(for 2012–2013 academic year)
Professors Aveni, Hyslop, Kerber, R. Levine, Moran, Ries
Associate Professors Henke, Hsu
(Chair), Loe, Lopes
Assistant Professors Benson, Shever, Simmons, Spadola, Taylor, Villarrubia
Visiting Assistant Professors Groleau, Hobor
Lecturer Lorenz
Sociology and anthropology study human cultures and societies, past and present, on a comparative basis. These disciplines are concerned with analyzing and understanding the social structures and values that shape our lives, as well as the institutions and social forces of our own and other societies.
The department offers a wide variety of topics for study, including courses at the introductory and more advanced levels in archaeology, sexuality, gender and family studies, social institutions and social change, inequality and social justice, nationalism, peace and conflict, symbolism, myth and ritual, and science and technology studies. Many of these courses may be taken by students who are interested in the subject but do not intend to major in sociology and anthropology; some advanced courses have prerequisites and are intended chiefly for majors. The major in sociology and anthropology, whatever the emphasis chosen by the student, provides an excellent preparation for graduate study and a variety of careers, including law, business management, public administration, teaching, journalism, and social work. Sociology and anthropology graduates also pursue careers in local, national, and international non-profit organizations.
Students who major in sociology and anthropology have a choice of an emphasis in anthropology, an emphasis in sociology, or a balance of sociology and anthropology. Both of the emphases in anthropology and sociology consist of nine courses, with each disciplinary emphasis requiring some courses in the other discipline. The emphasis in sociology and anthropology consists of ten courses, balanced between the two disciplines.
Each emphasis has a common core of required courses (including
SOAN 101, 102, and
204), a course in the particular discipline’s “craft of inquiry” (
SOAN 210 or
211), a selection of more specialized upper-level courses, and a senior seminar. In order to be admitted to the major, a student must have completed both
SOAN 101 and
102 by the end of the sophomore year.
SOAN 101 and
102 are the required entry-level courses for the major, and majors must earn a minimum grade of C in each of these courses, regardless of the emphasis the student chooses. Students who receive a grade of C– or lower in these courses will not be permitted to declare the major unless they retake the course with a grade of C or higher before the end of the sophomore year. To declare the SOAN major as a junior or senior, a student must have taken at least four courses toward the major requirements, including
SOAN 101 and
SOAN 102 with grades of C or higher. In keeping with the University’s policy, no declarations of major or minor will be accepted after the fall drop/add period of a student’s senior year. Students may choose their emphasis at the time they declare their major, but must make their choice by the end of the fifth semester. The degree major is listed as sociology and anthropology.
Courses are designated by discipline: sociology
(S), anthropology
(A), and joint sociology and anthropology
(J). A course designated as
(S, A) can be used to fulfill a sociology course requirement
or an anthropology course requirement. Archaeology courses are additionally marked as
(AR).
To qualify for graduation, a minimum GPA of 2.00 is required in all the courses taken in the department. The department will accept for major credit no more than one course taken at another institution and no more than one independent studies course in the department, except in special circumstances as approved by the department chair. All majors must meet one of the following three sets of requirements:
Anthropology emphasis (nine courses)
1.
SOAN 101, Introduction to Sociology and SOAN 102, Introduction to Anthropology (These courses must be completed by the end of the sophomore year with a grade of C or higher.)
2.
SOAN 204, Approaches to Social Analysis and SOAN 211, The Craft of Anthropological Inquiry (These courses must be completed by the end of the junior year.)
3. Four other courses, selected by the student, within these guidelines:
a. Three courses in anthropology, one of which must be in archaeology (may include
SOAN 103)
b. One course in sociology
c. At least three of these courses must be at the 300 level
4.
SOAN 452, Senior Seminar: Issues in Contemporary Anthropology Sociology emphasis (nine courses)
1.
SOAN 101, Introduction to Sociology and
SOAN 102, Introduction to Anthropology (These courses must be completed by the end of the sophomore year with a grade of C or higher.)
2.
SOAN 204, Approaches to Social Analysis and
SOAN 210, The Craft of Sociological Inquiry (These courses must be completed by the end of the junior year.)
3. Four other courses, selected by the student, within these guidelines:
a. Three courses in sociology
b. One course in anthropology (may include
SOAN 103 and other archaeology courses)
c. At least three of these courses must be at the 300 level
4.
SOAN 453, Senior Seminar: Issues in Contemporary Sociology Sociology and Anthropology emphasis (ten courses)
1.
SOAN 101, Introduction to Sociology and
SOAN 102, Introduction to Anthropology (These courses must be completed by the end of the sophomore year with a grade of C or higher.)
2.
SOAN 204, Approaches to Social Analysis; SOAN 210, The Craft of Sociological Inquiry; and
SOAN 211, The Craft of Anthropological Inquiry (These courses must be completed by the end of the junior year.)
3. Four other courses, selected by the student, within these guidelines:
a. Two courses in anthropology (one of which may be
SOAN 103)
b. Two courses in sociology
c. At least three of these courses must be at the 300 level
4.
SOAN 454: Issues in Contemporary Sociology and Anthropology A minor in sociology and anthropology consists of
SOAN 101, 102, and three other courses, including at least two at the 300 level, for a total of five departmental courses. In order to be admitted to the minor, a student must have completed
SOAN 101 or
102 with a grade of C or higher in both. A minimum GPA of 2.00 is required in all departmental courses. In keeping with the University’s policy, no declarations of major or minor will be accepted after the fall drop/add period of a student’s senior year.
Majors may qualify for departmental honors by achieving at graduation a 3.50 GPA in major courses and an overall GPA of 3.30, or for high honors by achieving at graduation a 3.70 GPA in major courses and an overall GPA of 3.30.
