Format: Online
Meeting time: TBA
Instructor: Professor Shane Thye
Session dates: May 11–May 29

Content: This survey course covers many aspects of modern sociology. The course begins with an overview of the origins of sociology. Then the course covers a survey of sociological research methods and the role of theory and science in sociology. Theoretical perspectives on social life are covered along with sociological treatments of societal institutions. Theories of socialization, deviance, family, group dynamics, and religion are also covered. Student assessment takes the form of three examinations and several film assignments. Students should gain a grasp of the role of social structures on individual lives and an understanding of the role of sociology in the modern world.

Format: Online
Meeting time: TBA
Instructor: Professor Laura Brashears
Session dates: May 11–May 29

A good sociologist is like a detective, seeing what is happening on the surface, while always keeping an eye out for underlying reasons for those patterns. The sociology of education is no different. And that is why, despite having spent a large portion of your lives embedded within schools, there may be dynamics at play that you have previously ignored or overlooked. In this class, we will begin to peel back the layers of the American K-12 school system. Along the way, we will answer the following orienting questions:

• Why is education a fundamental institution in the U.S., and what does American education look like?
• What are the dynamics of the teacher-student relationship, and why does this matter for educational outcomes?
• How is inequality in the larger society reproduced through the school system?
• What happens to individuals’ student identities in school due to peer influences, teacher reactions, and parental involvement?

Format: Online
Meeting time: TBA
Instructor: Professor Andrea Henderson-Platt
Session dates: June 1–June 19

In this online class, we will examine some basic ideas in the field of sociology. Students will come to understand the many ways in which people’s lives, including their own, are shaped by larger social forces. Students will be introduced to topics covered in more depth in other sociology courses such as social inequalities, family, health, deviance, religion, and education. We will use brief lectures, various media such as videos and podcasts, and short assignments to explore these issues. The knowledge gained in this course will help in a variety of fields and careers, including medicine, law, and business, and encourage the development of critical thinking about important social issues.

Format: Online
Meeting time: TBA
Instructor: Valerie Barron
Session dates: June 1–June 19

In this accelerated online course, we will examine how determinants of health, both for individuals and for populations, are not just medical or biological but are shaped in large part by our social environments. The likelihood that we achieve good health and maintain it over the life course varies depending on our socioeconomic status, gender, race-ethnicity, and other social factors. We will describe how health status is influenced by these factors and why, discussing both theoretical perspectives and empirical research findings. In addition, we will discuss sociological perspectives on the field of medicine and health care delivery, particularly how power and status operate within this area.

Format: Online
Meeting time: TBA
Instructor: Professor Mathieu Deflem
Session dates: June 1–June 19

This upper-level undergraduate course deals with the sociological study of social control, that is, the definition of and response to crime and/or deviance. The course primarily discusses the official treatment of crime through formal systems of criminal justice. The specific themes of the course include an overview of relevant theories; the history of the concept of social control; the perspective of discipline and its relevance for the study of surveillance; the role of police; and aspects of counterterrorism. The assignments include two tests, six short forum posts, and a final exam. This is a fully online distributed-learning course delivered through Blackboard (100% web asynchronous).

Format: Online
Meeting time: TBA
Instructor: Professor Mathieu Deflem
Session dates: June 22–July 10

This course presents an introduction to the major developments in sociological theory. The approach is both chronological and perspective-oriented, including classical as well as modern and contemporary theories. The central focus is on the foundations of sociological theory and its more recent contrasting variations. The course is not only conceptual but also includes concrete applications to explore the fruitfulness of theory for the empirical analysis of various issues in society, such as law, deviance, family, and religion. The assignments include two tests, six short forum posts, and a final exam. This is a fully online distributed-learning course delivered through Blackboard (100% web asynchronous).

Format: Online
Instructor: Erin Davenport
Session dates: June 22–August 1

Active learning and discussion will be used to create an engaged learning community. In this course students will learn to think critically about race, social class, gender, and sexual identity from an interdisciplinary perspective. Students will engage with theoretical and empirical scholarly readings as well as materials from popular culture and current events to explore how race, class, gender, and sexuality structure our daily lives. This course emphasizes the social processes producing inequality and stratification, and will discuss racism, patriarchy, capitalism, and heteronormativity.

