This is a list of current courses in anthropology, applied sociology, religious studies, and social work, as they appear in the college catalog. Check the semester schedule books for information on offerings and times.
ANT 100
Cultural Anthropology
(IHE, GS, WV)
3 credits
A cross-cultural examination of contemporary cultures, especially traditional and developing examples, in a descriptive and comparative framework. Topics covered include the methods and ethics of fieldwork, marriage and kinship systems, production and reproduction, gender roles and relations, forms of conflict resolution and the varieties of religious beliefs and rituals. Generally, two case studies are used in addition to a text. These cases not only demonstrate the varieties of human arrangements, but also some of the reasons that underlie the diversity across groups.
ANT 215
World Music
(ART, AS, GS)
3 credits
A review of a broad sample of music from around the world and an investigation of how organized sound reflects and reinforces its cultural source. Some of the many topics include the varying contexts for functions of music, types of instruments and their symbolism, the training of music makers, the meaning of song texts and some of the reasons for musical change. Many regional styles are examined, for example, Native North America, the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, South and East Asia. Special attention is given to musical syncretism – the mutual influence of contemporary musical cultures on one another that has produced many new popular forms of music variously called World Beat or Global Pop. Background in music theory is not required.
ANT 219
Human Evolution
and Prehistory
(IHE, SD, SR)
3 credits
A course in physical anthropology and archeology that covers the evolution of nonhuman and human primates over the past five million years. The chronological organization of the course includes the development of evolutionary theory in the 19th century, the fascinating story of how small, primitive hominids became upright and brainy tool users, and how eventually cultural evolution began to outstrip biological evolution in human development. Special attention is also given to the topic of gender, both in the context of prehistory, as well as in connection with the new findings about male and female roles and behavior that are emerging from primatology.
ANT 230
Cultures of the Caribbean
(GS, WV)
3 credits
A survey of the English, Spanish and French speaking regions of the Caribbean and review of the ethnohistory of the area from pre-colonial times to the present. The first part of the course examines the social and economic impact of colonial rule and the independence movements that arose in response to the plantation system and foreign exploitation of the colonies. The second part focuses on the contemporary cultures of the Caribbean with an examination of domestic arrangements, patterns of work and migration, political conflicts, and vibrant expressive forms such as music and carnival that have made the region such a popular destination for visitors from North America and Europe. Special consideration is given to the impact of tourism on the cultures and ecologies of the islands.
ANT 235
Field School in Caribbean Anthropology
(GS, WV)
This is a course in which students are able to learn and practice their
anthropological fieldwork skills in a small town in the Turks & Caicos
Islands (TCI, an archipelago at the lower end of the Bahamian island chain.
It will usually
be run in an accelerated format in early January. There are several preliminary
classroom meetings while we are still in the U.S. to cover general topics such
as history and physical geography of the Caribbean region and TCI; research
methods and ethical consideration in fieldwork; logistics considerations for
the course and the trip. While we are on site at the School for Field Studies
in South Caicos, the course combines lectures – TCI history, current
political, cultural, and economic make-up – with fieldwork in the local
community called Cockburn Harbour. Students are able to conduct small research
projects of their choosing with the people of the town. Two themes weave through
the course material – sustainable development of tourism and fisheries
and peripheral countries in the modern world system. One or two class meetings
are scheduled after our return to organize and assimilate the experience and
complete final assignments. The class is taught jointly with Dr. John Gatewood
of Lehigh University.
ANT 250
Researching American Communities
(AM, WRI 2)
3 credits
(Cross-listed as Religion 250)
The course combines classroom and a fieldwork setting to teach students how to do ethnographic research as it is done in cultural anthropology. The course field setting is the city of Bethlehem, an urban center once based on heavy industry and now in the grips of an economic transition. As preparation for the fieldwork segment, students read about several community case studies and learn a series of qualitative research techniques such as observation work and interviewing, life history techniques, ethno-photography, and semi-structured survey design. Attention is also given to ethical issues in human subject research, the preparation of IRB proposals, and writing field notes. Students are transported to the field locales in a van where they will be taken on tours and hear presentations from community informants. The main assignment is group work on an Ethnographic Directory, which provides a broad informational profile of the community under study.
