Department of Sociology
The Department of Sociology supports a diverse community of faculty, staff and students working together to research and address real world social issues and problems. Faculty offer courses in race and ethnicity, social class, gender, popular culture, social psychology, organizations, community, environment, criminology, religion, global sociology, medical sociology, demography, and gerontology, among others. Some courses include hands-on service-learning opportunities in which students connect service and/or research in the community with course material. To further complement our courses in these and other areas of sociology, students have opportunities to work one-on-one with professors engaged in sociological research. For sociology majors seeking to enter applied fields, we have a highly praised internship program that offers practical experience in community nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and businesses.
Sociological training prepares students for graduate school and/or employment in a variety of occupations. Employers increasingly look for job candidates to have the critical thinking, writing, and research skills students will develop in our program. Sociology coursework provides students with the ability to live and work effectively in a diverse and global society by better understanding social diversity, cultural trends, inequalities, organizational behavior, and community and world events. Sociology provides an excellent background for students wishing to enter into the helping professions like social services, ministry, nursing, teaching, and law enforcement, and it provides an outstanding foundation for law, marketing, human resources, journalism, government, business management, and entrepreneurialism.
- Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
- Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Master of Public Service and Administration, 5-Year Degree Program
- Bachelor of Arts in Women's and Gender Studies
- Bachelor of Science in Sociology
- Bachelor of Science in Sociology and Master of Public Service and Administration, 5-Year Degree Program
- Bachelor of Science in Women's and Gender Studies
Latino/Mex Amer Studies (LMAS)
LMAS 201 Introduction to Latino/Mexican American Studies
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Introductory survey of the historical presence of U.S. Latinos and Mexican Americans from an interdisciplinary perspective that incorporates the group’s global origins; application of critical thinking skills to the study of Latinos and Mexican Americans.
LMAS 285 Directed Studies
Credits 0 to 4.
0 to 4 Other Hours.
Special problems not covered by other courses; course depends upon needs and interest of the student and upon the number of credit hours. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: Freshman or sophomore classification; approval of instructor.
LMAS 289 Special Topics in...
Credits 1 to 4.
1 to 4 Other Hours.
Selected topics in an identified area of Latino/a, Mexican-American studies. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.
LMAS 291 Research
Credits 0 to 4.
0 to 4 Other Hours.
Research conducted under the direction of faculty member in Interdisciplinary Critical Studies faculty or affiliated faculty. May be repeated for credit. Must be taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Prerequisite: Freshman or sophomore classification.
LMAS 422 Race, Ethnicity, Crime and Justice
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Racial/ethnic disparities in criminal offending and victimization, as well as different experiences with law enforcement, judicial, and correctional agencies. Prerequisites: SOCI 220 or equivalent. Cross Listing: AFST 422 and SOCI 422.
LMAS 423 Communicating Latinidad
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Examination of communication by and about Latinos; analysis of critical and historical orientation; topics include social movements, organizational and institutional discourse, and media. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.
LMAS 468/HIST 468 Latinx Civil Rights Movements
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Latinx civil rights movements in the twentieth century; Mexican American, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central American; racism, economic inequality, labor exploitation, segregation, anti-immigrant sentiment, gender discrimination; role of liberalism, multiethnic coalitions, third world liberation movements, revolutionary nationalism, religion; movement philosophies and strategies; contemporary immigrant rights movements. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor. Cross Listing: HIST 468/LMAS 468.
LMAS 484 Internship
Credits 0 to 4.
0 to 4 Other Hours.
Directed internship in a public or private organization to provide students with applied experience; opportunity to observe first hand issues and problems covered in Latino/a and Mexican-American Studies courses; designed to enhance and clarify the student's career objectives. May be taken for credit up to six hours. Prerequisites: Approval of instructor.
LMAS 485 Directed Studies
Credits 0 to 4.
0 to 4 Other Hours.
Directed individual study of identified topics in Latino/a, Mexican-American studies. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification; approval of Instructor.
LMAS 489 Special Topics in...
Credits 1 to 4.
1 to 4 Other Hours.
Selected topics in an identified area of Latino/a, Mexican-American studies. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification; approval of Instructor.
LMAS 491 Research
Credits 0 to 4.
0 to 4 Other Hours.
Research conducted under the direction of faculty member in interdisciplinary critical studies or affiliated faculty. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification; approval of Instructor.