Students who expect to qualify and who seek honors or high honors will enroll in the honors/high honors seminar
SOAN 495, which will be a tenth course for students with an emphasis in anthropology or sociology and an eleventh course for students taking the sociology and anthropology emphasis. The student, working with at least one SOAN faculty adviser beyond the seminar professor, shall write and submit a substantial paper for this course and shall defend it before the department. The designation “honors,” “high honors,” or neither, will be determined at the conclusion of the defense. This paper must be a substantially different, revised version of the student’s senior seminar paper, or a paper on an entirely different topic. Honors and high honors projects should demonstrate the ability to work creatively and independently and to synthesize theoretical, methodological, and substantive materials. Such a project should be planned and begun in the fall term of the senior year (although earlier consultation with department faculty is encouraged), with the research and final writing completed in the spring term when the student is enrolled in
SOAN 495.
See “Honors and Awards: Sociology and Anthropology” in Chapter VI.
The sociology and anthropology department, along with departments in the social sciences, arts and humanities, and natural sciences, offers an interdisciplinary major in Native American studies with a study group in Santa Fe.
The San Francisco study group is a joint program between the Department of Sociology and Anthropology and the Asian Studies Program. The group’s theme, “A Global City on the Pacific Rim,” emphasizes how the process of immigration, globalization, ethnic identity formation, and cultural flow throughout the Pacific Rim have made San Francisco a “global city” — a place within the United States, but shaped by global history and culture. This study group uses San Francisco as a learning laboratory for exploring how the global movement of people and culture has shaped the cultural history and politics of San Francisco, as well as the larger history and contemporary culture of the Pacific Rim.
Students enroll in two San Francisco State University courses related to the themes of the study group; at least one of these courses will have a fieldwork or community service component, so that students can gain direct knowledge of and experiences with ethnic community groups in the San Francisco area. In addition, students will take two courses from the director of the study group. Prerequisites normally include at least one course in sociology and anthropology and at least one course in Asian studies.
Courses in sociology and anthropology taken on other Colgate study groups may also be credited toward the major in the department, especially if taken on the following study groups: Australia, China, Santa Fe, and United Kingdom (Manchester). The Swedish Program, an affiliated program in which Colgate participates, offers courses at the University of Stockholm that can be counted in the department’s major. For information on these study groups, see “Off-Campus Study Group Programs” in Chapter VI.
enhances the teaching and research facilities of the department. The museum, founded in 1965 and named after Dr. John M. Longyear III, professor of anthropology, emeritus, contains archaeological and ethnographic collections from a wide range of cultures around the world. The collections of African art, Canadian First Nations art, Iroquois archaeological materials from central New York, and the central Mexican (Guerrero) stone sculptures are extensive.
Students may take advantage of the resources of the museum in a variety of ways.
SOAN 353, Field Methods and Interpretation in Archaeology and
SOAN 300, Museum Studies in Native American Cultures offer students the opportunity to become acquainted with the museum holdings and to carry out research projects on selected collections of artifacts. Students may also arrange independent studies working with the museum collections and receive credit in either the Department of Sociology and Anthropology or in the Native American Studies Program, which is sponsored by the Division of University Studies. Students are encouraged to inquire at the offices of the curators of the Longyear Museum of Anthropology, Professors Kerber and Lorenz, concerning independent studies projects in archaeology or art history, as well as for information concerning opportunities for summer programs in archaeological, art historical, or social anthropological fieldwork. Information concerning museum internship programs and opportunities in museum studies may be obtained by contacting Professors Lorenz and Kerber.
SOAN courses count toward the Social Relations, Institutions, and Agents area of inquiry/social science distribution requirement, unless otherwise noted. Sociology (S), Anthropology (A), and Joint Sociology and Anthropology (J)
Archaeology courses are additionally marked as (AR).
101 Introduction to Sociology (S) Staff
This course is an introduction to sociology, with special emphasis on American society, using a historical and comparative focus. It introduces students to some of the basic concepts and methods used by sociologists. The course considers a selection of topics: racial inequality, class reproduction, gender roles, work and society, social movements, bureaucracy, and crime and deviance. Enrollment is limited to first-year and sophomore students.
102 Introduction to Anthropology (A) Staff
This course provides an introduction to the discipline of anthropology and is intended to help students come to a better understanding of human cultures and societies through the analysis and comparison of specific cases. Students study diverse societies from a wide range of geographic areas and examine topics such as kinship and marriage, economic organization, religion, gender, and social change. Students learn about some of the major theories and theorists in anthropology and examine the way anthropologists collect and interpret data, particularly in the course of fieldwork. Enrollment is limited to first-year and sophomore students.
103 Introduction to Archaeology (A, AR) J. Kerber
This course introduces students to the basic concepts and issues of archaeology today through an examination of both method and theory. Topics include data analysis and interpretation, culture history, prehistoric technology and settlements, and cultural resources management. Enrollment is limited to first-year and sophomore students.
202 Ancient States and Empires (A, AR) Staff
This course provides an introduction to the study of the archaeological and literary records of selected ancient states and empires of the Old and New Worlds. The course addresses such questions as when and where did cities and states first emerge? What forces accounted for the emergence of ancient states and empires? What were some of the institutions and practices that provided stability and cohesion in the social and political lives of these societies? Why did ancient states collapse? Each term, examples are chosen from the following civilizations or regions of the world: Africa, Mesopotamia, China, Southeast Asia, Mesoamerica, and the Andes. The course compares and contrasts achievements in these civilizations and critically evaluates the role of Euro-American scholarship in defining these achievements.
204 Approaches to Social Analysis (S, A) C. Hsu, R. Levine, N. Ries
This course examines some of the chief methodological and theoretical approaches used in the social sciences, primarily focusing on Marx, Durkheim, and Weber. In addition to original texts, works of anthropology and sociology are used to integrate the classics with a contemporary focus. Prerequisite:
SOAN 101 with a grade of C or higher and
102 with a grade of C or higher, or permission of instructor. First-year students are generally not admitted.
210 The Craft of Sociological Inquiry (S) J. Benson, C. Henke, J. Villarrubia
This course, which is required for the emphasis in sociology within the SOAN major, introduces students to both the dominant areas of inquiry in sociology and the methods that have been devised to investigate them. Emphasis in this course is on investigation. The course familiarizes students with the methods, techniques, and language of social science research. Focusing on field and survey research, the course examines the ways social scientists formulate questions, collect and analyze data, and present their findings. The course is also concerned with the epistemological underpinnings of “doing sociology.” How do sociologists define “fact” and “truth”? What are the historical and contemporary debates over these concepts? To provide students with a hands-on understanding of concepts and issues, students are expected to collect and analyze original data. The class also does computer statistical analysis of pre-existing data bases. Open to sophomores and juniors. Prerequisites:
SOAN 101 with a grade of C or higher and
SOAN 102 with a grade of C or higher.
