Course Schedule and Catalog

Department: Sociology

Meeting: 1:00PM - 2:15PM TR (12-JAN-2026 - 24-APR-2026) 

Part of Term: Full Term

Grade Mode: Standard Letter

Course Type: Lecture

Language of Instruction: Taught in English

Method of Instruction: Face to Face

Credit Hours: 3

 

Section Max Enrollment: 49

Section Enrolled: 13

Enrollment data as of: 25-NOV-2025 4:06AM

 

 

Final Exam: No Final Exam

 

Description: Our bodies are more than just biology—they’re stories, symbols, and sites of power. In this course, we’ll look at the body not only as something physical, but as something deeply social. How do culture, politics, and institutions shape what our bodies mean? How do we, in turn, experience and respond to those meanings? In this class, we explore questions like: What counts as a “human” body? Who decides what the “ideal” body looks like? What makes a body “healthy” or “unhealthy”? When—and why—should bodies be changed? Who gets to decide? Can aspects like gender or race be transformed? How are bodies monitored, judged, and controlled? By examining the sociology of the body and embodiment, you’ll gain new perspectives on how society lives through our bodies—and how our bodies push back. Expect thought-provoking discussions, critical insights, and the chance to rethink what it means to live in a body today.