This is an archived copy of the 2011-2012 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.miracosta.edu

Sociology

Sociology is the study of human social behavior, groups, and how environments influence behavior. Sociologists focus on the origins, organization, institutions, and developments of society. Students take courses to prepare for a sociology major or to fulfill general education requirements. Career options include social work, human services, law enforcement, legal professions, business, and teaching.

Contact Information

Department Chair: Thao Ha

Dean: Carlos Lopez

www.miracosta.edu/SOC

Department: Sociology

Office: Building 3100, 760.795.6871

Full-Time Faculty

Karen Baum
Thao Ha
Bruce Hoskins

Associate Degrees

Associate in Arts Degree

Pre-Social Work

Social work is the study and application of assisting people in meeting their social, psychological, and economic needs. Students are encouraged to get experience working in the field as a volunteer or in an internship capacity early in their educational degree program.

The Pre-Social Work Program offers lower-division preparation for students who plan on transferring to pursue a bachelor's degree in social work. Students planning to transfer and/or earn this associate degree may also need to complete additional requirements or electives required by the transfer institution, as many CSUs and UCs have unique admissions and preparation-for-the-major requirements. Students should meet with a MiraCosta College counselor to identify required courses and to develop a written plan for their targeted university.

Required courses: 
ANTH 102Cultural Anthropology3
or ANTH 102H Cultural Anthropology (Honors)
BIO 100General Biology (Lecture and Lab)3-4
or BIO 101 General Biology
CHLD 210Child, Family, and Community3
ECON 101Principles of Economics: MACRO3
PHIL 102Contemporary Moral Problems3
MATH 103Statistics4
or PSYC/SOC 104 Statistics for Behavioral Science
PSYC 101General Psychology3
or PSYC 101H General Psychology (Honors)
SOC 101Introduction to Sociology3
or SOC 101H Introduction to Sociology (Honors)
Total Units25-26


Additional courses that may be required by individual universities for preparation for a social work major:

Required courses: 
ADM 100Introduction to the Administration of Justice3
or ADM 100H Introduction to the Administration of Justice (Honors)
GERO 101Introduction to Aging3
PSYC/SOC 205Research Methods in Behavioral Sciences3

 

Associate in Arts Degree

Social Sciences

The Social Sciences Program examines all aspects of human existence from early man to present-day political systems. The program offers lower-division preparation for students who plan on transferring to pursue a bachelor's degree in social sciences. Students planning to transfer and/or earn this associate degree may also need to complete additional requirements or electives required by the transfer institution, as many CSUs and UCs have unique admissions and preparation-for-the-major requirements. Students should meet with a MiraCosta College counselor to identify required courses and to develop a written plan for their targeted university.

Select at least 6 units from one area of concentration.

1. Anthropology

Required courses: 
ANTH 101Biological Anthropology3
or ANTH 101H Biological Anthropology (Honors)
ANTH 102Cultural Anthropology3
or ANTH 102H Cultural Anthropology (Honors)

 

2. Economics

Required courses: 
ECON 101Principles of Economics: MACRO3
ECON 102Principles of Economics: MICRO3

 

3. Geography

Required courses: 
GEOG 101Physical Geography3
GEOG 102Cultural Geography3

 

4. History - One of the following sequences:

Sequence A

Required courses: 
HIST 100World History to 15003
or HIST 100H World History to 1500 (Honors)
HIST 101World History Since 15003
or HIST 101H World History Since 1500 (Honors)
Total Units6

  

Sequence B

Required courses: 
HIST 103Western Civilization to 16483
or HIST 103H Western Civilization to 1648 (Honors)
HIST 104Western Civilization Since 16483
or HIST 104H Western Civilization Since 1648 (Honors)
Total Units6

  

Sequence C

Required courses: 
HIST 110United States History to 18773
or HIST 110H United States History to 1877 (Honors)
HIST 111United States History Since 18773
or HIST 111H United States History Since 1877 (Honors)
Total Units6

  

Sequence D

Required courses: 
HIST 116History of the Americas to 18303
HIST 117History of the Americas Since 18303
Total Units6

 