211 The Craft of Anthropological Inquiry (A) M. Moran, E. Spadola
This course, which is required for the emphasis in anthropology within the SOAN major, introduces students both to the dominant areas of inquiry in anthropology and to the qualitative methods that have been devised to explore them. The focus of the course is on investigation. How does one go about learning something about some specific areas of human social and cultural life? To do this, the course turns for guidance and inspiration to the founders of the discipline, applying and adapting their ideas for class use. At the same time, the course looks to contemporary commentators for help with understanding how these ideas have been challenged and updated. Areas of investigation are culture, kinship, religion, subsistence, power and prestige, history and material culture, and language. For each area, students design and carry out brief research projects in the Hamilton/Colgate community. Collectively, the individual projects contribute to an ongoing ethnography of the village and campus. Open to sophomores and juniors. Prerequisites:
SOAN 101 with a grade of C or higher and
SOAN 102 with a grade of C or higher.
212 Power, Racism, and Privilege (S) R. Levine
An inquiry into racism and race relations. A theoretical framework is developed with a historical and comparative focus and then applied to race relations in the United States and South Africa. This course is open to sophomores and first-year students only.
214 Social Justice and Social Change (S, A) M. Wehrer
How have social and political movements attempted to make peace and foster social justice? This course examines the particular mechanisms of social change in a variety of different historical and cultural contexts, as well as the ways in which those same methods have been interpreted as models for the transformation of society as a whole. Working through case studies that range from national liberation movements to contemporary anti-globalization campaigns, the course offers tools for researching and analyzing the relationship between social movements and changing conceptions of social justice as a whole. Open to first-years, sophomores, and juniors; seniors by permission.
215 Women, Work, and Family (A) M. Moran
This course considers women’s work, inside and out of the home, from historical and cross-cultural perspectives. Focusing on comparative cases from Europe, the United States, and the developing world, the issues explored include the definition of productive work, the evolution of women’s “natural” roles as care-givers to children and others, women’s impact upon the paid labor force and resulting reevaluation of the domestic division of labor, how governments’ family policies are impacted by the changing composition of the work force, and whether professional women “have it all” in terms of family and career — and at what expense. Students are asked to think through their expectations for career and family beyond Colgate and to consider the place of work (however defined) in their lives and conceptions of self.
216 Sociology of War (S, A) J. Hyslop
In the modern world, war has usually been thought of as a clash between rival states. But, especially since the Second World War, much armed conflict has taken place between states and other kinds of entities — national liberation movements, criminal syndicates, warlords, terrorist groups. In extreme case such as Somalia, states have totally disintegrated. This course asks what the consequences of this change are for our sociological understanding of the nature of warfare. It examines case studies of armed conflict in the present and recent past — Afghanistan, Kashmir, warlordism in West Africa, Northern Ireland, armed leftist movements in Western Europe during the 1970s; and in late colonial period and its aftermath, the Mau-Mau Rebellion, the Algerian war of independence, the Rhodesian War. A particular focus is on treating war as a cultural phenomenon, and to ask questions about the self-understandings of formal and informal military organizations and their consequences.
218 Practices of Peace and Conflict — War in Lived Experience (S, A)
This course is crosslisted as
PCON 218. For course description, see “Peace and Conflict: Course Offerings.”
220 Gender, Sexuality, and Society (S) M. Loe
This interdisciplinary course explores gender and sexuality as primary markers of social inequality in our society and among the most salient organizing agents of our everyday lives. Course readings span several disciplines, including literature, history, philosophy, sociology, and psychology. Students analyze gender and sexuality using comparative historical and sociological perspectives. Subthemes of the course include culture, socialization, body and performance, intersectionality, essentialism, privilege, resistance, and social change.
222 Media and Modern Society (S) P. Lopes
This course is a general introduction to concepts, theories, and issues related to mass media and society. Over the last 200 years tremendous changes have revolutionized the nature of mass communication in modern societies. This course is designed to provide a basic understanding of the nature of mass media and its social significance. It addresses the impact of different types of communication from information exchange, to news, to entertainment, to advertising. Students are introduced to a wide range of media including print, telegraphy, film, recorded sound, radio, television, and digital media. This course is about analyzing how media texts are produced; why some messages enter mass media channels and others do not; how these messages affect audiences and how audiences receive them; and the general impact of mass media on contemporary society, culture, and politics. This course is open to sophomores and first-year students only.
225 Social Science Research Methods (S)
This course is crosslisted as
GEOG 225, EDUC 225, and
POSC 225. For course description, see “Geography: Course Offerings.”
228 Immigration (S) J. Villarrubia
This course is an introduction to international migration, with a focus on post-World War II migration. Geographically, the course focuses on immigration to the United States from Latin America, where the bulk of post-1965 immigrants come from. The course begins by introducing students to basic concepts and approaches related to migration studies. It further examines different stages in the migration process, including the processes of migration, the adaption/incorporation of immigrants in U.S. society, and the future “assimilation” of their children.
230 Astronomy in Culture (A, AR)
This course is crosslisted as
ASTR 130. For course description, see “Astronomy under Physics and Astronomy; Pre-Engineering: Course Offerings.”
231 The Archaeology of the Ancient Maya (A, AR) Staff
All too often, the world’s civilizations are presented by popular media in terms of universalistic appeals to the romantic and grandiose ideals of Euro-American civilization. The “civilization” of the ancient Maya has not escaped this. While its popularization certainly has benefited research and fueled interest in the ancient Maya on a global scale, the Maya often are portrayed in light of the social, political, and economic institutions that are most compatible with the perspectives and experiences of Western audiences. Scholarship on the ancient Maya also is guilty of such cultural biases. Therefore this course grapples with how, when, and why science and scholarship on the Maya have engaged with popular imagination and the interests of modern capitalist nations and global economies. The course has two goals: 1) to provide a solid understanding of the history of one of the most advanced ancient civilizations of the world, and 2) to encourage the development of a critical perspective on how this history has been constructed by Western historians, archaeologists, cultural anthropologists, and others.
