Sociology and Anthropology

Web site: http://socanthro.cas2.lehigh.edu/. The department is home to sociology and anthropology. Sociology is the study of human beings in relationships with others. Anthropology is the holistic study of humans today and in the past, in a global, comparative, and multicultural perspective. Together, these disciplines encompass the broadest range of human activities, from comparative examination of diverse past and present cultures and societies, to the influence of society on individual behavior, to examination of the most pressing social issues of our time and what it means to be human.

The curricula within the department provide students with skills necessary to understand and conduct social research in a variety of employment settings through training in research design, methods, and data analysis. Students acquire a theoretical background that promotes self and societal awareness that are valued by a wide range of prospective employers.

The department offers three bachelor of arts majors: Anthropology, Sociology, and Sociology and Anthropology. The three programs are parallel in structure and requirements and each consists of 40 credit hours of course work. The Sociology and Anthropology major is an interdisciplinary program for students desiring a broader social science perspective, whereas the Anthropology and Sociology majors are for students desiring more focused, disciplinary programs of study.

Research Opportunities

The department supports students in research of their own design, as well as engaging students in ongoing research activities of faculty members. Second semester sophomore, junior and senior students interested in a supervised research experience are encouraged to consult with the chair or appropriate faculty member. Course credit can be received for research experience. Explore our faculty and their areas of research interest at our website: https://socanthro.cas.lehigh.edu/faculty-staff. Learn more about research opportunities here: https://socanthro.cas.lehigh.edu/student-research.

Internship Opportunities

The department maintains close working relationships with a variety of social agencies and institutions in the area. Majors can earn course credit by carrying out supervised work in field settings—see https://socanthro.cas.lehigh.edu/internship-opportunities for more details. This experience allows a student to apply the concepts learned in the classroom to potential employment settings and to evaluate professional options.

Senior Thesis

Majors are encouraged to do independent research culminating in a senior thesis; this is especially recommended for students intending to go on to graduate or professional school. The junior year is the time to begin discussing possible projects with faculty. The department chairperson should be consulted for further details. Our web site has additional information. More information is available at https://socanthro.cas.lehigh.edu/senior-theses

Departmental Honors

To be eligible for departmental honors, students must have at least a 3.5 GPA in the major. In addition, students pursuing honors must register for ANTH or SOC 399 and write a thesis during their senior year. Awarding of departmental honors is contingent on both the quality of the thesis, as judged by a department committee, and the candidate's GPA at time of graduation.

B.A. Major Programs

Anthropology

Introductory		8
ANTH 011	Cultural Diversity and Human Nature
ANTH 012	Intro to Archaeology and Human Origins
Theory		4
Select one of the following courses in anthropology theory:
ANTH 213	Culture Theory
ANTH 227	Archaeological Theory
SOC 212	Development of Social Theory
ENGL 309	Interpretation: Critical Theory and Practice
Methodology		4
Select one of the following methodology courses:
ANTH 212	Doing Archaeology
ANTH 214	How to Study Culture
ANTH 215	Field School
SOC 211	Research Methods and Data Analysis
Major Electives		20
Select five anthropology courses: ¹
Research, Internship, or Thesis		4
Select one of the following: ²
ANTH 300	Apprentice Teaching
ANTH 393	Supervised Research
ANTH 395	Internship
ANTH 399	Senior Thesis ³
Total Credits		40

¹: At least two of which must be at the 300-level. Individualized study courses ANTH 300, ANTH 393, ANTH 395, and ANTH 399 cannot be used to fulfill this requirement; however, one SOC course can be substituted as an anthropology elective.
²: Preferably during the senior year, majors must complete at least four credits of experiential learning on a subject or in a context relevant to their major. Students may fulfill this requirement in a variety of ways - research, apprentice teaching, internship or thesis.
³: Students who intend going on to graduate or professional school are strongly encouraged to do the senior thesis option, and a senior thesis is required for departmental honors.

Sociology and Anthropology

Collateral Requirement		3-4
Select one the following general courses in statistics:
ECO 045	Statistical Methods
MATH 012	Basic Statistics and Data Science ¹
SOC 012	Statistics for Understanding the Social World
Or equivalent
Introductory		8
SOC 001	Introduction to Sociology

ANTH 011	Cultural Diversity and Human Nature
Theory		4
Choose one of the following:
ANTH 213	Culture Theory
SOC 212	Development of Social Theory
Methodology		8
Select two of the following:
ANTH 212	Doing Archaeology
ANTH 214	How to Study Culture
SOC 211	Research Methods and Data Analysis (Fall)
SOC 221	Qualitative Methods
SOC 222	Introduction to Survey Research
SOC 223	It's Who You Know: Understanding Social Networks
SOC 226	Computational Text Analysis
SOC 229	Data Visualization in the Social Sciences
Major Electives		16
Select two courses in sociology ^2,3
Select two courses in anthropology ^2,4
Total Credits		39-40

¹: Note: MATH 012 fulfills the College of Arts and Sciences' mathematics requirement.
²: One of which must be at the 300-level.
³: Individualized study courses SOC 300, SOC 393, SOC 395, and SOC 399 can be taken as major electives but cannot be used to fulfill the 300 level course requirement.
⁴: Individualized study courses ANTH 300, ANTH 393, ANTH 395, and ANTH 399 can be taken as major electives but cannot be used to fulfill the 300 level course requirement.