Sociology (SOCI)
SOCI 203 U.S.-Mexico Border
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Understanding of the U.S.-Mexico border from different theoretical perspectives, including structural violence, identity, power and demography.
SOCI 205 Introduction to Sociology
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
(SOCI 1301) Introduction to Sociology. Sociological perspectives including concepts and methods; social class and social status, the family, minorities, crime, religion, power, urbanization and population; also taught at Galveston campus.
SOCI 206 Global Social Trends
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Long-term trends in world societies from ancient times to the present and to the foreseeable future; emphasis on contemporary international issues and problems, techniques of analysis and future projections.
SOCI 207/WGST 207 Introduction to Gender and Society
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Similarities and differences between females and males in a number of cultures throughout the world; sociological analysis of gender in relation to social structure. Cross Listing: WGST 207/SOCI 207.
SOCI 210 Sociology of Technology and Science
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Examination of technology and science from a variety of theoretical perspectives; process by which engineered products are influenced by social factors as well as how they in turn, impact society; exploration and critique of classic and contemporary theories of technological development.
SOCI 211 Sociology of Deviance
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Perspectives on non-normative behavior; theories of deviance.
SOCI 212 Sociology of Popular Culture
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Examination of the classic and contemporary social scientific definitions and theories of culture, and popular versus “high” or elite culture(s), various forms and arenas of popular culture, such as television, film, and music, institutions and popular culture, identity (race, class, gender and sexuality) and popular culture.
SOCI 213/WGST 213 Gender and Health
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
An examination of social and historical context of health in the U.S., including inequities in health by gender, race, class and gendered issues in health professions. Cross Listing: WGST 213/SOCI 213.
SOCI 214 Social Problems
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Survey and exploration of causes and consequences of major social problems in American society such as poverty, unemployment, energy, alcohol, other drugs and sexual abuse.
SOCI 217 Introduction to Race and Ethnicity
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Introduction to the sociological examination of race and ethnicity in U.S. society; overview of theories and methods in the study of race and ethnicity, an understanding of how they function as individual and group-level identities, and organizing principles in social institutions.
SOCI 220 Methods of Social Research
Credits 3.
2 Lecture Hours.
2 Lab Hours.
Relationships between sociological theory, research, qualitative evaluation of data; construction and use of analytical procedures and research techniques, and participant observation.
SOCI 229 Qualitative Methods
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Methodologies in social research with emphasis on qualitative dimensions of inquiry; topics include in-depth interviewing, observation, unobtrusive measures, analysis of documents, fieldwork issues, ethics, note-taking, preliminary data analysis, and an overview of writing research reports based on qualitative research.
SOCI 230 Classical Sociological Theory
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Role of theory in sociological study; the development of classical theoretical perspectives providing the foundation for contemporary theory.
SOCI 240 Tourism, Culture and Place
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Analysis of tourist encounters; marketing and displaying culture to tourists; implications of tourism for urban economies and landscapes; interactions between tourists and locals; Galveston campus.
SOCI 285 Directed Studies
Credits 0 to 3.
0 to 3 Other Hours.
Special problems not covered by other courses. Course depends upon needs and interest of the student and upon the number of credit hours. Prerequisite: Sophomore classification in sociology.
SOCI 289 Special Topics in...
Credits 1 to 4.
1 to 4 Lecture Hours.
0 to 4 Lab Hours.
Selected topics in an identified area of sociology. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor; also taught at Galveston campus.
SOCI 291 Research
Credits 0 to 3.
0 to 3 Other Hours.
Research conducted under the direction of a chosen faculty member in sociology. May be taken for a maximum of three hours total credit. Prerequisites: Freshman or sophomore classification and approval of instructor.
SOCI 304 Criminology
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Criminal law and crime rates; explanations of criminal behavior; criminal careers, police, adult courts and prisons. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification.
SOCI 311 Social Change
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Survey of major changes in American and Western society, the forces underlying change and tensions caused by social change. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.
SOCI 312 Population and Society
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
The causes and implications of major population trends; also taught at Galveston campus.
SOCI 315/WGST 315 The Marriage Institution
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Courtship, engagement, marriage, family formation, personal adjustment, conflict, financing and child rearing. Cross Listing: WGST 315/SOCI 315.
