Graduate Course Descriptions

SOCI 501 (3-3-0) Death and Dying
A survey of the diverse issues that are topics in discourse on death and dying. The goal of this course is to provide the necessary skills and knowledge to prepare for personal and work experiences relevant to death and dying.  Content includes examining psycho-social practices and organizational policies, and both personal and social exposure to past, present, and future trends in morality and the quality of life debates.  Emphasis is on mortality in later life.

SOCI 502 (3-3-0) Special Topics in Sociology
This is an advanced course in a topic of contemporary sociological interest.  Topics vary and may be substantive, theoretical, or methodological.  The course may be repeated under different subtitles. 

SOCI 503 (3-3-0) Social Statistics
An introduction to descriptive and inferential social statistics, including parametric and non-parametric measures of association, tests of difference, probability and bivariate regression. Students will gain knowledge of SPSS.  Prerequisites: SOCI 331 or an equivalent undergraduate statistics course.

SOCI 505 (3-3-0) Applied Multivariate Statistics
Application of multivariate techniques to social science data, with special focus on OLS multiple regression, binary and multinomial logistic regression, and related procedures.  Requires familiarity with SPSS. Prerequisite: SOCI 503.

SOCI 520 (3-3-0) Demographic Techniques and Analyses
A study of demographic principles, theories, techniques and methods as they relate to the population processes of mortality, fertility, and migration.  The course also examines various demographic models like the life table and techniques for population projections and estimates.

SOCI 555 (3-3-0) The Sociology of Juvenile Delinquency
An exploration of the historical and contemporary theories of the causes of delinquency and the social responses to delinquency. Topics include: the social and legal meaning of juvenile crime, the social and cultural factors promoting and inhibiting law breaking by juveniles, and strategies for prevention and control. 

SOCI 560 (3-3-0) Advanced Sociological Theory
The purpose of this course is to expose students to: (1) major classical theorists and their contributions to contemporary sociology; and (2) major theoretical orientations in contemporary sociology and their application to different social problems or issues. A major theme in the course will be the role played by ideology in the development of theory and the assumptions underlying the various theoretical positions. Primary reading sources will be critically evaluated.  The directions in which theory is moving today will be examined.  Prerequisite:  Undergraduate sociological theory course or SOCI 500.

SOCI 561 (3-3-0) Feminist Sociology
This course examines the variety of feminist theories in sociology.  It compares and contrasts feminist theories with traditional theories.  It distinguishes between theories and theoretical perspectives in the attempt to determine the status of feminist scholarship in sociology.  It is designed to expand and enhance students’ understanding of theory and the social forces which impact upon theory construction and research.  Prerequisite:  SOCI 560 or permission of the instructor.

SOCI 563 (3-3-0) Race, Class and Gender
This course will explore the various social explanations of the origin, nature and persistence of racial, ethnic, social class and gender inequalities.  The course will focus on an examination of how these factors intersect to create a system of unequal rewards and life chances in contemporary United States.

SOCI 570 (3-3-0) Comparative Family Systems
A systematic study of family patterns in selected cultures from around the world, including ethnic and minority families in the United States.  The course emphasizes the theory and method of studying families cross culturally.  Family systems will be analyzed by looking at features such as structure, gender roles, kinship patterns, and marital and family interaction.

SOCI 580 (3-3-0) Sociological Social Psychology
This course is designed as a graduate level overview of the study of sociological social psychology.  This course provides an analysis of the major scientific propositions, concepts, research methods, and theories developed to explain the behavior of individuals in relation to other individuals, groups, and culture.  The course will explore the relationship between social structure and individual level phenomena such as liking and attraction, helping behavior, self-definition, and social interaction.  

SOCI 590 (3-3-0) Advanced Social Science Research
A study of social science research methodology.  The course covers survey research, sampling, techniques, questionnaire construction, data analysis, computer applications, and proposal writing.  Prerequisite:  SOCI 335, SOCI 505 or permission of instructor.

SOCI 602 (3-3-0) Independent Study
Individual study under the supervision of a member of the sociology faculty. The requirements of SOCI 602 may not duplicate the contents of an existing course.  Prerequisite: Consent of the Department Chairperson and Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

SOCI 605 (3-3-0) Seminar on Population Processes
A sociological study of the population processes of mortality, fertility and migration.  The course takes an in-depth look at the factors influencing population processes and the social, economic and political consequences of changes in these processes.  The major theories and empirical literature on mortality, fertility, and migration will be reviewed.

