Introduction to Sociology (BIS 181)
The field of sociology investigates the relationship between individuals, groups, institutions, societies. Seeing these relationships helps us see social patterns, explain/predict how and why they change over time and place, and make evidence-based personal and policy decisions. This class introduces the core concepts, epistemologies, and methodologies used by sociologists through the use of contemporary examples, including connections between current public trends and students’ personal experiences.
By the end of this course, students should be able to demonstrate:
By the end of this course, students should be able to demonstrate:
- Understanding of core sociological concepts
- Connections between micro, meso, and macro level phenomena
- Capacity for a sociological imagination
- Entry level social scientific writing and analysis
Politics of Sexuality Education (BIS 219)
Why is sex education such a contentious issue in the United States? What is sexuality anyway, and who gets to define it? Who are the stakeholders in this debate, and how do their positions align with different ideological assumptions about what it means to live a healthy and fulfilling life? This course will focus on the politics of sex education, reproduction, sexual health, and sexual rights in the United States, with some cross national/regional comparisons. The course will help students gain a deeper sense of how various cultural and ideological positions bring about different logics of sexuality, the body, rights, personhood, and social & global responsibility.