SOCI 316/WGST 316 Sociology of Gender
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Sociological explanations of status differences between men and women; cross-cultural comparisons; gender role socialization, cultural stereotypes, discrimination; gender roles and status in the family, economy, religion, science, other social institutions; deviance, victimization and gender; recent social changes. Cross Listing: WGST 316/SOCI 316.
SOCI 317/AFST 317 Racial and Ethnic Relations
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Status of racial and ethnic groups such as Native Americans, African Americans, Latino Americans, Asian Americans, European Americans, and other groups in the political, economic, legal and social systems of the United States. Cross Listing: AFST 317/SOCI 317.
SOCI 319/SPMT 319 Sociology of Sport
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Social institution of sport and its consequences for American society; social organization from play to professional sport; violence, discrimination, women in sport; socialization implications from participation in sports. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification. Cross Listing: SPMT 319/SOCI 319.
SOCI 320 Demographic Methods
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Procedures and techniques of demographic analysis; examination of demographic data; calculation of rates; construction of life tables; population estimates and projections. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor; also taught at Galveston campus.
SOCI 323/AFST 323 Sociology of African Americans
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Major elements of the Afro-American subculture in relation to white American society and its major social institutions. Prerequisite: SOCI 205. Cross Listing: AFST 323/SOCI 323.
SOCI 326/RELS 326 Sociology of Religion
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Institution of religion and religious-related behavior; relationship between dynamic and structural religion and contemporary society. Prerequisite: SOCI 205. Cross Listing: RELS 326/SOCI 326.
SOCI 328 Environmental Sociology
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
A comprehensive overview of environmental sociology, including major sociological theories, concepts and policy issues affecting our understanding of environmental changes; emphasizes social factors that impact environmental quality. Prerequisite: SOCI 205 or approval of instructor; also taught at Galveston campus.
SOCI 330 Sociology of Nutrition
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Social factors affecting the kind and amount of food consumed around the world; social consequences of nutritional status for family functioning and for international development.
SOCI 335 Sociology of Organizations
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
How people act in organizations; structures in organizations; the relationship between organizations and their environments.
SOCI 337 International Migration
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Survey of theories and trends in international migration. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification, or approval of instructor.
SOCI 338 Latino Immigration
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Theoretical and empirical examinations of the causes, processes, and impacts of Latin American immigration to the U.S.; Latino/a immigrant experience in the U.S.; effects of immigration on sending and receiving communities. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of the instructor.
SOCI 376/MGMT 376 Entrepreneurial Perspectives
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Entrepreneurship as a career choice and its impact on society and economy; definitions of entrepreneurship; discovery of entrepreneurial opportunities and start-up funding; innovation and entrepreneurship theories for analyzing and predicting success of start-up and established entrepreneurial organizations. Prerequisite: Admission to upper division in Mays Business School. Cross Listing: MGMT 376/SOCI 376.
SOCI 377 Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders Seminar
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Origins of entrepreneurial cognition and motivation; entrepreneurial thought leaders share lessons from real world experiences in non-profit, profit-making enterprise, government, public policy, and social mission domains; reflection on thought leaders experience in innovation and entrepreneurship; build exposure to entrepreneurial thinking, role modeling, mentoring, social capital.
SOCI 403 Sociology of Latinos
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Exploration of social characteristics and acculturation problems of Mexican Americans in the United States; styles of life and cultural variability, social mobility, the struggle for advancement and identity through social movements.
SOCI 404/RPTS 404 Sociology of the Community
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Organization of American communities examining the bases of community, types of communities and the changes faced by communities. Prerequisite: SOCI 205; SOCI-404 also taught at Galveston campus. Cross Listing: RPTS 404/SOCI 404.
SOCI 408 Death and Dying
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Exploration of interdisciplinary social issues surrounding death and dying: the interactions among professionals, families, and dying individuals; the development and functioning of death norms and institutions (e.g., hospitals, funeral homes, hospice, capital punishment); the critical analysis of social/cultural inequalities affecting when and how we die. Prerequisite: Junior of senior classification or approval of instructor.
SOCI 410/WGST 410 Reproduction, Birth and Power
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Examination of topics related to reproductive practices, experiences and ideologies and of the constructed and contested meanings surrounding womanhood, motherhood, sexuality, reproductive freedom and eugenics. Prerequisites: SOCI 205; junior or senior classification. Cross Listing: WGST 410/SOCI 410.
SOCI 411 Social Psychology
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Effects of social experience and groups on the development of personality, attitudes, values and behavior. Prerequisite: 3 hours of sociology or psychology.
