Sociology, Criminology, & Anthropology

Sociology, Criminology, and Anthropology

To what extent is an individual shaped by society? Why are the U. S. murder rates among the highest in the world? How are humans adapting to rapidly changing contexts? Has the institution of family weakened over time? Is education a path to upward mobility? Does race matter in the workplace? How did human groups live thousands of years ago? Can collective protest bring about social change?

The Department of Sociology, Criminology, and Anthropology invites you to explore these kinds of fascinating questions.

Sociology, Criminology, and Anthropology are closely related disciplines that seek to understand the social and cultural forces that influence human behavior. Sociologists are keenly interested in social relations and structures, especially the intersection of race/ethnicity, social class, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Criminologists are specialists who work to discover what causes or triggers behaviors most often associated with criminal or delinquent activity. Anthropologists place a greater emphasis on life in pre-industrialized nations, examining diverse cultures and systems of meaning, including what people say, do, make, think, and believe.

Our program emphasizes an active, intentional “public” learning -- where insights and wisdom can be shared with interest groups, volunteer organizations, community service agencies, government agencies, and the general public to effect change. Our goal is to prepare students to become public intellectuals committed to a just social world.

So, if you're intellectually curious, interested in promoting social justice, and eager to embark on rewarding career, we encourage to explore what sociology, criminology, and anthropology have to offer.

Anthropology, B.A.

For additional programs and courses in this department, see Sociology and Anthropology.

Foundational Courses

Place-Oriented Courses

Two of the following:

Topical Courses

Two of the following:

Fieldwork

Two credit hours from the following:

Capstone

Students must demonstrate elementary competence in a foreign language. For more information, see the B.A. Degree Requirements within the Academic Regulations section of this catalog.

Criminology, B.A.

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Criminology introduces students to theories of criminal behavior, provides an accurate sense of the historical developments of the discipline, and assures that students acquire a comprehensive understanding of the complexities of the criminal justice system while exposing them to current justice, legal and sociological issues. Students will explore both practical and theoretical concerns regarding crime and justice. The program focuses on the scientific research and evaluation processes that generate evidence to support improved practice in the field, to address the underlying structural components of crime and criminality and to bolster the criminal justice process. Students can enhance their studies with an additional major or minor; a study abroad or Chicago term; and/or an internship. Graduates can pursue professional opportunities and careers in social services, law and courts, corrections, juvenile justice, policing, intelligence and the private sector; and will also be competitive for graduate study.

A minimum of 38 credit hours to include:

Core Courses

Elective Courses

A minimum of 12 credit hours from the following with at least eight credit hours at the 300-level or higher:

Capstone

Four credit hours from one of the following:

Students must demonstrate elementary competence in a foreign language. For more information, see the B.A. Degree Requirements within the Academic Regulations section of this catalog.

Sociology, B.A.

Sociology is the study of social interactions, social groups and societies. The subject matter ranges from dating relationships, to organized crime, race relations, mental health, work organizations, social mobility, world systems and pretty much everything in-between.  Wherever people, groups and societies are connected to one another, this is the subject matter of the discipline. As a sociology student, you will develop substantive insights into these areas. For example, why some people "get ahead" and others not; how social media impacts our presentations of self in society; what the changing definitions of sexuality and gender portend for our lives. Along with these insights, you will develop a research sophistication and practical, real-world experiences that will lead to careers and meaningful work lives going forward. You will be presented with intellectual challenges, professional skills and intriguing ideas—all with the intent of promoting your own personal development, a career suited to your interests and a society that promises a greater sense of social justice and fairness.

Sociology opens up many engaging career pathways and offers valuable preparation for positions in many different types of organizational settings such as educational institutions, not-for-profit organizations, private corporations and government agencies. With a bachelor's degree in sociology, graduates are positioned to obtain and excel in occupations as urban planners, social service providers, public health workers, community liaisons, journalists, educators, admissions counselors, public relations professionals, juvenile counselors and police officers. For those students who are considering an advanced degree, sociology facilitates entry into professional programs in law, social work, public policy, theology, administration (e.g. public, business, fine arts), as well as master's and doctoral programs in sociology.

For additional programs and courses in this department, see .

