Sociology
One Unit. This course is to orient the students to the field of sociology as a scientific study of human behavior and social systems.. Students will learn the major theories and research methods in sociology and will apply these theories and methods to analyze some of today's social phenomena, including, social interaction, inequality/social class, deviant behavior and social control, gender/race/ethnicity, marriage/family, social institutions, sexual behavior, population, and globalization. Offered fall and spring semesters.
One unit. This course provides an interdisciplinary overview of the field and systems of human services, including historical developments, populations served, and exploration of controversial issues. Students will learn the habits of mind, qualities and skills needed to successfully serve people and society, while examining their own strengths and abilities. Students will gain a perspective on the application of skills in public service, social work, law, the criminal justice system, health and business.
One unit. This course studies the development, structure and practice of our criminal justice system, including criminal law, law enforcement, courts and corrections. Offered fall and spring semesters.
One unit. This course provides an introduction to the sociological perspective of race, ethnicity, and identity. Histories and experiences of different racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. will be discussed. The course begins with the social construction of racial and ethnic categories; prejudice, discrimination, and systemic racism. In addition, racial inequalities in several institutional contexts (e.g. neighborhoods, labor market, criminal justice system) will be examined. Throughout the course close attention will be paid to the relationship between race, power, and social stratification. The course also touches upon social movements and the roles they have played in combating systemic oppression and the fight for racial justice. Offered fall semester
One Unit. Criminal Procedure analyzes the delicate balance between the government's need to enforce the criminal law against the rights of the individual to be left alone. The course consists of a study of the criminal justice process from arrest through sentencing. Emphasis will be placed upon the rights of the accused, rights to counsel, search and seizure, and the privilege against self-incrimination. Offered as required.
One Unit. This course explains the American civil law system by examining it within the context of broader social issues in society. While this course does introduce undergraduate students to the basic concepts, processes, and institutions of the American civil law system (such as contracts and torts), its main purpose is to examine critically how law affects society and how society affects law. Sociological theories of the relationship between law and society are discussed, and empirical studies of the relationship between "law on the books" and "the law in action" are examined. Offered as required.
One Unit. This course explores the family as an emotional, economic, historical and sociocultural institution. Families hold great paradox. On the one hand, they are deeply mundane and an ordinary part of human experience; and on the other hand, families contain incredible drama, vast pain and profound love. They both shape our individual lives and social world, and fundamentally shaped by our society and history. In this course, we will make use of a variety of texts in exploring the family - with a focus on the United States family. We will look at cultural notions of what families "should" be and social realities of what families actually have been/are in terms of partnership, cohabitation, marriage and sexuality, work, popular culture, , and law and social policy. Throughout the term, we will consider differences and similarities in the experiences of families across lines of socioeconomic status, race, gender, sexuality, immigration/citizenship status, etc. Offered spring semester.
One unit. This course presents different perspectives on crime, punishment, and the criminal justice system. How should society punish offenders and why? How do we explain the content of the criminal law? How do we explain why people commit crime? How should we measure crime? What should we do to control crime? How should our criminal justice system be organized? Offered fall semester.
One Unit. This course examines international migration as a social process, with a main focus on immigration to the United States. It provides sociological tools to understand why immigration happens, how it occurs, and what consequences and outcomes it produces. We will explore theories of migration and compare and contrast trends in old world and new world migration systems, as well as the American migration experiences, both from the perspective of the immigrants/refugees and the U.S. receiving population. Overall, the course will compare and contrast the differing immigration patterns and experiences of immigrants and refugees from Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, and Europe. Offered every other spring semester.
One Unit. The origins of criminal law are examined in Western society: local, state and federal penal laws; judicial decisions on criminal capacity, criminal capacity, criminal intent and due process. Offered spring semester.
One Unit. This course examines the disciplines key theoretical approaches to social stratification and inequality, their origins and its maintenance. Major topics covered include: measures of income inequality, analysis of current income inequality in the United States; racial and gender discrimination and its effect on education and income; and “normative questions on inequality.” In addition, this course identifies structures and consequences of social inequality in the United States through engagement with sociological research on social class, race, ethnicity, gender, immigration, etc. Offered as required.