5. Political Science 

Select two courses.6-7
Introduction to Political Science
American Institutions and History
Comparative Government
Select at least 3 elective units from the following:3
Principles of Human Communication
General Psychology
General Psychology (Honors)
Introduction to Sociology
Introduction to Sociology (Honors)
Statistics. Select one course from the following:4
Statistics
Statistics for Behavioral Science
Foreign Language. Select two courses from the same foreign language:8
Elementary Chinese (First Semester)
Elementary Chinese (Second Semester)
Elementary French (First Semester)
Elementary French (Second Semester)
Intermediate French (Third Semester)
Intermediate French (Fourth Semester)
Elementary German (First Semester)
Elementary German (Second Semester)
Intermediate German (Third Semester)
Elementary Italian (First Semester)
Elementary Italian (Second Semester)
Intermediate Italian (Third Semester)
Elementary Japanese (First Semester)
Elementary Japanese (Second Semester)
Intermediate Japanese (Third Semester)
Intermediate Japanese (Fourth Semester)
Elementary Spanish (First Semester)
Elementary Spanish (Second Semester)
Intermediate Spanish (Third Semester)
Intermediate Spanish (Fourth Semester)
Total Units21-22

Note: CSU requires foreign language competency, which is third-semester level, for social science majors. Some universities do not offer all of the disciplines listed above and others require a specific type of statistics course, depending on the area of concentration. Additional courses may be required at the lower-division level, depending on the specific transfer institution.

Associate in Arts Degree

Sociology

Sociology is the study of human social behavior, groups, and how environments influence behavior. Sociologists focus on the origins, organization, institutions, and development of society.

The Sociology Program offers lower-division preparation for students who plan on transferring to pursue a bachelor's degree in sociology. Students planning to transfer and/or earn this associate degree may also need to complete additional requirements or electives required by the transfer institution, as many CSUs and UCs have unique admissions and preparation-for-the-major requirements. Students should meet with a MiraCosta College counselor to identify required courses and to develop a written plan for their targeted university.

Required courses: 
SOC 101Introduction to Sociology3
or SOC 101H Introduction to Sociology (Honors)
SOC 102Contemporary Social Problems3
SOC/PSYC 104Statistics for Behavioral Science4
or MATH 103 Statistics
Select three elective courses from the following:9-15
Cultural Anthropology
Cultural Anthropology (Honors)
Elementary Chinese (First Semester)
Elementary Chinese (Second Semester)
Fundamentals of Computer Information Systems
Principles of Economics: MACRO
Elementary French (First Semester)
Elementary French (Second Semester)
Intermediate French (Third Semester)
Intermediate French (Fourth Semester)
Cultural Geography
Elementary German (First Semester)
Elementary German (Second Semester)
Intermediate German (Third Semester)
World History Since 1500
World History Since 1500 (Honors)
Western Civilization Since 1648
Western Civilization Since 1648 (Honors)
United States History to 1877
United States History to 1877 (Honors)
United States History Since 1877
United States History Since 1877 (Honors)
Elementary Italian (First Semester)
Elementary Italian (Second Semester)
Intermediate Italian (Third Semester)
Elementary Japanese (First Semester)
Elementary Japanese (Second Semester)
Intermediate Japanese (Third Semester)
Intermediate Japanese (Fourth Semester)
Calculus with Applications
Calculus and Analytic Geometry I
Contemporary Moral Problems
Introduction to Political Science
American Institutions and History
Comparative Government
Introduction to International Relations
Introduction to Women's Studies
Research Methods in Behavioral Sciences
Elementary Spanish (First Semester)
Elementary Spanish (Second Semester)
Intermediate Spanish (Third Semester)
Intermediate Spanish (Fourth Semester)
Total Units19-25

  

Certificates

Certificate of Proficiency

Research Fundamentals

The certificate in Research Fundamentals emphasizes the skills needed to interpret research data and conduct basic research in accordance with the procedures and methods of behavioral science. The certificate is designed for individuals interested in learning research skills and for those who need assistance in improving these skills for their work.

