Sociology (SOC)
Subject-area course lists indicate courses currently active for offering at the University of Louisville. Not all courses are scheduled in any given academic term. For class offerings in a specific semester, refer to the Schedule of Classes.
500-level courses generally are included in both the undergraduate- and graduate-level course listings; however, specific course/section offerings may vary between semesters. Students are responsible for ensuring that they enroll in courses that are applicable to their particular academic programs.
Course Fees
Some courses may carry fees beyond the standard tuition costs to cover additional support or materials. Program-, subject- and course-specific fee information can be found on the Office of the Bursar website.
SOC 500. Special Topics3 Units
Prerequisite(s): Nine hours of core courses or consent of instructor.
Description: Exploration of well-defined topics in Sociology not treated in regular courses. Topic will be announced in Schedule of Courses.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 512. Gender, Race, Work, and Welfare3 Units
Prerequisite(s): 9 hours of social sciences work at the 300 level or above; or consent of instructor.
Description: Introduction to theory and research on labor market and welfare state with focus on gender race/ethnicity as they influence women's experiences of and ideas about work and welfare.
Note: Cross-listed with WGST 512 and PAS 512.
Note: Credit may not be earned for both SOC 512/WGST 512/PAS 512 and SOC 612/WGST 612/PAS 612.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 604. Proseminar in Sociology-MA1 Unit
Description: Designed to provide new graduate students with an introduction to sociology as a profession and to the Department of Sociology.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 605. Voluntarism3 Units
Description: Investigation of issues and topics related to voluntary activity. Includes contact with voluntary organization in the local community.
Course Attribute(s): CBL - This course includes Community-Based Learning (CBL). Students will engage in a community experience or project with an external partner in order to enhance understanding and application of academic content.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 609. Statistics I3 Units
Description: Multivariate statistical analyses, focusing on multiple regression using standard computer packages (e.g., SPSS, SAS) operating in Windows.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 612. Gender, Race, Work, and Welfare3 Units
Prerequisite(s): 9 hours of social sciences work at the 300 level or above; or consent of instructor.
Description: Introduction to theory and research on labor market and welfare state with focus on gender race/ethnicity as they influence women's experiences of and ideas about work and welfare.
Note: Cross-listed with PAS 612, WGST 512, WGST 612, and PAS 512.
Note: Credit may not be earned for both WGST 512/PAS 512 and PAS 512/WGST 612/PAS 612.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 615. Research Methods3 Units
Description: Intensive review of research design, instrumentation, survey procedures, data collection and processing techniques, analysis, and report writing.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 618. Qualitative Research Methods3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Prerequisite(s): SOC 615.
Description: Provides opportunities to design and critique field studies in educational and social settings and to practice techniques used to collect and analyze qualitative data. Additional time required outside class for observations and interviews.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 622. Survey Research and Design3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Prerequisite(s): SOC 615.
Description: This course will cover comprehensive survey planning, including ethical issues paramount to survey-based research; pros and cons of various modes of administration; instrument design (operationalizing concepts and constructs into measures, question design considerations, response choices, optimizing layout, etc.); pretesting (such as focus groups and cognitive interviews); sampling (including error estimation and power analysis); and administration procedures (e.g., interviewer training, follow-ups, strategies to boost response rates, third party survey platforms/tools).
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 627. Data Visualization3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Prerequisite(s): Graduate level statistics course (e.
Description: g., SOC 609, SOC 610, SOC 611, or approved equivalent); or consent of instructor. This course offers ways in which to explore, analyze, and tell the story of data in a strategic manner. Topics will include how to make data more accessible and engaging by combining theories on perception with empirically derived practices to develop effective graphs, tables and text; how to generate compact dashboards, which display central metrics and multiple charts as a single page; how to use data visualization to explore novel variables and relationships as well as to monitor established ones; and how visualizations can be helpful conducting data analysis (e.g., to reveal conditional or nonlinear relationships, or to assess whether data meet assumptions of a statistical procedure).
Note: Cross-listed with SOC 427.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 630. Sociology of Education3 Units
Description: Nature and function of mass education in modern society. Issues of politics of skill, dissemination of knowledge and values, and socialization. Focus on the school in urban society and as an instrument of social control, policy, and change.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 631. Sociology of Work3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Even Years
Description: Examines historical forces which have shaped the social division of labor, various structural arrangements in the workplace, and current occupational trends; the use of sociological theory in the study of industrial society; the social organization of work, alienation, labor relations, personnel policy, the impact of industrialization on social life and culture.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 636. Sociology of Human Sexuality3 Units
Description: Advanced study of the historical, cultural, structural, and social-psychological factors affecting human sexual expression.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 640. Urban Sociology3 Units
Description: Systematic critical examination of the history and application of social theory to the urban place. Specific attention is given to the utility of classical and contemporary theory in predicting and explaining human behavior in the urban environment.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 642. Sociology of Disabilities3 Units
Description: Intensive examination of sociological perspectives on medicine, culture, and science to examine the meanings, experiences, demographics, and impacts of disability in historical and contemporary social contexts.
