2007-08 Undergraduate Catalog
Course Descriptions
SYA 4110 Development of Sociological Thought
Credits: 3; Prereq: 9 hours of sociology.
Comparative study of the major ideas of the principal contributors to the development of sociology. Emphasizes relevance of these ideas to contemporary social thought and current social issues.
SYA 4300 Methods of Social Research
Credits: 4; Prereq: 6 hours of sociology, STA 2023 and STA 3024.
Introduction to the scientific method and its application to social science research. Research design, data collection and selected topics related to computer data analysis and interpretation.
SYA 4506 Writing in Sociology
Credits: 3; Prereq: sociology majors only.
Will help sociology majors improve the quality of writing professional sociological reports.
SYA 4010 Advanced General Sociology
Credits: 3; Prereq: 9 hours of sociology.
Intensive advanced theoretical study of the general principles of sociology, sociological concepts and social issues by emphasizing classical and/or contemporary schools of sociological thought.
SYA 4905 Individual Work
Credits: 1 to 4; can be repeated with change in content up to 8 credits. Prereq: 9 hours of sociology and department permission.
Designed to permit students to work in areas not covered in regularly scheduled courses.
SYA 4930 Special Study
Credits: 3; can be repeated with change in content up to 12 credits. Prereq: 9 hours of sociology. Various specialized topics.
SYA 4931 Department Honors in Sociology
Credits: 3.
SYA 4941 Internship in Applied Sociology
Credits: 3; can be repeated with department approval and a different field placement. Prereq: 6 hours of sociology and department permission.
Supervised individual practicum in sociology through internship placement in social services organizations.
SYD 3410 Urban Sociology
Credits: 3; Prereq: SYG 2000 or department permission.
The development of cities and their spatial and social structure. Critical problems and solutions. Integration of people in the social setting. Social implications of city planning. (WR)
SYD 3630 Latin American Societies
Credits: 3.
Latin American culture and social structure. Historical, geographical, economic, social and population characteristics of Latin American nations. Spanish, Portuguese, English and American exploitation of Latin America. (S, N)
SYD 3700 Minorities in American Society
Credits: 3.
Sociological analysis of the structure, social processes and efforts to effect change of racial, ethnic and religious minorities. (S, D) (WR)
SYD 4020 Population
Credits: 3.
Characteristics and trends in the population of the contemporary world. Historical and current growth patterns related to resource conservation, food production and modernization in various regions of the world. (S, N)
SYD 4021 U.S. Population Issues
Credits: 3.
Introduces students to major issues related to population size, growth, and composition in the United States. Covers historical and contemporary population issues, and introduces some basic demographic measures and sources of data.
SYD 4510 Environment and Society
Credits: 3.
Social foundations of environmental problems and social responses to environmental issues, including contestation, conflicts and movements.
SYD 4512 Social Institutions and Environment
Credits: 3; Prereq: SYG 2000 or consent of instructor.
Provides a study of the promise and limitations of new social institutions associated with environmental improvement, such as fair trade, corporate social responsibility and eco-labeling schemes.
SYD 4701 Nationalism and Ethnicity in Europe
Credits: 3.
This course is a comparative study of roles played by nationalism and ethnic identity in modern Europe.
SYD 4800 Sociology of Gender
Credits: 3.
Examines the social construction of gender in everyday life; how gender structures social institutions such as the economy and mass media; and how gender shapes the distribution of resources, power and privilege in ways that benefit men over women. (S, D)
SYD 4808 Reproduction and Gender
Credits: 3.
Examination of contemporary reproductive issues in U.S. context. How culture and social structures shape reproductive realm while exploring social psychology of individuals' reproductive experiences.
SYD 4810 Sociology of Women
Credits: 3; Prereq: SYG 2000 or SYG 2430.
An examination of the gender-based system of social stratification that exists in Western societies. Attention is given to various social institutions (e.g., education, family, religion, economy).
SYD 4820 Men and Masculinities
Credits: 3.
Focuses on issues related to traditional and emerging images of masculinity and male gender-roles in the past, present and future. The relationship between social forces and males' everyday life experiences across the life-span is emphasized. (S, D)
SYG 2000 Principles of Sociology
Credits: 3.
Introduction to sociology as a social science and analysis of American society. Culture, socialization, deviance, bureaucracy, population, urbanization, social stratification, minorities and other topics. (S) (WR)
SYG 2004 Principles of Sociology (Honors)
Credits: 3.
Available only to students in the invitation only UF Honors Program. Students in the UF Honors Program must follow registration procedures as listed in the online catalog under the "Honors Program" section. This course covers various topics that can parallel those covered in SYG 2000. (WR)
SYG 2010 Social Problems
Credits: 3.
The development, analysis and treatment of social problems. Crime, poverty, prejudice and discrimination, pollution and environmental despoliation, drug abuse, mental illness and others. Special attention to factors in U.S. society that cause social problems. (S) (WR)
SYG 2430 Marriage and Family
Credits: 3.
Development of masculine and feminine roles. Recent changes in premarital interaction, such as dating, sexual involvement, coed dorm living, living together. Mutual adjustment and parenthood. Alternative family structures. (S, D) (WR)
SYG 2930 Specialized Topics
Credits: 3.
May be repeated for credit with change of topic for a maximum of 6 hours.
SYG 4956 Overseas Studies
Credits: 1 to 18; can be repeated with change in topic up to 18 credits. Prereq: Permission of undergraduate adviser.