SOCI 412 Political Sociology
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Survey of social bases of power; state formation in advanced industrial societies; origins of welfare state; interrelation of nationalism; culture and class formation. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.
SOCI 413 Social Movements
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Survey of social movements; emphasis on social movement participation, emergence and outcomes; analysis of revolutions and movements in the developing world; theory and methods of social movement research. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor.
SOCI 415 Sociology of Education
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Relationship of social structure and change to education; social background and student performance; teachers and their careers; bureaucracy and change in education. Prerequisite: SOCI 205.
SOCI 419 Social Class in Contemporary Society
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Composition and consequences of social class structure; social class explanations for lifestyle patterns, educational and occupational achievements. Prerequisite: SOCI 205.
SOCI 420 Advanced Methods of Social Research
Credits 3.
2 Lecture Hours.
2 Lab Hours.
Philosophy and methods of social research, including research design; methods of observation; questionnaires, interviews and other sources of social data; qualitative and quantitative techniques of inference, analysis and research report writing. Prerequisite: SOCI 220.
SOCI 421/WGST 421 Gender & Crime
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Gender & Crime. Gender disparities in contemporary patterns of crime, victimization and incarceration; key concepts, major theories and empirical research studies around gender and crime. Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in SOCI 207/WGST 207, SOCI 211, SOCI 304, SOCI 316/WGST 316, WGST 200, WGST 207/SOCI 207, or WGST 316/SOCI 316. Cross Listing: WGST 421/SOCI 421.
SOCI 422 Race, Ethnicity, Crime and Justice
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Racial/ethnic disparities in criminal offending and victimization, as well as different experiences with law enforcement, judicial, and correctional agencies. Prerequisites: SOCI 220 or equivalent. Cross Listing: AFST 422 and LMAS 422.
SOCI 425 Medical Sociology
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Organization, value systems and practice of medicine and the provision of health care in the U.S.; role of physicians, health occupations and patients; marginal and folk medicine. Prerequisite: SOCI 205.
SOCI 430 Contemporary Sociological Theory
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Basic ideas of contemporary sociological theory: structuralism, functionalism, conflict, symbolic interaction, exchange and their application to current research. Prerequisite: SOCI 230.
SOCI 432/MGMT 479 Technology Commercialization
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Examination of the process of introducing to the marketplace new products or services based upon scientific and technological innovations; practical skills for assessing the technology, identifying potential products and services, and quantifying market demand; focuses on value creation, financing, intellectual property law, regulatory, and socio-economic drivers. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or admission to upper division in Mays Business School; SOCI 376/MGMT 376 or MGMT 376/SOCI 376 and SOCI 476/MGMT 476 or MGMT 476/SOCI 476 recommended. Cross Listing: MGMT 479/SOCI 432.
SOCI 445 Sociology of Law
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Introduction to the sociology of law; the relation of law to general social control and to organizational dynamics.
SOCI 446 Sociology of War Crimes
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Sociological and cultural perspectives on war crimes; topics of responsibility, command responsibility, court-martial, and interrogation techniques; theories and concepts from forensic sociology applied to case studies. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification.
SOCI 450/MGMT 478 Social Entrepreneurship
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Applying business principles and practices to solve social, economic and environmental problems; social entrepreneurship concepts and issues in scaling social enterprise ventures including management tools, organization structures, funding sources, impact measurement; experience in opportunity recognition, designing, planning, pitching social mission ventures; build social capital with social enterprise founders. Cross Listing: MGMT 478/SOCI 450.
SOCI 463 Gender in Asia
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Gender dynamics in Asia; changes in gender roles; women's movements; women and the economy; women and politics; men's and women's private lives. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor. Cross Listing: ASIA 463 and WGST 463.
SOCI 476/MGMT 476 Entrepreneurship Practice
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Practical skills for creating new businesses; evaluating, planning and operational strategy, including assessing the technology; product and service markets, value creation model; financing strategies; legal, regulatory, socio-economic drivers, risks; leadership to develop management team, advisory board; go-to-market strategy; develop own entrepreneurial opportunities or those of faculty and entrepreneurs. Cross Listing: MGMT 476/SOCI 476.
SOCI 478 Professional Development in Sociology I
Credit 1.
1 Lecture Hour.
Career fields available to sociology majors, including the nature of the work, professional expectations, and the credentials for entry in the fields. Prerequisite: Sociology major; junior or senior classification.