Core Courses

Inequalities Course

One of the following:

Pathway Courses

Three courses from any of the following three areas:

Problems Courses

Tools Courses

Institutions Courses

Students must demonstrate elementary competence in a foreign language. For more information, see the B.A. Degree Requirements within the Academic Regulations section of this catalog.

Anthropology Minor

For additional programs and courses in this department, see Sociology and Anthropology.

20 credit hours, including:

Foundational Courses

Place-Oriented Courses

Four credit hours from the following:

Topical Courses

Four credit hours from the following:

Sociology Minor

For additional programs and courses in this department, see .

A minimum of 20 credit hours, including:

Inequalities

One of the following:

Electives

An additional 12 credit hours of Sociology, with at least four credit hours at the 300- or 400-level.

ANTH 145 - Language and Culture in Community: Linguistics and Cultural Anthropology

4.00 credit hours - An introduction to the anthropological subfields of cultural anthropology and linguistics. Consideration of human cultural and linguistic diversity. Introduction to theories that attempt to explain human cultural and linguistic diversity and commonality. Exploration of identity, economy, political life, religion, kinship, phonology, morphology, syntax, sociolinguistics, linguistic and cultural change and continuity in global context. Intensive examination of the ethnography of a particular community designated by the professor. 

Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Social Sciences, Global Understanding.
iCon(s): Being Human, Experiencing Place.

 

 

ANTH 165 - Stones and Bones: Introduction to Archaeology and Biological Anthropology

4.00 credit hours - An introduction to the anthropological subfields of archaeology and biological anthropology. Concepts, principles and methods used to reconstruct human evolution, human prehistory, sequences of socio-political development and particular cultural histories. Continuity and change over long arcs of time. Humankind as a member of the primate order and contemporary human biodiversity. How human societies adapt and change and how human culture intersects with human biology and the natural environment. Case studies by instructor. 

Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Sciences.
iCon(s): Being Human, Innovating the World.

 

ANTH 235 - Field Methods: Digging in the Earth

4.00 credit hours - A field school on methods used in anthropology and other social sciences. Ethnographic methods including participant observation, structured observation, interview and survey. Archaeological methods including site survey, mapping and basic excavation. When offered on campus, the course examines U.S. college life. When offered abroad, the course examines life in a community designated by the instructor. Note: 20 hours of fieldwork across four projects is required for the course. 

Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Social Sciences, Ethical Dimensions.

 

ANTH 295 - Research Practicum

1.00-4.00 credit hours - Students work in collaboration with faculty on ongoing research. Activities vary according to project needs and student background, but may include ethnographic fieldwork, data coding, data entry, transcription, excavation, artifact sorting, artifact processing, statistical analysis, bibliography construction, literature review and so forth. This course is graded pass/no pass. May be taken more than once for up to four total credit hours. 

Prerequisite(s): Instructor consent. 

 

ANTH 297 - Internship

0.00-12.00 credit hours - Valuable professional experiences supplement classroom instruction and allow students to apply theories and concepts to broader issues and system. Students explore career options within a specific area of study and critically reflect on the experience in a structured manner. May be repeated with different professional experience.

 

ANTH 299 - Independent Study

1.00-12.00 credit hours - Individual studies undertaken with guidance of a faculty member. May be repeated with different content.

 

ANTH 305 - Cultural Ecology

4.00 credit hours - (Same as: ENVI 305.) Examines human engagements with the physical environment from early homo sapiens to the present. Topics include major adaptive strategies (foraging, horticulture, intensive agriculture, pastoralism and industrialism) and their social correlates and environmental consequences. Factors that lead to collapse of complex societies in the archaeological past. Colonial engagements and resulting resource use changes. Traditional ecological knowledge. Contemporary resource conflicts between small-scale societies, states and corporate interests. 

Prerequisite(s): One of ANTH 145, ANTH 165  or ENVI 120.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Social Sciences, Global Understanding.
iCon(s): Innovating the World, Sustaining Our World.

 

ANTH 310 - Cultural Psychology

4.00 credit hours - (Same as PSYC 310.) An examination of how definitions of culture shape knowledge about topics in psychology, such as human development, self-concept and mental illness. The focus is on psychological and anthropological approaches to studying culture. 

