DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY, SOCIAL WORK, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE (SOCI) William A. Schwab Degree Conferred: M.A. in Sociology (SOCI)
Areas of Concentration: General sociology and rural sociology. Prerequisites to Degree Program: Prior undergraduate work in social theory, research methods, statistics, and writing is considered necessary for successful performance at the graduate level. SOCI 3303 (or an approved equivalent), SOCI 3313, SOCI 4023 (or an approved equivalent), and SOCI 5053 (for students without a B.A. in sociology) are required to eliminate deficiencies. Undergraduate deficiencies must be removed by taking the appropriate undergraduate courses during the first twelve hours of graduate work or the first time the courses are offered. Requirements for All Students Enrolled in the Graduate Program: SOCI 5252, Classical Social Theory Additional requirements for students enrolled in the Rural Sociology concentration: RSOC 4623, Introduction to Community Development See Human Environmental Sciences for program requirements for Rural Sociology concentration and Rural Sociology courses. In addition to these core courses, the student must take sufficient hours of electives to reach 31 semester hours total. A maximum of three elective credit hours may be taken at the 4000 level without prior approval by the Graduate Committee. Students may apply three hours of independent study toward the degree provided that a research proposal is approved by the instructor prior to enrollment in the course. Except for courses in Rural Sociology, the student's adviser must authorize courses outside of the department. Except for rare circumstances, no more than three hours of credit outside of the department will count for the degree. All students must submit a thesis that is approved by the student's thesis committee. In addition, all students must pass a comprehensive examination.
COURSES: SOCIOLOGY (SOCI) SOCI4006 Internship in Sociology (FA, SP, SU) Supervised experience in municipal, county, or state agencies, or any other agency which is approved by the instructor. Prerequisite: SOCI 2013. SOCI401V Special Topics in Sociology (1-6) (SP) Designed to cover specialized topics not usually presented indepth in regular courses. May be repeated for 6 hours. Prerequisite: SOCI 2013. SOCI4023 Social Theory (FA) Nineteenth and 20th century sociological theory. Present-day currents in sociology are studied and related to political, philosophical, and psychological contemporary thought. Prerequisite: SOCI 2013 and junior standing. SOCI403V Individual Study in Sociology (1-3) (FA, SP, SU) A reading and conference course on special topics in sociology for advanced students. SOCI4043 Seminar in Sociology (SP) Prerequisite: senior standing. SOCI4053 Political Sociology (IR) Analysis of political institutions and movements in relation to power, social class, ideology, and related variables. (Same as PLSC 4053) SOCI4063 Organizations in Society (FA) An introduction to the study of organizations; provides a broad overview of issues and problems related to organizations in society. Prerequisite: SOCI 2013 SOCI4083 Sociology of Medicine (IR) The sociological characteristics of sickness to include primitive medicine, the evolution of medicine, the organization of medical care, the relation between disease and the social environment, and the impact of ill health on society. Prerequisite: SOCI 2013. SOCI4093 Sociology of Poverty (FA, Even years) The incidence and composition of poverty: educational and economic strategies for attacking poverty problems. Prerequisite: SOCI 2013. SOCI4123 Black Ghetto (FA, SP) The origin, continuity, problems, and personalities, of the Black American community and its contributions to national and international life. Prerequisite: SOCI 2013. SOCI4133 The Family (SP) A sociological analysis of the interactions and relationships which constitute the family as a group and as an institution, to include issues of gender and family diversity. Prerequisite: SOCI 2013 or SOCI 2033. SOCI4163 Extremism (SP) Descriptions of, explanations for, religious cults and extremist political groups in America, including question(s) of appropriate response to them. Prerequisite: junior standing. SOCI4203 Gender and Society (SP) Variations in gender roles, self-concepts and societal expectations, by generation, social class, and ethnic group; the present and changing statuses of men and women in society. Prerequisite: SOCI 2013 or HUMN 2003. SOCI4213 Seminar in Violence (SP, Odd years) Explanations for, consequences of, and possible responses to individual, collective, and institutional violence; comparisons between socially acceptable and unacceptable forms of violence. Prerequisite: junior standing. SOCI4603 Environmental Sociology (SP) The course provides a social perspective on enivronmental issues. It examines the linkage between society, ecological systems and the physical environment. It provides conceptual framwork(s) for analyzing environmental issues, considers the role of humans in enviromental issues, and enhances understanding the complexity of the relationship between societal organization and environmental change. (Same as RSOC 4603) SOCI500V Advanced Problems in Sociology (1-6) (FA, SP, SU) Individual research on problems or problem areas. Prerequisite: graduate standing. SOCI5013 Advanced Social Research (FA) Supervised field experience and other projects in social research. Prerequisite: SOCI 2013 and SOCI 3301L and SOCI 3303 and SOCI 3313 and SOCI 5313 and SOCI 5311L. SOCI5023 Sociology of Education (FA, SP) Sociological theory and research relevant to education, the school as a social system, professionalization and career patterns of teachers, value conflicts, social stratification, role relationships, and other factors. Prerequisite: graduate standing. SOCI5053 Advanced General Sociology (FA, SU) Advanced survey of the discipline and profession of sociology, including designation of the subject matter of sociology and relation to other disciplines, models of society and people, social units and social processes, methods, and sociology as a profession. Prerequisite: graduate standing. SOCI5073 The Sociology of Law (IR) Sociological analysis of the role of law in American society, the creation of law, and the effects of law. Prerequisite: graduate standing. SOCI5083 Methods of Field Research (SP) An introduction to research strategies including intensive interviewing, participant observational fieldwork, content analysis, historical analysis, and comparative research. Emphasis on the practical aspects of designing and executive