Sociology

Collateral Requirement		3-4
Select one of the following general courses in statistics:
MATH 012	Basic Statistics and Data Science ¹
ECO 045	Statistical Methods
SOC 012	Statistics for Understanding the Social World
Or equivalent
Introductory		4
SOC 001	Introduction to Sociology
Theory		4
SOC 212	Development of Social Theory
Methodology		8
SOC 211	Research Methods and Data Analysis (Fall)
And one of the following:
SOC 221	Qualitative Methods
SOC 222	Introduction to Survey Research
SOC 223	It's Who You Know: Understanding Social Networks
SOC 226	Computational Text Analysis
SOC 229	Data Visualization in the Social Sciences
ANTH 214	How to Study Culture
Major Electives		16
Select four courses in sociology: ²
Research, Internship, or Thesis		4
Select one of the following: ³
SOC 300	Apprentice Teaching
SOC 393	Supervised Research
SOC 395	Internship
SOC 399	Senior Thesis
Total Credits		39-40

¹: Note: MATH 012 fulfills the College of Arts and Sciences' mathematics requirement.
²: At least two of which must be at the 300-level. Individualized study courses SOC 300, SOC 393, SOC 395 and SOC 399 cannot be used to fulfill this requirement; however, one ANTH course can be substituted as a "sociology" elective.
³: Preferably during the senior year, majors must complete at least four credits of experiential learning on a subject or in a context relevant to their major.
⁴: Students who go on to graduate or professional school are strongly encouraged to do the senior thesis option, and a senior thesis is required for departmental honors.

Minor Programs

Anthropology

ANTH 011	Cultural Diversity and Human Nature	4
or ANTH 012	Intro to Archaeology and Human Origins
Select any four courses in Anthropology		16
Total Credits		20

Sociology and Anthropology

One of the following introductory courses:		4
SOC 001	Introduction to Sociology
ANTH 011	Cultural Diversity and Human Nature
ANTH 012	Intro to Archaeology and Human Origins
Select two additional courses in Sociology at the 100 level or above		8
Select two additional courses in Anthropology at the 100 level or above		8
Total Credits		20

Sociology

SOC 001	Introduction to Sociology	4
Select any four courses in Sociology		16
Total Credits		20

Anthropology Courses

ANTH 011 Cultural Diversity and Human Nature 4 Credits

A cross-cultural investigation of variation in human societies. Examines forms of social organization, kinship, religion, symbolism, and language through the consideration of specific cultural case studies in local and global contexts. Students will learn how anthropological research methods enhance understanding of contemporary social issues, help solve real-world problems, and foster an informed perspective on what it means to be human.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

ANTH 012 Intro to Archaeology and Human Origins 4 Credits

Explore how archaeologists and biological anthropologists scientifically study human evolution and how diverse human societies arose. Examine theories and evidence showing what makes both species and cultures adapt and change. Specific topics include: genetics; natural selection; primate behavior; dating and excavation methods; beginnings of art, agriculture, and inequality; and how researchers respond to racist and pseudoscientific claims about the past. Use data from archaeology, biology, and geology to support evidence-based explanations for what forces have made us human.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, NS, NW, Q

ANTH 091 Special Topics 4 Credits

Special topics in anthropology.
Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW, W

ANTH 100 Seminar in Anthropology 1-4 Credits

Topics in anthropology.
Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.
Attribute/Distribution: SS

ANTH 106 (GS 106) Cultural Studies and Globalization 4 Credits

This course closely examines the complex relationship between culture and globalization. The impact of globalization on local culture is an essential topic. But the interaction of globalization and culture is not a one-way process. People around the world adapt globalization to their own uses, merging global cultural flows with local practices in transformative ways. The course will study the interaction of local culture with globalizing forces; immigration and culture; the localizing of mass culture; cultures of diasporic and migratory groups,.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW, W

ANTH 108 (GS 108) Not-so-Lonely Planet: The Anthropology of Tourism 4 Credits

Love to travel? This course explores tourist attractions around the world to understand why people leave home, why they visit resorts, monuments, historical sites, memorials, parks, museums, and more. By reading anthropological scholarship and by visiting nearby attractions ourselves, we examine the politics and economics of the global tourism industry, the impact of tourism on local communities, and tourists' search for an 'authentic' experience. And we see how Disneyworld, of all places, provides insight into each of these topics.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW, W

ANTH 117 (GS 117, LAS 117) Archaeology of Latin America 4 Credits

Explores the past of Latin America and the major civilizations that existed prior to European arrival and colonization. Extending from Mesoamerica through the Southern Andes, topics covered include the monumental structures, belief systems, and trade networks that made sure an entire continent was interconnected for millennia. This course also looks at the ways in which European colonialism has shaped the perception of these civilizations and how modern pseudoarchaeology continues to deny the accomplishments of indigenous cultures.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW, W

ANTH 118 The Science of Archaeology 4 Credits

Hands-on course, with separate lecture and lab components, in which you will practice the technologies and tools used in the scientific approach to archaeology. This course provides an overview of the chemistry, physics, and geology that inform an archaeologists’ understanding of the past and the ways in which the data collected from these tools can be interpreted through our knowledge of humanity at each step of the archaeological process. Concludes with a student project involving one of the tools covered.
Attribute/Distribution: NS, NW, Q, W