SOCI 479 Professional Development in Sociology II
Credits 2.
2 Lecture Hours.
Preparation for careers in sociology-related professionals by in-depth research of prospective career fields, development of oral, written, and media skills, formation of professional networks, and training in professional ethics, cultural diversity, and leadership. Prerequisite: Sociology major; junior or senior classification.
SOCI 484 Field Practicum
Credits 0 to 4.
0 to 4 Other Hours.
Field Experiences. Participation in an approved agency. Field experience will be supervised by selected agency personnel and appropriate faculty. Experiences and requirements will vary slightly according to placement and student interests. Prerequisites: Major in sociology; 12 hours of sociology; approval of undergraduate advisor; also taught at Galveston campus.
SOCI 485 Directed Studies
Credits 0 to 3.
0 to 3 Other Hours.
Special problems not covered by other courses. Course depends upon needs and interest of the student and upon the number of credit hours. Prerequisite: Senior classification in sociology.
SOCI 489 Special Topics in...
Credits 1 to 4.
1 to 4 Lecture Hours.
Selected topics in an identified area of sociology. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Approval of instructor.
SOCI 491 Research
Credits 0 to 3.
0 to 3 Other Hours.
Research conducted under the direction of a chosen faculty member in sociology. May be taken four times for credit. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification and approval of instructor.
Women's and Gender Studies (WGST)
WGST 200 Introduction to Women's and Gender Studies
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Historical and cross-cultural perspectives on women's roles in culture, the workplace, the family and other socio-political institutions; the social construction of gender; sexuality and racism; social control mechanisms and ideologies.
WGST 205 Introduction to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Studies
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Interdisciplinary survey of the histories of and theories regarding Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ+) identities and communities; the social construction of sexuality and gender; institutional ways in which homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia are systematically deployed; advocacy by and on behalf of LGBTQ+ individuals; evolution of desire and subjectivity.
WGST 207/SOCI 207 Introduction to Gender and Society
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Similarities and differences between females and males in a number of cultures throughout the world; sociological analysis of gender in relation to social structure. Cross Listing: SOCI 207/WGST 207.
WGST 210/PBSI 210 Psychological Aspects of Human Sexuality
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Interface between human sexuality, reproductive development and gender roles across the lifespan; theoretical and research literature promotes understanding of hormonal influences, learning processes, cultural differences, sexual response and love and attraction. Prerequisite: PBSI 107. Cross Listing: PBSI 210/WGST 210.
WGST 213/SOCI 213 Gender and Health
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
An examination of social and historical context of health in the U.S., including inequities in health by gender, race, class and gendered issues in health professions. Cross Listing: SOCI 213/WGST 213.
WGST 285 Directed Studies
Credits 0 to 3.
0 to 3 Other Hours.
Readings and/or research for specific needs of students majoring or minoring in women's and gender studies. Prerequisites: WGST 200 and approval of instructor.
WGST 289 Special Topics in...
Credits 1 to 4.
1 to 4 Lecture Hours.
0 to 4 Lab Hours.
Selected topics in an identified area of women's/gender studies. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Approval of director.
WGST 291 Research
Credits 0 to 3.
0 to 3 Other Hours.
Research conducted under the direction of faculty member in women's and gender studies. May be taken four times for credit. Prerequisites: WGST 200; freshman or sophomore classification; and approval of instructor.
WGST 300/PBSI 300 Psychology of Women
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Theoretical and research literature relevant to psychological assumptions about the female personality; challenges to and verification of these assumptions by recent experimental studies. Prerequisite: PBSI 107. Cross Listing: PBSI 300/WGST 300.
WGST 303 Psychology of Women of Color
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Interdisciplinary theories to study the unique yet intersectional experiences of women from different racial groups, ethnicities, nationalities and cultural backgrounds; scholarly research from the diversity science field; contemporary topics that have developed in a global context; examination of complex issues, which affect women of color across the lifespan. Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in AFST 201, PBSI 107, or WGST 200, or approval of instructor. Cross Listing: AFST 303 and PBSI 303.
WGST 315/SOCI 315 The Marriage Institution
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Courtship, engagement, marriage, family formation, personal adjustment, conflict, financing and child rearing. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification. Cross Listing: SOCI 315/WGST 315.
