SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology (3)
An introduction to sociology as a behavioral science and way of viewing the world. Students are introduced to basic concepts of sociological investigation and interpretation and to critical thinking. In the study of society, students not only see how individual behavior is shaped by group life but how group life is affected by individuals. Students learn to apply a ?sociological imagination? to examining social issues. Common sense notions are replaced by a critical analysis of social issues. Offered each semester.
SOC 110 Cultural Anthropology (3) (S)
Study of the nature of culture; comparative analysis of social, religious, economic, and political institutions in specific preliterate and modern cultures; the cultural dimensions of behavior. Offered each fall.
SOC 188 Sociology in Film and Music (3) (W)
A survey of basic concepts of sociology as they are portrayed in selected popular motion pictures and music. The course can serve either as an introduction to sociology or as a systematic application and review. Offered each semester.
SOC 201 Social Issues and Public Policy (3)
SOC 224 Social and Cultural Change (3)
Focuses on the processes and consequences of change arising from various types of collective action, from spontaneous collective behaviors (e.g. rumors of disaster reactions) to planned institutional actions such as the civil rights movement. Prerequisite: any 100-level sociology course. Offered fall of odd-numbered years.
SOC 230 Understanding Other Cultures (3) (S)
A study of traditional culture patterns, religious beliefs and practices, political and economic behavior, and art forms of a selected ethnic group or geographic area. Prerequisite: any 100-level sociology course. Offered each spring.
SOC 240 Community Systems (3)
A futures course which examines urban and rural communities as forms of social life and fields for various social system interactions. Theory, research, and the practical application of both are viewed in the context of patterns of exchange, the planning and development of community action and social change. Prerequisites: SOC 100 or 188. Offered spring of even-numbered years.
SOC 270 Social Problems (3) (S)
A critical investigation of selected current social problems--their issues, causes, development, and alternative solutions. Offered each spring.
SOC 275 Sociology of Sport (3)
An examination of the individual, social, and cultural significance of athletic endeavors and organized sports, including the larger social conditions in which they are embedded. Prerequisite: SOC 100 or 188. Offered even-numbered years.ýý
SOC 303 Small Groups (3) (C)
An experiential course in which sociological theories and methods are used to analyze the structure and processes of small social groups. Prerequisite: any 200-level sociology course. Cannot be taken concurrently with PSY 324. Offered each fall.
SOC 305 Complex Organizations (3)
A review of the structural and contextual dimensions of organizations as open systems. Special attention is given to the dynamics of organizational patterns and processes; information, communication, control and decision making; intergroup relations and conflict. Prerequisite: SOC 100 or 188 and junior/senior status. Offered each spring.
SOC 311 Family (3) (S)
Although the focus of this course is on the contemporary American family, the history, the forms and functions of families in other times and other cultures is also examined. Special attention is given to the family as a social institution, its relationship with other institutions, forces of social and cultural change, and the future of the family. Prerequisite: any 200-level sociology course; SOC 345 recommended. Offered each fall.
SOC 327 Social Psychology (3)
An exploration of how individuals are influenced by the social environment. Topics may include: affiliation, conformity, aggressive and helpful behavior, communication, persuasion, social influence, consequences of group membership, social ecology. Identical with PSY 327. Prerequisites: SOC 100 or 188, plus any 200-level sociology or psychology course. Offered each fall.
SOC 335 Social Deviance (3)
Sociological studies of various unconventional groups and individuals and the forms of social control they encounter. Topics may include: theories of deviance and conformity; typical reactions to deviance; control agents and agencies; how deviants cope with conventional society. Prerequisite: any 200-level sociology course. Offered each spring.
SOC 336 Sociology of Religion (3) (V)
Examination of the origin and development of religion as a social institution: theories concerning its nature and function, sociocultural dimensions of religious beliefs, values, and conduct; contemporary denominations, sects and cults in the United States; the relationship between religion and other social institutions. Prerequisite: any 200-level sociology course. Identical to RELST 336. Offered intermittently.
SOC 345 Foundations of Sociology (3)
An examination of major theorists, and perspectives contributing to the sociological tradition; historic and current issues regarding sociology and its relationship to other academic disciplines. A foundation course required of all majors. Prerequisite: SOC 100 or 188. Offered each spring.
SOC 350 Introduction to Social Research (3) (E)
An examination of the logic, the strategies and the methods of sociological inquiry; an analysis of classical and contemporary models of research. A foundation course required for sociology majors. Identical to CJ 350. Prerequisite: junior/senior status. Offered each semester.