ANT 310
Women in the
Developing World
(GS, WV)
3 credits
A survey of different aspects of women’s lives in the developing world with particular attention given to those from the urban underclass and rural peasantry. The assumption is that economic development in the form of foreign aid, technology transfer and industrialization has not benefited women to the same extent as men. The course examines how global restructuring has affected women and their families with respect to employment, education, and health. Special focus is given to two issues: how women reconcile their productive and reproductive roles and women’s own attempts to improve the conditions in which they live through mutual cooperation and activism. Cases are drawn from Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, India and other parts of Asia. Anthropology 100 is recommended.
ANT 390
Independent Study
3 credits
Individual research projects, and directed readings carried out under faculty supervision.
SOC 100
Introduction to Culture and Society
(IHE, AM)
3 credits
An introduction to sociology, the scientific study of the relationship between social organization and human behavioral processes. The focus is on concepts central to the discipline and the illustration and application of theoretical perspectives to aspects of social reality such as gender, age, race and ethnicity, inequality and social change, as well as social institutions including the family, polity, education, medicine, economy and religion. The course equips students to be informed participants in social processes and institutions, both from an appreciative and change agent stance.
SOC 201
Science Off the Pedestal
(IHE, WRI2, SR)
3 credits
(Cross-listed as HON 201)
An introduction to the sociological study of the institution of science. It is designed to develop the student’s ability to understand, criticize, and use theories in the natural and social sciences. Students read and analyze articles about the work of several classical and contemporary scientists within a framework that treats science and its products as shaped by world views tied to a society’s institutional arrangements. Students explore the implications of scientific authority for our values, beliefs, politics and personal identities. Students develop skills in critically interpreting scientific case studies while analyzing social, economic and political issues that surround these investigations. Prerequisite: Permission from the instructor for non-Honors students.
SOC 202
The Social Welfare Institution
3 credits
(Cross-listed as Social Work 202)
SOC 218
Social Problems in
American Communities
(AM)
3 credits
An examination of a broad spectrum of America’s social problems in the twenty-first century and placing them in a systematic framework using the sociological perspective as our lens. The focus is to stress the knowledge available about their causes and examine efforts at intervention and amelioration of these societal problems. The course covers issues related to race, class, gender, terrorism and deviance as they relate to the future of America’s landscape.
SOC 227
Sociological Theory and Analysis in the 21st
Century
(AM, CWT, WRI2)
3 credits
A study of the core content of classical sociological theories with a specific emphasis on Karl Marx, Emile Durkheim, Max Weber, George Herbert Mead and Georg Simmel. The focus is on the application of these theorists’ arguments to several issues involving social distance and separation in the Unites States. The theme of social distance and separation is examined because so many discussions of current social problems – such as alienation, segregation, and political apathy concern questions of social distance, separation and disunity. Making these classical sociological theories come to life and demonstrating their usefulness in contemporary society is the foundation of this course. This course is offered in alternate years. Prerequisite: SOC 100 or permission of the instructor.
SOC 228
Foundations of Community Practice
(AM)
3 credits
An examination of what it is that sociological practitioners do in their profession. The goal is to take the theoretical models and the methodological techniques learned in other applied sociology courses and use them in social situations to resolve problems or improve the quality of life, be it the challenge of macro-level societal problems or micro-level, everyday personal issues. Designed as a hands-on course, each student applies sociological concepts, skills and tools to actively analyze and engage problems facing a variety of clients and organizations including business, government, religion and other community agencies and groups. It employs sociological perspectives and tools to identify, investigate and actively seek solutions to issues of structure, process and social change. The intent is to provide the student with a useful and informative real world approach to exactly how sociologists address many of the problems and issues that confront Americans on a daily basis. Prerequisite: SOC 227 or permission of the instructor.
SOC 243
Social and Psychological Aspects of Aging
(AM, HW)
4 credits
(Cross-listed as SWK 243)
An introduction to the field of aging and elderly. Three primary areas of inquiry are studied: the biological, psychological and sociological aspects of aging; exploration of specific problem areas for the aging and elderly; and death and dying.
SOC 245
Introduction to Peace Studies
(GS)
3 credits
(Cross-listed as SWK 245)
An overview of the history, philosophy and ideas encompassing the evolving field of peace studies, topics include the causes of war, the nature of power, approaches to building peace, non-violent conflict resolution, community mediation techniques and consensus decision-making.