SOCI 608 (3-3-0) Seminar in the Sociology of Health
A sociological analysis of health and the health care delivery system.  The course is structured to help enhance understanding of the social and psychological dimensions of health and health care and the growing dominance of the medical profession.  Contemporary issues and social policy implications will be examined as well.

SOCI 610 (3-3-0) Sociology of Education
Examines the American public school as a social organization.  It focuses on the interrelations among social stratification, community power structure, school personnel, and the school.  The course also analyzes the classroom as a social system and examines the emergence and nature of student culture.

SOCI 614 (3-3-0) Sociology of Aging
An analysis of the major theories, conceptual frameworks, social issues, and empirical research on aging. The course is intended to show how the theory and methodology of sociology can be utilized to explain and predict social phenomena related to the aging process and the aged.  Emphasis will be placed on the link between theory and research on aging to policy concerns of the aged.

SOCI 618 (3-3-0) Social Inequalities
This course will explore the various explanations of the origin, nature, and persistence of racial, ethnic, social class, and gender inequalities.  Various theoretical perspectives (e.g., functionalist, conflict, Marxist, socio-biological) will be discussed.  The concepts of class, power, social status, and social honor and their interconnectedness will be examined.  Social mobility will also be studied.  Discussions will focus on capitalist societies and with the more recent changes in these societies. 

SOCI 620 (3-3-0) Seminar in Race and Ethnic Relations
This course will examine the theoretical perspectives on majority-minority relations.  The status and problems of various racial and ethnic minority groups will be studied.  Patterns of majority-minority interaction will be covered.  Particular attention will be paid to the socio-historical experiences of various minority groups.

SOCI 638 (3-3-0) Seminar on Criminology and Deviance
A survey of the theoretical, methodological, and substantive issues in the study of crime and deviance.  This seminar is designed to provide graduate students with a comprehensive survey of the substance and method of deviance and criminology; theoretical explanations of deviant and criminal behavior, major issues in the control and prevention of deviant and criminal behavior; and public policy issues and the criminal justice system.  A general objective of the course is to locate the study of deviance and crime within the general sociological approach to social behavior.

SOCI 640 (3-3-0) Seminar on the Black Family
An examination of the black family as one of the basic social units in the structure of the black community.  The diversity in black families as well as the socio-historical development of family patterns, attitudes, and customs will be examined.  Special emphasis will be placed on theoretical and methodological issues in the study of the black family.  The course will also include an examination of the impact of public policies on black family functioning.

SOCI 685 (3-3-0) Seminar on Teaching Sociology
The course is designed to prepare sociology majors for the teaching of sociology at the junior and community college level and as teaching assistants.  The course involves syllabus preparation, selection of instructional materials, testing and evaluation, and demonstration lectures.  A major objective of the course is the development of a “sociology toolbox” for the future.  Special attention will be paid to issues on curriculum and course development in sociology.  Prerequisite:  Completion of a minimum of 12 credit hours in sociology and permission of instructor.

SOCI 690 (3-0-3) Practicum I
Involves the planning, implementation, and evaluation of individual projects in applied sociology.  Students’ will be placed in a research setting for at least 10 weeks during the semester in which they are enrolled, based on research interests, career plans, and available placements. A minimum of 12 contact hours per week will be required for a total of 120 hours.  Prerequisite:  Completion of 24 graduate credits, including SOCI 503, SOCI 505, SOCI 560, and SOCI 590.

SOCI 691 (3-0-3) Practicum II
Continuation of the practicum under the direction of the Practicum Committee. Submission of a final practicum report is required.  Prerequisite or /Co-requisite: SOCI 690.

SOCI 695 (3-0-3) Thesis I
An original investigation in a subject approved by the student’s Thesis Committee.  Detailed information on the preparation, form, organization, and defense of the thesis is presented in the Guide for the Preparation and Submission of Theses.  The thesis in the Sociology M.A. Program involves the planning, implementation and evaluation of individual research projects.  Approval of the proposed project by a thesis committee, which is composed of faculty advisors, is required prior to registering for the course.  Additional information and consent forms are available from the Department of Sociology.  Prerequisite:  Completion of 24 graduate credits, including SOCI 503, SOCI 505, SOCI 560, and SOCI 590.

SOCI 696 (3-3-0) Thesis II
Continued preparation of the thesis under the direction of an advisor and the Thesis Committee. Oral defense and submission of the final report are required.  Prerequisite: SOCI 695.

SOCI 899 (0-0-0) Thesis Non-Credit
SOCI 899 is designed for a student who has completed all coursework and has received In Progress (IP) grade for SOCI 696. A student who will continue to use University resources to complete the thesis must sign up for SOCI 899.