality? Course Information: Same as WGS 381. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of U.S. Communities.

SOA 405. Sociocultural Theories. 4 Hours.

In-depth study of classical social theorists (Marx, Weber, Durkheim, Mead) and their answer(s) to the central question of sociology, "Where does order come from?'' Course Information: Prerequisites: At least one upper-division sociology and one upper-division anthropology course, or permission of instructor.

SOA 408. Feminist Theories. 4 Hours.

What would a good society be like? We will discuss a range of feminist theories with different views on the good society, including liberal, radical, socialist, post modern, and global feminisms. These theories offer different solutions to such social issues as division of labor in the home and beyond, reproductive rights, and sexuality. Through the experience of the course, each student will work to develop his or her own view of a good society. Course Information: Same as PHI 411, PSC 433, and WGS 411. Prerequisites: WGS 301 is recommended but not required.

SOA 410. Senior Seminar. 3 Hours.

A seminar for SOA majors in their final year. Builds and further develops students' sociological/anthropological research, writing, and analytical abilities through application of these skills to a senior essay topic. Focus on the senior essay topics will derive from intense examinations of how sociological/anthropological knowledge can be applied to at least four issues facing society. Seminar discussions will be evaluated for content and presentations, and two senior essays will be the culmination of the course. These essays will be reviewed by all program faculty and will constitute the assessment in the major for each SOA graduate. Course Information: Prerequisites: SOA major, and permission of instructor.

SOA 411. Social Research Methods. 4 Hours.

Interdisciplinary survey of social science research methods in cultural anthropology and sociology. First-hand experience carrying out class research projects. Critiques of social science research and methods, ethics in social research, generating research questions, operationalization through appropriate qualitative and quantitative methods, data entry, and strategies of data analysis.

SOA 419. ECCE: American Musics. 4 Hours.

Students from all backgrounds learn to use research tools developed by anthropologists, musicologists, folklorists, linguists, historians and others to cultivate an understanding and appreciation of musical styles, aesthetic views, and socio-cultural functions of music in differing U.S. sub-cultures. Course Information: Same as MUS 419. No prerequisites. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of U.S. Communities.

SOA 421. Criminological Theory. 3 Hours.

Classical and modern theories of crime; social and economic factors in criminal behavior, crime formation, and control; exploration of the justice system; and evaluation of treatment of offenders. All elements of criminology viewed critically. Course Information: Same as CCJ 421. Prerequisites: CCJ 315 and CCJ 345, submission of communication skills portfolio (CCJ majors only).

SOA 422. Environmental Sociology. 4 Hours.

The goal of this course is to provide an introduction to some of the key areas of research in the sub-discipline of environmental sociology, a field of inquiry that focuses on the relationship between society and the biophysical environment. We will explore how human societies affect their environments, and how human societies are shaped by their environments, as well as how we come to recognize and understand changing environmental conditions. Course Information: Same as ENS 422.

SOA 425. Law and Inequality. 3,4 Hours.

The role of law and the legal system in creating, maintaining, and reducing inequality, with emphasis on race, class, and gender inequality in the United States. The relationship between law and the legal system and political/economic institutions and ideologies. Course Information: Same as LES 404, PSC 421, and WGS 445.

SOA 426. ECCE: Teen Talk Classic: Stories of Culture and Adolescence. 4 Hours.

This course employs an anthropological perspective to explore the portrayal of adolescence in literature and film. We consider adolescence as both a cultural construction and literary device. Themes include adolescence in multicultural America, introducing culture through adolescent characters, adolescents and social critique, scapegoating adolescents, and adolescent resistance. Course Information: This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the areas of U.S. Communities.

SOA 428. ECCE: Culture, Health, and Power. 3 Hours.

Explores ideas about health, illness, and treatment across cultures and how to communicate effectively with people from other cultures (and one's own!). We consider how gender, race, and class affect health, and the role of political-economic contexts. This interdisciplinary, international course draws on anthropology, public health, health sciences, and political economy and includes films. Topics include qualitative methods, critiquing Western biomedicine, health belief systems, international health programs, social identity and health, and the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. Course Information: This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of Global Awareness.

SOA 431. Sociology of Organizations. 4 Hours.

Organizations -- formal and informal; social organization and crowd concepts; roles, norms, and structures; methodology for studying organizational behavior; critical evaluation of organization theories; alienation; and organization vs. personality.

SOA 434. ECCE: Women and Work. 4 Hours.

In spite of decades of public laws and policies that mandate non-discrimination, women still face profound sex, race and class discrimination in the workplace in the U.S., reinforcing their status as outsiders. Topics will include wage and home labor, the double workday, comparable worth, occupational segregation, and sexual harassment. Course Information: Same as WGS 434. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of U.S. Communities.

SOA 441. ECCE: Global Social Stratification. 4 Hours.

This course applies sociological theories of stratification and inequality using case studies within a global context. Students will read and discuss various ethical issues surrounding social inequalities and explore possible policy-directed methods of alleviating some of the problems associated with stratification. Course Information: This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of Global Awareness.

SOA 442. Mexican Migration to the U. S.. 4 Hours.

This interdisciplinary course on Mexican migration to the US examines global power inequalities that lead to international migration. Topics include the formation of the US-Mexico border, why people migrate from Mexico, how most Mexican immigration has become "illegal," and the contributions of Mexican immigrants to the United States and Mexico. Course Information: Same as IGS 442 and PSC 442.

SOA 451. ECCE: Women of Color and Minority Women. 4 Hours.