SOC 252
Social Psychology
(HW)
3 credits
(Cross-listed as PSY 252)
This subfield in sociology and psychology examines how the thought, feelings and actions of individuals are linked to the behavior of others and to larger processes of human social organization. The focus is on concepts and frameworks central to the field and the illustration and application of these frameworks to aspects of everyday life. Topics include: aggression, conformity, interpersonal attraction, attitude formation and change, group dynamics, status-roles, personality and self and mental illness. The course equips students to be informed participants in social process and the impact societal institutions have on such processes.
SOC 270
Contemporary Environmental Issues
(GS, HW)
3 credits
(Cross-listed as SWK 270)
An examination of the environment health of the world focusing on specific global problems in urgent need of resolution. Primary emphasis is on the social, economic and political issues that surround each environmental problem.
SOC 304
Inequality and Power in American Society
(AM)
3 credits
An analysis of the context, historical background and value frameworks relevant to inequality, related to class, race and gender in American society. Class, race and gender as bases for stratification in organizational structures will be examined. Focus also is upon social movements in history such as the labor movement, the civil rights movement, and the women’s movement that have attempted to change these structures and systems; common cultural assumptions about American society, such as the “Horatio Alger myth” and points of view and frames of reference about leadership and inequality. In addition, concepts of bureaucracy, organizational functioning, and the relationship of the worker/member of the organization are studied.
SOC 309
Sociology of Health, Illness and Death
(AM, HW)
3 credits
An introduction to dominant theoretical perspectives and research that constitute the intellectual history and current practice of medical sociology. It is designed to show how the social organization of a society influences the type and distribution of disease, illness and death found in that society. It also influences to a significant degree how the system of health and medical care responds. The course examines how the problems and inequities of medical care are historically specific to a society and inseparable from that society’s cultural values. It also explores and critically examines facets of basic and applied research both within and outside of the medical profession.
SOC 313
Minorities and Human Relations
(GS)
3 credits
(Cross-listed as SWK 313)
A comparative study of racial and ethnic contacts with emphasis on such social processes as acculturation, conflict, competition, anticipatory socialization and marginality, nationalistic movements and prejudice.
SOC 321
The Family as a Social Institution
(AM)
3 credits
(Cross-listed as SWK 321)
A consideration of family and marriage as basic institutions in human societies with emphasis upon the variety of forms they assume in different cultures and subcultures, including ethnic, regional and class variations in American society. Special attention is paid to modifications in family and marriage patterns, structure and customs in response to social and cultural change, particularly the rapid changes occurring in the late 20th century.
SOC 324
Social Science Statistics
(MQR)
3 credits
(Cross-listed as SWK 324)
This course is designed to provide social and behavioral science majors with a fundamental understanding of what statistics are and how and why they are used in social scientific research. The focus is on gaining a working knowledge of “the big picture” associated with being a consumer of empirical research in an information age. In this context, this course emphasizes both theoretical and applied statistical analysis. Students explore the theoryresearch paradigm connected with all sciences, current issues in social science measurement, the basics of the normal curve, the role of populations, samples and sampling distributions in hypothesis testing, and key descriptive and inferential statistical techniques often used in both popular and social scientific literature.
SOC 325
Research Methods and Design in the Social
Sciences
(CAP)
4 credits
(Cross-listed as EDU 525)
Presents the structure and design of social science research as it relates to quantitative and qualitative methodologies, the importance of theory and concepts in defining a research problem, hypothesis construction, development measurement procedures, data-gathering techniques, and sampling procedures. Application is made to institutional realities, social problems and issues confronted in sociological practice and educational research. Lecture three hours, laboratory two hours. Prerequisites: SOC 100 and SOC 324. SOC 227 and SOC 228 recommended.
SOC 326
Advanced Applied Methods and Analysis
(CAP)
4 credits
This is the second of two methods courses (SOC 325 and 326) in applied research that is required of all majors. Students apply the methodologies studied in SOC 325 to problem-oriented settings to gain handson experience in doing original sociological research. Each research project is conducted under the guidance of faculty and through the use of a research proposal previously developed by the student in SOC 325. Students have the option of conducting research independently or in teams. All project outcomes develop into scholarly papers. An equally important component of SOC 326 is familiarizing students with data analysis techniques commonly used in the social sciences using microcomputers and secondary data sets.