One Unit. The primary objective of this course is to develop a critical and sociologically grounded approach to the study of gender.  Questions that will be considered in this class include: What is the difference between sex and gender? What does it mean to study gender from a sociological perspective? Are there different ways of understanding this concept? What does “doing gender” mean? What is feminism? How do social class, race, ethnicity, nationality, and age affect the meaning of gender and/or being gendered? What is intersectionality? Have concepts of femininity and masculinity changed over time? How are gender norms and gender ideals communicated through the media, religion, and the state? In addition we will consider the role of individual agency by looking at different social movements (e.g. women’s liberation, gay rights). Offered fall semester.
One Unit. This course focuses on the development of the U.S. law and legal system in social context from the Colonial Era through the Twenty First Century. The class begins with an overview of the U.S. legal system: its origins, its setup, and its overall functions. Through leading Supreme Court cases and other materials, it examines the Court’s attempt to strike a balance between protecting individual’s liberties and freedoms against the need for authority and government oversight. From the earliest cases of the Court’s term (i.e. Marbury v. Madison) to those handed down in recent years (i.e. Affordable Health Care Act, DOMA), we trace the Court’s decisions alongside the political and social movements taking place at that time in the U.S., determining whether the Court was a passive or aggressive force in shaping U.S. history. Offered as required.
One unit. This course stimulates students to think theoretically, critically, and sociologically about their world; teaches them how to read a theoretical text; and provides them a basic competence in sociological ideas and concepts. Foundational works by Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, and others are read to see how they investigate, question, theorize, and reform their “modernizing” world. Prerequisite: Sociology 101 or 103. Offered spring semester.
One Unit. In this course students simulate professional behavior and develop a sense of professional identity through an 8 hour per week experiential practicum at an off-campus placement. Students conduct a sociological analysis of the goals, organization, processes, and other experiences of their agency through written logs leading to a final paper and through participation in a weekly seminar with their classmates and a professor at the college. Offered spring semester.
Social Work
One Unit. This course provides students with an introduction to the field of social work and to the various methodologies social workers use in their efforts to help their clients negotiate the social welfare system. The complexities of the social welfare system are presented and contemporary issues in welfare structure and service delivery are discussed. Career opportunities in the social welfare field will be considered. Offered fall and spring semesters.
One Unit. The history, theory and techniques of social work practice with individuals and families. Discussion and demonstration of the social casework and problem-solving methods, and the contemporary psychotherapeutic approaches used in current social work practice in a variety of settings; e.g.,community mental health, schools, probation, hospitals, nursing homes. Offered as required.
One unit. Examines problems and concepts of the policy process in the U.S., exploring the political, economic, and institutional frameworks which structure public welfare choices. This course covers problem and need analysis, policy analysis, program development, and program evaluation. Offered fall semester.
One Unit. This course provides an introductory supervised training experience in an off-campus organization or non-profit agency. A sociological and anthropological analysis of the goals, organization and processes of agency environment is emphasized. In placement, students simulate professional behavior and develop a sense of professional identity. Students work as least 13 weeks at their agency, analyze their experience through written assignments, and participate in a weekly seminar at the college. Offered as required.
One Unit. A seminar course, the content of which is determined by the instructor. Special studies in social welfare methods of theory. Offered as required.
Additional Pre-Law and Criminal Justice Courses
One unit. This reading intensive course examines the relationship between the ideals of liberty, equality, and diversity in the United States. What does it mean to have rights? Who has rights? Individuals? Groups? Both? What is the relationship of citizenship to rights? What is justice? What role do Courts play in protecting the rights of minorities? These and other related questions will be examined throughout the semester. Offered fall semester of odd-numbered years.
One unit. An analysis of constitutional thought and practice concerning: the powers of the president, Congress, and the courts; their interrelationships; federalism; First Amendment rights; the rights of defendants in criminal cases; and the rights of racial and sexual minorities. Offered fall semester of even-numbered years.
One unit. This class is designed to teach and practice the basic elements of trial advocacy, including opening statements, direct and cross-examination of witnesses, objections, and closing arguments. Everyone will be expected to participate extensively in class, and significant preparation outside of class will also be required. Because of the participatory nature of the class, regular attendance is essential. The class will culminate in a trial open to the entire College at the end of the semester. By the end of the semester, students will have increased competency in preparing delivery, and evaluating public speeches.