Required courses: 
PSYC/SOC 104Statistics for Behavioral Science4
LIBR 101College Research Skills1
Select at least three elective units from the following:3
General Psychology
General Psychology (Honors)
Introduction to Sociology
Introduction to Sociology (Honors)
Introduction to the Administration of Justice
Introduction to the Administration of Justice (Honors)
Select one course from the following electives:3
Research Methods in Behavioral Sciences
Research Strategies for the Online World
Total Units11

  

Certificate of Proficiency

Volunteer Services

This certificate offers students core courses in behavioral science combined with at least one behavioral science course that offers service learning. The academic courses provide a fundamental understanding of human behavior. A course that includes service learning requires volunteering in the community combined with written reflection on the volunteer experience. This certificate emphasizes working directly with people in need within the service-learning tradition, and it integrates academics with practice. This certificate can enrich the service of experienced volunteers, guide those interested in volunteering for the first time and transfer students interested in teaching and social service agency work, and provide early experience in public service. Students need to contact the Service Learning Office for information about instructors in behavioral science who offer service learning. In addition, students must provide verification of their volunteer participation through the Service Learning Office to earn the certificate.

Required courses: 
SOC 101Introduction to Sociology3
or SOC 101H Introduction to Sociology (Honors)
SOC 102Contemporary Social Problems3
Select at least 5 elective units from the following:5
Child, Family, and Community
Social Psychology
Psychology/Sociology of the Family
Total Units11

 

How to Read Course Descriptions

Courses

SOC 101: Introduction to Sociology

Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with credit in SOC 101H.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3 hours. (2208.00)

This course offers a thorough study of human society and social phenomena. It is guided by sociology's basic principle that people's lives are affected not only by individual characteristics but also by their place in the social world. The course emphasizes the connections among human relationships, social institutions, and social organizations, which allow students to evaluate themselves, and the world around them, more analytically and critically.

SOC 101H: Introduction to Sociology (Honors)

Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with credit in SOC 101.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC Credit limitation
Lecture 3 hours. (2208.00)

This course offers a thorough study of human society and social phenomena. It is guided by sociology's basic principle that people's lives are affected not only by individual characteristics, but also by their place in the social world. The course emphasizes the connections among human relationships, social institutions, and social organizations, which allow students to evaluate themselves, and the world around them, more analytically and critically. As an honors course, it provides an enhanced experience for motivated students through exigent course work and readings, a seminar format, enriched and in-depth analysis of social issues, and application of higher-level critical thinking skills. UC CREDIT LIMITATION: Credit for SOC 101 or SOC 101H.

SOC 102: Contemporary Social Problems

Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3 hours. (2208.00)

Analysis of social problems in a diverse society with emphasis on economic, racial and gender inequality, crime, poverty, the family, education, health care, and others. Evaluation of causes, consequences, and solutions to the problems of our society.

SOC 103: Social Psychology

Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with credit in PSYC 103.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3 hours. (2208.00)

Social psychology examines the effects of society and social groups on individuals. Emphasizes the sociological and psychological factors in socialization, self-concept, interpersonal relationships, and group dynamics. Special attention paid to social cognition, attitudes, social influence, language and cross-cultural differences in social psychology.

SOC 104: Statistics for Behavioral Science

Units: 4
Prerequisites: MATH 101 or MATH 101B or qualification through the Math Competency Exam or approved equivalent.
Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with credit in BTEC 180, BIO 180, PSYC 104, or SOC 104.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC Credit limitation
Lecture 4 hours. (2208.00)

This course introduces statistical methods for analyzing data in the behavioral sciences. Topics include basic research design; descriptive statistics, probability and sampling distributions; statistical inference and power; linear correlation and regression; t-test and one-way analysis of variance; chi-square. Students use appropriate technology (e.g., calculators and SPSS) to analyze real-world data and report results using American Psychological Association style. UC CREDIT LIMITATION: Credit for BIO 180/BTEC 180, MATH 103, or PSYC 104/SOC 104.

SOC 105: Introduction to Justice Studies

Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with credit in ADM 105.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC Credit limitation
Lecture 3 hours. (2208.00)

An introduction to the interdisciplinary field of justice studies. Explores social, economic, and criminal justice issues by means of sociological, philosophical, and legal perspectives and methodologies. Students will critically assess the obstacles and opportunities central to the pursuit of justice in the United States and abroad. Topics of analysis may include formal legal systems, institutionalization of injustice, environmental justice, and genocide. UC CREDIT LIMITATION: Credit for ADM 100/ADM 100H or ADM 105/SOC 105.

SOC 110: Comparative Cultures

Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3 hours. (2208.00)

This course compares and contrasts a variety of cultures from around the world, past and present. It focuses on social structure, social institutions, values, beliefs, norms, and customs from multiple perspectives. The course also uses multiple theoretical perspectives to examine the similarities and differences among cultures, relevant subcultures, and/or regional communities in relationship to education, family, economics, religion, and politics, the status of women and men, ideologies, history, and current events.