Meeting time: TR, 10:05 a.m.–11:20 a.m.
Instructor: Erin Davenport

This interactive class will push students to question the society they live in. Things that seem “just the way things are” have underlying structural and societal significance. In SOCY 101 we will peel back those layers and try to make sense of the world around us using lenses of different theoretical perspectives. Curiosity is key to enjoying this class. Participation is emphasized, and this course features small assignments and consistent work across time rather than larger projects or assignments at the end.

Meeting time: TR, 11:40 a.m.–12:55 p.m.
Instructor: Erin Davenport

Meeting time: TR, 1:15 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Instructor: Chang-Yi Lin

Meeting time: TR, 8:30 a.m.–9:45 a.m.
Instructor: Valerie Barron

This course will introduce you to the foundations of sociology. Throughout the semester, we will consider some common sociological questions as we learn about the theories that are often used to frame these questions. Using a sociological perspective, we will examine how external social forces affect all aspects of our lives—from our opportunities and failures to our likes and dislikes—and we will discuss how we often are completely unaware of these processes. Sociology provides a unique perspective to examining our social world in many ways. It not only traces how people are shaped by the society that they are in but also how people shape society. This course will help you develop a greater understanding of these processes while introducing you to some of the most important areas of study within the field.

Meeting time: MW, 2:20 p.m.–3:35 p.m.
Instructor: TBA

Meeting time: TR, 8:30 a.m.–9:45 a.m.
Instructor: Professor Laura Brashears
Restriction: Restricted to South Carolina Honors College students

Each of us has an idea of what is meant by the word “society”: the people we live with, the work we do, and the government agencies that touch our lives. We live in particular places, work at specific businesses, and belong to our own groups. And while we must experience society from our own individual perspectives, none of those individual perspectives can encompass the totality of each of our experiences. Sociologists seek to examine the social world through an objective lens, rising above individual experiences to understand the whole. In other words, sociologists do not take the world before their eyes for granted; rather, we use scientific methods to gain a deeper understanding of how “society is inside of man and man is inside society.”

No social endeavor is off-limits to sociologists; we study religion, education, the family, the self, crime, work, economics, politics, organizations, demographic shifts, gender, race and ethnicity, and social movements, among others.

In this class, you will learn to use the “sociological imagination,” a faculty that allows us to see the way the world is, and to imagine how it might have been, or might become, different. Once you do so, you will be able to develop a deeper understanding of how social factors have influenced you in the past and will continue to influence you in the future.

Meeting time: TR, 10:05 a.m.–11:20 a.m.
Instructor: Professor Laura Brashears
Restriction: Restricted to South Carolina Honors College students

Meeting time: TR, 4:25 p.m.–5:40 p.m.
Instructor: Professor Joseph Quinn
Restriction: Restricted to South Carolina Honors College students

Sociologists study patterns, causes, and outcomes of social interaction. This introductory course will encourage you to think like a sociologist about many topics. You will explore how social forces and contexts impact the way that people think, feel, and behave, and how individuals and groups can shape society.

Each week covers a different topic in the field of sociology, including research methods, social structure, cooperation, social networks, deviance and control, poverty and inequality, economic decisions, gender and sexuality, race and ethnicity, marriage and the family, politics, and environmental issues.

In-class conversations and activities will help you build an understanding of the theories that sociologists use, test, and refine when they collect data to answer questions about how different aspects of society work. This class is part of the Carolina Core.

Format: Online
Meeting time: TBA
Instructor: Hanne Van Der Iest

This 100% online Carolina Core course is an invitation to look at the world through a new lens: the sociological perspective. Together, we’ll explore the invisible social forces that shape who we are, while discovering how our own actions can change society.

What We’ll Explore

• Self and Society: Culture, social norms, and happiness.
• Connections: How social networks and trust build communities.
• Big Picture: Investigating crime, inequality, education, and the evolving roles of marriage and family.

How We’ll Learn

This course is divided into 14 modules designed to fit into your life. You won’t just be reading a textbook; you’ll interact with video lectures, diverse media, and your fellow classmates.

A Note from Your Instructor

While this course is asynchronous, you are not on your own. I’ll be right there with you, providing frequent guidance, feedback, and opportunities to connect with your peers. Look forward to meeting you in class.

Format: Online
Meeting time: TBA
Instructor: Hanne Van Der Iest

Format: Online
Meeting time: TBA
Instructor: Hanne Van Der Iest

Format: Online
Meeting time: TBA
Instructor: Hanne Van Der Iest

Meeting time: TR, 1:15 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Instructor: Professor Jun Zhao

In this course you will explore how sex and gender shape everyday life; examine gender in families, schools, and workplaces; ask questions such as how gender affects relationships and opportunities; learn how daily interactions reinforce or challenge inequality; and understand how gender both structures society and is constantly being remade.