research involving multiple methods of data gathering and analysis. Prerequisite: graduate standing. SOCI5113 Seminar in Social Stratification (FA, Odd years) Major theories of stratification; types of stratification systems, comparisons of modern and traditional systems; emergent trends. Prerequisite: SOCI 4023 or SOCI 5053. SOCI5133 Contemporary Community Systems (SP, Even years) Community human and physical systems and their relationships in a changing environment, quantitative evaluation of essential public services. Prerequisite: graduate standing. SOCI5153 Sociological Perspective on Social Psychology (SP, Even years) Principles, concepts and methods used in analyzing effects of social structures and processes on the self and interaction. Topics include exchange theory, role analysis, symbolic interactionism, social construction of reality, socialization, interpersonal competence, organizational and leadership development, social dislocation, and stress. Prerequisite: graduate standing. SOCI5173 Seminar in Social System Model Construction (IR) Methods and on-going research examples of data-based model construction for social system analysis. Emphasis on practical student projects in model construction and verification. Prerequisite: STAT 4003 or STAT 4033 or equivalent. SOCI5213 Social Evaluation (IR) Examination of the process of social evaluation at the federal, state and local level, including topics in evaluation strategies, designs, problems encountered in field, and utilization of evaluation results, with special attention to the relationship between process and product evaluation in programs for families and young children. Prerequisite: SOCI 5013. SOCI5233 Theories of Deviance (FA, Even years) A survey of major theories-classical, developmental, ecological, functionalist, conflict, subcultural, control, and phenomenological-explaining morally condemned differences in society. Particular emphasis is on practical implications of each perspective for policy and social control. Prerequisite: graduate standing. SOCI5252 Classical Social Theory (FA) A survey of social theory up to the late 20th century. An introduction to the classical sociological themes that continue to inform research, analysis, and policy formation. Major issues will include the relationship between the individual and the community, and the sources of stability, conflict, and change. Prerequisite: graduate standing. SOCI5262 Contemporary Social Theory (SP) Analysis of contemporary social theories & major theoretical debates. Emphasis is on critical evaluation & application of theoretical perspectives to current social issues affecting families and communities. Prerequisite: SOCI 5252. SOCI5272 Theory Construction (SP) A survey of the main strategies of theory construction. Emphasis is on gaining practical experience in constructing theoretical models, generalizations and propositions. Relationships between theory construction & application will be underscored. Prerequisite: SOCI 5252. SOCI5313 Applied Data Analysis (SP) Covers basic concepts and applications of the general linear model to a variety of sociological research issues and problems. Also provides an introduction to binary dependent and multivariate categorical data analysis for sociological research. Prerequisite: SOCI 3303 or an equivalent course in statistics. Familiarity with statistical computer programs is assumed. SOCI5311L Applied Data Analysis Laboratory (SP) Provides instruction for data transformations required for the advanced statistical procedures used in the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Also provides instruction in the use of advanced statistical procedures covered in SOCI 5313. Corequisite: SOCI 5313. Prerequisite: SOCI 3303 and SOCI 3301L. SOCI5403 Survey Methods (SP, Odd years) Introduction to techniques of social survey research. Focuses on the development of survey research instruments and their construction. Measurement techniques are examined including issues of reliability and validity, scaling, and index construction. Elementary sampling considerations are discussed in the applied context of research. Techniques of file generation and manipulation relative to survey research are examined. Prerequisite: SOCI 3303 or equivalent. SOCI5506 Research Internship (FA, SP) Supervised research experience in field setting. Prerequisite: graduate standing. SOCI600V Master's Thesis (1-6) (FA, SP, SU) SOCI6043 Public Policy, Children and Families (FA, SP, SU) The study of the impact of public policy on children and families, and the ways in which policies are created, modified, and changed. Includes the history of public policy concerning children and families.
COURSES: SOCIAL WORK (SCWK) SCWK405V Special Topics in Social Work (1-6) (IR) Comprehensive study of various topics of importance in contemporary social welfare and social work practice. May be repeated. Prerequisite: junior standing. SCWK4233 Seminar: Children and Family Services (FA, SP, SU) An examination of selected current issues in the field of children and family services through discussion, individual study, and interaction with professionals in the field. SCWK4412 Field Seminar I (FA, SP, SU) An integrative seminar to assist students in comparing their practice experiences, integrating knowledge acquired in the classroom, and expanding knowledge beyond the scope of the practicum setting. Corequisite: SCWK 4434 and social work majors only. SCWK4422 Field Seminar II (FA, SP, SU) An integrative seminar to assist students in comparing their practice experiences, integrating knowledge acquired in the classroom, and expanding knowledge beyond the scope of the practicum setting. Corequisite: SCWK 4444 (social work majors only). SCWK4434 Social Work Internship I (FA, SP, SU) Arranged in connection with social service agencies. Credit is based on completion of all course objectives, including a minimum of 225 hours of field work under the supervision of a licensed social worker. Corequisite: SCWK 4412 (social work majors only). Prerequisite: SCWK 3073 and SCWK 3103 and SCWK 4333. SCWK4444 Social Work Internship II (FA, SP, SU) Arranged in connection with social service agencies. Credit is based on completion of all course objectives, including a minimum of 225 hours of field work under the supervision of a licensed social worker. Corequisite: SCWK 4422 (social work majors only). Prerequisite: SCWK 4343 and SCWK 4733 and SCWK 4434 and SCWK 4432. SCWK4633 Information Technology and the Human Services (FA, SP, SU) Overview of information technology and exposure to human service applications through lecture and lab experience. Prerequisite: SCWK 2133. |