Prerequisite(s): PSYC 100; ANTH 145 or one 200-level Psychology course, excluding PSYC 293; Junior standing.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Community Engaged Learning.

 

ANTH 315 - Applied Economic Anthropology

4.00 credit hours - Exploration of the application of anthropological data, methods and approaches to contemporary economic problems and challenges. Topics include poverty and marginalization, global inequality, economic development, retail anthropology, anthropology in governmental and nongovernmental agencies, anthropology and entrepreneurship, anthropology in the private sector. Requires at least 20 hours of community engaged learning in collaboration with an indigenous community development group or organization. 

Prerequisite(s): One of ANTH 145, ANTH 165, ECON 200 or ECON 240.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Community Engaged Learning, Writing Intensive, Career Preparation.
iCon(s): Challenge Inequity.

 

ANTH 325 - Indigenous Peoples, State and Order

4.00 credit hours - Examination of the multi-dimensional clash of cultural values, attitudes and ideologies that commonly occurs in global encounters and relationships between state systems and native peoples. Topics include: colonial expansion, genocide, ethnocide and ecocide; the emergence of “indigenous” as a globalized category of identity; movements for cultural, political, economic and ecological autonomy and state responses. 

Prerequisite(s): ANTH 145 or ANTH 165.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Social Sciences, Global Understanding.
iCon(s): Challenge Inequity, Thinking Globally.

 

ANTH 332 - Forensic Anthropology

4.00 credit hours - Introduction to and examination of the methods and techniques used to identify and recover skeletonized human remains and establish circumstances of death. Topics include: skeletal biology; age/sex/ancestry identification; trauma and pathology evident through skeletal analysis; and the ethical concerns that arise when working with human remains in a medico legal context. 

Prerequisite(s): ANTH 165 or BIOL 201.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Sciences.

 

ANTH 345 - Religion, Spirituality and Community

4.00 credit hours - An examination of the interplay of religion, culture and society. Special emphasis on religion and spirituality in context of social inequality. Theoretical approaches to explain religious change including revitalization theory and secularization theory. Contemporary religious diversity in the U.S. and globally. Participant observation fieldwork required for the course. Related study abroad experience offered occasionally. 

Prerequisite(s): One of ANTH 145, SOCI 100 or RELG 100.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Social Sciences, Global Understanding, U.S. Power Structures.
iCon(s): Being Human, Engaging Civic Life.

 

ANTH 352 - Law and Order in Cross-Cultural Perspective

4.00 credit hours - Systems of conflict resolution, resource and property rights and social control and punishment in cross-cultural perspective. Correlation of legal systems with sociopolitical organization across time and space. Examination of classic ethnography from legal anthropology and of cases of contemporary indigenous customary law systems. Development of cultural competency for criminal justice professionals. Opportunities for related field study experience offered occasionally through ANTH 445.

Prerequisite(s): One of ANTH 145, PHIL 240 or SOCI 220.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Social Sciences, Ethical Dimensions.
iCon(s): Engaging Civic Life.

 

ANTH 355 - Native Nations of North America: Homelands, Reservations and Urban Indian Communities

4.00 credit hours - The archaeology, ethno history and ethnography of selected indigenous nations with homelands north of Mesoamerica. Exploration of tensions among continuity and change, diversity and commonality. Examination of cultural and linguistic revitalization in response to imposed cultural and social change. Changing relationships with various landscapes that result from colonial, removal, reservation and assimilationist policies. Concentration on native nations of the upper Midwest. 

Prerequisite(s): One of ANTH 145, ANTH 165, HIST 114 or HIST 120.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Humanities, U.S. Power Structures.
iCon(s): Experiencing Place, Sustaining Our World.

 

ANTH 365 - Mayas, Aztecs and Their Neighbors: Heart of the Earth

4.00 credit hours - The archaeology, ethno history and ethnography of selected indigenous nations of Mesoamerica with a special emphasis on the Aztec Empire and ancient and contemporary Maya peoples. Continuity and change, diversity and commonality among selected Mesoamerican indigenous peoples. Examination of contemporary indigenous efforts and movements for political, economic and cultural autonomy. 

Prerequisite(s): ANTH 145 and ANTH 165.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Humanities, Global Understanding.
iCon(s): Challenging Inequity, Experiencing Place.

