Sociology Course Descriptions

Sociology Advisee Checklist

NEW Sociology Advisee Checklist - Starting Fall 2009

1838G (formerly 2710G) Introductory Sociology (3-0-3) Study of basic sociological concepts, social processes & structural and functional analysis of social groups.

2000 Sociology Professional Seminar (1-0-1) F, S. This seminar is designed to familiarize departmental majors and minors to the field in general and opportunities and challenges both in continued education and in the labor force.

2721 Social Stratification. (3-0-3) F, S. A descriptive and theoretical analysis of the issues of social inequities and social justice; a study of the problems created by differential status, power, and social mobility. Prerequisite: SOC 1838G.


2750G Social Problems in Contemporary Society. (3-0-3) Sociological analysis of the historical development, definitions and nature of social problems. grounded within theoretical frameworks.


2761 Introduction to Criminology. (3-0-3) A historical and sociological survey of criminal justice in the United States, a review of etiological factors of crime, delinquency and prevention. Prerequisite: SOC 1838G.


2780 The Sociology of Deviant Behavior. (3-0-3) F, S. Historical and structural analysis of changing notions of definition, etiology and treatment of deviant behavior. Contemporary theory and research consequences of such trends.


2820 Sociology of Education. (3-0-3) S. A sociological analysis of education as a distinct social institution with an emphasis on the complex organizational structure, the relationship between the educational system and the individual, as well as other social institutions, and the process of social change as it applies to the system of education.


2830 Family and Society. (3-0-3) F, S. Background of the modern family; the impact of culture and social change; personality factors involved in marriage; family disorganization.


2840 Racial and Cultural Minorities. (3-0-3) On demand. The causes and consequences of prejudice and discrimination; the effects of majority and minority status for intergroup relations. Prerequisite: SOC 1838G.


2890G Social Problems in Contemporary Society, Honors. (3-0-3) On demand. Sociological analysis of the historical development, definitions, and nature of social problems, grounded within theoretical frameworks. Prerequisite: Admission to the University Honors Program.


3000 Sociology of Sport. (3-0-3) F. Application of sociological theories and empirical research findings to sport, and its sociocultural context. Focus on the functions of various forms of these activities for society, and controversies regarding their legitimacy. Cross-cultural, comparative examples are used.

3050 Sociological Theory. (3-0-3) A study of sociological theory from the classical founders through contemporary dialogue in the discipline. Special focus will be placed on major systems of sociological thought, primary contributors to the field, and possible applications of sociological theory to social phenomena. Prerequisite: SOC 1838G.

3100 SOC/CSC/ECN/GEG/PLS Global Threats and Problems. (3-0-3) S. An interdisciplinary study of current global problems. Four different social scientific approaches will be used to analyze complex questions regarding the survival of humanity given current threats to our environments, cultures, geopolitical affiliations, and socioeconomic structures. Topics may include famine, terrorism, information control, and disease, among others.

3420 Sociology of Popular Culture. (3-0-3) On Demand. This course examines sociological issues in the study of American popular culture such as the production, distribution and reception of popular culture, how culture is influenced by race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexuality, and other systems of stratification, and how these influences are reflected in various mass media outlets. Prerequisite: SOC 1838G.

3600 Introduction to Social Work. (3-0-3) F, S. A survey of principles, techniques, and fields of social work. Prerequisite: SOC 1838G.

3620 Research Methods for Collecting Social Data. (3-0-3) F, S. Surveys social scientific methods developed to collect data in human populations. Stresses importance of problem formulation, research design, and interpretation. Prerequisite: SOC 1838G.

3622 Population. (3-0-3) S. A descriptive and theoretical analysis of the dynamics of population with emphasis on population trends. Prerequisite: SOC 1838G.

3630 Statistical Analysis of Social Data. (3-2-4) F, S. Survey of statistical techniques used to summarize and describe the quantitative characteristics of social research data. Also surveys statistical techniques necessary to generalize observations from samples to parent population. Prerequisite: SOC 3620G.

3650 Social Psychology. (3-0-3) F, S. Social psychological theories; social status and social roles; application of role theories in study of socialization and personal adjustment. Prerequisite: SOC 1838G.


3660 Social Organization. (3-0-3) F. Analysis of the elements of social organization with an emphasis on complex organizations associated with urbanization and the development of large scale systems. Prerequisite: SOC 1838G.


3750 Social Change. (3-0-3) F-even-numbered years. Consideration of both historical and contemporary theoretical and applied means by which social structure is modified. Cross-cultural examples will be used extensively. Prerequisite: SOC 1838G.


3770 Sociological Analysis of Crime and Criminal Justice System. (3-0-3) S. An advanced study of social-psychological factors of and the adult offender, vis-a-vis the Criminal justice system; i.e., apprehension, adjudication, treatment and prevention practices. Prerequisites: SOC 1838G, 2761 or permission of the instructor.


