Social & Behavioral Sciences Courses

This course will examine the psychological concepts that are relevant to sport. Students will learn about the science of sport psychology, examining various topics such as arousal, motivation, competition, group and team cohesion, communication, self-confidence, and concentration.

This course describes the different goals and objectives of community corrections programs such as probation, parole, and community-based rehabilitation. It also highlights the importance of restorative justice as a way of mending the harms done through criminal acts and in connection to community-based corrections programs.

The course examines how current experiences of racial privilege and oppression are shaped by historical forces, institutional and organizational policies, social constructions and socio-cultural arrangements. It will analyze how structures of race, ethnicity and class are intertwined with a variety of social justice systems. It will focus on types and sources of power, multiple social locations, social conflicts and how they all interact

This course focuses on the problems we face in society today, how we recognize and attempt to solve them, and the political, economic, and cultural institutions that construct and shape social problems.

This course examines changes in technology, culture, economy, political structure, and social consciousness which contributed to and were consequences of colonization, industrialization, and revolution. Historical and comparative analysis of theories of social change are studied.

(Also WMS 414) This course examines the nature of social protest and resistance to oppression and social injustice, the ways in which individuals have organized to challenge the limitations and boundaries imposed upon themin order to create the conditions necessary for a dignified life, and the consequences of social protest. Topics may include: revolutionary, human rights, civil rights, black power, labor, and women’s movements around the world.

The course will explore how gender impacts our lives and life chances. The central themes of the course are historical changes in gender beliefs and practices; socialization practices that reproduce gender identities and restrict access to justice systems; how race/ethnicity, class, and sexual orientation shape the experience of gender; and the relationship between gender, power, and social inequality. The course focuses on the social construction of gender. Other theories of gender such as biological explanations will be discussed in comparison to the social constructionist approach. Gender will be explored as an institution and a system as well as how it influences individuals. Because gender does not exist in a vacuum, gender will be discussed in relation to its intersection with other social locations such as race, class, sexual orientation, age, and ethnicity.

(Also WMS 415) This course involves a comprehensive examination of the particular situation of women when confronting the criminal justice system. Topics include: the history of women’s imprisonment, responses to female crime, theories of female criminality, crime statistics pertaining to women, and the criminal justice system’s response to women when they encounter it as victims.

This course examines the racial representation of victims and offenders in the criminal justice system. Various perspectives and theories about the race-crime correlation are examined. Topics include: theories about race and crime, racial profiling, race riots, multicultural law enforcement, race and sentencing, and bias related crimes.

(Also WMS 417) A requirement for theWMS minor, this course focuses on contemporary feminist theories regarding culture, identity, class “race”/ ethnicity, gender and sexuality. Relationships between social theory and praxis, and research methodology and the creation of knowledge are explored.

An upper level integrating course that focuses on theoretical and practical models of psychotherapy and counseling in applied settings. The focus is on current research and practices in the field of clinical psychology. A background in personality theory and abnormal psychology is highly recommended.

This course analyzes the research literature regarding drug policy formation and implementation in the United States within a social and political context. Topics include: drug trafficking, drug law reform, controlling substance abuse, and drug policy on various segments of the population.

This course analyzes the research literature regarding drug policy formation and implementation in the United States within a social and political context. Topics include: drug trafficking, drug law reform, controlling substance abuse, and drug policy on various segments of the population.

This course examines reintegrating prisoners back into the community. Topic areas include the role of community corrections, the social economic and political forces influencing successful reintegration, programs designed to rehabilitate prisoners, and working with special offender populations (e.g. drug offenders, sex offenders, mentally ill offenders).

The study of the theory and research of group behavior. Students will examine group dynamics through readings in industrial/organizational and social psychology. In addition, students will participate in experiential group exercises.

(Also WMS 425) A study of cultural differences in psychological functioning. In a world of increasing cultural contact, globalization, immigration, and ethnic tensions, it is increasingly important to learn about cultural differences and intercultural communication. Are there any psychological universals? How can intercultural relations be improved? These are some of the questions cross-cultural psychology seeks to address.

Advanced selected topics in Psychology. Depending upon the instructor, topics may be suited for any group in the psychology major or a psychology elective. As topics change, this course may be repeated for credit.

Please contact your instructor for specific topic

Advanced selected topics in Sociology. Depending upon the instructor, course topics may be suited for either General Sociology or Criminal Justice Concentration students. As topics change, this course may be repeated for credit.

Please contact your instructor for specific topic.

This course descriptions will be announced when the course is offered. The course will focus on a specific Social Justice topic to be determined. As topics change, this course may be repeated for credit

This course descriptions will be announced when the course is offered. As topics change, this course may be repeated for credit.

Please contact your instructor for specific topic.

Students will participate in the entire research process including hypotheses development, literature review, data collection and analysis, and communicating the results to others. The class will also discuss several contemporary and classic articles in psychology to further their knowledge of the field and their ability to critique research.

A graduation requirement (as an alternative to SOC 490/491), SOC 450 is an in-depth examination of a central issue in contemporary sociology. Examples of issues, which vary from semester to semester, are the media and social change; culture and identity; masculinities; social class and African/American status; Latino/ Hispanic ethnicity; and sociology of information technologies. This is a writing-intensive course. Students conduct their own research in consultation with the faculty.

Supervised placement in an agency or organization which is part of, or related to, the public sector. Criteria for entering GIS 490 Internship in Political Science: 1. Class standing (Seniors have preference over Juniors) 2. Political Science GPA 3. Satisfactory completion of the Internship Program Application Procedure which includes: A. The application form and personal essay in which the student’s goals and objectives, motivations, interests, interpersonal skills and previous relevant experiences are clearly articulated. B. Two letters of recommendation from Faculty who are familiar with the student’s interests and performance in related courses. C. Interview with the Internship Coordinator. The interview will help the Coordinator to assess students readiness and degree of motivation for the internship experience, and help students explore options regarding the most suitable placements.