SOC - Sociology

SOC 100 Principles of Sociology (3)

Overview of basic theories, methods, concepts and issues central to the discipline of sociology. Examine the relationship between social behavior and society. (GenEd)

SOC 120 Introduction to Family Studies (3)

Survey the characteristics, issues and problems of the family as a social institution. Topics discussed include: marital satisfaction, conflict, mate selection, alternatives and social change. (GenEd)

SOC 141 Introduction to Criminal Justice (3)

A survey of three components of criminal justice system: police, courts and correction. Emphasis on structural and situational factors influencing the way these agencies of social control operate. (GenEd)

SOC 170 Social Problems (3)

Theoretical and conceptual perspectives on social problems and related social policy implications. Definitional and social causation models of social problems are examined. (GenEd)

SOC 221 Sociology of Gender (3)

Prerequisite: SOC 100 or equivalent. Examine gender stratification and social inequality. Topics include cultural definitions of masculinity and femininity, socialization and social change. (GenEd)

SOC 235 Social Change (3)

Prerequisite: SOC 100 or equivalent. Study approaches to change including social movements and revolutions as the product of social factors. Compare the processes of change in underdeveloped countries with change in industrial societies.

SOC 237 Sociology of Minorities (3)

Prerequisite: SOC 100 or equivalent. Examine intergroup relations and the dynamics of power relating to ethnicity and other dimensions of social life that have produced tension and conflict among groups historically and in the present. (GenEd)

SOC 247 Social Deviance (3)

Prerequisite: SOC 100 or equivalent. Study social deviancy, particularly in terms of types, sources, functions, dysfunctions and social control mechanisms that operate relative to those departures form conformity.

SOC 270 World Population Problems (3)

Prerequisite: SOC 100 or equivalent. Examine population problems in various societies in the world. Review theories of population growth. Relate the population problem to factors that indicate the web of interdependency.

SOC 272 The Community (3)

Prerequisite: SOC 100 or equivalent. Study the community from small to large as a complex of human relations. Explore the community historically and functionally on a cross-cultural basis through a critical perspective.

SOC 275 Sociology of Mental Illness (3)

Prerequisite: SOC 100 or equivalent. Sociological perspectives on mental illness. Examine conceptual models of mental illness, social epidemiological help-seeking behavior, social impacts of treatment, mental health delivery systems and social policy issues.

SOC 277 Social Movements (3)

Prerequisite: SOC 100 or equivalent. Explore significant aspects of unconventional political, economic, religious and cultist organizations. Study institutionalized and uninstitutionalized groups and their members.

SOC 302 Variable Topics in Sociology (1-4)

Prerequisite: SOC 100 or equivalent. Topics may include sociology of religion, human ecology, social conflict, fascism, urban sociology, etc. Repeatable, under different subtitles.

SOC 322 Women and Aging (3)

Prerequisite: SOC 100 or equivalent. Aging from a female perspective. Aspects of maturity and old age such as widowhood, work and retirement, and living situations are examined with particular reference to women.

SOC 324 Issues in the Family (3)

Prerequisite: SOC 120. Examine theoretical perspectives and research issues in the family. Analyze current issues in the family studies areas. Possible topics: singlehood, prenuptial contracts, dual career households, divorce, parenting, cohabitation, custody arrangements.

SOC 326 Sociology of Childhood and Adolescence (3)

Prerequisite: SOC 100 or equivalent. Examine the societal definition of childhood and adolescence and how social institutions influence socialization.

SOC 330 Sociology of Organizations (3)

Prerequisite: SOC 100 or equivalent. Study the social structure of modern bureaucratic organizations. Review human behavior in organizations from a sociological perspective.

SOC 332 Social Psychology (3)

Prerequisite: SOC 100 or equivalent. Examine the relationships between individuals and social systems. Focus on language interaction, self-conceptualizing behaviors and change. Review dominant social psychological theories and issues.

SOC 333 Social Class and Inequality (3)

Prerequisite: SOC 100 or equivalent. Presents a critical analysis of the realities of America's open-class system, making use of current theoretical perspectives and systematic research. Examines cross-cultural perspectives of stratification.

SOC 340 Juvenile Delinquency (3)

Prerequisite: SOC 100 or equivalent. Study the history of juvenile law, enforcement structures and explanations for the emergence of delinquency. Study the American juvenile legal system and its major problems.

SOC 346 Criminology (3)

Prerequisite: SOC 100 or equivalent. Survey criminal behavior generally, including theories of causation, types of crime, extent of crime, law enforcement, criminal justice, punishment and treatment.