240 World Archaeology, Material Culture, and Identity (A, AR) R. Ammerman, A. Aveni, J. Kerber
From Neolithic settlements to the great cities of the ancient world, such as Uruk, Mohenjo Daro, Pompeii, Copan, and Teotihuacan, and encompassing Native American remains in our local central New York environment, this interdisciplinary, team-taught course offers a global study of archaeology and focuses on the role of material culture in shaping human identity. The course entertains questions such as, how did the world’s first great cities come to be? Where did writing come from? Why did ancient people all over the world revere their dead? What ends did human sacrifice serve? What are the lessons of archaeology regarding the human transformation of the environment? Perspectives on these issues are offered by faculty who specialize in a wide range of facets of the study of archaeology in different cultures of the world. This course is crosslisted as
CLAS 240.
245 Nature, Culture, and Politics (S) C. Henke
The words “nature” and “the environment” conjure up visions of wild animals and open landscapes, but are people part of nature, too? This course shows how nature and human culture are intertwined, both in terms of how we shape our environment as well as how it shapes us. Through a series of case studies, students explore this relationship, focusing especially on the way that nature and culture are “political”: inequalities, social problems and movements, and power relations all flow from the way that we interact with our environment. The course takes a global, comparative, and historical view of this process, and includes the following special topics: the rise of environmental awareness and environmental social movements; globalization and environmental values; consumption and the environment; environmental inequalities and justice; risk, technology, and environmental politics; and public policy and the environment.
248 African Art (A)
This course is crosslisted as
ARTS 248. For course description, see “Art and Art History: Course Offerings.”
249 Art and Architecture of the Ancient Americas (A)
This course is crosslisted as
ARTS 249. For course description, see “Art and Art History: Course Offerings.”
250 Native Art of North America (A)
This course is crosslisted as
ARTS 250. For course description, see “Art and Art History: Course Offerings.”
252 Muslim Societies in Transition (A) E. Spadola
How has mass education of women promoted Islamic revival from Niger to Indonesia? How have new media challenged Muslim authorities in Saudi Arabia? How do Chinese Muslims endure communism? This course compares Muslim-majority societies across the contemporary Islamic world with an emphasis on the distinct and shifting social institutions and practices that bind them. Major topics include changing social institutions under modern imperialism and emergent capitalism, the rise of nation-states and national identities, and the current Islamic revival. The course also addresses contemporary social changes in religious authority and hierarchy, gender and sexuality, religious and ethnic minorities, and technologies and new media. This course is crosslisted as
MIST 252.
255 Global Latin America: Communities, Commodities, and Cultural Change (A) E. Shever
This course explores the diversity of social experiences and ways of life of people across South, Central, and North America. It examines the historical composition of Latin American societies, their transformations, and their contemporary forms. By examining cases from across the region, students analyze the movements of people, materials, and ideas among the Americas. Students also use anthropological concepts to analyze pressing social issues affecting Latin America today.
300 Museum Studies in Native American Cultures (A, AR) J. Kerber
This course provides an introduction to museum studies with a special emphasis on the interpretation and representation of Native American cultures of the Western Hemisphere. Through readings, lectures, discussions, visits to regional museums, and design of a virtual exhibition, students are introduced to the theory and practice of museology; the care, conservation, and interpretation of material culture collections; and the use of material culture in research and public education. In addition, the course examines 1) the origins and evolution of the ongoing debate concerning representation of Native Americans in museums, 2) the changing relationship between native people and national cultural institutions, and 3) the future of museums on the highly contested multicultural stage of the 21st century. No first-year students are admitted.
301 Kinship and Marriage (A) M. Moran, M. Wehrer
What is family? What is kinship? What is marriage? These are questions that have been central to anthropology since its inception in the 19th century. This course examines the culture and political economy of family life, kinship, and marriage in a broad range of human societies, ranging from small-scale tribal societies to highly industrialized states. In addition to looking at the theories, methods, and data that are relevant to the study of kinship in anthropology and related disciplines, the class analyzes and compares different systems of descent and inheritance; various types of households, marriage patterns, and networks of exchange; and the myriad ways in which systems of kinship and marriage are informed by ideologies of gender and vice versa. The class also evaluates some of the recent classics on kinship in America as well as selected aspects of contemporary theoretical debates bearing on kinship and class, lesbian and gay kinship, and the new reproductive technologies. No first-year students are admitted.
303 Sociology of Education (S) J. Benson
This course is designed to provide students with an introduction to current theory and research on the role of education in contemporary society. Students use a sociological lens to critically examine education as a social institution, focusing specifically on the structure, practices, content, and outcomes of schooling. The course begins by investigating what are schools, whom are they for, and why do individuals and society care about them. Students then examine different theoretical approaches for thinking about the function of education in society. Next, the course turns to the question of education and inequality, and students examine the factors that influence why some students seem to have better educational outcomes than others. Students then focus on the organization and context of schooling, and examine how factors such as school climate, governance, tracking, year-round schooling, and neighborhood and family contexts shape student outcomes. Finally, students discuss educational reform and strategies for improving equity in education.
SOAN 210 is recommended. Prerequisites:
SOAN 101 and
102, or permission of instructor. No first-year students admitted.
305 Urban Sociology (S) Staff
Urban structures and problems are examined with an emphasis on the ways in which cities are embedded in a broader social and cultural milieu. The traditional concern of the impact of urban development on behavior is juxtaposed to an analysis of current fiscal problems and the potential for cities to grow, stagnate, or collapse. No first-year students are admitted.
