Major
Sociology
interested students in the liberal arts, and who seek to develop a better cross-cultural understanding of the social order and the social processes essential to personality development. The discipline seeks:
- To prepare students for productive careers. While some coursework in this discipline is appropriate in any vocation, students planning their life work primarily around interaction with other people will find this major a wise choice. Career possibilities are found in a wide variety of public and private enterprises, social services and business, or public administration settings from criminal justice to family and child service agencies to religious ministry or social action. Some career choices may require additional graduate education or other specialized training.
- To provide training in theoretical analysis and the development of research skills, or other information on the means of social action, civic or religious leadership, or for those whose conscience calls them to engage our society in the pursuit of social justice or the peaceful resolution of social conflict; and
- To equip students to pursue an academic career in teaching, administration, or research as a professional Sociologist.
Degrees
Courses
SOC-119: Introduction to Sociology
Credits 3What sociologists do and how they think; the study of the interaction of individuals and groups with their physical and social environment; consideration of the basic sociological conceptual repertoire and major explanatory frameworks used by sociologists. This course fulfills the Cultural and Global Place or the Personal Place requirement in the General Education Curriculum.
SOC-180: Introduction to Global Health
Credits 3This course is designed to introduce students to the multidisciplinary field that examines physical and mental health from a global perspective. Students will analyze, explore, develop, and understand the world's cultures and their impacts on health and illness for individuals and society. This course examines both patterns of disease and disorder around the world as well as the systemic and cultural roots of health inequalities and inequities. The course focuses on explaining historical and current trends in global health issues as well as how global health activities can promote solutions to pressing social problems in the Eastern Kentucky region, nationally, and globally. This course fulfills the Cultural and Global Place requirement in the General Education Curriculum.
SOC-214: Juvenile Delinquency
Credits 3This course is designed to introduce students to the unique world of juvenile delinquency. The course will devote attention to: the nature and extent of delinquency; theoretical perspectives on juvenile delinquency; the influence of social demographics on delinquency; the historical development of the juvenile legal system, and other relevant topics to juveniles and the justice system.
SOC-221: Contemporary Social Problems and Public Policy
Credits 3An analysis of current social problems in American society. This survey examines the relationship between selected American institutional structures and the development of popular beliefs and theories about social problems, from classical social pathology to "blaming the victim" myths. Special attention will be given to the processes involved in the development and management of public policy, regulatory or administrative law,and the significance of social research and planning. Topics, among others, may include the impact of technology on society, the social consequences of poverty and inequality, and the social construction of reality creating such challenges as mental illness, crime, substance abuse, and others. This course fulfills the Cultural and Global Place or the Personal Place requirement in the General Education Curriculum.
SOC-229: The Family
Credits 3A study of modern marriage and family institutions in the context of radical change; examination of "marital happiness" as a cultural phenomenon; topics include the social regulation of mate selection, kinship relationships and sexual behavior, evaluation of research findings and emerging trends. This course fulfills the Cultural and Global Place or the Personal Place requirement in the General Education Curriculum.
SOC-290: Special Topics in Sociology
Credits 1 3A study of a selected topic of special interest. The topic may be proposed by either the Instructor or students, and may be taken for credit any number of times, provided a different topic is studied each time. Prerequisite: SOC 119.
SOC-291: Special Topics in Criminal Justice and Sociology
Credits 1 3A study of a selected topic of special interest. The topic may be proposed by either the Instructor or students, and may be taken for credit any number of times, provided a different topic is studied each time. Prerequisite: CJ 152 or SOC 119. Cross-listed as CJ 291.
SOC-301: Sociological Theory
Credits 3A study of the historical development of the field of sociology, theory construction, and the alternative models of inquiry which have influences inquiry into, and the understanding of social instructions and behavior. This study includes an examination of basic intellectual traditions and paradigms in sociological understanding, including normative beliefs and values as well as scientific theories of social relations and culture from the 18th century to the present. Theorists examined include both early and contemporary thinkers. Prerequisites: SOC 119, ENG 112 or WRI 118, and Sophomore standing.
SOC-310: Research Methods
Credits 3An introduction to the major methodological procedures and strategies associated with social research conceptualization and operations, including research design, data collection, and data analysis and interpretation; selected computer applications are utilized where appropriate. Statistical methodologies will address probability, sampling, measures of association, tests of statistical significance, and constructing and evaluating hypotheses. Both quantitative and qualitative research techniques are examined. Prerequisites: CJ 152, PSY 110, or SOC 119, and Junior standing. Cross-listed as CJ 310.
SOC-334: Sport in Society
Credits 3This course examines the relationship between sport, both professional and amateur, and society. Students apply critical thinking skills to analyze current sport-related controversies, and gain a deeper understanding of the relationships between sports and global social issues such as gender, ethnicity, social class, economics, politics and mass media. It will also examine the social and cultural history of sport and its influence on our social institutions, such as politics, the economy and government. Prerequisite: ECN 201 or ECN 202 or SOC 119.
SOC-342: Drugs and Society
Credits 3The ingestion of chemical substances in order to alter one's consciousness has been practiced in virtually all cultures and ages throughout human history despite the risks associated with this practice. This course is an examination of the relationship between drugs and the social contexts in which they exist, are used, and misused. Prerequisite: CJ 152, PSY 110, or SOC 119. This course fulfills the Engaging Our World requirement in the General Education Curriculum.
