Social Sciences

This course introduces students to anthropological perspectives and social science research methods as they investigate a range of careers. The course approaches work as a cultural system invested with meanings, norms, values, customs, behavioral expectations, and hierarchies. Through ethnographic techniques, students evaluate the myths and stereotypes about work, as well as gain insight into how and why work matters to individuals. Work life is examined in the context of contemporary dynamics of disruption, uncertainty, innovation, and diversity. Assignments encourage students to draw connections between the self and work so they are prepared to make informed decisions about majors and career paths.

Our daily lives are affected, consciously and unconsciously, by social forces and influences of which we are largely unaware. This introductory course to sociology, the scientific study of society, explores and uncovers these hidden factors behind the behaviors and attitudes of individuals, groups and societies.

This course examines chemical dependency and substance abuse issues including etiology, diagnosis and treatment, the effect of alcohol and drugs on the body, family dynamics of addiction, and special topics selected by students.

An introduction to the physical, cultural, and cartographic aspects of the earth'92s regions, this course is designed to assist students in their understanding of social, political, and economic development. Topics covered are location, movement, connection, and interaction of populations in Europe, Australia, Pacific areas, South Asia, North, Central and South America, Middle East, and Africa.

Coursework involves the students developing an understanding of how working together and leading people in organizations leads to the maintenance of healthy future organizations. It includes the challenges of leadership.

This course introduces the economic concepts that are studied in microeconomics. Students gain an understanding of how consumer and producer decision making forms the basis of supply and demand and how the price system operates within a market economy to allocate scarce resources among unlimited wants.

This course provides an introduction and framework to the economic concepts that are studied in macroeconomics. Emphasis is placed on the following topics: physical and financial markets, national income accounting, savings and investment, business cycles, economic growth, inflation, unemployment, money and the central bank, and the role that government plays in the economy.

Students are provided an introduction to families from a sociological and systems perspective. The interplay between families and the larger society is the background against which the phenomena of childhood, adolescence and parenting are examined. Topics include, but are not limited to, poverty, delinquency, disability, aging, self-determination, community supports and interventions.

We will study juvenile delinquency through a sociological lens, focusing on the following questions: What is juvenile delinquency? What theories help us understand the causes and consequences of delinquency? What is the relationship between juveniles and the justice system? What policies and practices best address delinquency? Throughout the course, we will focus on applying social science theories to current events and policy issues in this field.

Researchers in the Social Sciences ask and answer a broad range of questions about who we are, how we navigate society, and how society shapes the choices and options that are made available to us. Many of these questions are briefly discussed in introductory courses, but time constraints limit the attention that can be given to each topic. This course provides space to further explore some of these key questions and themes. The theme of this course changes each semester, but possible areas of focus include delinquency and deviance, education, and social inequality.

Researchers in the Social Sciences ask and answer a broad range of questions about who we are, how we navigate society, and how society shapes the choices and options that are made available to us. Many of these questions are briefly discussed in introductory courses, but time constraints limit the attention that can be given to each topic. This course provides space to further explore some of these key questions and themes. The theme of this course changes each semester, but possible areas of focus include delinquency and deviance, education, and social inequality. May be repeated for credit when course content changes; may be taken with other topics courses during the same semester.