Meeting time: TR, 2:50 p.m.–4:05 p.m.
Instructor: Erin Davenport

Active learning and discussion will be used to create an engaged learning community. In this course students will learn to think critically about race, social class, gender, and sexual identity from an interdisciplinary perspective. Students will engage with theoretical and empirical scholarly readings as well as materials from popular culture and current events to explore how race, class, gender, and sexuality structure our daily lives. This course emphasizes the social processes producing inequality and stratification, and will discuss racism, patriarchy, capitalism, and heteronormativity.

Meeting time: MW, 2:20 p.m.–3:35 p.m.
Instructor: Allison Dunatchik

Family is one of the most influential social institutions in our everyday lives. This course will cover topics such as dating, marriage, parenting, caregiving and policy, and will investigate fundamental questions like: Who is considered family? Who decides? How has family diversity evolved, and what does this reveal about inequality? Students will learn to use critical thought and empirical research to develop an understanding of how family and social issues are interconnected. This class seeks to sociologically and critically rethink current family issues and the future of family life.

Meeting time: MW, 2:20 p.m.–3:35 p.m.
Instructor: TBA

Meeting time: TR, 2:50 p.m.–4:05 p.m.
Instructor: Professor Rebekah Broussard

Students will gain knowledge of reproductive health, rights, and justice in a global context. We will explore the social forces that govern reproduction and discuss individual and collective efforts that people have used to resist such governance.

Meeting time: TR, 10:05 a.m.–11:20 a.m.
Instructor: Professor Jun Zhao

In SOCY 318, we explore the hidden power of social networks—from viral TikTok to actual viruses. Learn how our connections shape everything from friendships to elections, and why “six degrees of separation” might be more than just a party trick.

We’ll dive into small-world networks, weak ties, friendship formation, disease spread, and how influence flows through everything from ads to voting booths.

Meeting time: TR, 11:40 a.m.–12:55 p.m.
Instructor: Professor Jennifer Augustine

This class explores how countries around the world are working to improve the welfare of children, and what we in the U.S. can learn from their policy innovations on poverty in the U.S. In this class, we will:

• Examine innovative social policies from countries around the world.
• Compare international policies with U.S. approaches in health, education, welfare, childcare, and family policy.
• Explore social, political, and economic factors shaping policy development and outcomes.
• Evaluate U.S. policies using global examples and frameworks.
• Consider potential reforms or adaptations for U.S. social policy based on international lessons.
• Readings are sourced from books and reports and do not require purchasing additional materials.

Note: Counts for the Global Studies major.

Meeting time: TR, 4:25 p.m.–5:40 p.m.
Instructor: Erin Davenport

Can parenting set kids up for future success?
Do preschoolers understand gender norms?
Can school policies prevent bullying?
Do animated movies teach children about obesity stigma?

We will explore these and other questions as we investigate childhood as a social experience. Students should take this course if they are looking to explore these ideas in a participation-heavy and application-based manner.

Meeting time: TR, 4:25 p.m.–5:40 p.m.
Instructor: Professor Shane Thye
Restriction: Restricted to South Carolina Honors College students

• Can psychics communicate with the dead?
• Why do fortune tellers seem to know so much about you?
• Do homeopathic medicines really work?
• Are aliens traveling to visit the earth?
• Do near-death experiences foretell the afterlife?

This course examines the nature and causes of paranormal beliefs in contemporary society.

Meeting time: TR, 11:40 a.m.–12:55 p.m.
Instructor: Nia Baker

This course examines today’s most urgent social issues, including poverty, health disparities, the criminal justice system, globalization, and environmental challenges—through a critical, evidence-based lens. Students explore the root causes of these problems, from structural inequality to global economic forces, while evaluating real-world policies and innovative solutions. Through current events, case studies, and engaging discussions, the course develops the tools to think sociologically, analyze complex social issues, and become informed, solution-oriented citizens in a rapidly changing world.

Meeting time: TR, 1:15 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Instructor: Nia Baker

Race and Ethnic Relations explores the complex dynamics of race and ethnicity through both foundational theory and contemporary research. Through key sociological perspectives and empirical studies, students examine systemic racism, migration, nationalism, intersectionality, and shifting patterns of inclusion and exclusion. Connecting historical context to current debates in the U.S. and globally, the course challenges students to think critically about power, identity, and the future of race relations in an increasingly interconnected world.