SOC-350: Culture of Appalachian Region
Credits 3A study of the Appalachian culture and social systems, including family structure, social class, religion, and education. Some attention given to Appalachian folklore in dance, food, and story-telling. This course fulfills the Cultural and Global Place requirement in the General Education Curriculum.
SOC-355: Deviant Behavior
Credits 3The course begins with an overview of sociological theories of deviance which attempt to define the sociological significance of deviant behavior. Social conditions and processes associated with careers of deviants will be explored, as well as the relationship of deviancy to problems of social control. Offering a more complex way of understanding and defining deviance in relation to social expectations, substantive readings and selected media will offer examples of the nature of deviant behavior. Prerequisites: CJ 152 or PSY 110 or SOC 119, ENG 112 or WRI 118, and Sophomore standing.
SOC-405: Social Stratification
Credits 3This course examines social inequality with a focus on race, class, and gender. Students will study theories and empirical findings related to various status hierarchies and how positions in the hierarchies affect access to resources and power in society. In addition, these theories will be utilized to examine the structure, history, and evolution of systems of stratification. Prerequisites: SOC 119 and Sophomore standing. This course fulfills the Engaging Our World requirement in the General Education Curriculum.
SOC-411: Sociology of Mental Disorders
Credits 3This course is designed to introduce students to the study of mental health and illness from a sociological perspective. Generally considered psychological problems, mental illnesses and mental disorders are strongly influenced by the environment and are understood in a social and cultural context. We look at mental disorders from a broad perspective to consider the impact of historical changes, social demographics, and social values on the definitions of mental health and illness and the ways that society responds to the problem of mental disorder. Prerequisites: ENG 112 or WRI 118, SOC 119, and Junior standing. This course fulfills the Engaging Our World requirement in the General Education Curriculum.
SOC-412: Sociology of Health and Illness
Credits 3This course focuses on the social factors that impact health and the relationship between sociology and medicine. We will take a critical approach to topics such as: changing conceptualizations of health and illness, the impact of membership in different social demographic groups on health and illness (social epidemiology), medical and sociological models of illness, the development of health care institutions, and medical training and health care provision. Prerequisites: ENG 112 or WRI 118, SOC 119, and Junior standing. This course fulfills the Engaging Our World requirement in the General Education Curriculum.
SOC-490: Special Topics in Sociology
Credits 1 3A study of a selected topic of special interest. The topic may be proposed by either the Instructor or students, and may be taken for credit any number of times, provided a different topic is studied each time. Prerequisites: SOC 119 and Junior standing.
SOC-491: Special Topics in Criminal Justice and Sociology
Credits 1 3After 9/11, focus in the criminological community turned to studying more international and transnational crimes and international justice systems. This course seeks to serve as an upper-level survey course. It examines broader themes of law, policing, and punishment in international contexts. It also focuses on more specific types of international and transnational crimes. Prerequisite: CJ 152 or SOC 119. Cross-listed as SOC 491.
SOC-498: Practicum
Credits 3A supervised work/study placement in a setting consistent with the student's interest and career goals. May be repeated for a total of 6 semester hours with 3 hours credited to the completion of a Sociology or Criminal Justice major and the remaining 3 hours credited as an upper division general elective. A student may earn no more than 6 hours of CJ 498 and SOC 498. Contacts with agencies arranged with permission of instructor. Prerequisites: Junior standing, completion of 15 hours of coursework in Sociology and/or Criminal Justice, and permission of faculty supervisor. Cross-listed as CJ 498.
SOC-499: Directed Individual Study in Sociology
Credits 1 3A program of reading and reporting planned and carried out under the guidance of a faculty member in the major. The topic, issue or area of student interest must concern a problem in the discipline not routinely available in the college catalog. Interdisciplinary study is encouraged. This option is available to majors of all disciplines of upper level standing. By permission of instructor(s) upon approval of a student-generated proposal. Prerequisites: Junior standing and completion of twelve hours of Sociology, and consent of the Instructor, Division Chair, and the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
SOC-ELEC: Sociology Elective
Credits 6Please plan credits to fulfill a total of 6 hours of electives from Sociology at 100, 200, 300, or 400 levels. Once you have added this course to your plan, delete this placeholder by clicking the X.
SOC-ELEC34: Sociology Elective At 300-400
Credits 6Please plan credits to fulfill a total of 12 hours of electives from Sociology at 300 or 400 levels. Once you have added this course to your plan, delete this placeholder by clicking the X.
SOC-ELECS: Sociology Elective At 300-400
Credits 6You can choose Sociology electives that are not in the discpline of SOC. Those electives are as follows: CJ 315 Homeland Security, CJ 361 Victimology, CJ 371 Criminological Theory, CJ 419 Women and Crime, CJ 450 Police and Society, CJ 463 Race, Ethnicity, Social Class, and Crime, COM 305 Mass Media in Society, COM 323 Intercultural Communication, HUM 320 Gender and Women Studies, PSY 315 Social Psychology, and SSC 320 Psychology of Socail Media. Once you have added this course to your plan, delete this placeholder by clicking the X.