306 Sociology of the Family (S) J. Benson
What are “families”? Are they necessary? How do we define them? What do they do? Why do they seem to be changing over time? Have changes in the family been beneficial or detrimental to the wellbeing of adults and children? What might the future hold for families in America? This course provides an introduction to sociological perspectives on families and family change. The class examines the family as an institution rooted in historical and social context, focusing on the ways in which society shapes family structures and norms, both concretely through social policy and indirectly through social pressures and ideology. Students use these tools to critically evaluate the arguments that policy makes and public commentators make about the current state of the family. Prerequisites:
SOAN 101 and
102, or permission of instructor.
312 Social Inequality (S) R. Levine, J. Villarrubia
This course analyzes social structure and social stratification, emphasizing economic class, life styles, differential prestige, and inequality. The theory of social class and its measurement is discussed, and the change and stability of social class is considered. Comparative examples of stratification are examined, although the emphasis is on the American class system. No first-year students are admitted. Prerequisite:
SOAN 101.
314 Population Issues and Analysis (S)
This course is crosslisted as
GEOG 314. For course description, see “Geography: Course Offerings.”
315 Gender and Culture (A) M. Moran
This course focuses on gender as a culturally constructed, historically variable, and politically contested category rather than an immutable biological “given.” This course has two major objectives: first, to develop a cross-cultural understanding of femininity, masculinity, androgyny, and gendered phenomena generally by examining and comparing gender relations and gender ideologies in a wide variety of human societies, ranging from small bands of hunters and gatherers to post-industrial states; and second, to develop a critical understanding of the types of theories, methods, and data that are relevant to the study of gender and sexuality — including heteronormativity, same-sex relations, transgender practices and identities, “third sexes,” “third genders” — in anthropology and related disciplines. No first-year students are admitted.
316 Myth, Ritual, and Symbol (A) N. Ries
This course explores the symbolic practices through which people create and negotiate cultural value and meaning. It takes as its starting premise the idea that all social activity is symbolic as well as pragmatic and that, through ethnographic observation, one can gain insight into the cultural meanings implicit in the things people do and say. Students examine formal, traditional rituals and folkloric myths, while looking equally at the diffuse symbolic practices of contemporary life. The course involves active participant observation as well as substantial engagement with theoretical questions anthropologists have posed about myth, ritual, and symbol over the last century. Prerequisite:
SOAN 102 or permission of instructor.
318 International Migration, U.S. Immigration, and Immigrants (S)
This course is crosslisted as
GEOG 318. For course description, see “Geography: Course Offerings.”
319 Food (S) C. Henke
Food is fundamental — it sustains us and is essential for our survival — but food is more than just what we eat. Food is also a commodity with complex global markets and ecological impacts; it is highly regulated through our political processes and institutions; and it forms a key part of our culture and the social rhythms of everyday life. This course explores these many dimensions of food, focusing especially on key questions about where it comes from, how it is produced, and how it is embedded in our economic, political, and cultural institutions. Students enrolled in this course participate in a service learning internship at Common Thread Community Farm in Madison, NY. The course also involves field trips to and guest speakers from local food and farming communities. Prerequisites: (1) one of the following courses:
ENST 101, ENST 232, SOAN 101, or
SOAN 102; (2) students must have an open morning (no other enrolled courses) on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m., in order to accommodate the farm internship component of the course. This course is crosslisted as
ENST 319.
320 Social Deviance (S) A. Simmons
This course examines the nature and consequences of deviant behavior in modern society. Students develop an understanding of the historical development of the study of deviance, the main theoretical perspectives on deviance, and some of the substantive concerns in the study of deviant behavior. This includes conceptualizations and definitions of deviance, the emergence and management of deviant identities, deviant careers, deviant subcultures, accounts of deviant behavior, and the social control of deviance. Specific types of deviance studied include substance use, sexual practices, non-violent crime, violent crime, mental illness, and youth subcultures. No first-year students are admitted. Prerequisites:
SOAN 101 and
102.
321 Black Communities (S) A. Simmons
This course examines the circumstances and dynamics characterizing black communities in the contemporary United States. Key areas of inquiry include the operation of major social institutions shaping community life, social class divisions, health and housing prospects, and the ways that the intersections of racial/ethnic identity, class, and gender shape the experiences of community members. No first-year students are admitted. Prerequisite:
SOAN 101 or
ALST 202 or permission of instructor. This course is crosslisted as
ALST 321.
324 Medical Sociology (S) M. Loe
This course introduces students to the uniqueness of sociological perspectives in understanding health care, and the social factors that influence health care. The course employs several levels of analysis: social history, social interaction, work roles, organizations, organizational relationships, and social policy. The framework for this course is that of social organization. The primary objective is to show that the social organization of a society influences, to some degree, the type and distribution of disease, illness, and death found in that society. The social organization of a society also influences, to a significant degree, how the system of medical care responds. The values and assumptions underlying the medical definition of health are not necessarily the same as those underlying the sociological definition of health. A focus of the course is to examine race, class, and gender issues that influence the delivery of healthcare in this country. Attention is given to such topics as social epidemiology, the social demography of health, social stress, and illness behavior. The course also reviews the sick role, doctor-patient interaction, medical health professionals, hospitals and other health care agencies, and the healthcare delivery system in the United States and other countries. No first-year students are admitted. Prerequisites:
SOAN 101 and
102, or permission of instructor.
326 Nations and Nationalism (S, A) C. Hsu
In this course, students learn major theories of nationalism and examine these theories in the light of empirical cases, including current conflicts in Afghanistan, Tibet, India, and the Middle East. Students learn about the rise of the nation-state and nationalism, examining how the nation-state has come to be the dominant form of political organization. Students investigate the relationship between nationalism and other social constructions of identity, such as language, religion, ethnicity, and gender. For example, this course examines how the construction of nationalism in the United States shapes the culture war debates, while a different version of nationalism in China affects its economic policies. The course also examines contemporary phenomenon undermining nationalism: transnationalism, mutinationalism, and globalization. No first-year students are admitted. Prerequisites:
SOAN 101 or
102, or permission of instructor.
328 Criminology (S) A. Simmons
This course introduces students to the field of criminology, the concept(s) of crime, the dilemmas modern criminologists encounter in conducting research, and the major theoretical perspectives on crime and criminal behavior. Emphasis is placed on sociological determinants of criminal behavior, as as the functioning of the US criminal justice system. No first-year students admitted. Prerequisites:
SOAN 101 and
SOAN 102, or permission of instructor.