SOC 120: Introduction to Women's Studies

Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3 hours. (2208.00)

This course introduces students to women's studies through sociological theories, concepts, and sociological research. The course examines the status and roles of women in social institutions, social organizations, and social classes. It compares and contrasts similarities and differences in women's experiences based on race and ethnic groups, different cultures, and subcultures. It is guided by sociology's emphases on cultural relativism, diversity, and the effects of inequality. Topics include institutional discrimination, gender socialization, sexuality, varied cultural influences, feminism, and regional, national, and global perspectives on women's rights.

SOC 145: Psychology/Sociology of the Family

Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with credit in PSYC 145.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3 hours. (2208.00)

Studies the family as a social institution and includes social and psychological factors applied to understanding the family and intimate relationships. The course examines social, cultural, and psychological factors linked to sexuality, love, partner selection, and marital choice; adjustment and conflict in marriage, family, and intimate relationships; and changing models of families. Included are cross-cultural comparisons of family systems, historical perspectives, family organization, and changes and trends in contemporary society that influence the family.

SOC 205: Research Methods in Behavioral Sciences

Units: 3
Prerequisites: PSYC 101 or SOC 101; and PSYC 104 or SOC 104; and ENGL 100.
Corequisite: PSYC 104 or SOC 104 (for students with MATH 103 credit).
Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with credit in PSYC 205.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 2 hours, laboratory 3 hours. (2208.00)

This course introduces research methodologies used in the behavioral sciences. It emphasizes an appreciation of the scientific method, the development of research skills, knowledge of research ethics, and the evaluation of scientific research. Students conduct library research, design and implement research projects using appropriate methodologies and controls, analyze and interpret data using a statistical computer program, and write research reports using APA format. Students with MATH 103 may take PSYC 104 or SOC 104 concurrently with Research Methods.

SOC 207: Race and Ethnic Relations

Units: 3
Prerequisites: None
Acceptable for Credit: CSU, UC
Lecture 3 hours. (2208.00)

This course provides a systematic examination of how race and ethnic relations are affected by the concepts of power, prejudice, ethnocentrism, and racism. It connects historical oppression to current racial and ethnic dynamics in the United States. The course also studies factors involved in establishing, sustaining, and changing systems of racial and ethnic inequality and how they are connected to class and gender.

SOC 292: Internship Studies

Units: 0.5-3
Prerequisites: None
Corequisite: Complete 60 non-paid or 75 paid hours of work per unit.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
(2208.00)

This course provides students the opportunity to apply the theories and techniques of their discipline in an internship position in a professional setting under the instruction of a faculty-mentor and site supervisor. It introduces students to aspects of the roles and responsibilities of professionals employed in the field of study. Topics include goal-setting, employability skills development, and examination of the world of work as it relates to the student's career plans. Students must develop new learning objectives and/or intern at a new site upon each repetition. Students may not earn more than 16 units in any combination of cooperative work experience (general or occupational) and/or internship studies during community college attendance.

SOC 298: Directed Study in Sociology

Units: 1-3
Prerequisites: None
Enrollment Limitation: Instructor and department chair approval and successful completion of 12 units of college work with at least a 3.0 grade-point average.
Repeatability Rule: May be taken for a total of 3 units.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
Laboratory 3 hours.
Laboratory 6 hours.
Laboratory 9 hours. (2208.00)

This course allows students to pursue a special area of interest in order to achieve specific goals beyond the scope of existing courses within the discipline. Students work independently and interact directly with an instructor on an individual basis and as prescribed by the Directed Study Agreement.

SOC 299: Occupational Cooperative Work Experience

Units: 1-4
Prerequisites: None
Corequisite: Employed in a position related to major; complete 60 non-paid or 75 paid hours of work per unit.
Acceptable for Credit: CSU
(2208.00)

Cooperative Work Experience is intended for students who are employed in a job directly related to their major. It allows such students the opportunity to apply the theories and skills of their discipline to their position and to undertake new responsibilities and learn new skills at work. Topics include goal-setting, employability skills development, and examination of the world of work as it relates to the student's career plans. Students may not earn more than 16 units in any combination of cooperative work experience (general or occupational) and/or internship studies during community college attendance.

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