ANTH 121 (EVST 121) Environment and Culture 4 Credits

Impact of environment upon cultural variability and change. Comparative study of modern and past cultures and their environments as well as current theories of human/ environmental interaction.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW, W

ANTH 126 (GS 126) Urban Anthropology 4 Credits

When you think of anthropology, you probably picture exotic fieldsites: the Arctic, the Amazonian rainforests, the beaches of the South Pacific. But contemporary anthropologists are just as likely to study Tokyo, Berlin, or Bethlehem, PA. This course examines anthropology both in and of the city. How have anthropologists thought about the complexities of urban life? How can anthropology help us make sense of urban governance? What does belonging mean in a city that is racially or ethnically diverse?
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW, W

ANTH 140 (COGS 140, MLL 140) Introduction to Linguistics 4 Credits

Relationship between language and mind; formal properties of language; language and society; how languages change over time. May not be taken pass/fail.
Attribute/Distribution: SS, SW

ANTH 145 Human Evolution 4 Credits

Principles of biological anthropology focusing on the evolution of the human species. Topics include evolutionary theory, nonhuman primate diversity and behavior, the relationship between biology and behavior in evolutionary terms, the hominid fossil record, and genetic variability among contemporary human populations.
Attribute/Distribution: NS, NW, Q, W

ANTH 155 (GS 155, HMS 155) Medical Anthropology 4 Credits

Medical Anthropology is the study of how conceptions of health, illness, and healing methods vary over time and across cultures. Students will learn how social and cultural factors shape health outcomes in a variety of human contexts, and will study culturally specific approaches to healing, including Western bio-medicine. The course offers a broad understanding of the relationship between culture, health, and healing.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW, W

ANTH 173 (GS 173) Archaeology of the Middle East 4 Credits

Covers major archaeological findings from Iraq, Iran, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, and Turkey, as well as historical context surrounding those findings. Learn about palaces, temples, fortresses, pyramids, tombs, and ancient cities that archaeologists have excavated—but also about who excavated these sites and why. Answer questions like: Who built the pyramids? How did writing begin? And: Why is the Rosetta Stone now in England? How has our knowledge of the past been shaped by the relationship between archaeology and colonialism?
Attribute/Distribution: CC, Q, SS, SW

ANTH 176 (ARCH 176, ART 176, CLSS 176) Roman Archaeology 4 Credits

Cultures of the Roman Empire. Reconstructions of social, political, and economic dynamics of the imperial system from study of artifacts.
Attribute/Distribution: SS

ANTH 178 Mesoamerican Archaeology 4 Credits

Ancient civilizations of Mesoamerica: Olmec, Zapotec, Maya, Toltec, and Aztec. Reconstructions of urban centers, political and economic organizations, and theories of the Mayan collapse.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW, W

ANTH 182 North American Indians 4 Credits

Culture areas of native North America prior to substantial disruption by European influences north of Mexico. Environmental factors and cultural forms.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

ANTH 184 (LAS 184) Indigenous Cultures of Latin America 4 Credits

This course examines social change in Latin America from the perspective of indigenous peoples. Main goals are to develop an appreciation for the diversity of cultures found in Latin America, explore anthropological concepts like cultural ecology, ethnicity, acculturation, and religious syncretism, and to apply these concepts to contemporary issues, including cultural survival, human rights, and environmental sustainability.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW, W

ANTH 187 (ASIA 187, GS 187) Contemporary Southeast Asia 4 Credits

Southeast Asia is said to be on the rise. But from where has Southeast Asia risen? And what are the social consequences of this so-called rise? Addressing these questions, this course provides a broad introductory overview of contemporary Southeast Asia, surveying the region’s extraordinary diversity and ongoing political, economic, and sociocultural transformations. Through engagement with ethnographic materials, the course further explores how everyday Southeast Asians negotiate and contend with ongoing challenges associated with the forces of globalization.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

ANTH 191 Special Topics 4 Credits

Special topics in anthropology.
Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW, W

ANTH 212 Doing Archaeology 4 Credits

Principles of archaeological method and theory. Excavation and survey methods, artifact analysis, dating techniques, and cultural reconstruction. Includes field project. Mandatory lab.
Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.
Attribute/Distribution: NS, NW, Q

ANTH 213 Culture Theory 4 Credits

This course immerses students in anthropological theories that seek to explain global cultural diversity, patterns of similarities, and evolution of societies through time. Students will learn how anthropological theories help us to understand contemporary cultural issues, solve real-world problems, and foster an informed perspective on what it means to be human.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, HE, SS, W

ANTH 214 How to Study Culture 4 Credits

What is culture? How do anthropologists study the vast diversity of human cultures? How can we use anthropology to better understand our own culture? Through the hands-on practice of ethnographic methods, including participant observation and qualitative analysis, students will learn ethical, analytical, and practical considerations for doing research into human belief and behavior.
Attribute/Distribution: SS, SW

ANTH 215 Field School 1-8 Credits

Field school in archaeology or ethnography. Maximum of eight credits for a single season or field experience.
Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, NS, SW

ANTH 227 Archaeological Theory 4 Credits

Explores important issues in the interpretation of archaeological material. Issues include variable utility of anthropological analogies, unevenness of data, reconstructions of past cultures, processual and post-processual approaches. Students will write a sample NSF proposal.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, HE, SS

ANTH 300 Apprentice Teaching 1-4 Credits

Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.