WGST 316/SOCI 316 Sociology of Gender
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Sociological explanations of status differences between men and women; cross-cultural comparisons; gender role socialization, cultural stereotypes, discrimination; gender roles and status in the family, economy, religion, science, other social institutions; deviance, victimization and gender; recent social changes. Cross Listing: SOCI 316/WGST 316.
WGST 318/ECON 318 The Economics of Gender and Race
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Theories and evidence on gender and race differences in labor market outcomes; labor supply and the role of family formation; the effect of human capital and discrimination on earnings; analysis of government policies; international comparisons. Prerequisites: ECON 323 with a grade of C or better; junior or senior classification. Cross Listing: ECON 318/WGST 318.
WGST 320 Feminist Inquiry and Research Methods
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Interdisciplinary exploration of feminist research methods and inquiry in the humanities, social sciences and sciences; ethical approaches to research; questions of epistemology; feminist research design. Prerequisites: WGST 200.
WGST 330 Women in Ancient Greece and Rome
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Survey of women in classical Greece and Rome; emphases on female occupations and family relationships, legal and political status, traditional values, notorious women, how women were viewed and how they viewed themselves. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification. Cross Listing: CLAS 330 and HIST 330.
WGST 333/ENGL 333 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Literatures
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Representations of sexuality and gender from classical times to the present, studied in their historical and cultural contexts. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification. Cross Listing: ENGL 333/WGST 333.
WGST 334 Women's Health
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
A broad range of health issues that are either unique to women or of special importance to women; information for the health consumer; preparation as an advocate of healthy lifestyles; awareness of the role health plays in the life of all women. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification. Cross Listing: HLTH 334 and PHLT 360.
WGST 342 The Rhetoric of Gender and Health
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Study of field of rhetoric of health and medicine with specific attention to the study of gender, including issues in reproduction, expertise and illness; range of methods and methodological approaches within the field. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification. Cross Listing: ENGL 342 and COMM 342.
WGST 343/FILM 343 Sex, Gender and Cinema
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Exploration of a significant topic at the intersection of women's/gender studies and film, such as cinema and sexuality studies, cinema and women, and cinema and masculinity; may include discussion of production, film content, and/or reception. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor. Cross Listing: FILM 343/WGST 343.
WGST 367/POLS 367 Women in Government in Comparative Perspective
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Examination of women's representation in government based on comparison across multiple nation-states; focus on legislative and executive branches of democratic governments. Prerequisites: POLS 206; junior or senior classification or approval of department head. Cross Listing: POLS 367/WGST 367.
WGST 369/ENGL 369 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Authorship
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Exploration of LGBTQ+ authorship through film and literary criticism and theories of performing the self in the act of authoring. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification. Cross Listing: ENGL 369/WGST 369.
WGST 374/ENGL 374 Women Writers
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
History of literature by women in English; emphasis on continuity of ideas and on literary contributions; study of a variety of genres with particular attention to the significance of gender in the racial, social, sexual and cultural contexts of women writing in English. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification; ENGL-374 also taught at Galveston campus. Cross Listing: ENGL 374/WGST 374.
WGST 377 Africana Women's History
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Black women’s history from the precolonial era to the present; emphasis on the cultural, political, legal, economic, sexual, social, and religious factors that shaped their experiences across the African Diaspora and the world. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification. Cross Listing: AFST 377 and HIST 377.
WGST 394 Gender and Genre
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Exploration and analysis of the ways in which a single literary and/or film genre resonates with gendered perspectives and sexual subjectivity. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification; WGST 200 or FILM 251/ENGL 251 or ENGL 251/FILM 251.
WGST 401 Feminist Theory
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Inquiry-based examination of feminist theory from various periods and disciplinary perspectives, with application to societal debates and controversies. Prerequisites: WGST 200 or approval of instructor; junior or senior classification.
WGST 403 Language and Gender
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Language and gender from a sociolinguistic perspective; gender in the words and structures of language; gender representation and gendered language use in the media, and a variety of sociocultural contexts; language use in intimate relationships; computer-mediated discourse; language, sexuality, and sexual orientation. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification. Cross Listing: ENGL 403 and LING 403.
WGST 404/ANTH 404 Women and Culture
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Examines women's lives in evolutionary and cross-cultural perspective; women's roles in subsistence, politics, religion and economics in traditional cultures; women's roles in international development; the cultural and social construction of women's biology cross-culturally including circumcision, menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification; approval of instructor. Cross Listing: ANTH 404/WGST 404.
