What makes for a good society? This course examines contemporary social issues—like race, class, gender, and education—through a sociological lens. Students will explore inequality, institutional power, and the role of data and theory in imagining a more just and equitable society
Everyone grows older—but not in the same way. SOC/CHS 215: Sociology of Aging and Health takes a fresh look at how our health, families, and social systems shape the way we age. From ageism in pop culture to questions about caregiving and dying well, this course digs into the big questions we don’t always stop to ask.
Explore the impact of popular culture on the way we understand ourselves and society. This course examines the production and consumption of pop culture, its role in shaping social identities, and its influence on race, class, gender, and national belonging. Students will engage with cultural theory and apply it to real-world media and trends.
This course introduces students to the healthcare challenges faced by low-income populations through real-world case studies based in Tucson. Students examine barriers to care, community resources, and the social factors that shape health outcomes, while developing practical solutions for complex health situations.
How does punishment shape society—and how does society shape punishment? This course examines mass incarceration, solitary confinement, and the death penalty through a sociological lens, exploring how social structures, history, and inequality influence the justice system. Through readings, discussions, and research, students will analyze the real-world consequences and lived experiences behind carceral practices, gaining the tools to critically evaluate how punishment functions as a powerful social institution.
Crimes against the environment have consequences that reach communities, ecosystems, and public health around the world. This course explores how environmental harms—such as pollution, illegal dumping, and wildlife trafficking—are defined, carried out, and addressed within different justice systems. Students will examine environmental justice, ecological justice, and animal rights, focusing on the roles that corporations, governments, and transnational organizations play in perpetuating or combating ecological harm. Through case studies, current events, and critical analysis, students will evaluate legal and policy responses to environmental crime and consider what sustainable justice and accountability could look like in a rapidly changing world.
Step into the fast-moving world of online life and digital risk. Cybercriminology explores how power, identity, and risk intersect in online spaces, from cyberbullying and misinformation to online harassment and digital vigilantism. Through case studies, interactive discussions, and hands-on activities, students examine how individuals, families, schools, and government institutions navigate these challenges. By the end of the course, you’ll gain the insight and analytical skills to critically understand cybercrime and think about real-world solutions in our digital society.
CHS 476 is an in-depth introduction to the quantitative analysis of health data with a focus on understanding health disparities. Students learn how to apply the scientific method to explore real-world patterns in health outcomes, from chronic disease to access to care. The course covers the logic of social research, literature review, research design, measurement, sampling, and survey methods, then moves into hands-on analysis of health data—including data processing, descriptive statistics, and interpreting statistical results.
Beyond technical skills, students critically examine how social determinants like race, socioeconomic status, environment, and policy shape health inequities. By the end of the course, students will not only be able to analyze and interpret data, but also connect their findings to broader public health questions and potential interventions. This combination of research skills and real-world application prepares students for careers in public health, healthcare, social policy, and research.