ANTH 301 Violence of Science 4 Credits

We are living in a period of extreme skepticism about science. In this course, we will consider some reasons why, and examine how science has long been tied up with violence. We will learn about small, everyday violences of science as well as the long term histories of the violence of science, and will begin to imagine a future of peaceful science, inclusive science, healing science: science without violence.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

ANTH 304 (EVST 304) Socio-cultural Foundations of Environmental Policy 4 Credits

This course is based on the premise that social and ecological sustainability require new policy approaches. Drawing on social, organizational, and behavioral theory, students will learn techniques for analyzing and critiquing existing environmental policies and designing more effective policies. Case studies highlight how cultural values, social norms, public opinion and politics shape policies and their outcomes. We examine the entire policy process from how environmental problems are defined, to how organizations implement policies and how policies are evaluated.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW, W

ANTH 311 (AAS 311, FILM 311) African Culture on Film 4 Credits

Cinematic representations of Africans and their culture are nearly as old as cinema itself.This course surveys films depicting African peoples, some made by outsiders but mostly by Africans themselves, to explore questions about culture, identity, race, and power. From ethnographic filmmakers like Jean Rouch and pioneers like Ousmane Sembene through today's flourishing Nollywood industry, cinematic depictions of life on the African continent have changed the way the world sees Africans and their place in the world.
Attribute/Distribution: HU, SS

ANTH 317 (AAS 317, GS 317) So You Want to Save the World: Anthropological Encounters with Humanitarianism and Development 4 Credits

We are often motivated by the desire to “give back”-- feed the hungry, heal the sick, and help those less fortunate than ourselves. Anthropological research on humanitarian aid, development projects, and other interventions meant to improve human lives in various contexts shows us why these efforts often go awry. Focusing primarily on settings outside the U.S., students will consider the pitfalls of developmental and humanitarian interventions as well as the crucial role of local knowledge in addressing complex global problems.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW, W

ANTH 320 (GS 320) Global Capitalism 4 Credits

Anthropological approach to the forms and effects of global capitalism. Topics include the structure of contemporary global capitalism, including the growth of multinational corporations, flexible corporate strategies, overseas manufacturing, and global branding and marketing; the impact of global capitalism on the environment and on the lives of people in "Third World" countries; consumer culture and the diversity of non-Western consumption practices; alternative capitalist systems.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW, W

ANTH 325 Economic Anthropology 4 Credits

Cross-cultural perspectives on the ways people produce, distribute, and consume goods; how these systems are organized; and how they are connected with other aspects of society, particularly political and ideological systems.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

ANTH 335 (REL 335) Religion, Witchcraft And Magic 4 Credits

Addresses broad questions about supernatural beliefs as systems of meaning and as practical and moral guides, with a focus on theoretical explanations for supernatural beliefs and the function of religious specialists in the social organization of cultures.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

ANTH 339 Seminar In Anthropology 4 Credits

Topics in anthropology. Varying semester to semester: human evolution, politics and law, introduction to linguistics, human use of space, anthropology of deviance.
Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.
Prerequisites: ANTH 001 or ANTH 011 or SOC 005 or SOC 021 or PSYC 021 or SOC 001
Attribute/Distribution: SS

ANTH 353 (EVST 353, GS 353) Ethnobotany: People and Plants 4 Credits

This course explores the meanings and uses given to plants by diverse cultures in their unique ecological settings. Ethnobotany combines botany and cultural anthropology to study how people classify, use, and manage plants for medicine, food, and ritual. This course introduces the history, methods, theory, and practical applications of ethnobotany, including plant conservation, sustainable development, and cultural survival. Special emphasis will be placed on learning to do ethnobotany through student research projects.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW, W

ANTH 366 (GS 366) Power, Preparedness, Precarity: Urban Resilience in an Age of Uncertainty 4 Credits

We have learned to expect the end of the world as we know it: sea levels are rising, carbon fuel reserves are diminishing, global power structures are shifting. This course asks how we can respond both socially and materially in the face of uncertainty. How can urban planning be used as an instrument of social control--or social change? How do we conceptualize themes like crisis and the natural? And how are new imaginations of the built environment emerging in response.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, W

ANTH 377 Archaeology Of Death 4 Credits

Examines what we can determine about the past from human remains. Class will study health, age, and disease from the analysis of human bone, the cultural aspects of burial and funerals, and take part in a field project in Nisky Hill Cemetery in Bethlehem.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW, W

ANTH 389 Honors Project 1-8 Credits

ANTH 391 Special Topics 4 Credits

Special topics in anthropology.
Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.
Attribute/Distribution: SS

ANTH 393 Supervised Research 1-4 Credits

Conducting anthropological research under the supervision of a faculty member. Consent of department chair required.
Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.
Attribute/Distribution: SS

ANTH 395 Internship 1-4 Credits

Supervised experience in a setting suitable to anthropological or sociological analysis. May be repeated once for credit. Open only to department majors.
Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.
Attribute/Distribution: SS

ANTH 399 Senior Thesis 2-4 Credits

Research during senior year culminating in senior thesis. Required for anthropology majors seeking departmental honors. Consent of department chair required.
Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.
Attribute/Distribution: SS