332 Business and Society (S) Staff
This course analyzes the impact of corporations on U.S. society in the context of changing technologies, the growing importance of service industries, and the need to remain competitive in the international economy. This course explores the effects of corporate strategies and decisions on industrial structure, employment, and social welfare. No first-year students are admitted.
333 Sociology of the Life Course (S) J. Benson, M. Loe
This course takes the human life span as the primary unit of analysis. Individuals live their lives within contexts supplied by an existing social framework. It is this framework that orders transitions between the various stages of life, constructs the various roles that individuals will occupy over the course of their lives, and provides the set of historical conditions, ideas, and institutions by which individuals give meaning to their existence. Human lives are characterized by both continuity and change, and each human must negotiate the path of his or her life through a web of institutional frameworks. These pre-existing frameworks through which we travel are subject to the constraints of the past but are also open to possibilities created by each new generation. Understanding this complex relationship can not only broaden our notion of what it means to be human, but take our humanity to new heights as well. In some terms students must also register for
SOAN 333L, a required 0.25-credit field learning/lab component. Prerequisites:
SOAN 101 and
SOAN 102, or permission of instructor.
337 Globalization, Culture, and Everyday Life (S, A) C. Hsu
What does “globalization” mean, and what does it mean for societies and people facing the onslaught of global corporations? This course examines the phenomenon of globalization from a variety of theoretical perspectives, ranging from neo-liberal economics to cultural anthropology. It analyzes how each of these works defines the causes of globalization and its effects on traditional cultures, community relationships, economic wealth and justice, and political institutions. To put these theoretical works in perspective, interspersed with them are actual case studies of real people and real communities, ranging from Costa Rican farmers to Thai factory workers, interacting with the forces of globalization. These case studies allow students to test the abstract analyses and see which theories fit reality. Prerequisites:
SOAN 101 and
SOAN 102, or permission of instructor.
340 Work and Society (S) C. Henke
This study of the organization of work in industrialized societies includes the following topics: technology and work; hierarchy and control in the workplace; women, minorities, and work; worker discontent; and the professionalization of work. Special attention is given to the topics of skill and technology, especially with regard to workplace democratization. No first-year students are admitted.
344 The Sociology of Money and Markets (S) Staff
This course examines the social, cultural, and political underpinnings of economic constructs such as money, the market, consumption, and finance. The course explores how a sociological perspective complements and challenges traditional economic theories. The focus of the class is on the economics of everyday life — consumption, saving, and investing. No first-year students are admitted.
346 The Sociology of Wealth (S) Staff
This course studies a segment (upper-class) of American society that is both admired and held in contempt by other Americans. Grounding the analysis in the works of various sociologists and other scholars, the course examines the various social factors that have allowed some Americans to achieve high levels of financial worth, the different institutions the wealthy utilize to maintain their wealth and power, and mechanisms, such as inheritance, used by the wealthy to socially reproduce themselves. The course investigates the similarities and differences between Americans who are identified as having “old money” origins and those who are considered “new money” or “nouveau riche.” This course also analyzes the differences between the super wealthy, the rich, and those who fall in the contemporary category of “working-class millionaires.” Finally, through an in-depth analysis of the African American elite and upper-class women, the course explores how such identity markers as race and gender impact the experience of being wealthy. No first-year students admitted. Prerequisite:
SOAN 101. Students are advised to take one of the following courses beforehand:
SOAN 204, 312, or
344.
348 American Popular Culture (S) P. Lopes
Popular culture is an important site for the expression of cultural identity and cultural conflict in America. This course views popular culture as embedded in the cultural politics of American society that involves the formation of ideas, identities, pleasures, and even desires. Theoretical texts are read that place popular culture and mass media in their social, economic, and political contexts. From conflicts over high art and popular art, to leisure and social class, to race and ethnicity, to film and the spectacle, to sexuality and deviance, to the post modern, this course explores the rich history of American popular culture over the last 150 years. This course is open to juniors and seniors. Prerequisites:
SOAN 101 and
SOAN 102, or permission of instructor.
352 North American Indian Archaeology (A, AR) J. Kerber
This course traces the development of pre-Columbian Indian adaptations and cultures across North America. Students address topics covering a wide range of issues, such as the peopling of the New World, the human role in massive animal extinctions 10,000 years ago, the development of horticulture and settled village life, and archaeological methods of excavation and analysis. In addition, specific pre-Columbian Indian remains from various regions of the continent are examined. The course highlights the reconstruction of diverse subsistence strategies and settlement patterns from an ecological perspective. No first-year students are admitted.
353 Field Methods and Interpretation in Archaeology (A, AR) J. Kerber
This course provides students with hands-on experience in procedures archaeologists employ in collecting, processing, and reporting data. The course revolves around two basic premises: learning about archaeology includes doing archaeology, and doing archaeology involves more than just digging. Training in archaeological fieldwork and data processing is based upon an ongoing research project in Central New York. Each student has the opportunity to participate in various aspects of this research from excavation and field recording to cataloguing and analysis. The culmination of the course is a detailed report based upon research conducted during the semester. Class size is limited to 15 students. Prerequisite:
SOAN 103 or permission of instructor.
356 Ethical Issues in Native American Archaeology (A, AR) J. Kerber
This course examines a range of significant ethical issues relating to the archaeology of Native Americans in North America primarily, but also to some extent in Central and South America. Students not only read about and discuss conflicting perspectives leading to ethical dilemmas, but also propose solutions and evaluate existing policies to combat such problems. Some of the key topics covered in the course include the conservation ethic and stewardship; excavation and repatriation of Native American skeletal remains and sacred objects; looting, collecting, and commodification of Native American archaeological sites and artifacts; and public and postgraduate education. In short, the class actively engages in the critical ethical, theoretical, and legal debates surrounding Native American archaeology that have emerged over the past 30 years. Emphasis is placed on class participation and discussion. Prerequisites:
SOAN 101 and
SOAN 102, or permission of instructor.