 

ANTH 372 - Culture, Illness and Wellness: The Anthropology of Medicine

4.00 credit hours - Introduces students to the subfield of Medical Anthropology. The role of disease and nutrition in understanding the archaeological record. Human adaptation to endemic diseases. Ethno medical practitioners and their correlations to sociopolitical organization. Varied ways that peoples ascribe meaning to states of wellness and sickness. Classification of illnesses, their causes and treatments. Varied epistemologies of being well. Applied medical anthropology, including dimensions and complexities involved in caring for people from diverse cultural backgrounds. 

Prerequisite(s): ANTH 165 or BIOL 104. 
iCon(s): Examining Health.

 

ANTH 375 - Urban Anthropology

4.00 credit hours - Draws on anthropological approaches, theories and methods to examine urbanism and city life across time and space. Examination of theories to explain appearance and disappearance of urbanism in the archaeological record. Contemporary urban centers and urban neighborhoods in transnational context. Extensive ethnographic field study required. Emphasis on an urban center determined by the instructor. 

Prerequisite(s): ANTH 145, ANTH 165, HIST 120 or SOCI 223. 
iCon(s): Experiencing Place.

 

ANTH 380 - Music As Social Life: The Field of Ethnomusicology

4.00 credit hours - (Same as: MUSI 380.) Investigates the role of music in human sociability through engagement with ethnographic readings and recordings of global music scenes and practices. Students conduct their own field research to explore hands-on the links between music and politics, religion, sexuality and many other aspects of social life. 

Prerequisite(s): One of the following: ANTH 145, ANTH 235 or MUSI 302. 
Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Writing Intensive.
iCon(s): Experiencing Place.

 

ANTH 382 - “The Naked Ape:” Human Evolution

4.00 credit hours - Explores human evolution from the emergence of the order Primates through anatomically modern Homo sapiens. The relative importance of distinctive primate and hominin adaptive features in human evolution including bipedalism, heat regulation, cranial capacity, stereoscopic vision, prehensile hand morphology and the role of tool making in the development of early hominins. Debates regarding the classificatory relationship among various hominin species. Examples of modern human variation (malaria resistance, lactase persistence, variation in skin color) and the relevance of Evolutionary Theory to understand continued human evolution. 

Prerequisite(s): ANTH 165  or BIOL 104.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Sciences.
iCon(s): Being Human.

 

ANTH 385 - Anthropology of Place

4.00 credit hours - The archaeology, ethnohistory, ethnography and/or linguistics of a culture area or region as designated by the instructor. An example would be Anthropology of Place: Amazonia. 

Prerequisite(s): ANTH 145 or ANTH 165. 

 

ANTH 390 - Topics in Anthropology

4.00 credit hours - An in-depth consideration of current topics in anthropology, such as recent developments in archaeology and ethnography, transnationalism, specific areas of applied anthropology and so forth. 

Prerequisite(s): ANTH 145 or ANTH 165. 

 

ANTH 397 - Internship

0.00-12.00 credit hours - Valuable professional experiences supplement classroom instruction and allow students to apply theories and concepts to broader issues and system. Students explore career options within a specific area of study and critically reflect on the experience in a structured manner. May be repeated with different professional experience.

 

ANTH 399 - Independent Study

1.00-12.00 credit hours - Individual studies undertaken with guidance of a faculty member. May be repeated with different content.

Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Career Experiential.

 

ANTH 445 - Interdisciplinary Field School

2.00 credit hours - Students explore topics relevant to their disciplines through fieldwork in San Miguel Totonicapn, Guatemala during May Term. Enrollment requires field school director approval. Approval of research topic and fieldwork design by professor in student’s major is required for non-anthropology majors. 

Prerequisite(s): ANTH 235.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Career Experiential.

 

ANTH 485 - Theory and Practice in Anthropology

4.00 credit hours - In-depth consideration of the principal thinkers and scholars of anthropology. How anthropological theory is applied and how field data are understood through theoretical tools. Emphasis on the tension between cultural relativism and social science generalization. Substantial written assignments that incorporate data collected by the student in ANTH 295, ANTH 445 or ANTH 499. Intensive consideration of ethical issues.