SOC 329
Practices, Policies and Politics of Aging
(AM)
3 credits
A focus on social, economic and health care policies associated with the aged in the United States. Students examine how these policies have impacted the relationship between and within the generations and how they will likely effect these generations in America’s future. Students also study the increasingly powerful impact the elderly are having as a demographic, economic and political subgroup. Emphasis is placed on consideration of future policies and practices that are necessary to address this growing population’s needs.
SOC 331
Applied Gerontology
3 credits
A seminar designed to be taken concurrently with the field practicum in social gerontology (SOC 332). This course applies the student’s theoretical knowledge of gerontology gained in previous courses to the actual provision of services to the elderly. The student’s experiences in the field are explored and integrated with theory. The course is sufficiently broad-based to address a variety of field placements. NOTE: This course does not count toward the sociology major. Prerequisite: BIO 107 or NUR 215, SOC 243, 329 and NTR 115. Corequisite: SOC 332.
SOC 332
Field Practice in Gerontology
3 credits
A 90-clock-hour experience in a professional setting in which services to the elderly are provided. Students select their own placements with faculty consultation and supervision of the practicum experience. This course is designed to be taken concurrently with Applied Gerontology (SOC 331) as the concluding course in the certificate program in gerontology. NOTE: This course does not count toward the sociology major. Prerequisite: BIO 107 or NUR 215, and SOC 243, 329 and NTR 115. Co-requisite: SOC 331.
SOC 360 and 361
Special Topics
2-3 credits each term
The topic for intensive study in this course is selected by participating faculty members and students. SOC 390 Independent Study 1-3 credits This course consists of individual research, supervised readings, or projects carried out under supervision.
REL 100
Introduction to Religion and Culture
(IHE, AM, CWT)
3 credits
An introduction to the nature of religious belief and its relationship to culture. Students explore myth, ritual and, using a variety of disciplines including anthropology, sociology of religion and the history of religions. Attitudes toward religion in American popular culture and expressions of the sacred in art, music and the media are examined.
REL 101
Ancient Near Eastern Religions and Cultures
(GS, CWT)
3 credits
A focus on ancient religions in Egypt, Mesopotamia and Israel, exploring complex patterns of belief, culture and identity that characterized the ancient near east. Students examine the influence of culture on the development of scripture and explore the relationship of the Hebrew experience of monotheism to the biblical understanding of history. Ancient near eastern cultures are approached through archaeology as well as textual studies.
REL 120
Religions of South and East Asia
(IHE, GS)
3 credits
An exploration of a variety of global world religious traditions including Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism, Taoism and Islam. Students study ritual, art, the relationship between religion and culture, as well as the philosophical foundations of each faith. Visits to regional religious institutions are included.
REL/PSY 204
Psychology and Religion
(WRI2, CWT, HW)
3 credits
An exploration of the relationship between religion and psychology, drawing on both classical and modern theorists. Students explore religious experience, mysticism and ritual and their influence on the role of the individual in society.
REL 220
Death and Dying
(IHE, HW)
3 credits
A critical examination of major theological, philosophical, ethical and psychological themes surrounding death. The course emphasizes crosscultural awareness, providing students with analytical skills to understand the interpretation of death globally and in American culture.
REL 225
Transplanted Religious Communities:
Buddhism
(AM, WRI 2)
3 credits
In this writing intensive course, students explore the growth of Buddhism in the United States through immigrant communities and converts. Gaining an understanding of participant observation as a methodology, students begin the course with a visit to a Zen Buddhist monastery and learn a variety of meditation techniques. Field trips to regional Buddhist temples and cultural centers are part of this course. In addition, participants study ritual, art and other facets of traditional Buddhist cultures exploring patterns of retention of tradition and adaptation.
REL 226
Transplanted Religious Communities:
Hinduism
(AM)
3 credits
As the dominant religion of India, Hinduism has had a continuing influence on patterns of belief and culture in South Asia. In this course students explore the ways in which these cultural patterns have been brought to the United States by large numbers of devotees since reforms to U.S. immigration policy in 1965. Through visits to Hindu temples within our region participants come to understand the globalization of a tradition once through to be entirely confined to the Indian subcontinent.
