Department of Sociology

Fayetteville State University Online BS in Sociology

Course Descriptions

SOCI 210 ( 3-3-0) Principles of Sociology

An examination of the basic concepts and principles of sociology, with emphasis on a scientific analysis of culture, personality, social groups and social institutions, social organizations, population trends, and social processes.

SOCI 220 ( 3-3-0) Contemporary Social Problems

An analysis of the causes and consequences of current social problems: poverty, urbanization, wars, mental illness, alcoholism, drug addiction, crime and delinquency, environmental concerns, and problems of social institutions. Prerequisite: SOCI 210

SOCI 330 ( 3-3-0) Marriage and Family Relations

An analysis of the forms and functions of the family, including changing sex roles, marital choice, procreation, and socialization, with emphasis on the history of American family patterns and the effects of contemporary social changes on the family. Prerequisite: SOCI 210

SOCI 331 ( 3-3-0) Social Statistics

An introduction to techniques for the analysis and interpretation of research data, including descriptive statistics (frequency distributions, centrality, variability and correlation measures) and inferential statistics (sampling theories and tests of statistical hypotheses, including the chi square, t-tests and analysis of variance). Prerequisites: SOCI 210 and MATH 123, or permission of instructor.

SOCI 333 ( 3-3-0) Introduction to SPSS

An introduction to the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, a computer program for data processing and statistical analysis, enabling students without knowledge of programming or without programming aspirations to utilize the computer for scientific research. Prerequisites: SOCI 210 and SOCI 331, or permission of instructor.

SOCI 335 ( 3-3-0) Sociological Research Methods

An introduction to the various sociological research methods, with emphasis on research design, questionnaire construction, the construction and use of surveys, uses of available data, methods of collecting and analyzing data, the testing of hypotheses, the drawing of inferences, and the writing of the research report. Prerequisite: SOCI 210 and SOCI 331, or permission of instructor.

SOCI 340 ( 3-3-0) Crime and Delinquency

A study of the nature of crime and delinquency as forms of deviant behavior, including theories of causation relating to both, with considerations of the justice system for each. Prerequisite: SOCI 210

SOCI 350 ( 3-3-0) History of Sociological Thought

A selective and systematic study of major writings in the development of modern sociological thought, with critical examination of the sociological theories of selected writers. Prerequisite: SOCI 210

SOCI 351 ( 3-3-0) Contemporary Social Theory

A study of the major contemporary sociological theories, with critical analyses of the writings of American social theorists. Prerequisite: SOCI 210 and SOCI 350.

SOCI 360 ( 3-3-0) Sociology of Deviant Behavior

A study of the major theories and types of deviant behavior, with critical analyses of society’s reactions to such behavior. Prerequisite: SOCI 210

SOCI 362 ( 3-3-0) The Sociology of Religion

A study of the nature of religion, including the societal and cultural dimensions of religion, the role of religion in social change, and the status of religion in contemporary society. Prerequisite: SOCI 210

SOCI 370 ( 3-3-0) The Sociology of The Black Community

A sociological analysis and description of the black community, its socio-historical characteristics, the life styles and socio-cultural patterns within the black community, and the structures and functions of specific social institutions within the black community. Prerequisite: SOCI 210

SOCI 372 ( 3-3-0) Sociology of Education

An examination of education as a social institution, the school as a social system, the teacher as an agent of social change, and social programs as complements of programs in education, with emphasis on current social trends, special problems in teaching today, social factors that influence learning, and the role of education in the status attainment process. Prerequisite: SOCI 210

SOCI 375 ( 3-3-0) Comparative Societies ( 3-3-0)

A comparative study of human social life. This course presents students with an overview of the major social, cultural, political, economic and other organizational differences among human societies and the transformations that have occurred over the millennia. The major theoretical and empirical works in the field are examined. Prerequisites: Either SOCI 210, POLI 200, or permission of instructor.

