SOC 271: Sociology of Deviance

EDP, SS- In Sociology of Deviance, students will critically investigate deviance as a social construct from a sociological lens. Students will apply new knowledge to contemporary issues relating to deviance. They will learn about the fluidity of deviance through time, place, generation, and culture. Students will learn historical and theoretical approaches of deviance, and how to interpret statistical data. Students will explore traditional and contemporary themes in deviance from murder, sexual assault to cyber deviance, uncovering reasons for deviant behavior. Students will examine how social mechanisms, such as laws, policing, and sentencing function to reproduce and reinforce actions and policies that perpetuate myths, stereotypes, and social injustices towards marginalized groups. Students will also explore the themes of ethics, culpability, forgiveness, and restorative justice through a sociological lens.