23 courses with the subject SOC, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
SOC 110INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY – PERSPECTIVES AND METHODS4
An introduction to the field of sociology and its major concepts, theoretical perspectives, and methods of inquiry. The study of human groups, organizations, and societies, and their impact on human behavior. Emphasis on the evolution and diversity of human societies. Open to first- year students. No prerequisite. Offered Term 1. (DJP)
Focuses on significant contributions to social theory during the last two centuries. The first section of the course will attend to pre-World War II social theory. The second section will attend to developments since World War II. Open to first-year students. Offered Term 2.
What are social problems, and who gets to identify them? What historical, social, political, or global circumstances cause social problems? How do the perceptions of problems and solutions vary cross-culturally? Both global and U.S. social problems will be considered in this course. A wide range of social problems such as globalization, social inequality, access to health care, systems of education, reproductive rights, the environment, human trafficking, or other issues may be discussed in this course. Open to first-year students. No prerequisite.
This course will focus on interest groups and social movements in the United States. We will explore how interest groups and movements are born, how they recruit and mobilize supporters, and how they seek to influence politics. The course also examines the strategies Hollins University 2026–27 Undergraduate Catalog Page 403
This course analyzes religion as it relates to a range of social identities. We begin with a discussion of sociological theories of religion through which we will consider trends within religious practice, the purposes and effects of religion, and the intersection of religion and other social structures. The class will then consider these theories in empirical contexts. Also listed and described as REL 241. (DIV)
This course invites students to explore practical applications of their sociological skills and knowledge. Designed for any student wanting to explore different career paths and opportunities made available through studying the social sciences, this course includes substantive topics in sociology and their connection to various industries, jobs, and career paths. Open to first years, offered term 1.
SOC 260RACE, CLASS, AND GENDER: A REFLEXIVE APPROACH4
This course addresses central concepts, theories, and empirical findings found in the sociological literature on structured social inequality. Emphasis is on historical and contemporary U.S. society. Considerable attention is devoted to examining the intersections between issues of cultural diversity and individual biographical experience. Open to first-year students with permission. No prerequisite. Also listed and described as GWS 260.
This course examines the politics of reproduction within and outside of the United States, including the various actors and social institutions that shape reproductive legislation. Using an intersectional approach, students will explore topics such as forced sterilization, the policing of women of color’s reproduction, and the connection between reproductive justice and other important issues, such as immigration and mass incarceration. Open to first-year students. Also listed and described as GWS 272.
Students will learn to calculate and analyze simple, bivariate, and selected multivariate statistics, using common statistical software (Excel, SPSS). Course includes a strong emphasis Hollins University 2026–27 Undergraduate Catalog Page 404
This course leads students through the process of carrying out qualitative research from research question development through data analysis and writing up results. Students will learn how to carry out research through methods appropriate to their research questions, including content analysis, focus groups, and interviewing. Students will also learn how to engage with the IRB process and how to conduct ethical studies. Also listed and described as PH 309.
This course builds on introductory sociological and criminological concepts and theories to focus on critical perspectives in the field of criminology. Topics covered include inequality in the criminal justice system, feminist criminology and victimology, and topics in corporate crime. Students will engage with a substantive research project in a criminological topic of their choosing over the course of the semester. Students should have introductory experience in sociology, criminology, or criminal justice to take this course.
This course will cover foundational topics and theories in the sociological study of culture. Throughout the semester, we will engage with the study of material and nonmaterial culture as well as critical perspectives on the production of culture. As an upper-level course, students will apply their background in sociological theory and inquiry to developing a substantive project over the course of the term on a cultural topic of their choosing.
This course examines racial assumptions embedded in US law and traces the impact of racism on the development of the law and legal institutions. Critical Race Theory (CRT) is a broad theoretical framework created by synthesizing the main themes of scholars who challenge dominant understandings of race and the law. This course surveys the texts that define the CRT framework.
This course will examine the ways in which gender informs our experiences in the social world. We will specifically examine gender as it relates to our experiences within social institutions, Hollins University 2026–27 Undergraduate Catalog Page 405
Environmental justice refers to both a field of study and an activist movement. Both the realm of study and activism focus on the way the different groups of people are differently impacted by environmental issues. This course examines the roots of environmental justice, considers the role of citizen activism and citizen science, and considers the systemic roots of environmental injustices in the United States, its territories, and the broader North American continent. Additionally, the course incorporates applied examples and experiences from the field in adjacent study areas including public health and sociology. Also listed and described as ES 373. Prerequisite: ES 104, 117, PH 210 or SOC 110. (DJP)
Individual project work at the advanced level with a member of the sociology department. Application must be made with faculty prior to registration. Offered any term.
This course is intended to help senior majors envision the range of ways to put their sociological training to good use, with emphasis on enhancing the sociological imagination; identifying various venues, including careers, where they might use sociology daily; applying sociological knowledge and skills to the "real world"; and facilitating the transition from sociology major to practicing sociologist.
Senior sociology majors with strong academic records may apply to work for honors recognition by presenting a thesis proposal to the faculty of the department. Work is Hollins University 2026–27 Undergraduate Catalog Page 406