358 Native American Cultures (A) M. Taylor
This course focuses on the comparative and historical study of Native American cultures and societies throughout the Americas. Through the reading of several ethnographies, the class compares and contrasts Native American social, religious, political, and economic institutions and practices from the time of European contact to the present day. No first-year students are admitted.
360 Comparative Cosmologies (A) A. Aveni
This course concentrates on the description and analysis of cosmological models and world views, primarily as revealed through myth, developed by a variety of ancient and contemporary societies. One goal in formulating a contrast between Western and non-Western aspects of world view is determining which concepts and ideas might emerge as common to all cultures as opposed to being unique in American society: Do all societies believe in a beginning and an end to their universe? To what extent are cosmological ideas reflected in urban planning and particularly in the design of sacred space? In what specific ways do developed world views depend upon cycles of social interaction? This course is open to juniors and seniors only.
361 Power, Politics, and Social Change (S) R. Levine
Political sociology is generally concerned with the interaction between the social structure and politics, between social processes and political processes. It considers questions such as the relationships between different political systems and social factors including economic development, social stratification, and socialization; or the relationship between the political factors of power, authority, sovereignty, and representation and the social factors of class, ethnicity, gender, and race. The approach of this course is historical and comparative. Among the topics considered are the intellectual foundations of the sociology of politics, social bases of power, politics, and social change, and the sociology of social movements. This course is open to juniors and seniors only.
362 Political Anthropology: Conflict and Cooperation (A) M. Moran
This course examines human political action in a variety of societies, both within and outside established political structures. Beginning with the attempt to construct truly cross-cultural definitions of power and politics, the class looks at examples of both centralized and un-centralized systems of authority and management. Topics include the management of cooperation and collective action in the absence of formal leadership roles; the use of informal mechanisms such as gossip, witchcraft, and influence; succession to office and the symbols and ceremonies surrounding the transfer of power; the construction of group identities based on race, ethnicity, and class; gender relations as a domain of political action; ethnicity, nationalism, and ethnic conflict; and the particular perspective anthropology can bring to the study of politics. No first-year students are admitted.
367 Sociology of Gender (S) M. Loe
Drawing on theoretical and empirical research, as well as visual media and print news reporting, this course explores gender as a primary market of social inequality in our society and a major impetus for social change. Specifically, students analyze how gendered ideologies, practices, and contexts shape social institutions such as work, family, medicine, sport, military, religion, and the beauty industry. They examine how institutions and bodies become contested sites for gender and sexual politics. The class also pays close attention to how gendered ideologies work in tandem with race, class, and sexual expectations, constraining (and sometimes enabling) bodies and lives. The course encourages students to analyze U.S. culture with a gendered lens. No first-year students are admitted.
369 Women, Health, and Medicine (S) M. Loe
This course draws on interdisciplinary research and writings to explore the ways in which the nature, distribution, meanings, and everyday life experiences associated with health, medicine, and illness are shaped by historical, cultural, political, and economic factors. Covering both micro- and macro-sociological terrains, this course utilizes a gendered lens to critically analyze the construction of gendered medical problems and doctor-patient encounters throughout history, women’s experiences in a male-dominated health care system, and social movements in response to medical injustices. Prerequisite:
SOAN 101 or
SOAN 102 or
WMST 202. No first-year students are admitted.
370 Science and Technology in Social Context (S) C. Henke
Everyone knows that science and technology are major forces in modernity, affecting nearly every aspect of society and daily life. But, at the same time, science and technology are also human creations. This course presents science and technology as social institutions, formed through the interactions of scientists, engineers, politicians, protesters, and other social groups. Topics covered include theories of knowing; how laboratories work; class, gender, and race in science; the social construction of technologies; technological disasters; computing and information technology; and the role of “experts” and ethics in public debates. No first-year students are admitted.
371 Gender and Society in Africa (A) M. Moran
This course examines traditional notions about men, women, and reproduction from a number of African societies. It focuses on the impact of European colonialism and other foreign political and economic institutions on women. Finally, the class studies the role of women in present-day African states, including their participation in national life, and the challenges and options presented by the future. No first-year students are admitted.
372 Anthropological Theory and Archaeological Praxis (A, AR) Staff
This course examines the interplay between theoretical trends in anthropology and the emergence of a reflexive practice of archaeology. Formal archaeology in the United States was a latecomer to anthropology, appearing during the era of Franz Boas. Somewhat later, the field became methodologically standardized as a result of the New Deal. After World War II, Americanist archaeology became a battle ground for competing perspectives in anthropology, fueled in part by the appearance of the National Science Foundation. Today, archaeology in the United States and Europe confronts and integrates numerous new critiques and theoretical perspectives, many of which arrive from recent trends in anthropology and various disciplines in the humanities and social sciences. Each week of this course covers a different theoretical framework in anthropology and its application to or relationship with archaeology. Among the topics addressed are cultural evolutionary theory, geoarchaeology, postcolonial critiques, practice theory, embodiment theory, gender archaeology, critical theory, discourse analysis, and indigenous archaeologies. The overarching goal is to assess the state of the art in anthropological approaches to the production of knowledge in archaeology. Prerequisite:
SOAN 101 and
102, or permission of instructor.
373 Native Heritage of Mexico and Central America (A, AR) Staff
This course explores features of the changing and surviving cultural traditions of Mesoamerica, one of the oldest and most distinctive cultural spheres in the world. Students begin by considering the material and ideological bases of pre-Columbian Mesoamerican society, from the peopling of the continent, the rise of the Maya city-states, to the unfolding of the 15th-century world system and the consolidation of the Aztec Empire. The second part of the course is a historical overview of Mesoamerica from the first Spanish incursions to the onset of globalization and the Zapatista rebellion. The final segment of the course looks at the interplay between anthropology and the contemporary politics of developing Mesoamerican nations. The course’s broad historical sweep provides a deep understanding of how the Mesoamerican past continues to engage and shape its present and, conversely, how modern concerns influence the results and implications of archaeological and anthropological research.