Prerequisite(s): SOCI 350; Junior or Senior Standing; Anthropology major.

 

ANTH 497 - Internship

0.00-12.00 credit hours - Valuable professional experiences supplement classroom instruction and allow students to apply theories and concepts to broader issues and system. Students explore career options within a specific area of study and critically reflect on the experience in a structured manner. May be repeated with different professional experience.

 

ANTH 499 - Independent Study

1.00-12.00 credit hours - Individual studies undertaken with guidance of a faculty member. May be repeated with different content.

Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Career Experiential.

SOCI 100 - Life Chances & Choices: Introduction to Sociology

4.00 credit hours - Gateway to the social science of human interaction and the social causes and consequences of human behavior. Development of a sociological imagination to grapple with diverse and fascinating societal issues ranging from deviance to structured inequalities. Special focus on the life chances and life choices in emerging adulthood in areas of relationships, education, and work. 

Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Social Sciences, US Power Structures.
iCon(s): Challenging Inequity.

 

SOCI 200 - Social Inquiry I: Quantitative

4.00 credit hours - An assessment of the strengths and limitations of various modes of quantitative data collection including experiments, surveys, content analysis and the use of secondary data. Sustained focus on applying the methods and techniques learned to actual social science data. Emphasis is placed on ethical issues, becoming a critical consumer of research and developing the ability to design and carry out an independent study. 

Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Quantitative Analysis.

 

SOCI 210 - Gender: Patterns/Privileges/Possibilities

2.00 credit hours - Explores the social construction and importance of gender and sexualities in our social world including life experiences, opportunity structures and institutions, such as the military and the media. Evaluates who is privileged and disadvantaged in this categorization system and some of the ways in which current practices are being challenged. Particular attention paid to the intersection of race/ethnicity, social class and disabilities. 

Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Social Sciences, U.S. Power Structures.
iCon(s): Being Human.

 

SOCI 211 - Race/Ethnicity: Conflict & Change

2.00 credit hours - An examination of racial and ethnic diversity in American society, with a focus upon racial and ethnic inequality; prejudice, discrimination and institutional racism; patterns of race and ethnic relations; racial and ethnic responses to racism and subordination. Attention to the various ways race and ethnicity are created and re-created in society, and the way these social constructions permeate all aspects of societal life, despite remaining largely invisible and normalized. 

Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Social Sciences, U.S. Power Structures.
iCon(s): Being Human.

 

SOCI 212 - Social Class: Get Ahead/Fall Behind

2.00 credit hours - Social class impacts every aspect of life-from food choices, to college attendance, career options, good health, vulnerability to crime, happiness, life span, and on. Most importantly, it impacts the chances for getting ahead in society or falling behind. The social causes and personal consequences of class in American society are examined through a discussion of key concepts and theories, a cultural and structural tour through the class system, an examination of social mobility, and a debate on possible solutions to the problems of growing inequality. 

Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Social Sciences, U.S. Power Structures.
iCon(s): Challenging Inequity.

 

SOCI 220 - Crime, Law and Society

4.00 credit hours - An analytic and real world examination of the intricate relationship between crime, law and society. Examination of the social roots of criminal behavior, the emergence of criminal laws, the types of crime (homicide, burglary and arson), characterizing segments of society and the criminal justice response to offenders. Special attention devoted to specific types of crime, including white collar and organized crime. 

Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Social Sciences, U.S. Power Structures.
iCon(s): Challenging Inequity.

 

SOCI 221 - Youth Justice, Crime, & Law

4.00 credit hours - A close-up look at juvenile laws, crimes committed by young people and the juvenile justice system. Special attention given to specific crimes such as shoplifting, tagging and vandalism and more serious crimes of theft, assault and drug behavior. Discussions of social policies related to treatment and prevention and an analysis of juvenile courts, diversion program and incarceration. 

Cardinal Directions Designation(s): U.S. Power Structures.
iCon(s): Challenging Inequity.

 

SOCI 222 - Power-Based Personal Violence

4.00 credit hours - Debunks pervasive myths by delving into the causes and consequences of Power-Based Personal Violence, which takes many forms (e.g. harassment, stalking, sexual assault, intimate partner violence). Utilizes the lenses of intersectionality and social justice. Engages deeply with community partner prevention programs and trains with a strengths-based model of survivor empowerment. Makes space for candid conversations about the emotional impact of researching PBPV and anticipated career challenges in fields, such as criminal justice and social services. 