Sociology and Anthropology Courses

SOAN 120 (ETH 120, HMS 120) Values and Ethics of Community-Engaged Research 4 Credits

The many dimensions of community-engaged research and learning are explored, with special attention to ethical practices, values, research methods, and critical reflection. Experiential and service aspects of the course provide opportunities for students to build skills for social and community change, as well as build capacity for research and critical inquiry.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

Sociology Courses

SOC 001 Introduction to Sociology 4 Credits

Patterns of social interaction, group behavior and attitudes provide a focus on the relationship of the individual to society. Social structure and social change within the institutions of society provide a focus on the relationship of society to the individual. The influences of social class, gender and race are explored at each level of analyses. Theories, methods and research results provide micro and macro models for understanding society.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

SOC 002 Social Problems 4 Credits

A sociological perspective on a variety of social problems. Specific topics vary, but include problems related to social class, race, gender, and sexual identity in social institutions such as the family, healthcare, the media, the environment, the educational system, political system, and criminal justice system. Both problems and solutions to contemporary social problems are analyzed at both micro and macro levels.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

SOC 012 Statistics for Understanding the Social World 4 Credits

An introduction to basic statistics in the social sciences. Emphasis is on the statistical concepts underlying calculations and formulas, and data analysis in the context of social science research. The course covers two main areas: basic descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. These concepts are taught through real world data using professional statistical software. By the end of the course, students will possess the skills necessary to both use and critically read and interpret statistical information in everyday life.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, Q, SS, SW

SOC 091 Special Topics 4 Credits

Special topics in sociology.
Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

SOC 100 Seminar in Sociology 1-4 Credits

Topics in sociology.
Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.
Attribute/Distribution: SS

SOC 102 (HMS 102) Sociology of Mental Health 4 Credits

This course will provide an introduction to the sociology of mental health. You will learn how the social world influences our well-being, how the line between health and illness (“normal” and “crazy”) is socially constructed, and how mental health treatment has changed over time. We will also delve into demographic patterns of mental health and discuss the social stigma that surrounds mental illness, mental health treatment, and diagnosis. Throughout the course, we will discuss contemporary issues through a sociological lens.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

SOC 103 (AAS 103) Race and Ethnicity in the Contemporary U.S. 4 Credits

Examines race and ethnicity from a sociological perspective. Focus on the role of the major racial and ethnic communities in modern American society. Explores the roles of race and ethnicity in identity, social relations, and social inequality. Topics include racial and ethnic communities, minority/majority groups, assimilation, prejudice and discrimination, identity, and the social construction of the concept of race.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

SOC 104 (POLS 104) Political Sociology 4 Credits

An introduction to political sociology through an examination of the major sociological questions concerning power, politics, and the state. Covers questions concerning state formation, nationalism, social movements, globalization, political culture and participation, and civil society.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

SOC 105 Social Origins Of Terrorism 4 Credits

What is terrorism and its causes? This course explores the roots of terrorism sociologically. It offers critiques of common theories of terrorism and presents several analytic tools for better understanding the phenomenon. In doing so, students are able to explore the social, historical, political, and religious roots of terrorism.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

SOC 106 (AAS 106, LAS 106) Race and Ethnicity in the Americas 4 Credits

How is it possible that someone who is officially considered black in the United States can embody different racial identities throughout current Latin America? Even more, how is it possible that people considered white nowadays were not officially so in early twentieth-century US (although they were viewed as white in the Latin American context at the same time period)? This course offers a historical comparative analysis of the nature and dynamics of race between the United States and Latin America.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW, W

SOC 109 Calling Bullshit 4 Credits

We’re awash in an information society, but do you really know how to make sense of any of it? Learn more about what sociology can teach us about the promise and pitfalls of reasoning with facts. Topics include data analytics, metrics, logical fallacies, psychological fallacies, sociological fallacies, fake news, cultural pressures, and more. This course will give you the skills you need to be a better student, scientist, citizen, consumer, and human being.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

SOC 114 (ASIA 114) Social Issues in Contemporary China 4 Credits

Dramatic economic, cultural and social changes are underway in China today and have aroused much debate among social scientists, East and West. The following social issues are critical for understanding China's development trajectory: inequality and poverty; rapid demographic shifts; provision of health care services; provision of education services; and becoming an "information society." We will explore how these issues intersect with old hierarchies in China, urban-rural differences, and gender differences.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW, W

SOC 115 A Nation of Immigrants: The American Experience 4 Credits

The course provides an introduction to contemporary immigration, conceptualizing it as a social and economic process, as well as a human experience that is simultaneously liberating and limiting. Through immigration we will analyze processes of assimilation and resistance, the construction of cultural boundaries, the development of modern nation-states, as well as the role race plays in current debates about immigrants. The course advances a critical perspective by questioning how immigration is framed in the West, particularly in the Unites States.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW, W

SOC 118 Sociology of Culture 4 Credits

Introduction to the ways sociologists and other social scientists think about this thing called “culture,” and help students become educated observers and analysts of culture throughout their lives. Topics include: how our brains and bodies are shaped during enculturation and socialization; how art, music, fashion, and myths are produced and shape our lives; how culture diffuses and changes; and how taste, knowledge, and values relate to status, power, and inequity.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

