SOC 335 Surveillance
This is a course in which students will study the many ways in which people are subjected to surveillance and the effect that such surveillance has on society and on the individual. The course is divided into four parts. Part I is an introduction in which students examine what constitutes surveillance, the purposes of surveillance, and a short history of surveillance. Part II is a short analysis of the applicable laws (5 Supreme Court opinions will be read and briefed), mores, societal privacy expectations, and the way those things have changed over time. In Part III, students will examine a variety of types of surveillance, including, but not limited to, video, aerial, vehicle, communication, financial, bodily, and internet surveillance, as well as surveillance in the workplace, school, welfare state, and corrections system. After an analysis of each of these types of surveillance, students will be led in a discussion of its real and potential effects (on human behavior), as well as an analysis of the interplay between surveillances conducted by the government, private business, and individuals. A theme that will be stressed throughout this course is the direct relationship between technological development, increased surveillance, and decreased privacy. To affirm the relevance of this course of study, a heavy emphasis will be placed on the analysis of current events throughout the semester.