Copyright & Disclaimer Information - Illinois Institute of Technology

SOC 359
Humans, Ecology and Environment
This course examines the relationship
between humans and nature,
including reasons for some wellknown
ecological catastrophes in
human history. It traces people’s
changing attitudes to the environment,
from early industrial optimism
to the 1960’s rise of concerns about
pollution and overpopulation, to the
1970’s Limits to Growth debate, and
to more recent concerns about such
things as preservation of nature, and
global climate change. The course
explores various measures that have
been offered to solve problems, for
instance the Green Revolution, sustainable
development, renewable
energy, or various “clean” technologies,
and the potential social and ecological
consequences of these solutions
(3-0-3) (S) (C)
SOC 360
Globalization
Globalization has become a powerful
buzzword in Social Science and in
popular discourse. This course utilizes
a sociological perspective to
examine the economic, sociopolitical,
and cultural aspects of globalization
within the context of contemporary
debates about the phenomenon.
Prerequisite: A 200 level or higher
social science course or a 300-level
humanities course (preferably
History). Same as PS 360. (3-0-3) (S)
(C)
SOC 362
Technology and Social Change
The course examines the social implications
of selected emerging and cutting
edge technology with an emphasis
on recent developments and
events. The course investigates the
consequences of those technologies
for society using both a short term
and long term perspectives. The
issues examined include moral, ethical,
socioeconomic, and educational
considerations. Same as PS 362.
(3-0-3) (S) (C)
SOC 371
Occupations and Professions
This course considers all factors
affecting work, including the transition
from school to work; the deter-
Copyright & Disclaimer Information: Copyright © 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007. CollegeSource®, Inc. and Career Guidance Foundation. CollegeSource® digital catalogs are derivative works owned and copyrighted by CollegeSource®, Inc. and Career Guidance Foundation. Catalog content is owned and copyrighted by the appropriate school. While CollegeSource®, Inc. and Career Guidance Foundation provides information as a service to the public, copyright is retained on all digital catalogs.
Copyright & Disclaimer Information: Copyright © 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007. CollegeSource®, Inc. and Career Guidance Foundation. CollegeSource® digital catalogs are derivative works owned and copyrighted by CollegeSource®, Inc. and Career Guidance Foundation. Catalog content is owned and copyrighted by the appropriate school. While CollegeSource®, Inc. and Career Guidance Foundation provides information as a service to the public, copyright is retained on all digital catalogs.
minants of earnings and other job
benefits; job satisfaction; labor
unions and professional associations;
class position in American society;
the effects of foreign competition;
government labor force policies; and
the work environment in a comparative
perspective. Prerequisite: A 200level
or higher Social Science course.
(3-0-3) (S) (C)
SOC 381
Understanding Cultures
This course will familiarize and sensitize
students to issues of intercultural
perception and communication,
with particular attention to the
workplace and business world and
among professionals in different
fields. It provides a context for
understanding cultural difference
and different taken-for-granted
assumptions about “proper” behavior
and the social world. The course has
both theoretical and practical
aspects. Individual and group tasks
include analysis, observation and
interviewing, role-playing, papers,
and presentations. The course systematically
examines important cultural
aspects and their variation
across a broad cultural spectrum and
brings in occasional guest lecturers
with international business and professional
experience.
Same as BUS 381. (3-0-3) (S) (C)
SOC 411
Social Use of Space
This course is designed to give students
basic insights in people’s experience
of space and the effect of spatial
arrangements on people’s behavior.
The course explores the differences
in conceptions between planners
and users and the need to take
the user into account in spatial
design. Readings cover cognitive,
sensory, functional, proxemic, crosscultural,
and symbolic aspects of the
built environment. The course
involves group research projects and
presentations, and mid-term and
final exams. Prerequisite: An introductory
sociology, psychology, or
architecture course. (3-0-3) (S) (C)
IIT Undergraduate Bulletin 2006–2008
Course Descriptions
SOC 420
Managers and Management
Managers possess unique positions
within the workplace. This course
examines the structural constraints
and cultural expectations associated
with the role of “manager.” We will
draw from works within the sociology
of business, organizations, work and
occupations to explore the historical
development and place of managers in
society, and the current expectations,
reward structure, and dilemmas of
managers in a variety of work settings.
Some of the dynamics we will
address are distinctions between
managers, their employers and their
subordinates, the infiltration of managerial
ideology throughout the
broader society; constraints on managers’
decision-making processes;
currently popular policies and attitudes
among managers in business;
and experimental employer/management/employee
configurations. This
is a readings and discussion seminar.
Prerequisite: SOC 200 or, with
approval of instructor, significant life
experience relevant to course subject
matter. (3-0-3) (S) (C)
SOC 422
Complex Organizations
Introduces students to the significant
theoretical frameworks that have
emerged over time to describe and
explain organizations, as well as
organizational actors and actions.
Emphasis is on both public and nonprofit
large administrative agencies.
The course includes consideration of
relations between an organization
and its environment, the importance
of interorganizational networks, and
the role of power in organizational
life. Prerequisite: a 200-level or higher
social science course. (3-0-3) (S) (C)
SOC 431
Development of
Sociological Thought
Surveys ideas and issues that have
influenced the history of sociology and
continue to bear significantly on current
theory. Analyzes major figures,
schools of thought, conceptual themes
and controversies. Prerequisite: SOC
200, PS 300, or SOC/PS 310. (3-0-3)
(S) (C)
215