Format: Online
Meeting time: Thursday, 10:05 a.m.–11:20 a.m.
Instructor: Professor Jennifer Augustine

This is a class on poverty in the U.S. In this class, we will:

• Learn about current and historical trends in U.S. poverty.
• Discuss cultural views and assumptions about poverty.
• Explore theoretical and substantive perspectives for the causes of poverty.
• Learn about the consequences of poverty for crime, health, and social relationships.
• Understand the lived experience of poverty.
• Consider policy approaches to remediating poverty in the U.S. and other countries.

This is a discussion-based class that offers many activity-based assignments which draw on podcasts, films, and other media. Readings are sourced from books and reports and do not require purchasing additional materials.

Format: Online
Meeting time: TBA
Instructor: Professor Laura Brashears

A good sociologist is like a detective, seeing what is happening on the surface, while always keeping an eye out for underlying reasons for those patterns. The sociology of education is no different. And that is why, despite having spent a large portion of your lives embedded within schools, there may be dynamics at play that you have previously ignored or overlooked. In this class, we will begin to peel back the layers of the American K-12 school system. Along the way, we will answer the following orienting questions:

• Why is education a fundamental institution in the U.S., and what does American education look like?
• What are the dynamics of the teacher-student relationship, and why does this matter for educational outcomes?
• How is inequality in the larger society reproduced through the school system?
• What happens to individuals’ student identities in school due to peer influences, teacher reactions, and parental involvement?

Meeting time: TR, 11:40 p.m.–12:55 p.m.
Instructor: Professor Andrea Henderson-Platt

This class is an opportunity for students to develop their sociological imaginations through viewing, discussing, and analyzing various forms of media, including film, photography and music. We will evaluate these various forms of media for the ways in which they uncritically transmit stereotypes, misconceptions and ideologies regarding race, class, gender, and sexuality. It is not a class on film theory or production or the film industry, but rather the sociological implications of media, using various mediums as a sociological data source. Expect to be challenged, but also have fun, because the way you look at media may change after this class.

Meeting time: TR, 11:40 a.m.–12:55 p.m.
Instructor: Professor Matthew Brashears

The primary objective of this course is to introduce students to the methods of social research. Social research is a complicated and often difficult field that requires considerable effort to master. At the same time, however, the products of social research efforts are routinely cited in newspapers, magazines, and books. These results are similarly used to justify new laws, new policies, and even to sell new products. As such, understanding the fundamentals of research methodology is not merely necessary for scientists, but is necessary for any empowered citizen of a modern democracy. By the end of this course you should be familiar with the issues that come along with scientific research and the philosophy of science generally. You should also be able to critically evaluate research reports in the popular and academic press, and discuss the advantages, as well as drawbacks, of the particular methods used. Finally, and most importantly, you should be able to use this information to judge the likely value of particular research products.

Meeting times: W, 10:50 a.m.–11:40 a.m.; TR, 2:50 p.m.–3:40 p.m.
Instructor: Professor Brian Levy

Statistical information is widely available and used to promote policy and social interests. This course introduces the use of statistics and data analysis for sociology and social sciences. Its goal is to help you develop statistical literacy and analytic reasoning. We cover the use of statistics to both describe data and make inferences. You will learn to use and apply different statistical techniques as well as evaluate their merit, a condition for ethical, inquiry-based citizenship. In the process, you will build competence in the use of a statistical software package—a highly marketable skill.

Meeting times: F, 10:50 a.m.–11:40 a.m.; TR, 2:50 p.m.–3:40 p.m.
Instructor: Professor Brian Levy

Format: Online
Meeting time: TBA
Instructor: Professor Mathieu Deflem

This course presents an introduction to the major developments in sociological theory. The approach is both chronological and perspective-oriented, including classical as well as modern and contemporary theories. The central focus is on the foundations of sociological theory and its more recent contrasting variations. The course is not only conceptual, but also includes applications to explore the fruitfulness of sociological theory for the empirical analysis of various issues in society, such as law, deviance, culture, family, religion, and politics. The assignments include three tests, six discussion posts (essays), optional discussion opportunities, and one comprehensive final exam. This is a fully online distributed-learning course delivered through Blackboard (100% web asynchronous).

