Viewing: SOAN-398 : Sociology of the Body

Last approved: Fri, 15 May 2026 23:20:12 GMT

Last edit: Mon, 30 Mar 2026 22:59:08 GMT

Justification for this inactivation request

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Term Changes Take Effect

Fall 2026

Academic Level

Undergraduate

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Sociology/Anthropology

Subject

Sociology/Anthropology

Course Number

398

Is this course cross-listed with any other course?

Title

Sociology of the Body

Short Title

Sociology of the Body

Description

Thinking beyond common assumptions about the body. Examination of how bodies are shaped by social norms, power, and inequality. Analysis of bodies that are disabled, fat, scarred, sick, diseased, surgically modified, used for sport, used for profit, and used to sell products. Exploration of how bodies are represented in popular culture and the media.

Prerequisites

SOAN 100 or SOAN 110.

Corequisites

Restrictions

Consent of Instructor is always required.

Variable Credit

Can be repeated for credit?

Credit Hours (Minimum)

Credit Hours (Maximum)

Usual Semester of Offering

Fall

Yearly Cycle

Once Only

Elective for program?

Name of Program

Required for program?

Name of Program

Grading Options

Letter Grade with Credit/No Credit Option

Overall capacity of course

Reason for non-standard capacity

Please state cap request and explain the need for a non-standard cap

Is there a course fee?

Amount

Explanation of fee

The course is being taught by:

A visiting faculty member

Please explain:

Course Type

Course Type - Major/Minor

Should the course satisfy a major or minor requirement or elective?

Yes

Satisfies an elective for the major or minor

List the major(s) and/or minor(s) for which the course satisfies an elective or requirement

SOAN
Gender Studies

Please list the sub-group, area or category it satisfies. (Example: Category II in English, or Global Governance in IA.)

300-level elective in SOAN, or 'additional elective'
Gender Studies additional elective

Course Designations

Is the course being proposed to meet the Connect-Portland designation?

Course Scheduling (Including Lab, Studio and Discussion/Conference Time)

Does your course have a separately scheduled lab, discussion, conference or studio section that is associated with the lecture section?

How many hours per week should the lab/studio/discussion section meet, and in what type of blocks?

Reason

Is there any additional information about the lab/studio/discussion section?

Is this course being taught on an off-campus or overseas study program?

List the overseas program on which it will be taught.

General Education Courses

Is this course intended to fulfill a General Education requirement?

The course is proposed to satisfy the following General Education requirements:

Explanation

Departmental Start-up cost

Capital Equipment

Ongoing Expenses

Library Resources (books, periodicals, interlibrary loan, etc.): If currently held library resources are inadequate, what increase is needed?

some books or e-books may be needed

Computing and/or Media Resources

Please explain in detail the reasons for adding or modifying this course. In your response, be sure to respond to the following:

How does the addition of this course or the change to this course modify or advance the goals/objectives of the overall department/program/major/minor?

This is a one-off offering taught by a visitor in Korean Studies who happens to be a sociologist. This is one of the courses they proposed to teach based on their expertise. While we have a similar course on the books---anthropology of the body--- it will soon be deactivated as it was Deborah Heath's course and it hasn't been taught in several years. The visiting professor also prefers not to teach "Anthropology" of the Body" as this doesn't reflect their disciplinary background.

How does the addition of this course or the change to this course relate to other courses outside of the department/program/major/minor?

NA- this is a one off offering.

How does the addition of this course or the change to this course relate to development in the discipline and to the course offerings and goals/objectives of comparable departments/programs/majors/minors in our peer and aspirational institutions?

We already offer this course on the books, and while this is a standard theme in sociology/anthropology departments, we haven't been able to offer anything on this since Deborah's departure.

Please explain what other curricular changes will occur in the department/program/major/minor in order to permit this course to be taught at the proposed frequency?

Please explain what curricular changes will occur outside of the department/program/major/minor to permit this course to be taught at the proposed frequency? What impact may it have on other departments/programs/majors/minors or General Education? What departments/programs are involved?

Are there any other changes you wish to make to this course or information the Committee should know (please explain)?

No, this is a one-time offering. I expect to delete anthropology of the body from our books later this week after confirming that no one is interested in regularly teaching it moving forward.

Attach a syllabus. (A draft syllabus is acceptable if you are currently developing the course.)

Sociology of the Body.pdf

Attach other documentation which may be helpful to the Committee

Is this a field placement course?

Does this course require a regularly scheduled class room? (classes that do NOT require a regularly scheduled classroom are for example: field placement only course, thesis, independent study, etc.)

Please explain in detail the reasons for adding or modifying this course

Are there any considerations or consequences of adding or changing this course that the department chair, curriculum committee, or dean should be aware of?

Who is expected to enroll?

Does the course overlap with content provided in other courses?

How does this course or the change to this course contribute to the graduate school's diversity mission?

What additional resources are required for this course?

Please Attach A Syllabus

Reviewer Comments

Kat Merck (kmerck) (Mon, 30 Mar 2026 22:59:08 GMT): Course description edited to conform to catalog style.

History