SOC 347 Sociology of Corrections (3)

Prerequisite: SOC 100 or equivalent. Survey of the history and structure of punishment in Western societies. Review of the major philosophies and practices of modern corrections.

SOC 351 Classical Social Theory (3)

Prerequisite: SOC 100 or equivalent. Study the major classical theorists who established the foundations of sociology during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Focus on the emergence of sociology.

SOC 352 Contemporary Social Theory (3)

Prerequisites: SOC 100, SOC 351. Review the major modern theoretical paradigms and prominent contemporary theorists in sociology. Examine contemporary issues in sociology.

SOC 360 Computer Applications in the Social Sciences (3)

Prerequisite: SOC 100 or equivalent. Basic skills in the application of computer technology to substantive issues in sociology. Data collection, data analysis, simulation and data archives. Mainframe, mini- and microcomputer applications.

SOC 361 Social Research (3)

Prerequisites: SOC 100 or equivalent, STAT 150. Juniors or above. Introduce research methodologies in the social sciences. Study the logic of research, role of theory, measurement, sampling and research designs.

SOC 362 Social Statistics (3)

Prerequisites: SOC 100 or equivalent, STAT 150. Introduce statistics in social science research. Levels of measurement; measures of central tendency and variability, probability; estimation and hypothesis testing; measures of association - chi square.

SOC 371 Sociology of Aging (3)

Prerequisite: SOC 100 or equivalent. Survey theories and research on the social aspects of aging with emphasis on later maturity and old age.

SOC 372 Gangs, Schools and Community (3)

Prerequisite: SOC 100. An examination of why today's youth join, remain in and leave gangs. This course also provides prospective teachers with strategies for dealing with gangs in their classroom, school and community.

SOC 373 Political Sociology (3)

Prerequisite: SOC 100 or equivalent. Evaluate structural strains and alternatives of left and right development in society. Analyze the state, its relationship to the masses, elites and problems of legitimacy.

SOC 378 Sociology of Education (3)

Prerequisite: SOC 100 or equivalent. Systematically attempt to relate sociological concepts to the educational institution. Focus on a scientific analysis of social processes and patterns involved in the educational system.

SOC 409 Senior Seminar in Sociology (3)

Prerequisite: SOC 100 and three of the following courses: SOC 351, SOC 352, SOC 361 or SOC 362. Majors only. Culminating seminar to provide opportunity for students to experience sociology by conducting a research project on an instructor-approved topic. Capstone course for Social Issues and Sociology of Education Emphases.

SOC 422 Directed Studies (1-3)

Individualized investigation under the direct supervision of a faculty member. (Minimum of 25 clock hours required per credit hour.) Repeatable, maximum concurrent enrollment is two times.

SOC 423 Violence and the Family (3)

Prerequisite: SOC 100 or equivalent. Juniors or above. Examine major issues in family violence such as defining family violence, comparing types of explanations from different disciplines and translating social science perspectives to policy and social service delivery systems.

SOC 425 Sociology of Work and Occupations (3)

Prerequisite: SOC 100 or equivalent. Juniors or above. The origins of the structure and administration and the future of work and occupations. Other topics covered are occupational choice, socialization, managing workers, feelings about work and deviance.

SOC 444 Sociology of Criminal Law (3)

Prerequisites: SOC 100. Majors only. Seniors or above. Focus on substantive and procedural criminal law in the context of sociological theory, research and jurisprudence. Capstone course for criminal justice emphasis.

SOC 445 Comparative Justice Systems (3)

Prerequisites: SOC 100 and SOC 141. Examine the criminal justice systems in a variety of countries throughout the world. Compare and contrast those systems with each other and with the United States' justice system.

SOC 447 Introduction to Grant Proposal Writing (3)

Prerequisite: SOC 100 or equivalent. Juniors or above. A course for juniors and seniors designed to teach students how to prepare grant proposals. This course gives students opportunities to learn by actively participating in the writing of a grant proposal.

SOC 452 Applied Social Theory (3)

Prerequisites: SOC 100, Junior or senior status and permission of instructor. Provide understanding of theory in social sciences, knowledge of major paradigms used in social science, assess applied explanatory strengths and weaknesses of these paradigms.

SOC 480 Social Policy Analysis (3)

Examines social policy and society. Socio-cultural historical conditions, social institutions which affect policy formation. Social change and social policy, and utilization of sociological concepts and methods are examined.