SOC 127 (WGSS 127) Sociology of Sexuality 4 Credits

Students in this course view human sexuality through a sociological lens. This includes theory, research methods, and topics such as LGBTQ identities, family formation, sex work, teenage sexuality, sadomasochism, and sexual technologies. We pay particular attention to ways in which sexual behavior is regulated, as well as social constructions of “the normal.” Course material focuses on the United States, although students are encouraged to bring cross-national perspectives into papers and class discussions.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

SOC 128 (WGSS 128) Race, Gender, and Work 4 Credits

Race, Gender and Work is a class designed to help students understand racial and gender inequalities as they relate specifically to work and employment. We explore the origins and histories of inequalities, the ways in which inequalities persist and/or change today, and what steps might be taken toward creating a more equal society.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

SOC 130 Sociology of Sports 4 Credits

This course provides an encompassing explanation of the process of globalization in the twentieth century through exploring the diffusion of sports, inquiring whether the sports has been connected to multiple forms of Empires, i.e. colonialism and imperialism. To do so, we will use sports to explore social and racial tensions, analyze mechanism of resistance, re-conceptualize the boundaries of social, economic and political spheres, examine the adoption of cultural practices, as well as understanding the construction of modern nation-states.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW, W

SOC 138 The Sociology of Reality TV 4 Credits

How does The Bachelor shed light on courtship rituals, and what can Dance Moms teach us about the social meaning of childhood? Reality television shows may seem like frivolous fun, but they are also illuminating cultural artifacts that reflect contemporary American tastes, norms, and values. In this course—by reading sociological work, paired with episodes of reality shows—students learn to analyze these forms of entertainment through a social scientific lens.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

SOC 141 Breaking the Rules: Social Deviance 4 Credits

What institutions exert control over human behavior, and what are the incentives for adhering to social norms? Why do some people break those rules? What are the consequences of rule breaking? In this course, after examining theoretical scholarship on deviant behavior, students apply those theories to real-world examples— for example, criminal activities and policing, drug use, sexuality, body modification, mental illness, and atypical behavior at school and work…Are you ready? Let’s get weird.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

SOC 155 (AAS 155, LAS 155) Afro-Latino Social Movements in Latin America & the Caribbean 4 Credits

This course focuses on Afro-Latinos who make up nearly 70% of the population of the Americas. Despite the large amount of people of African descent living in the Americas, Afro-Latinos are an understudied population who face significant amounts of racial discrimination in their countries. Who are Afro-Latinos? Where do they live? How are they challenging the racism that they face? These are questions we will tackle in this course.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

SOC 160 (HMS 160) Medicine and Society 4 Credits

Sociological perspectives on health, illness, and medical care. Focus on social epidemiology, social psychology of illness, socialization of health professionals, patient-professional relationships, medical care organization and policies.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

SOC 162 (GS 162, HMS 162) HIV/AIDS and Society 4 Credits

Impact of the AIDS epidemic on individuals and on social institutions (medicine, religion, education, politics, etc.); social and health policy responses; international experience; effect of public attitudes and policy on people affected directly by AIDS.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

SOC 163 (AAS 163) Sociology of Hip Hop Culture 4 Credits

Hip Hop culture is a complex form of artistic practices reflecting and impacting the environments in which they were produced. Through readings, music and video, this class will uncover the origins of Hip Hop by examining the musical history of the Afro-diaspora in the 20th century. Further study will reveal how the young Bronx, NY underclass in the 1970s fused elements of past musical styles with their own personal and political expression that sparked a worldwide phenomenon and culture industry.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

SOC 164 (AAS 164, WGSS 164) Sociology of Black Families 4 Credits

The objective of this course is to help students learn more about Black family experiences within the United States and globally. In approaching the course with an intersectional lens, students will learn about the varied experiences of Black families, and the ways in which these experiences are embedded in empowerment, disempowerment, and self-actualization. Students will leave the course understanding Black families at the intersection of fatherhood, motherhood, marriage, singlehood, childrearing, LGBTQ families, interracial families, transnational families, and aging.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

SOC 166 Money, Power, Prestige: Social Stratification" 4 Credits

Who gets what and why? How does a person's social origin determine their social position later in life? Why do some groups maintain greater access to money and power than do others? Is wealth, influence, and prestige concentrated in a small group of 'power elite'? And when and why do the powerful fall? Course addresses these questions through the sociological study of stratification, with an emphasis on social mechanisms and processes.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

SOC 171 (REL 171) Religion And Society 4 Credits

An introduction to the sociology of religion. Covers both classical and contemporary approaches to understanding religion in society. Emphasis on religious beliefs and practices in the U.S., sources and contours of religious change, and effects of religion on individuals and society. Specific topics include religious fundamentalism, conversion, secularization, religious authority, religion in public life, social change, and terrorism, and religious impacts on personal health, educational attainment, and family life.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

SOC 186 (ASIA 186) Understanding China through Films 4 Credits

We will use documentary and feature films to demonstrate how Chinese people experience and interpret social, political, economic and cultural changes. Through sociological interpretation of film, we will focus on education provision, migration, environmental concerns, gender relations, poverty, and changing cultural norms and values. We will explore how these social issues have been intensified with economic reform and how they intersect with major historical hierarchies in China.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