Note: Cross-listed with WGST 615.
Note: Credit may not be earned for this course and SOC 442 or WGST 415.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 645. Environmental Sustainability and Social Change3 Units
Prerequisite(s): SOC 618 or SOC 622 and SOC 628 or SOC 735; or permission of the instructor.
Description: This course provides an overview of U.S. environmental history from both policy and movement perspectives. While the initial focus will be U.S.-based, the course will also examine the global pictures as regards climate change. Key areas such as environmental sustainability and the emergent solutions to the "wicked problems" associated with improving and saving our environment will be explored.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 650. Sociology of Families3 Units
Description: Study of the institution of the family, including intensive analysis of selected aspects of family group processes.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 655. Social Problems3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Description: This course offers in an in-depth examination of selected social problems in the Louisville metro and surrounding area and requires students to define what constitutes a social problem, explain how two or more social problems are connected, apply theories and concepts to understand social problems in a local context, and demonstrate the ability to connect local data to structural explanations for each social problem.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 665. Sociology of Gender3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Description: This course examines the ways in which gender structures social life on both the micro level of individual experience and the macro level of social structure. Students will discuss theoretical perspectives on the development of gender and gender stereotypes and explore scientific research and perspectives on gender differences and similarities. The course will also examine the structural foundations and theoretical explanations of gender inequality, as well as the intersectionality of gender and other social locations and identities.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 670. Advanced Demography3 Units
Description: Advanced study in topics related to population structure, composition, distribution, size, change, and growth.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 672. Feminist Research and Methods in the Social Sciences3 Units
Prerequisite(s): Admission to Women's and Gender Studies Graduate Certificate or MA degree program, or admission to Sociology MA program, or permission of instructor.
Description: Through readings across social sciences disciplines (i.e., in sociology, anthropology, psychology, economics, political science), course will analyze many ways feminist theory and methodology have influenced research in the social sciences.
Note: Cross-listed with WGST 602.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 675. Social Inequality & Stratification3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Description: Critical analysis of sociological theories of and research in social inequality and social stratification. Discussion of classical and modern works. Focus on the concept and reality of social class.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 685. Race and Ethnicity3 Units
Description: Current and historical issues in race, racism, and ethnicity. Focus on U.S. with reference to other societies.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 690. Independent Study1-6 Units
Prerequisite(s): Consent of director of graduate studies.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 691. Topical Seminar in Sociology3 Units
Description: An exploration of a specific topic or problem area of importance in contemporary Sociology.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 692. Thesis Administration3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Description: This independent study course requires students to work on their thesis under the direction of their thesis committee chair.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 693. Thesis Analysis3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring
Prerequisite(s): Consent of graduate advisor.
Description: This course requires students to conduct the research portion of their thesis, specifically a secondary data analysis, survey research, or qualitative research.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 695. Thesis Research1-9 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer
Prerequisite(s): Consent of graduate advisor.
Description: This course provides an opportunity for students to finish their thesis and defend it before a faculty committee.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 704. Proseminar in Sociology-PhD1 Unit
Description: Designed to provide new PhD students with an introduction to Sociology as a profession and to the Department of Sociology.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 706. Doctoral Exam Preparation3-9 Units
Grading Basis: Pass/Fail
Prerequisite(s): Consent of director of graduate studies.
Description: Provides opportunity to prepare for comprehensive doctoral exams.
Note: May be repeated for a total of 9 credit hours.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 710. Statistics II3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Spring Only
Prerequisite(s): SOC 609.
Description: Review of multivariate analytic techniques and a brief introduction to modeling procedures in the social sciences. Students will be instructed in the use of SPSS procedures and are expected to employ these in their work.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 715. Statistics lll3 Units
Prerequisite(s): SOC 610 or consent of instructor.
Description: Multivariate statistical techniques in both theoretical and applied sociological research settings.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 735. Classical Theory3 Units
Description: A survey of the important writings of the major theorists in classical sociology.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 738. Contemporary Theory3 Units
Term Typically Offered: Fall Only
Description: A survey of contemporary theoretical works that build upon, expand, challenge, or lie outside the bounds of classical sociological theories.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 740. Social Policy3 Units
Description: Advanced study on the formation, enactment, and consequences of social policies.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 790. Independent Study-PhD1-6 Units
Prerequisite(s): Consent of director of graduate studies.
Description: Opportunity for the student, under the supervision of a sponsoring faculty member, to pursue individualized study.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
SOC 795. Dissertation Research1-9 Units
Prerequisite(s): Consent of graduate advisor.
Description: This course provides an opportunity for students to finish their dissertation and defend it before a faculty committee.
For class offerings for a specific term, refer to the Schedule of Classes
