Social and Behavioral Sciences

This course is designed to help students become familiar with searching criminological and sociological literature, read journal articles in the social sciences and present ideas effectively in written form within the discipline. Students will also learn to make oral presentations of written work. By the end of this course, students will be able to demonstrate their ability to read journal articles in criminal justice, present ideas effectively in writing, use APA style, and do effective presentations. Inclass writing exercises, a critique of a research paper, a term paper, a presentation, and class participation will be used to assess achievement of these objectives.

This course provides an introductory study of theories, concepts, and strategies of social justice, including individual action, policy, advocacy, and collective action. Empasis will be on discussing world affairs such as climate change, conflict, technological innovation, and their impact on poverty, inequality, and the responsibility of humanitarian aid. Hand in hand with the questions of policy are the ethical questions concerning global justice: What is justice in a globally interconnected world? What is the role of human rights in securing global justice? Are our current institutions sufficient to address global challenges such as environmental degradation, health care, and immigration?

A focus on the essential texts of early Western political thought by thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, Cicero, Saints Paul, Augustine, and Aquinas. The course covers the three main traditions of thought (Greek, Hebrew, and Roman) upon which Western political thinking and philosophy is based. A diachronic analysis of these texts explore the perennial questions of the nature and purpose of the state, justice, law, political rights and obligations. (every other spring)

This course surveys the major political theories that were developed from the Renaissance to the present. Students will explore the development of postReformation political thought by reading selections from Machiavelli, Thomas Hobbes, John Locke, Jean Jacques Rousseau, Karl Marx, Friedrich Nietzsche, and others. (every other fall)

This course is an introduction to the study of politics and the various methods of political analysis. Students will explore the character of politics through a systematic treatment of its fundamental issues. (every fall)

This course provides students with an introduction to the principles and practices of American government. As a means of helping the student understand the origins and evolution of the federal system of government, special attention is paid to the arguments of both the founding fathers and those who have provided the impetus for change. Special attention is also given to the structure of New Jersey state and local governments. (every fall or as needed)

This course examines the legislative branch of the United States government by focusing on the process by which laws are made and the manner in which the legislators are selected. Special attention is paid to understanding the constitutional limits of legislative power, the rules which have been established by the respective houses, and the committee and subcommittee systems. (every spring)

This course examines the office of the President and the men who have come to occupy it. Characteristics of great presidents, the constitutional limitations of presidential power, and recent trends in the exercise of presidential power receive special attention. (every fall or as needed)

This course examines the judiciary branch of the US government. Students will explore the basic structure and underlying principles of American justice, the constitutional limits of the judiciary, and the competing theories of constitutional interpretation employed by the Justices of the Supreme Court by reading landmark judicial decisions. (every fall or as needed)

This course will introduce the student to the study of international relations by paying special attention to the institutions and actors of international political institutions. In addition, the student will come to understand how the policy choices of all governments are affected by the global economy, the scarcity of natural resources, and the conflicts caused by ethnic and ideological differences. (every spring or as needed)

This course examines problems and issues such as debt, nutrition, and modernization that confront developing nations, and on how these issues affect the developed nations, especially the United States, in an era of unprecedented interdependence.

An in-depth study of an area within Political Science. The student pursues an individual research project under faculty supervision. At semester’s end the student submits a written report and orally presents the findings of the research project. (every spring)

This course offers political science majors the opportunity to work in the field of political science for a minimum of 120 hours during the semester. Students must complete all paperwork to register for the Internship at least one semester before; students will meet with the Career Center and complete the application that will be sent to their advisor and site supervisor. This application will then be filed in the Career Center. Students must register for the class with the Registrar as well. They will be required to write a paper that is relevant to the Internship and maintain a journal that reflects their experience; the site supervisor will complete an evaluation form on their performance. This is a Pass/Fail course. (as needed)

This course enables students to experience another culture through study of a selected country and culture and to explore, analyze and present issues of global significance from a non-Western perspective. In addition to these intellectual and experiential aspects of the course, students address several related issues, including the nature of traditional and modern societies; ethnocentrism and stereotyping; nationalism and interdependence; “culture shock” and “re-entry shock;” and intercultural sensitivity. (every summer)

An introductory study of sociology with specific attention given to a systematic analysis of contemporary society. Topics include social organization, social groups, culture, group interaction, and status and change within the context of sociological explanations and orientations. (every semester)

An introductory course examining the experiences of racial and ethnic groups in American society. Emphasis will be placed on socialization, socioeconomic status, dominant/minority relations, ethnic/cultural diversity, and differential power accessibility. (every semester)

This course offers students an examination of at least five distinct world cultures (e.g., Namibian Kung People, Egyptian, Latin American, Asian, and/or European). The differences and similarities between these cultures, as well as between them and cultural groups living within the US, are highlighted.