This revolving topics course provides a mechanism by which course work taken abroad as part of an approved student program can be recorded on the transcript and counted toward UF graduation.
SYO 3534 Poverty
Credits: 3; Prereq: SYG 2000.
The social, cultural, economic, political and psychological implications of being poor. Sources of poverty in the structure and operation of society: consequences of poverty for society. Current and feasible policies for easing the problem. Survey of the contemporary United States with reference to its past and to other nations both developed and underdeveloped.
SYO 4102 American Families
Credits: 3; Prereq: SYG 2000.
The impact of rapid social changes upon families; race, class and ethnic variations. The liberation of women and changing family roles. Alternative life styles and the futures of families.
SYO 4180 Families and Work
Credits: 3; Prereq: SYG 2000.
Focuses on the overlapping worlds of work and family. Examines unpaid work that takes place in or around the home as well as paid labor performed in the workplace. An emphasis on female labor force participation.
SYO 4200 Sociology of Religion
Credits: 3; Prereq: SYG 2000.
The sociological perspective on religions including their ideologies and rituals. Social aspects of the religious and religious aspects of the social. Organized religions and religions (S, N) (WR)
SYO 4300 Political Sociology
Credits: 3; Prereq: SYG 2000.
Applies sociological analysis to political themes in a comparative context.
SYO 4352 Consumption, Economy and Society
Credits: 3; Prereq: SYG 2000 or consent of instructor.
Introduces the field of economic sociology, defined as the study of economic life using the sociological imagination.
SYO 4400 Medical Sociology
Credits: 3; Prereq: refer to the department.
Effects of group characteristics in the causation, amelioration, and prevention of mental and physical illness and social influences in medical education, medical practice, and hospital administration.
SYO 4530 Social Inequality
Credits: 3; Prereq: SYG 2000.
The unequal distribution among individuals and groups of wealth, power and prestige; the effect of class systems upon society; the effect of class membership on individuals; social mobility. (S, D)
SYO 4540 Organizations
Credits: 3; Prereq: 12 hours of sociology or the equivalent foundations in education administration, industrial and systems engineering, management, or political science.
The behavior of individuals and systems in formal organizations; bureaucratic models; government, hospital, church, school, industry, etc., as manifestations of a common principle.
SYP 3000 Society and the Individual
Credits: 3; Prereq: SYG 2000.
Relation of the individual to the social environment with special reference to person perception, self formation, self disclosure, attitude formation and change, and group structure and processes. Social forces that shape the lives of individuals and how individuals adjust to modern society. (S) (WR)
SYP 3510 Deviance
Credits: 3.
An introduction to the sociology of deviance. Special emphasis on the definition of deviance; types of deviant behavior such as suicide, drugs and alcohol abuse, sexual deviance, deviant subcultures, violence, etc.; differential labeling and institutional processing; and implications of social control. (S) (WR)
SYP 4060 Sociology of Human Sexuality
Credits: 3; Prereq: SYG 2000.
This course examines theoretical and conceptual issues, empirical research and social policies germane to human sexuality with a primary focus on the U.S. Topics include: sexual identity and orientation; sexual behavior; social control of sexuality; social implications of STDs and HIV/AIDS; and the relationship between sexuality and the socio-political process.
SYP 4520 Criminology
Credits: 3; Prereq: SYG 2000.
Nature and causes of crime, criminality and criminal careers. Research in crime and delinquency. Sociological analysis of criminal law, criminal justice, rehabilitation, punishment, prevention and deterrence.
SYP 4530 Juvenile Delinquency
Credits: 3; Prereq: SYG 2000.
Causes and explanations of juvenile delinquency and youth crime. Types of delinquents, sociological analysis of the juvenile justice system, treatment and prevention.
SYP 4540 Sociology of Law
Credits: 3.
Law in simple and complex societies. Role of social factors information and implementation of civil and criminal law. Effect of law on social change, social control and social institutions.
SYP 4550 Alcohol, Drugs and Society
Credits: 3.
Overview of alcohol and drug use and abuse in modern society. Emphasis on social characteristics, social processes, policy and programs in socially accepted and deviant use.
SYP 4730 Sociology of Aging and Life Course
Credits: 3.
Social and personal conditions of post-retirement years; family and housing patterns, income, leisure, health, group processes; and evaluation of institutional care for the aged. (S, D)
SYP 4731 Aging, Self and Society
Credits: 3.
The relationship between the aging, self and communal subcultures. Consideration of the place of images of aging and the life course in self-definition, intergenerational contact, and institutionalization. (S, D)
SYP 4740 Sociology of Death and Survivorship
Credits: 3.
The sociological dimensions of death, bereavement, and widowhood; ritualistic customs and behavior associated with death on both intra- and cross-cultural bases; contemporary issues associated with death-related phenomena; social and environmental factors affecting survivor adaptation.
General Education Categories
Consult Schedule of Courses for specific information.
- Biological Sciences (B)
- Composition (C)
- Diversity (D)*
- Humanities (H)
- International (N)*
- Mathematics (M)
- Physical Sciences (P)
- Social and Behavioral Sciences (S)
* Students who entered UF prior to Summer B 2007 and/or whose catalog year is not 2007-08: Current students who have not already completed six hours of "I" - international/diversity credits can do so now by taking "D" and "N" courses.
Symbols Used in Course Descriptions
- (WR) indicates the course satisfies the writing requirement.
- (MR) indicates the course satisfies the math requirement.
- (S-U) indicates the course may be taken on a satisfactory-unsatisfactory basis.
- Refer to the Schedule of Courses for specific information.