3780 Policing Society: A Sociological Analysis. (3-0-3) F. A critical sociological analysis of the role of being a police officer and an analysis of the social and organizational structure of police organizations in a democratic society. Prerequisites: SOC 1838G and 2761.

3820 Environmental Sociology. (3-0-3) F. Examines the interrelations between the natural environment, social organization, and social behavior. Attention is directed at both the social causes of and social responses to various environmental problems. Prerequisite: SOC 1838G or permission of the instructor.


3900 Political Sociology. (3-0-3) S. Sociological analysis of the political systems of contemporary nation-states utilizing the concepts and theories relevant to this sub-field of sociology, with special emphasis on the distribution of power in contemporary societies. Prerequisite: Sociology 1838G or permission of the instructor.


3903 Gender Roles and Social Change. (3-0-3) S. A sociological and anthropological study of women s roles, the evolutionary development of female and male roles, the roles of women and men in non-literate societies, and problems of women in the changing socio-cultural environment of the modern world. WI


3970 Study Abroad. (Arr.-Arr.-1-15) See EIU 3970.


4000 Sociology of Work and Occupations. (3-0-3) S. Sociological analysis of social and technical relationships in the production system. Work and new technology. Work and gender. Bureaucracy and professionalism. Conflicts in the workplace and efforts to cope with them. Prerequisite: Sociology 1838G.


4010 Sociology of Science and Knowledge. (3-0-3) On demand. Analysis of the social foundations of science and knowledge and the impact of science on other social institutions. Prerequisites: SOC 1838G or permission of the instructor.


4240 Sociology of Disasters. (3-0-3) On Demand. Introduces critical theoretical and methodological approaches in the sociological study of disasters. Examines human preparedness and response to disaster events, issues of social stratification and inequality, and social forces that influence vulnerability and social policy. Prerequisite: SOC 1838G.


4275 Internship in Sociology. (Arr.-Arr.-1 to 12) (Credit/No Credit) Experience in an agency or organization. The course will be offered on a credit (no credit basis; however, the total hours must not exceed 12 hours including courses taken in any other internship offered by the University. Prerequisites: Permission of the Internship Coordinator, acceptance of the student by the agency or organization involved, a cumulative grade point average of 2.50, a minimum of 75 hours of course work completed, and a minimum grade of C in either SOC 3660 or 4000.


4400 Independent Study. (Arr.-Arr.-1 to 3) Individual study of a topic of the student s choice under the direction of a faculty member. The student must submit and receive approval of a detailed study plan prior to central registration. This course may be repeated for a total of not more than six semester hours of credit. Prerequisites: Fifteen semester hours of sociology and a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better.


4700 Dynamics of Collective Behavior. (3-0-3) S. Analysis of transitory phenomena, including publics, audiences, crowds, mobs, and social movements Prerequisite: SOC 1838G.


4720 Sociology of Social Movements. (3-0-3) S. This course surveys sociological approaches to the study of social movements. Topics include mobilization and recruitment, organization and tactics, idnetity and ideology, as well as the historical context in which social movement activism takes place. Case studies of specific movement will be presented. Prerequisite: SOC 1838G.

Courses Open to Juniors, Seniors and Graduate Students

4750 Sociological Analysis of Juvenile Delinquency. (3-0-3) S. Advanced study of theories of etiology, treatment and prevention. Prerequisites: SOC 1838G and 2761 or permission of the instructor.


4790 The Correctional Process: A Sociological Analysis. (3-0-3) F, S. Provides an understanding of the entire field of correctional systems in terms of its official objectives, its actual effects and effectiveness, including special focus on experimental programs Prerequisites. SOC 1838G and 2761 or permission of the instructor.


4800 Sociological Aspects of Gerontology. (3-0-3) F. Review of current gerontological theories and research; consideration of structural and functional aspects of the social order as related to the aging process. Prerequisite: SOC 1838G or permission of instructor.


4820 Sociology of Health and Health Care. (3-0-3) S. This course provides a sociological analysis of health, illness, and health care systems. Subsantive topics covered include the social distribution of health and illness, the illness experience, the socialization and development of health care workers, and the social organization of medicine. Prerequisite: SOC 1838G or permission of the instructor.


4900 Current Issues in Sociology. (3-0-3) F, S. Analysis of selected current social problems. Restricted to majors in Sociology and Social Science. Prerequisites: SOC 3050, SOC 3620, & SOC 3630; senior standing or permission of the instructor.

5100 Sociological Aspects of Gerontology. (3-0-3) Review of current social gerontological theories and research; consideration of structural aspects of the social order as related to the aging process. Prerequisites: Admission to the M.A. in Gerontology program or permission of the instructor.