This course will introduce the students to diverse contemporary theories and interpretations of society such as Functionalism, Conflict Theory, Exchange Theory, Interactionism, Phenomenology and Ethnomethodology. Through readings and research, students will analyze and explain the dynamics of society within a theoretical framework. (every spring, or as needed)

An analysis of the social context of aging within a youth oriented society. Patterns of social habits and roles of individuals within their groups are studied in relation to a variety of problems such as economic factors, retirement, and interpersonal relationships with peers and children. (every fall, or as needed)

An examination of the development and dynamics of sport in American society and an analysis of the social psychological and social structural aspects of sport. Particular emphasis is placed on the development of a critical perspective on sport, on that recognizes the positive contributions of sport but also analyzes distortions and myths.
 

This course is an introduction to the sociology of sex and gender. It will include the sociocultural analysis of social structures, conditions and ideologies which guide, affect and change society’s beliefs and attitudes about sex and gender. The major sociological theories will be analyzed vis-à-vis their application to specific substantive issues in the field of sex and gender. (every spring)

This course will examine the stratification system in American society. Particular emphasis will be placed on the theories and patterns of inequality inclusive of class, race, and gender. Specific focus will be given to Educational, Family, Criminal, Judicial, and Political institutions

A critical analysis of the basic concepts of marriage and the family. Topics include the challenges, changes and problems faced by the modern family within the American system. (fall)

An examination of the conditions under which people conform to or deviate from social norms. Topics include an analysis of society’s definition of deviance, society’s reaction to and treatment of deviance, as well as probable consequences of deviance for both deviants and conformists. (every semester as needed)

This course will introduce students to the socio-cultural, historical and political analysis of the spread of capitalism, its consequences and interpretations among different cultures. Issues such as global poverty, ethnic conflicts, economic development, disease, environment and social protests will be examined within the context of global problems and the challenges leading to possible solutions. (every spring, or as needed)

A sociological study of education. Particular emphasis will be given to the underlying factors affecting student values and conceptions of the world as well as the relationships between schools and other institutions of society, the relationships among managers, teachers and “consumers” of education in school organizations, and the effect of the school social system and culture on learning. (every spring or as needed)

Students will analyze the sociocultural forces that accelerate and control social change. Special attention will be given to the different theoretical perspectives of change as well as different models and patterns of change in American Society. The course will culminate with an examination of modernization and change from a global perspective. (every fall, or as needed)

This course raises essential historical, philosophical, sociological and legal questions about the nature of political terrorism and political violence enacted against civilian populations by state and non-state agents. Students will study essential readings in the history of terrorism and consider media accounts of terrorism from multiple perspectives. (every fall, or as needed)

This course will examine the major theories that explain the origins, development and consequences of collective behavior and social movements. Selected American protest movements will be analyzed in terms of the complex ways in which they emerged to how they were institutionalized and subsequently altered the political, social and cultural patterns of American society. This course will primarily focus on labor protests, civil rights protests and some of the “new social movements” which included a focus on sexual behaviors and gender identity issues. (fall 2012)

A critical analysis of contemporary American society focusing on major issues governing the lives of individuals such as culture, changing social values and norms, the role of major institutions such as religion, politics, and education in society. (every spring or as needed)

A micro-sociological approach to issues of organization and disorganization in the existing urban environment, including local communities, towns, neighborhoods, suburbs, cities and metropolitan areas. Special attention is given to social “grass roots” movements in a changing social environment. (every fall or as needed)

Original research project by seniors majoring in Social Science with a concentration in Sociology using theory, statistics, and quantitative and qualitative data. Oral presentation of the research is the culmination of this course. (every fall and spring as needed)

This course offers sociology majors the opportunity to work in the field of sociology for a minimum of 120 hours during the semester. Students must complete all paperwork to register for the Internship at least one semester before the semester of their internship; students will meet with the Career Center and complete the application that will be sent to their advisor and site supervisor. This application will then be filed in the Career Center. Students must register for the class with the Registrar as well. They will be required to write a paper that is relevant to the Internship and maintain a journal that reflects their experience; the site supervisor will complete an evaluation form on their performance. This is a Pass/Fail course. (as needed)

This course will provide students with a broad understanding of discipline inquiry and analysis of methods and will focus on issues in social science research with an emphasis on sociology or history and the methodology of social science; logic and its application to specific methods; contemporary issues in social science research; and on the legal implications of sociological research for the student. (every fall)