The institution of the family within the context of American culture. Theoretical and research methodological issues in the sociological study of human aging are considered. Special emphasis is placed upon the interaction of pertinent biological and sociological variables as they relate to a variety of topics, including work, retirement, leisure, institutionalization, and death. Focuses on the relationship between the demographics of urbanization and the social-psychological characteristics of urbanism. Determinist, compositional, and sub-cultural theories are compared.
American institutions form the core of the comparative analysis.
Types of criminal behavior, the epidemiology of crime in the United States, the social basis of law, and major etiological forces responsible for lawbreaking. General systems theory is the basic theoretical perspective used in this course. The sociology of substance use and abuse, as well as the approaches for treatment. The course focuses on the social processes that influence substance abuse and the societal costs and consequences. Discusses the various forms of deviant behavior, public responses to such behavior, and the causes of such behavior.