SOCI 380 ( 3-3-0) Sociology of Work

A sociological analysis of the division of labor, labor force trends, career patterns and mobility, and occupational cultures and lifestyles. Prerequisite: SOCI 210

SOCI 390 ( 3-3-0) Social Behavior and Interaction

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. Emphasis will be placed on the relationship between social interaction and the behavior of individuals. Prerequisite: SOCI 210

SOCI 400 ( 3-3-0) The Sociology of Gender Roles

A course examining the social determinants of gender role identity, with emphasis on the relationship between gender role identity and personality, personal and professional relationships, work, religion, and general culture, particularly the culture of the United States. Prerequisite: SOCI 210

SOCI 410 ( 3-3-0) Introduction to Gerontology

An introduction to the field of gerontology, with emphasis on the psychological, biological, and sociological processes of aging. Prerequisite: SOCI 210

SOCI 412 ( 3-3-0) Race and Ethnic Relations

A study of the theories and principles of majority minority relations, with emphasis on the status and problems of selected racial, ethnic, and religious minority groups in the United States and elsewhere. Prerequisite: SOCI 210

SOCI 422 ( 3-3-0) Collective Behavior and Social Movements

A study of human behavior as expressed through group behavior, especially the forces that precipitate change in the social order, such as crowds, mobs, mass behavior, public opinion, social movements, revolutions, and social planning. Prerequisite: SOCI 210

SOCI 430 ( 3-3-0) Demography

A study of the distribution, growth, and characteristics of human populations and their relationship to social organization. Prerequisite: SOCI 210

SOCI 440 ( 3-3-0) Sociology of Health

An analysis of the social facets of health and illness, the social functions of health institutions and organizations, the relationship of systems of health care delivery to other social systems, and the social behavior of health personnel and the consumers of health care. Prerequisite: SOCI 210

SOCI 442 ( 3-3-0) Urban Sociology

A study of urbanism as a way of life; the growth and development of urban areas; urban social organization; change and problems of contemporary urban life; ecological patterning; urban planning; and problems of control. Prerequisite: SOCI 210

SOCI 462 ( 3-3-0) Social Stratification

A study of classes, castes, estates, status groups, and social mobility, with an examination of theories of social mobility and a comparison of modes of stratification in selected societies. Prerequisite: SOCI 210

SOCI 470 ( 3-3-0) Social Change

A study of the nature and processes of social change. Topics covered include the theories of social change, industrialization and modernization, planned change, and the social impact of change. Prerequisite: SOCI 210

SOCI 475 ( 3-3-0) Applied Social Science Research

This course is designed to enhance students’ understanding of theory and research. It focuses primarily on the conceptualization, formulation, and design of a research project utilizing a specific theoretical paradigm. The course provides hands-on actual research experience for professional presentation and publication. Students in this course must already have good knowledge of descriptive and inferential statistics and the use of SPSS. Prerequisites: SOCI 210, SOCI 331, SOCI 333, SOCI 335, SOCI 351 or permission of the instructor.

SOCI 478 ( 3-3-0) Internship in Sociology

This course is for sociology majors who wish to acquire pre-professional and supervised field work experience in an agency or organization in the community while applying sociological knowledge and skills. The course offers students an opportunity to acquire complementary knowledge and skills for future careers and/or graduate school and to build community contacts. Students will be supervised and evaluated jointly by faculty and site supervisors. Prerequisites: Senior standing; SOCI 210, SOCI 335, SOCI 340, SOCI 390, and SOCI 350 or SOCI 351.

SOCI 480 ( 3-3-0) Sociological Seminar

Readings and discussions on selected problems and issues in sociology, including the various subdivisions within sociology, with particular attention to the relationship between theory and research and an examination of sociology as a profession. Prerequisite: Graduating seniors in their last semester, SOCI 210, SOCI 335, SOCI 340, SOCI 350, SOCI 351, and SOCI 390.

SOCI 491 ( 3-3-0) Independent Study

Supervised library and/or field research in sociology on a topic of choice of a student. Prerequisite: Permission of department chair.