SOC 191 Special Topics 4 Credits

Special topics in sociology.
Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW, W

SOC 211 Research Methods and Data Analysis 4 Credits

Survey of social science research methods common in sociology and anthropology. Covers research question formulation, design, and analysis and interpretation of data. Ideally taken by majors in sophomore year.
Attribute/Distribution: Q, SS, SW

SOC 212 Development of Social Theory 4 Credits

This course introduces some of the most influential theoretical ideas in sociology. It focuses on understanding the differences among several classical theoretical traditions and their strengths and weaknesses in analyzing societies. It also helps students learn to apply social theory to contemporary sociological research and problems, learning the ways theory can be used to answer questions and problems societies face today. Ideally taken by majors in sophomore year.
Attribute/Distribution: SS, SW, W

SOC 221 Qualitative Methods 4 Credits

Provides a survey of methods social scientists use to collect data that is not easily reducible to numbers, such as in-depth interviewing, content analysis, participant-observation, comparative-historical analysis, and ethnography. Offers hands-on, practical experience with these methods as well as model cases of the methods as they are used by experts.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

SOC 222 Introduction to Survey Research 4 Credits

Surveys are important tools to provide us information about the world around us, from general populations’ values and attitudes to consumers’ behaviors. This course introduces the basic concepts and skills of survey methods, including questionnaire design, sampling procedure, implementing the survey, and evaluating quality of survey results. Through designing and conducting a survey of Lehigh students on topics of class’ own choosing, students will be critical readers of any survey data, and be able to design and conduct original surveys.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, Q, SS, SW

SOC 223 It's Who You Know: Understanding Social Networks 4 Credits

Who knows who? Who knows what? Who is influential? Why are your friends more popular than you are? How do ideas, diseases, fashion trends and innovations spread through groups? Such questions and more can be answered using network analysis. This class will explore key concepts and methods for understanding networks and how they shape social life.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, Q, SS, SW

SOC 226 Computational Text Analysis 4 Credits

Provides the fundamentals for designing and conducting computational text analysis projects from a social scientific perspective. We will touch on several advanced topics in this rapidly growing field, such as web scraping, sentiment analysis, classifiers, structural topic modeling, text networks, machine learning, natural language processing, and word embeddings. Hands-on analysis in the R statistical computing environment will be integral to the course, though no prior coding experience is required.
Attribute/Distribution: Q, SS, SW

SOC 229 Data Visualization in the Social Sciences 4 Credits

Our world is increasingly data-driven; how can we as social scientists take advantage of data to understand and address contemporary social problems? This course will introduce students to the visualization of quantitative social science data. Students will learn to use R to clean, organize, and visualize real-world data. These skills are invaluable for myriad future careers in medicine, policy, non-profits, finance, and more. No prior programming experience is required.
Prerequisites: SOC 012 or MATH 012 or ECO 045
Attribute/Distribution: Q, SS, SW

SOC 300 Apprentice Teaching 1-4 Credits

SOC 313 (AAS 313) Keep the Change: Social Movements in Society 4 Credits

Interested in how social change works? Or how to stop it? This seminar provides an introduction to the origins, dynamics, and consequences of historical and contemporary social movements, beginning with the American Civil Rights Movement. Students will discuss and develop their own ideas on these issues through examination of social movement theory and empirical case studies. They will also explore more general questions about the relationship between human agency, social structure, and historical change. More information is available at https://wordpress.lehigh.edu/zim2/soc313/.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

SOC 314 (AAS 314, GS 314, HMS 314) Infections and Inequalities: HIV, TB and Malaria in the Global South 4 Credits

This course will explore the social, economic, and environmental causes of HIV, TB, and malaria in developing nations, with a particular focus on the characteristics and causes of these diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa. Students will engage theories and perspectives on development, globalization, and social inequality to explain trends in HIV, TB, and malaria and to understand why certain groups are more vulnerable to infection than others. Prerequisite: Junior/senior standing with declared major/minor in SOC, ANTH, SOAN, HMS, GS, or AAS.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW, W

SOC 316 Social Epidemiology 4 Credits

Social epidemiology is the study of the distribution and social determinants of health and disease in human populations. This course introduces the basic principles of epidemiological study design, analysis and interpretation, covering topics such as how a disease spreads across populations and how public health interventions can help control or reduce the spread of disease. This course also reviews epidemiology as a social science by reviewing the social causes and consequences of health.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

SOC 317 Seminar in Globalization and Social Issues 4 Credits

Advanced seminar that focuses on research and discussion of specialized topics in globalization and social issues. Subjects vary by semester. Junior or senior standing and departmental permission required.
Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

SOC 319 (GS 319) The Political Economy of Globalization 4 Credits

Studies the relationship among economic, political and cultural forces in an era of globalization, focusing on how global capitalism, the world market and local economics shape and are shaped by social, cultural, and historical forces. Topics include political and cultural determinants of trade and investment; culture and the global economy; global capitalism, especially studied through the lens of culture; globalization and patterns of economic growth; cross-cultural study of consumerism; and poverty and inequality.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW, W, WRIT

SOC 322 (GS 322, HMS 322) Global Health Issues 4 Credits

Sociological dimensions of health, illness, and healing as they appear in different parts of the world. Focus on patterns of disease and mortality around the world; the relative importance of 'traditional' and 'modern' beliefs and practices with regard to disease and treatment in different societies; the organization of national health care systems in different countries; and the role of international organizations and social movements in promoting health.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW, W