Cardinal Directions Designation(s): U.S. Power Structures, Community Engaged Learning.
iCon(s): Engaging Civic Life.

 

SOCI 223 - Community & City Life

4.00 credit hours - Discover the breath of experiences, the range of life styles, and the persistent problems that make city life the social setting for the richest opportunities and most perplexing inequalities in contemporary society. Attention given to issues of urban culture, schooling, housing and planning for more sustainable and equitable environments. 

Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Social Sciences, U.S. Power Structures.
iCon(s): Engaging Civic Life.

 

SOCI 250 - Pathways in Sociology

2.00 credit hours - This course challenges students to reflect on how sociological skills and insights can be applied to their own lives, future careers and to the broader community. Students will examine the structural constraints individuals face as they consider personal and occupational vocations, explore specific career pathways, discuss the logistics of the job market and begin to develop resources to make them competitive applicants.

Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Career Preparation.

 

SOCI 295 - Research Practicum

1.00-4.00 credit hours - Work in collaboration with faculty on ongoing research. Activities vary according to project needs and student background, but may include bibliography construction, literature review, recruitment of participants, data collection and entry, qualitative coding or statistical analysis. This course is graded pass/no pass. May be taken more than once for up to four total credit hours. 

 

SOCI 297 - Internship

0.00-12.00 credit hours - Valuable professional experiences supplement classroom instruction and allow students to apply theories and concepts to broader issues and system. Students explore career options within a specific area of study and critically reflect on the experience in a structured manner. May be repeated with different professional experience.

 

SOCI 299 - Independent Study

1.00-12.00 credit hours - Individual studies undertaken with guidance of a faculty member. May be repeated with different content.

 

SOCI 300 - Social Inquiry II: Qualitative

4.00 credit hours - Social researches and detectives have much in common. Both are concerned with human behavior and both investigate the world to gather evidence that produces valid and meaningful conclusions. This class provides students the opportunity to learn, practice and develop their research skills though the investigation of social worlds, with special emphasis upon in-depth interviews, observations, content analysis, focus groups and the ethical standards associated with each of these methods. 

Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Writing Intensive.

 

SOCI 330 - Policing & Corrections

4.00 credit hours - Reviews how criminal punishment and the justifications for it (e.g. deterrence, retribution, rehabilitation, incapacitation and restoration) have evolved over time. Reflects on contemporary trends, such as the increased militarization and mass incarceration. Assesses the strategies of police and corrections officers and identifies best practices in criminal investigations, law enforcement, prisoner supervision, rehabilitation and reintegration. Special emphasis on relationships with the broader community. 

 

SOCI 332 - Chicago Encounters

4.00 credit hours - From the Gold Coast to Pilsen, Bucktown to Bridgeport. Join with fellow students in a first-hand, field study of Chicago’s most interesting and intriguing neighborhoods. Students work together and conduct an original investigation of a selected neighborhood by means of interviews, demographic analysis and street level observations. A Chicago Semester course that provides students with a supervised introduction to the communities of the city and the opportunity to develop an appreciation for the personal and career opportunities in this world-class urban environment. 

Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Community Engaged Learning.
iCon(s): Experiencing Place.

 

SOCI 340 - Criminal Justice System

4.00 credit hours - An in-depth study of the functions, structure and organization of the agencies that are responsible for the administration of justice. Special emphasis is placed on the institutions and processes of law making and enforcement, the judicial system, corrections and the juvenile justice system. Attention is given to issues such as overburdened court calendars, crowded and explosive jail conditions, pervasive citizen fear of crime and understaffed police departments. 

Prerequisite(s): SOCI 100.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Global Understanding.

 

SOCI 341 - Schools & Society

4.00 credit hours - Examines the education system through the sociological lens, focusing on the practices and outcomes of schooling and the structural environment in which schools are situated. Considers the relationship between organizational practices and individual experiences, as well as cross-cultural variation in educational systems. Attention given to school reform efforts, the “achievement gap” between students from different communities and debates about K-12 curricula. 