Meeting time: MW, 3:55 p.m.–5:10 p.m.
Instructor: Professor James Adams

The social world is fundamentally relational. Relational theory and methods require entirely different frameworks for conceptualization, operationalization, and analysis. This course will overview the primary descriptive orientations available to account for social network data. We’ll address key theoretical ideas, several families of relational descriptive statistics, and touch on methods for assessing those analytically, both quantitatively and qualitatively. We’ll approach most ideas through a combination of conceptual, mathematical, computational, and empirical orientations.

Meeting time: TR, 1:15 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Instructor: Professor Brian Levy

Why are resources unequally distributed in society? Who ends up at the top and bottom of hierarchies? These questions of social stratification are at the heart of sociology. We will identify and examine structures of social inequality in the United States, with particular emphasis on stratification by race, class, gender, and sexuality. We will study frameworks used to define and understand social hierarchies, as well as how inequality is reproduced through institutions, culture, and public policy. We will attend to stratification in the labor market, criminal justice system, education system, family, neighborhood, and more.

Format: Online
Instructor: Professor Mathieu Deflem

This upper-level undergraduate course deals with the sociological study of social control, that is, the definition of and response to crime and/or deviance. The course primarily discusses the official treatment of crime through formal systems of criminal justice. The specific themes of the course include an overview of relevant theories; the history of the concept of social control; the perspective of discipline and its relevance for the study of surveillance; the role of police, including international police cooperation; and aspects of the policing of terrorism, both at home and abroad. The assignments include three tests, six discussion posts (short essays), optional discussion opportunities, and one comprehensive final exam. This is a fully online distributed-learning course delivered through Blackboard (100% web asynchronous).

Meeting time: TR, 2:50 p.m.–4:05 p.m.
Instructor: Professor Joseph Quinn

This capstone seminar will introduce students to the conversations that social scientists are having about social cognition, with an emphasis on examining existing theories that make claims about when and how we internalize culture and how it shapes our behavior.

Our class will (1) cover foundational and contemporary perspectives about the cognitive basis of culture from sociology, cognitive science, linguistics, anthropology, and behavioral economics; (2) assess the existing evidence about the causes of cultural meanings (“beliefs”) and their effects on social behavior; and (3) generate ideas that refine or depart from this literature to make testable predictions about behaviors, interactions, and macro-level cultural change.

Meeting time: MW, 3:55 p.m.–5:10 p.m.
Instructor: Allison Dunatchik

In this course, students will continue to develop and apply their knowledge of sociological research methods to conduct an original, hands-on research project. Employing both quantitative and qualitative approaches, students will spend the semester examining a research question of their choosing from multiple methodological perspectives, including secondary data analysis, in-depth interviews and ethnography. Class meeting sessions will focus on learning and refining the skills required to conduct the research project, as well as workshopping progress on the project. At the end of the semester, students will write up a scholarly report of their research findings and present their projects to the class in a research symposium.

Meeting time: T, 4:25 p.m.–7:10 p.m.
Instructor: Professor James Adams

Why do we ask questions the way we do? Because theory matters. The sociological perspective necessitates a familiarity with a variety of fundamental orientations, critically synthesizing those with one another, updating them to examine real-world settings, and identifying how new work can adjust this combination. As such, this course lays the foundations for documenting what theory has traditionally included, critically analyzing its stress points, and ideally forging a way to contribute to those ongoing efforts.

Meeting time: Th, 6:00 p.m.–8:45 p.m.
Instructor: Professor Shane Thye

Content: This course focuses on the range of methodological approaches adopted by social scientists. Special attention is paid to the role of sociological theory in the design of research.

Students who take this course are expected to have knowledge of introductory statistics and an interest in conducting original empirical research. This class is comprised of numerous components. We first consider basic research concepts, theory, and fundamentals. We then examine and consider with a more critical focus the primary methods that sociologists traditionally use to acquire data: surveys, in-depth interviews, ethnographic methods, experiments, and archival methods, as well as the mixing of methods.

Meeting time: TR, 2:50 p.m.–4:05 p.m.
Instructor: Professor Joseph Quinn

Meeting time: MW, 3:55 p.m.–5:10 p.m.
Instructor: Professor James Adams

Meeting time: TR, 1:15 p.m.–2:30 p.m.
Instructor: Professor Brian Levy

Meeting time: TBA
Instructor: Professor Andrea Henderson-Platt