Graduate Catalog 2024-2025

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Department of Sociology

SOC 514 Masculinities

A sociological analysis not just of men, but of masculinities. We will address debates about meanings of masculinity, historical variations, and how these definitions involve both male and female bodies.
3

Class Restriction

Exclude Freshman and Sophomore

SOC 532 Social Psychology and Group Dynamics

Evaluate how group processes enhance, limit and define social interaction. Study the major theories of group dynamics. Analyze and discuss issues, trends, paradigms and applications.
3

Class Restriction

Exclude Freshman and Sophomore

SOC 539 Seminar in Sociological Practice

Examine important issues and activities related to practicing sociology, survey research methods and intervention techniques used by sociologists, consider ethics of sociology, emphasize critical thinking, research and writing.
3

Class Restriction

Exclude Freshman and Sophomore

SOC 544 Sociology of Law

Study of the social origins, functions and administration of law in society. Focus on the social organization of law, inequality in the legal system, and how civil and criminal law structure society.
3

Level Restriction

Include GR

SOC 550 Family Theories

Course examines theories of family development, interaction and change. Students apply theoretical frameworks to current research, and consider the explanatory value of theory for research methods and real-world application.
3

Class Restriction

Exclude Freshman and Sophomore

SOC 552 Applied Social Theory

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.
3

Class Restriction

Exclude Freshman and Sophomore

SOC 557 Sociology of Innovation & Entrepreneurship

Study entrepreneurship and innovation sociologically. Discuss how inequality, capital and globalization affect entrepreneurial success and failure and discover the social sources of innovation.
3

Class Restriction

Exclude Freshman and Sophomore

SOC 562 Social Statistics

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.
3

Level Restriction

Include GR

SOC 563 Qualitative Methods

Epistemological foundations of qualitative research: field observation, ethnography, interviews, focus groups; project design, research ethics, site selection, interviewing and observation techniques, coding and analysis, and interpretation/presentation of findings.
3

Level Restriction

Include GR

SOC 574 Sociology of Sport

Introduction to the sociological study of sport. Focusing on sports as social and cultural phenomena, we use sociological concepts and critical thinking to examine the impact of sports on social structure and institutions.
3

Class Restriction

Exclude Freshman and Sophomore

SOC 579 The Community

This course focuses on local, national and international communities. Major theories and empirical evidence will guide understanding of how communities work, their impact on individuals, and how they are constructed.
3

Class Restriction

Exclude Freshman and Sophomore

SOC 580 Social Policy Analysis

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.
3

Class Restriction

Exclude Freshman and Sophomore

SOC 593 Practicum in College Teaching in Sociology

Students contact the Sociology department and fill out an application to take the course. As part of the coursework, students assist instructors in a sociology course and will receive experience in observation and supervised practice. A-F Graded. Application required.
3

Class Restriction

Exclude Freshman and Sophomore and Junior

SOC 595 Special Topics in Sociology

Scheduled on an irregular basis to explore special areas in sociology and carries a subtitle for each offering. Check department office for topics currently planned.
3

Level Restriction

Include GR

Course Attribute

Variable Title Course

Repeatable Status

ST - Repeatable under different subtitles with no limits on the number of times it can be repeated

SOC 596 Study Abroad Experience

Scheduled on a semi-regular basis as an experiential approach to studying special areas in sociology and carries a subtitle for each offering. Check department office for topics currently planned.
3

Level Restriction

Include GR

Course Attribute

Variable Title Course

Repeatable Status

ST - Repeatable under different subtitles with no limits on the number of times it can be repeated

SOC 597 Special Topics in Inequality

Students will examine a specific topic developed by the faculty member teaching the course. This course will examine inequality and its implications for various contemporary issues.
3

Level Restriction

Include GR

Course Attribute

Variable Title Course

Repeatable Status

ST - Repeatable under different subtitles and course may be repeated 3 times

SOC 622 Directed Studies

Individualized investigation under the direct supervision of a faculty member. (Minimum of 37.5 clock hours required per credit hour.)
1- 3

Special Notes

Maximum concurrent enrollment is two times.

Level Restriction

Include GR

Course Attribute

Variable Title Course

Repeatable Status

Course is repeatable with no limitations

SOC 660 Applied Social Research

Students will learn the basics of sociological study design and data collection techniques and employ the applied sociological approach toward development of an approved research project.
3

Level Restriction

Include GR

SOC 691 Research Internship

Put classroom learning into practice with research in an organizational setting. S/U graded.
1- 9

Prerequisites

GPA-GR-3.0

Level Restriction

Include GR

Repeatable Status

Course is repeatable with a maximum of 9 credit hours

SOC 699 Thesis

Optional for Master of Arts students upon recommendation of major advisor. S/U graded.
1- 6

Level Restriction

Include GR

Repeatable Status

Course is repeatable with a maximum of 6 credit hours