Prerequisite(s): SOCI 100. 
Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Global Understanding.
iCon(s): Thinking Globally.

 

SOCI 342 - Families and Intimate Relationships

4.00 credit hours - Examines topics from a sociological and feminist perspective including the history of the family, the relationship between work and family, the changing definition of the family and the impact of class, race and gender on family dynamics. Thought-provoking discussions explore ideals about love, marriage, gender, parenthood, sex and sexuality-scientifically considering both the “public” and “private” dimensions of families over the course of the semester. 

Prerequisite(s): SOCI 100.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Global Understanding.
iCon(s): Thinking Globally.

 

SOCI 343 - Health, Illness and Care

4.00 credit hours - This course covers the theoretical orientations that guide sociological and anthropological insights into health, illness, treatment seeking and the organization of medical care and the current state of empirical knowledge in the field. Topics include the social origins of illness; lay beliefs about disease; sociodemographic variations in health care utilization; the profession of medicine; the structure of the American health care system and cross-national disparities in health and longevity. This course challenges our assumptions about the social foundations of health disparities, the sovereignty of medical providers and the administration of health care. 

Prerequisite(s): SOCI 100 or HTSC 230.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Global Understanding.
iCon(s): Examining Health.

 

SOCI 344 - Sport in Society

4.00 credit hours - An historical-comparative analysis of sport across time and cultures and its uses in ancient, medieval and modern societies is undertaken. Examines work-leisure patterns that developed over the course of American history. Primary consideration of the urban, industrial and commercial processes that contributed to culture formation, with particular emphases on class and gender relations, commercialized leisure practices and the impact of the mass media in the formation of value systems. 

Cardinal Directions Designation(s): U.S. Power Structures.
iCon(s): Challenging Inequity, Engaging Civic Life.

 

SOCI 350 - Social Life & Social Theory

4.00 credit hours - An introduction, review and application of classic and modern sociological theories to everyday life. Emphasis placed upon the attempts to understand the emergence of modern and post-modern times and the underlying problems brought about by these social developments. Applications of social thought to issues of work, marriage, deviance, presentations of self, love, police work, gender, consumer behavior and punishment. 

Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Humanities, U.S. Power Structures.

 

SOCI 390 - Special Topics in Sociology

4.00 credit hours - An in-depth consideration of current topics in sociology. 

 

SOCI 397 - Internship

0.00-12.00 credit hours - Valuable professional experiences supplement classroom instruction and allow students to apply theories and concepts to broader issues and system. Students explore career options within a specific area of study and critically reflect on the experience in a structured manner. May be repeated with different professional experience.

 

SOCI 399 - Independent Study

1.00-12.00 credit hours - Individual studies undertaken with guidance of a faculty member. May be repeated with different content.

 

SOCI 400 - Sociological Culminating Experience

2.00 credit hours - A course designed for sociology majors as they transition from their undergraduate college experience to the variety of publics they will encounter in their lives after graduation. Students are asked to engage in a number of structured and supervised experiences that are extensions of their sociological knowledge and relate to their future careers, their own lives and the broader community. These experiences are completed under the guidance of an on-site supervisor and a faculty sponsor, who in combination with the student will create a framework for learning and reflection.

Prerequisite(s): Senior standing and Sociology major.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Career Experiential.

 

SOCI 497 - Internship

0.00-12.00 credit hours - Valuable professional experiences supplement classroom instruction and allow students to apply theories and concepts to broader issues and system. Students explore career options within a specific area of study and critically reflect on the experience in a structured manner. May be repeated with different professional experience.

 

SOCI 499 - Independent Study

1.00-12.00 credit hours - Individual studies undertaken with guidance of a faculty member. May be repeated with different content.

 

 

.

 

CRIM 100 - Introduction to Criminology

4.00 credit hours - Explores and evaluates how crime is defined and measured and examines crime patterns and trends. Provides an overview and critical assessment of the major theories of crime causation, as well as a survey of the consequences of crime and solutions to behavior that has been labeled as “criminal.”
 

 

 

CRIM 300 - Intersections of Crime

4.00 credit hours - A socio-historical analysis of the effects of race, socio-economic status and gender on legitimate social opportunities, criminal behavior, victimizations and differential treatment by the criminal justice system.

Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing.

 

 

CRIM 496 - Criminology Senior Thesis I

2.00 credit hours - The first in a two-semester sequence of courses required to fulfill the Capstone Senior Thesis. A research-based seminar for students planning on attending graduate school or pursuing a career in research, policy or analysis. Students will draw on their knowledge of theory, methods and policy learned in core and elective courses to analayze and propose a research plan on an important topic in criminology.

Prerequisite(s): Senior standing.

 

 

CRIM 497 - Criminology Internship

4.00 credit hours - A dynamic and interactive course serving as a capstone option for the Criminology major. Participation in an internship for a minimum of 180 experiential learning hours at a mutually agreed upon location. Through interactions with practitioners, students develop marketable skills, begin to establish networks, and recognize and apply learned concepts from the major course sequence as they are applied in the professional environment. Allows for the development of career/graduate readiness.

Prerequisite(s): Senior standing.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Career Experiential.

 

 

CRIM 498 - Criminology Senior Thesis II

2.00 credit hours - The second in a two-semester sequence of courses required to fulfill the Capstone Senior Thesis. Results in a substantice piece of scholarship involving primary or secondary research, which services to synthesize knowledge acquired in the Criminology major over the course of the student’s undergraduate career. A senior thesis project should be an original work that contributes to the discipline of criminology.

Prerequisite(s): CRIM 496.
Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Career Experiential.

Studying sociology, criminology, or anthropology presents a wide array of present and future opportunities. Follow the links below to learn more.

Internships

Going to college only two blocks and a 45-minute train ride from Chicago provides many opportunities for you to apply what you’ve learned about human society and culture. An internship is also a tried and true route to finding that dream job. Check out some of the institutions where our students have interned:

Original Research Opportunities

In addition to applying knowledge gained in the classroom, you can contribute to ongoing research projects in sociology, criminology, and anthropology.

Richter Independent Fellowship Grants
Design your own research project and get it funded through The Richter Independent Study Fellowship Program. North Central sociology, criminology, and anthropology students have won Richter grants:

  • to conduct independent field research among the Northern Paiute (Native Americans) of Pyramid Lake, Nevada
  • for a field study of ethnic entrepreneurship in Brazil
  • to travel to Ghana, West Africa and explore the impact of globalization on Ghanaian music
  • to produce a video profile of gentrification in the Bucktown neighborhood of Chicago
  • to conduct first-hand research on the life of "street children" in South Africa 
  • to examine the role of non-government organizations and their impact on sustainable economic development in Haiti
  • to conduct a comparative study of cultural contact on Chicago's Devon Avenue and London's Brick Lane
  • to examine the perceptions of Iranian women in London toward war, peace, and the United States

Chicago Term
Take your classes in the loop with faculty expert in Chicago history and sociology. Conduct your own urban studies research.

Urban and Suburban Studies
Consider Chicagoland your learning laboratory. Take up urban studies or urban anthropology.

Rall Symposium on Undergraduate Research
Present your research to fellow students, faculty and distinguished guest scholars. A fantastic (and rare) forum for undergraduate students to participate in serious scholarly research. 

Study Abroad
North Central offers opportunities to study in Costa Rica, London and China/Japan, among many others. Anthropology majors have recently made the Costa Rica program a central part of their studies.

Field Schools in Archaeology
Click here to learn about opportunities to participate in archaeological research around the world.

Field Schools in Anthropology
Click here for opportunities to learn about human societies around the world by going into 'the field.'

Graduate School & Careers

The Next Steps:

After completing your degree, you’ll be ready to find interesting and challenging work, go on to graduate or professional school or apply your skills and knowledge to real world problems.

Jobs
Despite what you may have heard, sociologists, criminologists, and anthropologists are highly employable! Check out some the places where recent sociology, criminology, and anthropology majors have landed jobs:

Still wondering about a careers for majors in sociology or anthropology? Just take a look at some of these resources:

Graduate School
Students recently completing a North Central sociology or anthropology program of study have gone on to some of the most prestigious graduate schools in the country.

Service
Whether addressing economic development overseas or social problems in your own backyard, training in the social sciences prepares you to make a difference.

News