Department of Sociology & Anthropology

Congratulations to Enrique Kotera, recipient of the 2024 James A. Sartain award!

For your consideration: Special Topic courses Fall 2024

ANTH 379 Transnational Feminism and the Middle East: Global Perspectives on Gender, Culture, and Power  (12759)                  Dr. Rania Sweis  T, Th 3:00 pm    Prereqs waived

This course will explore the broad topics of gender and sexuality in the modern Middle East from a variety of theoretical and methodological approaches.  We will employ a transnational and intersectional feminist approach, focusing on local voices, experiences, and histories rather than a singular, universal notion of feminism.  We will analyze the works of social scientists as well as Islamic feminists and "native" writers.  As we explore these grounded works, we will remain attuned to the transnational politics and global forces that have shaped the region we now call the Middle East.  Themes include but are not limited to kinship, marriage, and embodiment; feminist movements and the state, masculinity, militarization, gender in development and global aid, the politics of childhood and youth; queer politics, and war and everyday violence.  By the end of the course, students will gain deeper knowledge of key theoretical and methodological debates in the field of gender studies in the Middle East while refining critical thinking, speaking, and writing skills.

SOC 279 War & Society (11911) Dr. Corey Payne M,W 1:30 pm

When most people think of "war"-whether in Ukraine, Gaza, Afghanistan, or Iraq-they think of combat.  But war is more than just fighting:  How do states raise armies and keep them supplied?  Under what conditions are these military supplies produced?  Who reaps war’s benefits and who bears its costs?  Why do ordinary people consent to wartime sacrifices-and what happens when they withdraw their consent?  War and Society will examine how societies make war, and how war remakes societies.  We will consider these relationships from antiquity through the twenty-first century, with a special focus on the United States.  From the World Wars to the War on Terror, students will explore how the U.S. has made war around the world and how, in the process, war remade the United States.

SOC 379 Sociology of Black Families (12514) Dr. Deborwah Faulk  T,Th 12:00-1:15 pm    prereqs waived

Historically sociologists and social scientists have failed to fully capture and understand the nuances and diversity of Black families, their social and cultural experiences, and their resistance.  Drawing on sociology, Black/Africana studies, psychology, criminology, and African American history and literature, this course approaches the study of Black families through an interdisciplinary lens.  The Sociology of Black Families explores and critiques foundational and contemporary theories about and analysis of Black families with a particular emphasis on Black American families.  This course critiques and engages scholarly research, public and media discourses, public policy, creative writing, personal narrative, and oral histories to understand and reimagine Black family life.

SOC 379 Leadership in the Digital Age (13004) Dr. Bo Yun Park  M,W 1:30-2:45 pm

Social media and digital platforms have significantly altered the way that we communicate with one another.  Artificial Intelligence (AI) and algorithm-based practices are broadening the scope of social interactions.  Leadership in the Digital Age will explore the ways in which political and corporate leadership evolves in the digital age we known thus far:  What types of leaders are people looking for in today’s digital age?  What kinds of political leadership and political narratives resonate in the era of social media and other digital outlets?  How is populism, ethnonationalism, or misinformation related to the spread of social media? How is corporate leadership affected by algorithm-based practices?  We will address these questions by looking at the social science research on culture and politics-including studies on leadership, populism, nationalism, misinformaton, resonance, algorithm-based practices, etc.