Sociology Courses | 2026-2027 Graduate Catalog | SIU

A systematic survey of sociological theory with the focus on both classical and contemporary sociological thought. An in-depth examination of selected thinkers whose work laid the foundation for major schools of contemporary sociology, along with an overview of issues in contemporary sociological theory. Students are expected to be familiar with the fundamentals of sociological analysis.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as WGSS 507) Examines the emerging body of work in the fast-growing field of sexuality studies. While the course focuses on sociological research, it takes a few side trips into other disciplines. We begin by discussing the evolution of theory and methodology in the sexual sciences. After briefly considering the contributions of early sexologists and the work of Sigmund Freud, we will survey the sociology of sexuality from its beginnings in quantitative research, through classical sociological theory, social constructionism, and feminism. We'll then examine Foucault's radical rethinking of sexuality and grapple with the challenges of queer theory. The second part of the course will take up several substantive areas in the sociology of sexuality, drawing on cutting edge quantitative and qualitative research.

Credit Hours: 3

Focus on research process: identification of the role of theory, formulation of research questions, research design and quantitative, qualitative, and mixed method data collection techniques. Connections between theory, research design and measurement decisions, and interpretation (answering research questions) are emphasized throughout. Includes practical and ethical issues, e.g. informed consent.

Credit Hours: 4

Focus on research strategies involving the systematic exploration, documentation and analytic description of social settings, interactions, meanings, lifeworlds and texts. Includes discussion of field observation, depth interviewing, oral histories/narratives, case studies, biographies and life histories, focus group interviewing, content analysis of written and visual data, historical/archival investigations, among other approaches.

Credit Hours: 4

(Same as ANTH 518, POLS 518) Emphasis is on the development of teaching skills and pedagogical knowledge for instructors in the social sciences. Students will explore different perspectives on developing syllabi, presenting material, creating assignments, grading, and handling classroom obstacles. Students will consider the issues of race, class, and gender in the classroom and discuss the future of online teaching. Students will gain hands-on teaching experience, develop a teaching portfolio with a syllabus, create course exercises, and cultivate a teaching philosophy.

Credit Hours: 3

Provides a foundation in univariate and bivariate descriptive statistics, inferential statistics including hypothesis testing about population parameters and bivariate and multivariate relationships, and measures of association for nominal, ordinal, and interval-ratio variables, and an introduction to bivariate and multivariate correlation and linear regression (including concepts of causal modeling and control variables). Restricted to graduate standing.

Credit Hours: 4

Provides in-depth instruction in multiple regression including assumptions of linear model, diagnostics and corrections for violation, exploratory factor analysis, using categorical dependent variables (logistic and multi-nominal regression), nonlinear relationships, interactions, and extensions to advanced techniques as time allows. Prerequisite: SOC 526A (or successful pass of proficiency test).

Credit Hours: 4

Content varies with interests of instructor and students. Special approval needed from the instructor.

Credit Hours: 2-4

Comparative study of power, social class, and status; conceptions of social structure and measurement techniques; explanations of social and occupational mobility; institutions and differential life changes.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as WGSS 542) Overview of the theoretical approaches, substantive issues, and techniques of research and measurement in the study of American family life. Approaches include structural functionalism, conflict theory, and the feminist critique. Among the substantive topics are family roles and relationships, kinship, relationships of the family to other institutions and family change.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as WGSS 544) Examines major theories, themes, and research methods on the intersection of gender, race, class, and sexuality. Topics may include: construction of gender, race, class and sexual identities; work; social movements; intersection of family and work; parenting and reproduction; historical and cross-national dimensions.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as WGSS 545) This course is designed to investigate how gender structures the workplace, as well as how men and women both reproduce and negotiate gender at work. Focusing on select topics, we will develop an understanding of workplaces as gendered organizations and discuss sex segregation, wage inequality, the glass ceiling, the glass escalator, sex work, men and women in nontraditional occupations, the body at work, emotional labor, aesthetic labor, immigration and work, globalization, and unemployment and welfare. Also, this class will take an intersectional approach to analyzing and discussing issues of gender inequality at work; meaning, we will take seriously how gender intersects with race, ethnicity, class, and sexuality to shape both inequality and resistance at work.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as WGSS 547) This graduate seminar is a sociology of gender course that focuses on changes in the subfield itself and in peoples' lived experiences in terms of gender, gender relations, and gender stratification. Readings and discussions will trace the development of the sociology of gender over the last several decades. We will discuss how ideas and theories have changed over the years including changes in concepts and in how sociologists define, problematize, and theorize about sex and gender as traits, identities, relations, structures, and systems. We will also explore 'objective' or actual change (or lack of change) related to gender in individuals, groups, and societies.

Credit Hours: 3

Theoretical and empirical study of the origin, location and function of religious ideas and institutions in society.

Credit Hours: 3

Overview of theories, research and prevailing issues of race and ethnic relations in contemporary societies. Discussions will include world expansion during colonialism, political economy of minority groups, class and gender issues in the global development.

Credit Hours: 3

A seminar designed to survey the major sociological approaches to social movements and collective action. Emphasis will be on movement culture, social movement organizations and the social environment in which collective action occurs.

Credit Hours: 3

This course is designed to explore the ways in which revolutions have been theorized. It sets out to study Classical (Chinese, French, and Russian) and Modern (Cuban, Mexican, Iranian, and other Third World) historical cases, as well as contemporary popular uprisings. This course will require students to become familiar with the structural causes of revolution; the cultural and ideological roots of revolutionary mobilization; the emotional, gendered, and story-telling dimensions of revolution-making; and the relationship between globalization and more contemporary attempts at Radical Social Change.

Credit Hours: 3

A survey of classical and contemporary theoretical perspectives related to crime and justice.

Credit Hours: 3

(Same as POLS 576) Examines empirical studies of religion and politics, including research on behavior, institutions, and movements. Topics include theories of religion, case studies of religious traditions, church and state relations, measurement of religion, and other topics on the intersection of religion and politics. Students who have completed POLS 476 or SOC 476 are ineligible to enroll.

Credit Hours: 3

Open to graduate students with a major in sociology. Graded S/U only. Special approval needed from the instructor and departmental director of graduate studies.

Credit Hours: 1-4

Supervised readings in selected subjects. Graded S/U only. Special approval needed from the instructor and departmental director of graduate studies.

Credit Hours: 1-8

Special approval needed from the chair.

Credit Hours: 1-16

For those graduate students who have not finished their degree programs and who are in the process of working on their dissertation, thesis or research paper. The student must have completed a minimum of 24 hours of dissertation research, or the minimum thesis, or research hours before being eligible to register for this course. Concurrent enrollment in any other course is not permitted. Graded S/U or DEF only.

Credit Hours: 1

Must be a Postdoctoral Fellow. Concurrent enrollment in any other course is not permitted.

Credit Hours: 1