REL 227
Transplanted Religious Communities:
Islam
(AM)
3 credits
A study of the recent rapid growth of Islam among immigrants and converts in the United States. Participants explore Islam both as a belief system and as a civilization, examining patterns of Islamic art, mysticism and law. They study the global resurgence of Islam as a complexes cross-cultural framework within which the growth of U.S. Muslim communities has taken place. Field visits to mosques an Islamic centers within the region are part of the course.
REL 233
Spirituality and Wellness
(HW)
3 credits
An exploration of the relationships between religious belief, practice and health. Students analyze an expanding genre of literature that bridges the disciplines of psychology and religious studies, gaining critical awareness of the writings of Carl Jung, Abraham Maslow, Paul Tillich, Rollo May, Carl Rogers and others. Exploring a variety of common themes in this literature including the search for meaning, identity and transcendence they analyze cross-cultural connections between spirituality and health, students explore the relationship of the themes with practices of meditation, prayer and ritual.
REL/ANT 250
American Communities in Transition
(AM, WRI 2)
3 credits
This course uses the classroom and nearby communities to examine changes of a religious, economic, and social nature taking places in American communities. Each year, the course rotates across two field sites: the rural community of Schuylkill county proximate to a Hindu temple which serves as a major pilgrimage center; or, the city of Bethlehem, an urban center once based on heavy industry, and now in grips of a major economic transition. There is coverage of classic community studies, issues in community change, and background on the communities in question. Throughout the course, there are several field trips that allow students the opportunity to see and study community dynamics first hand. The research upon which the course is based is associated with the Pluralism Project of Harvard University. REL 390 Independent Study 3 credits Individual research projects, and directed readings carried out under faculty supervision.
SWK 201
Introduction to Social Work
4 credits
The field of social work, its values, methods and settings are studied as well as the organization and role of the social work profession. The course includes an introduction to the generic aspects of social work methods in assisting individuals and groups and the use of community resources. Includes on-site observations with social work professionals.
SWK 202
The Social Welfare Institution
3 credits
(Cross-listed as Sociology 202)
The social welfare organization as the institutional response to the social problems resulting from changes in society and culture; historical development; philosophical, humanitarian and religious foundations; trends in social welfare, including concern for poverty and the poor; the delivery of social welfare services and their extension to areas of need other than economic.
SWK 243
Social and Psychological Aspects of Aging
(HW)
4 credits
(Cross-listed as Sociology 243)
SWK 245
Introduction to Peace Studies
(GS)
3 credits
(Cross-listed as Sociology 245)
SWK 254
Violence in the Family
3 credits
Examines violence in the family from a sociological and psychological perspective. The student will develop a knowledge and understanding of the recent research and theory of various forms of familial violence. The student will gain a familiarity with the forms violence takes in the family as well as an understanding of the past and current societal response to familial violence. The course makes use of lectures, discussion and films.
SWK 260
Special Topics in Human Services
1-3 credits
Special topics are offered to provide more in-depth knowledge about current areas of practice or issues in human services. These courses are intended to meet the needs of students in social work, psychology, nursing, and education.
SWK 300
Community Organizing
and Social Planning
3 credits
Includes strategies for organization and development of local communities to meet human needs and to enhance the social environment. Special emphasis is placed on the role of the community organizer in working with established community structures, identifying and encouraging leadership, and facilitating planned community change.
SWK 303
Human Behavior and the
Social Environment
3 credits
Builds on a strong theory foundation for social work practice with specific content in social, behavioral and biological sciences. A bio-psycho-socio-spiritual framework for students to view human growth and development through the life-span will be examined. The “ person in environment” focus is approached from an ecological perspective of individual in the context of family, groups and the community. The social systems model will help students focus on the dynamic interplay and reciprocal nature of the person and the environment. Prerequisites: Psychology 100; Sociology 100; Anthropology 100; Biology 111 and 112; or permission of the instructor.