SOC 324 Sociology of Children and Childhood 4 Credits

This course examines children and childhood from a sociological perspective, with a focus on growing up as a social process. We will explore childhood as a time of socialization, and the role of children as active social agents, paying special attention to the ways in which children and childhood are entwined with other major social institutions. This course analyzes the intersections of children and childhood with fundamental social inequities related to gender, race, and class.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW, W

SOC 325 (HIST 325, WGSS 325) History of Sexuality and the Family in the U.S. 3,4 Credits

Changing conceptions of sexuality and the role of women, men, and children in the family and society from the colonial to the post-World War II era. Emphasis on the significance of socioeconomic class and cultural background. Topics include family structure, birth control, legal constraints, marriage, divorce, and prostitution.
Attribute/Distribution: SS

SOC 328 (GS 328) Global Food Systems 4 Credits

Where does our food come from? How does it get to our tables? Why are there famines in some parts of the world and obesity epidemics in other parts of the world? This course will investigate these questions by focusing on food systems – the chains of social action that link food producers to food consumers. We will also explore a range of alternatives to global food systems that emphasize food democracy, security, and sustainability.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

SOC 331 (GS 331, WGSS 331) Gendered Experience of Globalization 4 Credits

Women and men experience globalization differently and globalization affects women in different cultural and national contexts. Gender stratification has been intensified by the transnational flow of goods and people. provides students with a survey of new development in feminist theories on globalization and on gender stratification and development, and links these theoretical frameworks to empirical research about gender issues that have become more prominent with globalization.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW, W

SOC 332 (POLS 332) The Politics of Inequality 4 Credits

Examines the politics of gender, racial, and economic inequality in the U.S. Explores the effects of growing inequality on political representation, and the impact of government policy on perpetuating inequality. Class consciousness, and its effects on political beliefs and behavior, are examined.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

SOC 344 (WGSS 344) Bad Girls: Gender, Sexuality, Deviance 4 Credits

This course focuses on people who perform their gender and/or sexuality in ways that fall outside of the norm. Topics include, but are not limited to: commercial sex workers, dominatrixes, transpeople, stay-at-home dads, and drag queens. We will regularly discuss readings in the context of current events and popular culture.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW, W

SOC 355 Sociology Of Education 4 Credits

Examines the social organization of education as a social institution and the role of schools in society. Focus is primarily on educational processes in the United States. Topics include: IQ, curriculum, tracking, educational inequality, primary/secondary/higher education, private vs. public, informal education and social capital, effects on and of race/class/gender, schools as agents of socialization, educational policy and school reform.
Prerequisites: ANTH 011 or ANTH 012 or SOC 001
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW, W

SOC 364 (WGSS 364) Sociology of Families 4 Credits

Sociological analysis of families in the United States, including investigations of historical and contemporary patterns. Issues addressed include parenting, combining work and family, divorce and remarriage, family policies.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW, W

SOC 370 (EVST 370, GS 370) Globalization and the Environment 4 Credits

This course investigates how globalization has influenced society-nature relationships, as well as how environmental conditions influence the globalization processes, focusing on the rapidly evolving global economic and political systems that characterize global development dynamics and resource use. Particular attention is paid to the role of multi-national corporations, international trade, and finance patterns and agreements. Questions related to consumption, population, global climate change, toxic wastes, and food production/distribution are key themes.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW, W

SOC 374 Social Stratification: Race, Class, Gender 3 Credits

This course is an introduction to social stratification. Examines social inequality as an organizing principle in complex societies. Explores the intersection of the "great divides" of race, class, and gender. Through readings from classical sociological theory to cutting-edge literature we embark on a critical analysis of the causes and consequences of social stratification and social mobility in the United States and in a global context.
Prerequisites: ANTH 001 or SOC 001
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

SOC 375 (REL 375) The Christian Right In America 4 Credits

What do we know about the Christian Right? Who are they? What do they believe? Where do they come from? Seminar explores answers to such questions through a focus on the history of the Christian Right as well as its ideologies and beliefs, the people who are a part of it, and its evolving relationship to the American political system.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW, W

SOC 379 (AAS 379) Race and Class in America 4 Credits

This course focuses on the ways in which race and class intersect in the social, economic, and political structures of American society. Through sociological literature, fiction, nonfiction, film, and other media we will explore the place of race and class in American society. We will examine how race and class operate on a personal, "micro" level, while at the same time operating on a large scale, "macro" level.
Attribute/Distribution: CC, SS, SW

SOC 389 Honors Project 1-6 Credits

Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.

SOC 391 Special Topics 4 Credits

Special topics in sociology.
Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.
Attribute/Distribution: SS

SOC 393 Supervised Research 1-4 Credits

Conducting sociological or social psychological research under the supervision of a faculty member. Consent of department chair required.
Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.
Attribute/Distribution: SS

SOC 395 Internship 1-4 Credits

SOC 399 Senior Thesis 2-4 Credits

Research during senior year culminating in senior thesis. Required for sociology/social psychology majors seeking departmental honors. Consent of department chair required.
Repeat Status: Course may be repeated.
Attribute/Distribution: SS