374 Anthropology of Media: Mass-Mediated Cultures (A) E. Spadola
This course examines media in local, national, and global contexts. More specifically, it draws on media theory and on specific ethnographic cases to discern the social force of modern mass-mediated communication within and across contemporary cultures. Topics include the technologization of old media, language and performance; the emergence of mass-mediated “imagined” communities, including new media social networks; and finally, war and media in the United States. Prerequisites:
SOAN 101 or 102, or permission of instructor. No first-year students admitted. This course is crosslisted as
FMST 374.
375 Media and Politics (S) A. Simmons
This course uses a sociological approach to examine the role that the media plays in American politics. Key areas of inquiry include the function of the media in democracy, the news-making process, campaigning through the news, political advertising, media effects, governing through the news, and infotainment/satire. No first-year students are admitted. Prerequisites:
SOAN 101 and
102, or
FMST 200, or permission of instructor. This course is crosslisted as
FMST 375.
376 Archaeology of the Inkas and their Ancestors A. Groleau
This course explores the many cultures that flourished in the Central Andes of South America, from the Inka Empire to the earliest inhabitants during the Paleolithic. By examining the cities, shrines, and habitations they left behind, archaeology allows for unique glimpses into the Pre-Columbian past in an area of the world with no written records prior to the 16th Century. Students trace the development of long-distance trade, the origins of agriculture, the spread of early religious traditions, and the formation of the first cities and empires in South America. In addition to learning the culture history of the Central Andes, student engage in contemporary debates including cultural tourism and the popularization of the Andean past; art markets, looting, and ownership of archaeological remains; and the relationship of present-day Andean communities to their material heritage. A background in archaeology is beneficial but not required.
378 Social Theory of Everyday Life (S, A) N. Ries
Since classical times, philosophers and historians have studied and recorded the details of everyday life with an eye to grasping the meaning of social practice. The past 50 years, however, have seen the bourgeoning of an exciting body of critical theory on the quotidian. Much of this work is concerned with profound questions about how the systems, structures, and practices of modernity shape basic human interactions with things, with places, and with other persons, and how these, in turn, reproduce social structures. This course presents sociological and anthropological texts concerned with everyday domesticity, cuisine, gesture, movement, activity, entertainment, talk, schooling, and bureaucracy, and explores the theoretical paradigms of knowledge, practice, and power to which these texts are ultimately addressed. No first-year students admitted.
379 Public Policy and Social Control (S, A) Staff
This is a course that focuses on how the American state manages various domestic and international problems. Students read classic and contemporary as well as theoretical and empirical literature to discuss the following topics: state autonomy and capacity for action, policy-making processes, the impact of social programming on various groups and the rights of citizens, and the unintended social consequences of state action. The limits and obstacles to broad social change are an overarching theme of the course. Prerequisites:
SOAN 101 and
102. No first-year students admitted.
382 Nations, Power, Islam: Muslim Identity and Community in the Global Age (A) E. Spadola
Muslims today belong at once to a global community of the faithful and to particular ethnic and national bodies. This course examines the social significance of these intersections of identity and community: what political, cultural, and religious conflicts and negotiations mark Muslim identity in the global age? Initial readings survey the colonial age, which forced the integration of Muslim communities into the global capitalist and state systems. With this foundation students then address specific conflicts and congruencies of contemporary Muslim identity in both the Muslim world and the West: between Islamic law and national-state laws; between local Islamic norms and transnational flows of media, persons, and products; between popular Islam and political power. How do these issues affect Muslims and their neighbors? How do they affect geopolitics? What is the present and future of the “global village”? Prerequisites:
SOAN 102 or
CORE 183C.
452 Senior Seminar: Issues in Contemporary Anthropology (A) Staff
This is the capstone seminar for students taking the anthropology emphasis in the sociology and anthropology major. Students in this course design original research projects grounded in recent anthropological theory and relevant literature on their topics and collect and analyze appropriate ethnographic or cultural data; and each student writes a significant thesis paper. Seminars also focus on intensive reading about select theoretical issues in contemporary anthropology; the specific focus of the seminar reading depends on the instructor. The anthropology seminar may also be taken by students pursuing the joint emphasis. Open to seniors only. Prerequisites:
SOAN 101 with a grade of C or higher,
102 with a grade of C or higher,
204, and
211, or permission of instructor.
453 Senior Seminar: Issues in Contemporary Sociology (S) Staff
This is the capstone course for students taking the sociology emphasis in the sociology and anthropology major. Students conduct original sociological research on the topics of their choice. They design research projects grounded in sociological theory, review relevant literature on the topics, and collect and analyze data to find their own results. Each student’s project results in a significant thesis paper, through which students learn the process of doing sociological research and writing a sociological article. Seminars focus on a variety of broad topical areas in sociology, depending on the instructor. The sociology seminar may also be taken by students pursuing the joint emphasis. Open to seniors only. Prerequisites:
SOAN 101 with a grade of C or higher,
102 with a grade of C or higher,
204, and
210, or permission of instructor.
454 Senior Seminar: Issues in Contemporary Sociology and Anthropology (J) Staff
This is the capstone course for students taking the joint emphasis in the sociology and anthropology major. Students design original research projects grounded in recent social theory and a review of relevant literatures on their topics; they collect and analyze data related to the topics, and each student produces a significant original thesis. Seminars also examine select theoretical issues in contemporary sociology and anthropology, with the specific focus depending on the instructor. The joint seminar may also be taken by students pursuing the sociology or anthropology emphasis. Open to seniors only. Prerequisites:
SOAN 101 with a grade of C or higher,
102 with a grade of C or higher,
204, 210, and
211, or permission of instructor.
495 Honors Seminar in Sociology and Anthropology (S, A, J) Staff
This seminar is for candidates for honors and high honors in sociology and anthropology. Students enroll in the seminar to write an honors/high honors thesis. Enrollment is limited to seniors with a SOAN departmental GPA of 3.50 or higher, and an overall GPA of 3.30 or higher. This course is offered in the spring semester only. Prerequisites:
SOAN 452, 453, or
454, or permission of instructor.
291, 391, 491 Independent Study (S, A) Staff
Students obtaining permission from the department may undertake individual or group studies of advanced or specialized topics in sociology and anthropology.