SWK 313
Minorities and Human Relations
(GS)
3 credits
(Cross-listed as Sociology 313)
SWK 321
The Family as a Social Institution
3 credits
(Cross-listed as Sociology 321)
SWK 324
Social Science Statistics
3 credits
(Cross-listed as Sociology 324)
SWK 325
Social Work Research Methods
and Design
4 credits
Provides practitioners with the understanding of a scientific, analytical approach to knowledge building. This course will examine the concepts of theory development, conceptualization and hypothesis formulation across social work practice. The content includes research design, sampling, instrumentation, methods of data collection and analysis as well as descriptive inferential statistics and critical analysis of empirical research. The student will develop an original research project to be carried out in Social Work 326. Prerequisites: Social Work 201, 202, Mathematics 102, Sociology 324 or Mathematics 110.
SWK 326
Evaluating Social Work Research
4 credits
This is the second of two methods courses (Social Work 325 and 326) in applied research. Students will apply the scientific and analytic approaches to building knowledge for practice and evaluation of social work practice. The goal of the course is to provide students with the opportunity to carry out an original research study developed by the students in Social Work 325 that evaluates services delivery in all areas of practice. The student will be able to critically evaluate the research findings and learn to use empirical data appropriately in practice. Prerequisite: Social Work 325
SWK 327
Social Work Processes: Individuals,
Families, Groups
4 credits
Problem-solving processes relevant to social work practice considered within a social systems frame of reference. Methods common to all fields of social work are stressed, including communication and interpersonal interaction processes, assessment procedures, interventive strategies and the sequential phases of the helping process. Content will examine human diversity, life-span development, and the life model. Applied experience involving videotaping interviewing techniques. Prerequisites: Social Work 201, 202, 300 and 303.
SWK 328
Poverty and Income Redistribution
3 credits
An examination of the systems of resource allocation in the United States, the economic foundations upon which these systems are based, their inefficiencies and inequalities, and the means of redistributing resources to eliminate/reduce conditions of poverty. Specific reference will be made to those social welfare programs and policies known as income maintenance, including their financing and political development, and their critical analysis through the application of key socioeconomic criteria. Prerequisite: Social Work 201 and 202 or permission of instructor.
SWK 329
Generalist Social Work Practice
3 credits
Examines differential assessment and intervention methods based on transpersonal theory. The person in the environment is viewed as systemically interrelated. Personal fulfillment is extended through spirituality and self-transcendence and environmental issues are linked to global justice and harmony. Beliefs from various cultural contexts: spiritual, philosophical, social and transpersonal experiences are viewed from micro, mezzo and macro levels of social work practice. Prerequisites: Social Work 201, 202, 300 and 303. This course is designated to be taken concurrently with Social Work 327 and prior to field education.
SWK 339
Field Education in Social Work I
(Capstone Experience)
9 credits
A required field education experience applying theoretical knowledge gained in previous courses. Student chooses placement in a cooperating community service agency under professional supervision. Equal attention is given to cognitive and attitudinal aspects of learning to deal with people who have a range of backgrounds and problems. To be taken concurrently with Social Work 345. Fourhundred and fifty hours in the field required with onehour weekly seminar on campus. No credit will be given for previous field education or job experience. Taken in the fall and spring semesters of the student’s senior year. Prerequisites: Social Work 201, 202, 303, 327 and 328. SWK 342 Field Education in Social Work II 1-9 credits An elective field education experience available to students who have completed Social Work 339. Students may choose to continue with the same agency used for Social Work 339 or choose another agency setting. Prerequisites: Social Work 339 and 345.
SWK 345
Field Education Seminar I
(Capstone Experience)
3 credits
Taken concurrently with Social Work 339 and provides the opportunity to integrate and reconcile theoretical concepts learned in foundation and professional social work courses and apply them to the field education experience. The integration of theory and practice is the keynote of this seminar.
SWK 346
Field Education Seminar II
(Capstone Experience)
3 credits
An advanced course in social work principles, methods and values, in practice. Emphasis is on the continued development of practice theory. A capstone course in social work practice in which special consideration is given to critical issues in contemporary social work practice. Guest lecturers who are professionals in the field and audiovisual aids will be used to exemplify current social work theory and alternative modes of practice. Prerequisites: Social Work 339 and 345 SWK 360 Special Topics in Social Work 1-3 credits Special topics courses are occasionally offered in subjects of special interest to social work students.
SWK 390
Independent Study
1-3 credits