PROCESSES OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOR

Prerequisites & course information

Requisites: Junior standing or ( SOC/LEGAL ST 131 , SOC 181 , C&E SOC/SOC 210 , or 211 ) Course Designation: Core GenEd - Social & Behavioral Science Breadth - Social Science Level - Advanced L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2025 Learning Outcomes: 1. Critically evaluate major sociological theories of deviance, including structural functionalism, conflict theory, labeling theory, and social control theories, and apply them to contemporary and historical cases. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Analyze the social construction of deviance and how definitions of deviance vary across cultures, subcultures, and historical periods. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Assess the role of institutions (e.g., family, education, criminal justice, media) in the identification, regulation, and reproduction of deviant behavior. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Analyze the intersection of deviance with race, class, gender, and sexuality, and how power dynamics influence who is labeled as deviant and why. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Interpret empirical research on deviant behavior, including qualitative and quantitative studies, and evaluate their methodologies and findings. Audience: Undergraduate 6. Formulate and defend evidence-based arguments regarding social responses to deviance, including policy implications, rehabilitation, and punishment. Audience: Undergraduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Critically evaluate major sociological theories of deviance, including structural functionalism, conflict theory, labeling theory, and social control theories, and apply them to contemporary and historical cases. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Analyze the social construction of deviance and how definitions of deviance vary across cultures, subcultures, and historical periods. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Assess the role of institutions (e.g., family, education, criminal justice, media) in the identification, regulation, and reproduction of deviant behavior. Audience: Undergraduate 4. Analyze the intersection of deviance with race, class, gender, and sexuality, and how power dynamics influence who is labeled as deviant and why. Audience: Undergraduate 5. Interpret empirical research on deviant behavior, including qualitative and quantitative studies, and evaluate their methodologies and findings. Audience: Undergraduate 6. Formulate and defend evidence-based arguments regarding social responses to deviance, including policy implications, rehabilitation, and punishment. Audience: Undergraduate