WGST 407/COMM 407 Gender, Race and Media
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
The contributions of women and ethnic groups to the evolution of the media; the portrayal of women and ethnic groups in the mass media; issues resulting from the recognition of women and ethnic groups as media audiences. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification and approval of instructor. Cross Listing: COMM 407/WGST 407.
WGST 410/SOCI 410 Reproduction, Birth and Power
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Examination of topics related to reproductive practices, experiences and ideologies and of the constructed and contested meanings surrounding womanhood, motherhood, sexuality, reproductive freedom and eugenics. Prerequisites: SOCI 205; junior or senior classification. Cross Listing: SOCI 410/WGST 410.
WGST 411/COMM 411 Representations of Motherhood
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Examination of understandings of motherhood from a humanities perspective and over a variety of cultures and time periods, as reflected in written, media and/or oral texts. Prerequisites: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor. Cross Listing: COMM 411/WGST 411.
WGST 413 Race, Gender, and the Environment
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Investigation of social inequalities related to environmental issues; focus on environmental justice and ecofeminism; exploration of the connections among racism, patriarchy, and the environment. Prerequisites: GLST 201 and GLST 205; junior or senior classification. Cross Listing: GLST 413 and HISP 413.
WGST 420/COMM 420 Gender and Communication
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Survey of the role of gender in communication processes; focus on communication differences between men and women in contexts such as the family, school and work organizations; discussion of media influence in gender stereotypes. Cross Listing: COMM 420/WGST 420.
WGST 421/SOCI 421 Gender & Crime
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Gender & Crime. Gender disparities in contemporary patterns of crime, victimization and incarceration; key concepts, major theories and empirical research studies around gender and crime. Prerequisite: Grade of C or better in SOCI 207/WGST 207, SOCI 211, SOCI 304, SOCI 316/WGST 316, WGST 200, WGST 207/SOCI 207, or WGST 316/SOCI 316. Cross Listing: SOCI 421/WGST 421.
WGST 428/COMM 428 Women’s Rhetoric
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Examination of the historical imbrication of masculinity and rhetoric in relation to women’s participation in political life, reception of women’s rhetoric in the public sphere, and remembrance and representation of women as rhetorical agents throughout history; consideration of women’s rhetoric in various cultural arenas. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification. Cross Listing: COMM 428/WGST 428.
WGST 430/MGMT 430 Employment Discrimination Law
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Legal issues surrounding employment discrimination, including disparate treatment and impact; intent; affirmative action; sexual harassment; pregnancy, sex, race, religious, salary, disability, age, and ethnic discrimination; policy issues and perspectives to aid human resource specialists and managers. Prerequisite: Senior classification. Cross Listing: MGMT 430/WGST 430.
WGST 445 Queer Theory
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Examines origins of theories of gender and sexual diversity and their intersections with feminist theories; considers foundational and contemporary texts that address queer theory. Prerequisites: 6 hours in Women's and Gender Studies; senior classification or approval of instructor.
WGST 461/HIST 461 History of American Women
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Cultural, political, legal and religious factors that helped shape the role and character of women in American society from colonial times to the present; historical role of women in the development of the nation. Cross Listing: HIST 461/WGST 461.
WGST 462/POLS 462 Women and the Law
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
The legal status of American women from the adoption of the Constitution to the present: constitutional developments; the 19th Amendment and the proposed Equal Rights Amendment; employment; family law; reproductive rights; education; sexual equality in context of other claims to equality; law and social norms. Prerequisite: POLS 206 or approval of department head. Cross Listing: POLS 462/WGST 462.
WGST 463 Gender in Asia
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Gender dynamics in Asia; changes in gender roles; women's movements; women and the economy; women and politics; men's and women's private lives. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor. Cross Listing: ASIA 463 and SOCI 463.
WGST 470 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Cinemas
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Examination of cinema by and about LGBTQ individuals or communities; discussion of production, film content and reception. Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in WGST 200, FILM 215/GLST 215, FILM 251/ENGL 251, ENGL 251/FILM 251, or FILM 299, and junior or senior classification; or approval of instructor.
WGST 473/HIST 473 Women's History in the Modern U.S.
