| SO 205 |
Contemporary Social Issues: Analysis of
selected social problems in contemporary society using readings
from both academic and popular sociological analysis. The emphasis
of this course is on developing in the students the ability to
identify social phenomena, to understand how these causes may
influence social policy, and to develop an ability to conduct basic
research on social issues using social science methodology;
including documentary and literature based search skills from
bibliographical databases and online web-based materials.
Prerequisite: SO 101 or any introduction to social sciences course.
(U)(3) |
| SO 293 |
Statistics for Social Research An introduction
to statistical techniques and their application to problems in
social research. This course covers descriptive and inferential
statistics including measures of central tendency and variability,
correlation, cross-classification, sampling and statistical
inference, and an introduction to multivariate analysis. An
emphasis is placed on sociological application of such techniques,
and on developing an understanding of when they are appropriate,
and the information they yield. Students will learn to use the
computer in data analysis.
Prerequisites: MA 101 or equivalent. (U) (3) |
| SO 301 |
Families and Gender Roles: The organization
and functions of marriage and the family. Cross-cultural and
historical perspectives provide background for analysis of
contemporary family patterns.
Prerequisites: SO 101 (U/G) (3) |
| SO 303 |
Political Behavior, Policy and Society: An
analysis of social power and decision-making in small groups,
complex organizations, communities and societies; social and
personality factors, and political behavior; and political
movements and social change.
Prerequisites: SO 101 (U/G) (3) |
| SO 305 |
Sport, Culture and Society: An analysis of the
place and function of sports in society and culture.
Prerequisites: SO 101 (U/G) (3) |
| SO 307 |
Work and Leisure in Post-Industrial Society:
An analysis of the significance of the social institutions of work
and leisure in technologically advanced societies.
Prerequisites: SO 101 (U/G) (3) |
| SO 309 |
Sociology of Economic Life: An analysis of
economic systems and institutions in contemporary societies and its
effect on people's lives. In addition to theoretical approaches to
understand the economic structures, issues such as resources
distribution, poverty, and the welfare system will be addressed
from a comparative perspective.
Prerequisites: SO 101 or any introduction to
social sciences course. |
| SO 311 |
Law and Society: An analysis of economic
systems and institutions in contemporary societies and its effect
on people's lives. In addition to theoretical approaches to
understand the economic structures, issues such as resources
distribution, poverty, and the welfare system will be addressed
from a comparative perspective.
Prerequisites: SO 101 or any introduction to
social science course. (U) (3) |
| SO 319 |
Mental Illness, Culture and Society: A
sociological analysis of mental health and mental illness. This
course examines the social, cultural and political factors involved
in the definition of mental illness and the control of mental
illness in society. Emphasis is placed on labeling theory, on the
impact of status characteristics (e.g. race, ethnicity, social
class, and gender) and social relationships on levels of stress and
social functioning; and on legal and ethical issues associated with
current health care trends, including the deinstitutionalization of
mental patients and the movement toward community-based care.
Prerequisites: SO 101 or permission of the
instructor. (U/G) (3) |
| SO 321 |
Crime and Society: Nature of crime forms,
extent, causes and treatment.
Prerequisites: SO 101 and junior standing. (U/G)
(3) |
| SO 323 |
Racial and Ethnic Relations: Analysis of the
ethnic (including racial) composition of society, the minority
group status of some ethnic groups and the strains toward
assimilation or cultural pluralism.
Prerequisites: SO 101 (U/G) (3) |
| SO 325 |
Class, Status and Power: A study of the
dynamics of class and caste, class mobility, power, authority,
influence and prestige in different kinds of communities.
Prerequisites: SO 101 (U/G) (3) |
| SO 327 |
Community Organization: A study of structures,
basic processes, resources and techniques and their application in
the functioning of rural, urban and suburban communities. Special
attention to planning principles in the Indianapolis metropolitan
area.
Prerequisites: SO 101 (U/G) (3) |
| SO 329 |
The Sociology of Racism: This course is
designed for students interested in understanding how racism
affects our social institutions and interactions. We will take a
close look at understanding prejudices and myths about race. A
clear retrospective will be explored in events that have influenced
the establishment of racist institutions and behaviors.
Prerequisites: SO 101 (U/G) (3) |
| SO 331 |
Latin American Societies: This course
introduces the student to the culture and social structures of
Latin American societies and aims at undermining the traditional
stereotypes that have long been a part of Latin American images
circulating throughout the United States. It examines in particular
Latin America in the context of the globalizing of social
life.
Prerequisites: SO 101 (U/G) (3) |
| SO 333 |
European Societies: Politics, Culture,
Economics, and the process of European Integration: This course
acquaints the student with the culture, economics, and politics of
Western Europe and with the general process of European
integration. First, it provides a general overview of contemporary
Western Europe and then emphasizes the workings of the European
Union, introducing the student to the organization and functioning
of the different institutions of the European Union and
interpreting the meaning of this process within the global
context.
Prerequisites: SO 101 or any Introduction to
Social Sciences course. (U/G) (3) |
| SO 335 |
The Global Society: This course is about the
constitution of the global system, and the processes which are
reproducing and transforming the structures of globalization. The
course acquaints the student with the process of worldwide
economic, cultural, and political flows and provides an
introduction to the organization and functioning of the global
society.