SOC 351 Medical Sociology (3) (S)
Designed to provide students an introduction to sociological perspectives on the study of health, illness, and health care. Topics include: individual and population health patterns; the structures and organization of health care systems, including the social origins of those systems, how they are accessed, and who they serve; the social construction of medical knowledge; the social structure of medical encounters; the politics and ethics of contemporary medical issues; the roles of patients, health care providers, and others in the medical arena; the commodification of health care and influence of market forces; the origins and organization of health care systems in the U.S. and globally; and issues shaping the future of health, illness, and health care. Prerequisite: any 200-level sociology course or consent. Offered intermittently.
SOC 353 Applied Sociology (3)
Provides an overview of applied sociology. The focus is on engaging the sociological imagination and the sociological toolkit to address real-life questions and problems. These tools are used to identify, examine, and seek solutions for various social issues. Attention is also given to careers in applied sociology. Prerequisite: junior/senior status or consent. Offered each spring.
SOC 365 Seminar (3)
Advanced seminars on various announced topics and issues such as: social conflict, sport and leisure, popular culture, etc. May be repeated for credit as designated topics change. Prerequisite: any 200-level sociology or criminal justice course or consent. Offered intermittently.
SOC 460 Readings in Sociology (1-3)
Students select a topic concerning sociological theory or research, survey the relevant literature, and discuss their findings with their major professor. (One or three semester hours depending on the scope of the project.) May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: prior consent of the project adviser. Offered each semester.
SOC 480 Senior Research Project (3) (W)
Students will conduct a sociological research project of their own design, present the results in appropriate written form, and defend the effort in an oral examination. Research problems may focus on theoretical or empirical topics. Relevant methods may range from bibliographic search to field observation. Prerequisites: SOC 350, junior/senior status and prior approval of a written proposal. Committee defense optional. Offered each spring.
SOC 483 Internship Preparation Course (1)
Designed for students intending to participate in an internship for sociology or criminal justice credit. The process of selecting an internship site, completing applications and forms, and understanding the requirements set forth by the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice can be overwhelming. Lectures and scenario training provide students with practical information that should be beneficial to students who desire an internship in SOC/CJ. Prerequisite: consent of internship director. Offered each fall.
SOC 484 Internship in Sociology and Criminal Justice (9)
Practiced, supervised experience in direct student learning in applied social settings. Students learn how acquired knowledge and research writing skills can be applied to the workplace. Practical and applied learning through student performance in the applied setting gives the student a "competitive edge" for future community/workplace contribution. Prerequisites: 18 hours of sociology or criminal justice. Students must contact the department faculty to review full eligibility for this course. Offered each spring.
SOCCJ 350 Introduction to Social Research (3) (E)
SOCCJ 460 Readings in Sociology and Criminal Justice (1-3)
SOCCJ 483 Internship Preparation Course (1)
SOCCJ 484 Internship in Sociology and Criminal Justice (9)
SOCPSY 327 Social Psychology (3)
CHEMCJ 240 Forensic Science (3) (E,W)
CJ 200 Criminology (3)
A sociological view of crime and criminality. Socioeconomic, cultural, and biosocial processes are considered, as well as the criminal products of society. Topics include: theories about the causation of crime, crime typologies, and patterns of crime and social injury. Offered each semester.
CJ 205 Issues in Criminal Justice (3)
Encourages students to develop a critical analysis of the criminal justice system in America. Emphasis is placed on an investigation of social order and the notion of 'justice' as examined by the various forms of social institutions. The significance of law, state and property relations, and the administration of justice is explored. An overview of police, the courts, and corrections is also examined. Offered each spring.
CJ 210 Corrections (3)
Provides an appreciation of the processes and structures of corrections within an American and international framework. Specifically, we examine historical, legal, economic and sociological issues in maintaining control and order over those defined as criminal. The course provides a critical examination of the concepts of punishment, deterrence, and rehabilitation. Prerequisite: CJ 200 or 205. Offered each fall.
CJ 240 Forensic Science (3) (E,W)
Identical to CHEM 240.
CJ 270 The Constitution & Criminal Procedure (3)
Identical to POLS 270.
CJ 300 Law Enforcement (3)
Law enforcement from an historical, sociological and legal perspective. Students gain a critical appreciation of law enforcement. Race, social class, sexual orientation, and gender identities are considered in the context of occupational roles and community issues. Attention is given to viable problem-solving strategies for issues in law enforcement. Prerequisite: CJ 200 or 205. Offered each fall.
CJ 346 Law and Society (3)
The study of the evolution, function, and justification of social control; forms of legal thought; the social dynamics of legal discourse; and the dysfunctions that accompany the legal system. Prerequisite: CJ 200 or 205. Offered spring of odd-numbered years.
CJ 348 Delinquency & Juvenile Justice (3)
An examination of the nature and scope of delinquency and factors contributing to delinquent behavior. The role of social agents and agencies in prevention and treatment are also examined. Prerequisite: CJ 200 or 205. Offered each fall.