This course examines the experiences of African American, Latina, Asian American, indigenous, and immigrant women in the US. By placing women of color at the center, we explore ways of transforming knowledge about culture and society. We also address issues facing other minorities (lesbians and disabled, poor, rural, and aging women). Course Information: Same as AAS 403, HIS 453, SWK 462, and WGS 403. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of U.S. Communities.

SOA 454. Family Law. 3,4 Hours.

Topics include divorce, domestic violence, illegitimacy, adoption, child support and custody, parental control, abuse and neglect laws, issues affecting the elderly, domestic law reform, and the impact of the women's rights movement. Course Information: Same as HDC 446, LES 446, SWK 446, and WGS 446. Not for Freshman or Sophomores.

SOA 455. Women in Political Movements: A Cross-Cultural Perspective. 4 Hours.

Investigates gender dynamics of political movements in several countries around the world, including the United States, Brazil, Russia, Egypt, Iran, and India. The course examines gender as a dynamic social institution, interacting with class, race, nationality, sexual orientation, and culture. Course Information: Same as WGS 456.

SOA 456. Global Masculinities. 4 Hours.

Interdisciplinary survey of expressions of masculinity in global and transnational perspective, with emphasis on non-Western cultures. Themes and topics include motives for, and ethnographic and systematic approaches to study of men and masculinities interspersed with case studies of specific forms of masculinity in various geographic regions. Course Information: Same as IGS 455 and WGS 455. Prerequisites: Prior mastery of fundamental concepts, theories and terminology in WGS.

SOA 457. Masculinities. 4 Hours.

This course is an introductory and inter-disciplinary survey of the study of men and masculinities primarily in contemporary United States. Major themes: rationale for study men and masculinities; gender, power, male privilege; the utility of the plural term 'masculinities'; the social construction of masculinities; masculine cultures of sports, war, violence; masculinity in popular culture; alternative masculinities. Course Information: Same as WGS 457.

SOA 458. Global Social Change and Transnational Movements. 4 Hours.

This course will draw from an interdisciplinary framework to examine the theories and research on global social change with attention to the world historical development of normative, political, and economic institutions. We will analyze the emergence of contemporary global social movements. Course Information: Same as PSC 458.

SOA 459. ECCE: Women Across Cultures. 4 Hours.

Addresses the complexity of "Third World" women's lives including development and structural adjustment, reproductive rights and other health issues, violence against women, and highly effective activism. Course Information: Same as WGS 459 and PSC 459. This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of Global Awareness.

SOA 464. Sociology of Mental Health/Illness. 4 Hours.

This class examines mental health/illness as a social issue shaped by history, culture, politics, and economics, rather than an individual medical or psychological problem. Using a social constructionist approach, we explore how social factors (social class, sex/gender, race/ethnicity, marital status) impact the definition/causes of and responses to mental health/illness.

SOA 465. Religion, Society, and the Individual. 4 Hours.

Explores the complex relationship between Society and Religion by reading and discussing the core thinkers in the field, including Durkheim, Weber, and Berger. Topics include the social foundations of religious beliefs, rituals, rationality, and secularization. Course Information: Prerequisites: A Social Science course or consent of the instructor.

SOA 472. European Prehistory. 4 Hours.

Overview of prehistoric cultures of Europe from the earliest arrival of human ancestors to the Iron Age. Emphasis on hunter-gatherer adaptations to Ice Age climates, the spread of agriculture from the Near East, and the rise of regional polities. Course Information: Prerequisites: A course in archaeology or human evolution or consent of the instructor.

SOA 480. Topics in Sociology/Anthropology. 1-8 Hours.

Intensive study of a current sociological or anthropological topic. Description of topics for a given course will be stated in course schedule. Course Information: May be repeated if topics vary.

SOA 481. North American Indians: Culture and Ecology. 4 Hours.

North American Indians prior to and after contact with European-Americans. Emphasizes relationships between various cultures and their environmental settings. Course Information: Prerequisites: SOA 302, or permission of instructor.

SOA 491. ECCE: Undergraduate Research. 2,4 Hours.

Independent/collaborative investigation of a specific topic of interest to the student. Before registration, a student must secure the commitment of a Sociology/Anthropology faculty member to direct and mentor the student on the project. Some combination of a research paper, IRB approval, and/or formal presentation may be required for credit. Course Information: This course fulfills an Engaged Citizenship Common Experience requirement at UIS in the area of Engagement Experience.

SOA 499. Tutorial. 1-12 Hours.

Intended to supplement, not supplant, regular course offerings. Students interested in a tutorial must secure the consent of the faculty member concerned before registration and submit any required documentation to him or her. Course Information: May be repeated to a maximum of 12 hours.

SOA 501. Feminist Theories II. 4 Hours.

This seminar offers close readings of major theories and accompanying methodology such as socialist, postmodernist, queer and postcolonial feminism. Our analysis will draw on political studies, communications, history, anthropology, sociology and literary criticism. Topics can include sexuality, race/ethnicity, labor and subjectivity. Course Information: Same as WGS 501, PSC 533 and PHI 512. Prerequisites: WGS 411, or SOA 408, or PSC 433, or PHI 411.

SOA 563. Sociology of Death, Dying, and Bereavement. 3 Hours.

Consideration of social structures, attitudes, beliefs, and values about death, dying, and bereavement in contemporary American society as well as in other societies and other time periods. Medical, legal, religious, and psychological issues of death, dying, and bereavement also considered. Not recommended for persons recently bereaved. Course Information: Same as HMS 563.