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
History of women in the U.S. from the late nineteenth century to the present; role of intersectionality in defining the experience of modern womanhood; women as activists, workers, consumers, mothers, and feminists; experiences, lives and influence of women of color; examination of contemporary social, political and economic histories. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification or approval of instructor; HIST-473 also taught at Galveston campus. Cross Listing: HIST 473/WGST 473.
WGST 474/ENGL 474 Studies in Women Writers
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
A different topic each term examining women’s writing through historical period, genre, cross-cultural study and/or feminist literary theory. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: 3 credits of literature at the 300-level; junior or senior classification. Cross Listing: ENGL 474/WGST 474.
WGST 476/HIST 476 Sex and Sexuality in History
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Changing ideas about sex and sexuality over time; includes their interaction with ideas about gender, race, class, religion, science, technology, medicine, politics and popular culture; historical and cultural processes creating modern concerns about sex and sexuality. Prerequisite: Junior or senior classification. Cross Listing: HIST 476/WGST 476.
WGST 477/HIST 477 Women and Gender in Modern European History
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Women in Europe from the 18th century to the present: women's contributions to their societies; realities of their daily lives and their responses; perceptions of women; role of institutions in defining women's roles; significance for women of industrialization, revolution, warfare, scientific discoveries; interaction of class, race and gender. Cross Listing: HIST 477/WGST 477.
WGST 481 Senior Seminar
Credits 3.
3 Lecture Hours.
Inquiry-based investigation of an issue, problem, or question, using gender or feminism as the organizing principle for analysis; methods and materials of scholarship in the field; includes opportunities for student research. Prerequisite: WGST 200 and junior or senior classification; or approval of instructor.
WGST 484 Internship in Women's and Gender Studies
Credits 0 to 4.
0 to 4 Other Hours.
Directed internship in a public or private organization to provide students with on-the-job training and applied research experience; opportunity to observe first hand issues and problems covered in women's and gender studies courses; designed to enhance and clarify the student's career objectives. Prerequisites: WGST 200, junior or senior classification, and approval of instructor.
WGST 485 Directed Studies
Credits 0 to 4.
0 to 4 Other Hours.
Readings and/or research for specific needs of students majoring or minoring in women's and gender studies. Prerequisites: WGST 200 and approval of instructor.
WGST 489 Special Topics in...
Credits 1 to 4.
1 to 4 Lecture Hours.
0 to 4 Lab Hours.
Selected topics in an identified area of women's and gender studies. May be repeated for credit.
WGST 491 Research
Credits 0 to 3.
0 to 3 Other Hours.
Research conducted under the direction of faculty member in women's and gender studies. May be taken four times for credit. Prerequisites: WGST 200; junior or senior classification; and approval of instructor.
Abel, Richard, Lecturer
Sociology
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Campbell, Mary E, Professor
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PHD, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 2004
De Lima Amaral, Ernesto F, Associate Professor
Sociology
PHD, The University of Texas at Austin, 2007
Dietrich, Katheryn A, Instructional Professor
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PHD, Texas A&M University, 1994
Duran, Robert, Associate Professor
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PHD, University of Colorado Boulder, 2006
Feagin, Joe R, University Distinguished Professor
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Fossett, Mark A, Professor
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Foster, Holly A, Professor
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Gatson, Sarah N, Associate Professor
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Goldsmith, Patrick A, Professor
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Hakim, Omar, Professor of the Practice
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Harden, Troy, Professor Of The Practice
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Hernandez, Alexander A, Instructional Associate Professor
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Lakkimsetti, Chaitanya, Associate Professor
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PHD, University of Wisconsin, 2010
Mackin, Robert S, Instructional Professor
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PHD, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1998
Mestrovic, Stjepan G, Professor
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Moore, Wendy A, Associate Professor
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PHD, University of Minnesota, 2005
Morris, Theresa M, Professor
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Over, Defne, Assistant Professor
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Pals, Heili, Associate Professor
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Plankey Videla, Nancy B, Associate Professor
Sociology
PHD, University of Wisconsin, Madison, 1998
Prechel, Harland N, Professor
Sociology
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Santana, Emilce, Assistant Professor
Sociology
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Smith, Kirstie,
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PHD, Texas A&M University, 2021
Suzuki, Kazuko, Associate Professor
Sociology
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Thornton, Patricia H, Professor
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Waren, Warren P, Instructional Associate Professor
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Wolf, Joan, Associate Professor
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Woods, Timothy S, Instructional Professor
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