CJ 350 Introduction to Social Research (3) (E)
Identical to SOC 350.
CJ 360 Courts in the American Criminal Justice System (3)
Examines the role of the American criminal courts in the broader context of the American legal system. An overview of the organization of criminal courts in Federal and state jurisdictions is provided. The courts' relationship to law enforcement and social control is also examined. Prerequisite: CJ 200 or 205. Offered spring of even-numbered years.
CJ 370 The Constitution & Criminal Procedure (3)
Identical to POLS 370.
CJ 373 Conflict Management (3)
Identical to MBE 373 and POLS 373.
CJ 385 Applied Criminology I (3)
Criminal behavior is a complex phenomenon. This course moves beyond the abstract interpretation and suggestions of criminalogical theory into the real-life processes of criminal behavior. The course examines and profiles the offender, victim, and situational elements surrounding the major forms of crime. Attention is given to the precipitating, attracting, and predisposing factors of criminal behavior and their levels of importance for respective cases. Prerequisite: CJ 200 plus 6 semester hours of CJ. Offered each spring.
CJ 386 Applied Criminology Profiling II (3)
A continuation of CJ 385, the course emphasizes specific criminal behavior in order to establish suspect identity in criminal investigation. Prerequisite: CJ 385. Offered every spring.
CJ 387 Criminal Law (3)
Criminal law consists of the power and limits of government authority to define, prohibit, grade, and punish socially harmful behavior. It carries with it the moral condemnation of the entire community. The course reviews the nature of criminal law, classification of crimes and criminal liability, punishment, and more. Prerequisite: senior/junior status. Offered each semester.
CJ 388 Global Terrorism and Homeland Security (3)
From ancient times to the present, terrorists have both scarred and transformed the world. Depending upon one's viewpoint, a terrorist can be a patriot, a madman, an anarchist or a martyr. Students review the characteristics, causes and controls of global terrorism along with responses to it. Key concepts are examined and placed into real-world context. Attention is given to counterterrorist responses, including U.S. Homeland Security. Prerequisites: six hours of criminal justice. Offered fall of odd-numbered years.
CJ 389 Criminal Investigation (3)
Critical analysis is the centerpiece of this course. While covering the general processes of criminal investigation, the student is required to implement a great deal of logical and intuitive thinking in understanding why and how crimes are perpetrated against persons and property. The student acquires an understanding of basic investigation techniques and responsibilities. This course is another in the forensics offering of the department. Prerequisite: six semester hours of criminal justice. Offered each spring.
CJ 393 Technical Reporting in Law Enforcement (3) (W)
The importance of good report writing cannot be overstated. Almost everything an officer does may be reduced to the report. Students focus on the special needs of the criminal justice system with regard to technical report writing. Using police-oriented language and scenarios, students learn how to correctly structure reports for use in criminal investigations and in court. Prerequisite: CJ 389 or consent; CJ 387 helpful. Offered fall of even-numbered years.
CJ 400 Topics in Criminal Justice (1-3)
Advanced seminars on various announced topics and issues in criminal justice. Topics include, but are not limited to: criminal justice administration; critical issues in criminal justice and law enforcement; introduction to forensics; and criminal law. May be repeated for credit as designated topics change. Prerequisite: junior/senior status or consent. Offered as topics become available.
CJ 420 Criminal Law: The Appellate Process (3) (W)
Provides students with an understanding of a criminal appeal. While reviewing an actual criminal trial transcript, students are required to develop legal issues for an appeal. After discovering the precise legal issues, students prepare a legal brief for an appellate court's review. An emphasis is placed on the students' ability to create a well-reasoned argument within the context of a written legal brief. Prerequisites: CJ 387, junior/senior status, and consent. Offered fall of odd-numbered years.
CJ 460 Readings in Criminal Justice (1-3)
Students select a topic concerning criminal justice theory or research, survey the relevant literature, and discuss their findings with their major professor. (One or three three semester hours depending on the scope of the project.) May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: prior consent of the project adviser. Offered each semester.
CJ 483 Internship Preparation Course (1)
Identical to SOC 483.
CJ 484 Internship in Sociology & Criminal Justice (9)
Identical to SOC 484.
CJ 489 Senior Integrative Assessment (3) (I)
Criminal justice and sociology majors draw upon their four years of study to focus on the integration and synthesis of their knowledge, skills, and abilities. Students assess and analyze the connectedness of their academic learning in light of their future goals. Contemporary topics take a holistic and systematic perspective focusing on a variety of issues such as justice, ethics, and community needs. Prerequisite: junior/senior status. Limited to sociology and criminal justice majors. Students must register for this course in the spring semester of the year in which they intend to graduate. Juniors will need consent from the instructor. (Note: juniors may be eligible if there is an anticipated scheduling problem because of their internship. Offered each spring.