SOC 490 Internship (3-9)

Prerequisite: SOC 100 or equivalent. Study the basic principles of field research by working as a volunteer intern with a community service agency. Repeatable, maximum of nine credits.

SOC 491 Internship in Social Issues (3-9)

Prerequisites: SOC 100, SOC 272, SOC 351 or equivalent. Social Issues Internship provides the student with an opportunity to study and gain experience in a social issue by working with a community agency or group. Repeatable, maximum of nine credits.

SOC 493 Practicum in Family Studies (3-9)

Prerequisites: SOC 100, SOC 120, SOC 324, SOC 351, SOC 352, SOC 361, SOC 362. Majors only. Permission of instructor. Seniors or above. Complete an individualized applied research project for a family service agency. Classroom component addresses issues in applied research, professional socialization and family policy. Capstone course for the Family Studies emphasis.

SOC 494 Research Practicum (3-6)

Individualized research project for a non-profit organization. Classroom component addresses issues in applied research. Project must be initiated before enrollment and approval of the project is required.

SOC 508 Workshop (1-6)

A variety of workshops on special topics within the discipline. Goals and objectives will emphasize the acquisition of general knowledge and skills in the discipline. Repeatable, under different subtitles.

SOC 513 Professional Renewal (1-3)

Update skills and knowledge of professionals in the discipline. Goals and objectives will be specifically directed at individual professional enhancement rather than the acquisition of general discipline knowledge or methodologies. S/U or letter graded. Repeatable, under different subtitles.

SOC 523 Violence and the Family (3)

Examine major issues in family violence such as defining family violence, comparing types of explanations from different disciplines and translating social science perspectives to policy and social service delivery systems.

SOC 530 Organizational Analysis (3)

Analysis of complex organizations in education, health, criminal justice, business and media. Application of theories in structures of organizations, behaviors of individuals within organizations and interorganizational relationships.

SOC 532 Social Psychology and Group Dynamics (3)

Prerequisite SOC 332 or consent of instructor. Analyze and discuss issues, trends, paradigms and applications. Includes social interaction theories, small group dynamics and group based methodologies.

SOC 539 Seminar in Clinical Sociology (3)

Examine important issues and activities related to clinical sociology, survey research methods and intervention techniques used by sociologists, consider ethics of sociology, emphasize critical thinking, research and writing.

SOC 544 Sociology of Criminal Law (3)

Graduates only. Focus on substantive and procedural criminal law in the context of sociological theory, research and jurisprudence.

SOC 551 Classical Social Theory (3)

Study the major pioneering classical social theorists who established modern sociology during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Focus on the emergence of sociology as a discipline.

SOC 552 Applied Social Theory (3)

Provide understanding of the role of theory in the social sciences, provide knowledge of major paradigms utilized in contemporary social science theory, assess applied explanatory strengths and weaknesses of paradigms.

SOC 554 Criminological Theories (3)

Analyze and evaluate the major historical and contemporary theories of criminal behavior.

SOC 562 Social Statistics (3)

Prerequisites: SOC 100 or equivalent, STAT 150. Introduce applied statistics in social science research. Levels of measurement; measures of central tendency and variability, probability; estimation and hypothesis testing; measures of association - chi square.

SOC 563 Qualitative Methods (3)

Examination of major qualitative methods in sociology: ethnography, participant observation, phenomenological sociology, ethnomethodology, Verstehen sociology, hermeneutics and other methods. Emphasis is on field research and application of specific qualitative methods.

SOC 571 Sociology of Aging (3)

Prerequisite: SOC 100 or equivalent. Survey theories and research on the social aspects of aging with emphasis on later maturity and old age.

SOC 580 Social Policy Analysis (3)

Examines social policy and society. Socio-cultural historical conditions, social institutions which affect policy formation. Social change and social policy and utilization of sociological concepts and methods are examined.

SOC 622 Directed Studies (1-3)

Individualized investigation under the direct supervision of a faculty member. (Minimum of 25 clock hours required per credit hour.) Repeatable, maximum concurrent enrollment is two times.

SOC 660 Applied Social Research (3)

Apply techniques of applied sociological research to an approved community project in applied social research, understand the relationship between basic and applied social research.

SOC 690 Practicum in College Teaching of Sociology (2)

Masters students arrange with individual faculty to receive experience in observation and supervised practice. S/U Graded.

SOC 691 Research Internship (1-9)

Prerequisites: Nine hours of graduate credit in sociology and consent of instructor. S/U graded. Put classroom learning into practice with research in an organizational setting. Repeatable, maximum of nine credits.