Prerequisites: SO 101 or any Introduction to
Social Sciences course. (U/G) (3) |
| SO 339 |
Violence, Media, and Culture: This course
examines the topic of crime in popular culture: crime as portrayed
in print and electronic media, film, and entertainment industries.
We will study the "popular" manifestation of crime as it exists in
the stories reported by news media and in the cultural images
produced for mass entertainment. (U) (3) |
| SO 341 |
Self and Society: The socialization of the
individual; the bearing of culture and social structure on the
formation of personality; and group influences upon human response
and patterns of perception.
Prerequisites: SO 101 (U/G) (3) |
| SO 343 |
Popular Culture: An examination of the role
and function of popular culture in generating and sustaining a
common realm of meaning and values in contemporary society. Popular
works of fiction, television, film, sporting events, parades, etc.
will be considered.
Prerequisites: SO 101 (U/G) (3) |
| SO 345 |
Social Deviance: The ways in which the
discrepancies between social reality and the individual experience
generate deviance, with emphasis on the roles of institutions and
counter-institutions in maintaining or changing behavior
patterns.
Prerequisites: SO 101 (U/G) (3) |
| SO 347 |
Urban Society: Urban origins, the genesis of
the modern city and the metropolitan area and region-structure,
ecology, problems and programs for their control.
Prerequisites: SO 101 (U/G) (3) |
| SO 349 |
Social Movements: Analysis of representative
economic, political, religious and other social movements, defining
typical lines of genesis, objectives, structures, leadership and
methods of operation.
Prerequisites: SO 101 (U/G) (3) |
| SO 351 |
Punishment and Society: Analyzes the incidence
of deviance and crime, and the different approaches to social
control and prevention of crime. It offers an introduction to
penology and corrections and explores public reaction to
contemporary corrections.
Prerequisites: SO 101 (U/G) (3) |
| SO 353 |
Juvenile Justice: This course focuses on the
topic of childhood and juvenile justice from a sociological
perspective. We will examine how society provides a framework for
how we understand, interact with, and pattern our relationships
with children in general and with "deviant" or "delinquent"
children in particular. |
| SO 355 |
International Crime: This course is intended
to introduce students to the basic concepts and problems of
international crime and international law. It will also address the
definition, detection, prosecution, sentencing, and impact of
international crime, including terrorism. Special consideration is
given to the role of international law; including international
organizations and enforcement practices. The course will cover the
major topics in the international legal system, such as the sources
and subjects of international law, the jurisdiction of states
(relationship between international law and the internal law of
states), and the use of force.
Prerequisites: SO 101 or any Introduction to
Social Sciences course. (U) (3) |
| SO 360 |
Selected Topics in Sociology: Designed to give
the advanced undergraduate student academic flexibility. Likely
topics are Policing a Democratic society, Ethical Issues in
Criminal Justice, Legal Aspects of Law Enforcement, and History of
the Criminal Justice System and Crime in Comparative
Perspective.
Prerequisites: SO 101 (U/G) (3) |
| SO 380 |
Selected Topics in Sociology: An in-depth
analysis of the theory, methodology and subject matter in an area
not provided for in the current offerings of the department.
Prerequisites: SO 101 (U/G) (3) |
| SO 381 |
Social Work and Social Policy: The history and
types of public and private Social Work in the United States from
early colonial times to the present.
Prerequisites: SO 101 (U/G) (3) |
| SO 383 |
Social Work Methods: An introduction to Social
Work fields of practice and the methods used by Social Work
professionals.
Prerequisites: SO 101 (U/G) (3) |
| SO 385 |
Practice Skills in Social Work: This
foundation practice course focuses on basic social work theories
and skills that are necessary when working with a wide variety of
client systems; individuals, families, small groups, communities
and organizations. Students will have opportunities to learn about
themselves and will examine their personal values and any conflict
between personal and professional values so they are able to
practice with diverse populations in a confident and professional
manner.
Prerequisites: SO 101 or any Introduction to
Social Sciences course. (U) (3) |
| SO 391 |
Social Theory Seminar: An historical and
analytical survey of major contributions to social theory with
major emphasis upon late 19th - and 20th-century
developments.
Prerequisites: SO 101 and junior standing. (U/G)
(3) |
| SO 393 |
Research Methods Seminar: The principal
methods of social research. Formation of research problem concepts
and hypotheses: measurement and data collection and analysis; and
reporting of research.
Prerequisites: SO 101, SO 293 or equivalent and
junior standing. (U/G) (3) |
| SO 481, 482, 483 |
Independent Study: An opportunity for
qualified students to pursue a topic of individual interest. Open
to seniors and juniors with permission of department head. (U/G)
(1, 2, 3) |
| SO 484, 485 |
Internship: A program offering the superior
student the opportunity to participate in a closely supervised work
experience in a setting pertinent to the major area of study.
Majors are strongly encouraged to engage in the internship
experience.
Prerequisites: SO 101, 10 hours in sociology and
permission of the department head. (U/G) (3,6) |
| SO 499 |
Honors Thesis: (U) (3) |