Northeastern State University

SOCIOLOGY (SOC)

Note: # following course titles indicates a Liberal Arts and Sciences course. At least 50 percent of the major must be advanced (3000, 4000) courses within the College of Science and Health Professions; 50 percent of the major must be earned at NSU.

1113 Introduction to Sociology #

Analysis and description of society, culture, the socialization process, social institutions, and social change; consideration of basic sociological theory.

2023 Social Problems #

Analysis of some of the more important current social problems and their interrelationships. Credit may not be earned in both SOC 2023 and SOWK 2023.

2533 Introduction to Health Care Administration

Examines the nature of health care and management in health administration. Focus is on the application of management skills to the administering of health care facilities, such as hospitals, ambulatory care institutions, nursing homes, retirement centers, hospice agencies, home health services, and health maintenance organizations.

3123 Cultural Anthropology #

An introduction to the major theories and methods in cultural anthropology. An emphasis on non-Western cultures, in particular, American Indian cultures, is provided in a framework enabling students to compare cross-cultural phenomena to Western society. Topics include: an introduction to ethnography and field work; language systems; subsistence and economic systems; marriage and the family; organization; religion and magic; applied and medical anthropology; culture change; anthropology in the modern world. Credit may not be earned in both ANTH 3123 and SOC 3123.

3213 Juvenile Delinquency #

Systematic examination of the basic nature of juvenile delinquency Emphasis placed on the legal and social foundations, extent, courts, theories of causation, and effects of prevention.

3223 Racial and Cultural Minorities #

Course provides exposure to the cultural, racial, and religious diversity of the United States. Theories of race are examined. Also explored is American racial diversity based on the interface of land, labor, and capital in conjunction with the different racial, ethnic, and religious groups. Credit may not be earned in both ANTH 3223 and SOC 3223.

3233 Sociology of Deviant Behavior #

An examination of the factors and conditions which underlie disagreement about fundamental values; their relation to personal and social maladjustment; evaluation of various theories of deviant behavior. Prerequisite: SOC 1113.

3243 Family Sociology #

Analysis of the family as a social institution; concentration on the structure and function of the American family.

3323 Social Statistics #

Presentation and application of descriptive and inferential statistics commonly used in sociology, social work, and gerontology. Table and chart construction, measures of central tendency and dispersion, correlational analysis and hypothesis testing are covered. Specific applications for survey research are emphasized. Prerequisite: MATH 1473 or MATH 1513. Credit may not be earned in both SOC 3323 and SOWK 3323.

3343 Corrections #

A survey of historical and modern corrections. Topics include correctional issues, ideologies, theories, and applications concerning offenders. Field trips. Credit may not be earned in both SOC 3343 and CR J 3343.

3413 Rural Sociology #

Analysis of the social and technological changes taking place in the rural segment of society and the impact of these changes on the total society.

3453 Ethnology of the American Indian #

Course provides exposure to the cultural and linguistic diversity of Native North America, focusing on the ten culture areas of North America, and the similarities and differences of the American Indian peoples who continue to live in these areas. Emphasis is placed on modes of subsistence, kinship, and belief systems of the inhabitants of each culture area. Credit may not be earned in both ANTH 3453 and SOC 3453.

3463 Language and Culture #

Introduction to the cross-cultural study of language and communication from an anthropological perspective. Course will focus upon language as a human attribute, human communication as a part of culture, and the linguistic diversity of our contemporary world. Emphasis is placed on linguistic and ethnic diversity in contemporary American society. Credit may not be earned in both SOC 3463 and ANTH 3463.

3813 Sociology of Aging #

A comprehensive study of aging in society, including discussions of biology, psychology, and economics as related to the perspective of sociology, with emphasis on the major gerontological theories and research.

4000 Workshop #

An opportunity to study in depth one or two selected social issues of current significance, either in seminar or field trip situations. May be repeated with different topics to a maximum 6 hours credit. SOC 4001 graded Pass/Fail.

4133 Field Methods in Ethnology #

Designed to complement SOC 3453, but may be taken separately. Field work in the study of living Indian groups. Techniques of gathering and processing of data on daily life, family structure, and world view of selected American Indian groups.

4143 American Indians Today #

Current social issues affecting Native American peoples are linked to their unique Constitutional relationship to the U.S. Federal Government. Using the ethno-historic method, this class links current Indian issues to Native American history, through an examination of Indian-white relations since Colonial times. Sovereignty and wardship are recurrent themes developed in the class. Credit may not be earned in both SOC 4143 and ANTH 4143.

4153 Archaeology of North America

The archaeology of Native America, with emphasis on major phases of prehistory, from passage across the Bering Straits theory, to early proto-historic horizons. Emphasis on material culture and life-ways through ethnographic analogy. The course begins with the history of American archaeology. Topics include: introduction to archaeology; history of North American archaeology; Paleo-Indians; the Archaic period; the Southwest; Woodland traditions. Credit may not be earned in both ANTH 4153 and SOC 4153.

4163 The Magical Worldview

A cross-cultural and comparative exploration of religion, magic and supernatural belief systems. Emphasis is also placed on indigenous religions of the Western hemisphere. The course examines how religion permeates other aspects of society and culture. Topics include: the anthropology of religion; symbolism, myth, ritual, and taboo; shamans, priests, and prophets; the religious use of drugs; witchcraft, sorcery, and evil; demons, exorcism, divination, and magic, ghosts, souls, and ancestors--power of the dead; crisis cults. Credit may not be earned in both ANTH 4163 and SOC 4163.

4173 Indians of the Plains #

The course, an examination of the Great Plains from the earliest human occupation to present, focuses on the pre-Columbian Plains from an archaeological perspective, and the post-contact period, from an ethnological perspective. Credit may not be earned in both SOC 4173 and ANTH 4173.

4183 Ancient Mesoamerica

The archaeology and ethnography of pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, which includes present-day Mexico and Central America. An examination of the major civilization: Olmec, Maya, Teotihuacan, Toltec, and Aztec. Time periods covered from earliest inhabitants to early contact with Europeans after 1502. Credit may not be earned in both ANTH 4183 and SOC 4183.

4223 Criminology #

Systematic examination of the basic nature of crime. Emphasis placed on extent, social foundations, police, courts, law, prisons, theories of punishment, theories of causation, and efforts in prevention.

4313 Social Research Methods #

An introduction to the rationale and use of social research methods. The course covers the techniques of problem formation, data collection and data analysis in survey; experimental, evaluation and qualitative research. Prerequisite or concurrent enrollment of SOC 3323 or consent of instructor. Credit may not be earned in both SOC 4313 and SOWK 4313.

4423 Urban Sociology #

A study giving explicit recognition to the nature and importance of urbanism as a world phenomenon, with the main focus of attention on urbanism and social change as they are manifest in various aspects of urbanization in the United States.

4453 Environmental Sociology #

Examination of the role of humans and human activity in an ecosystem. Focus on the reciprocal, symbiotic relations between humans and the natural environment of which they are a part.

4513 Social Psychology #

Sociological theories (role, reinforcement, cognitive and symbolic interactionism) applied to understanding the development of self, self-presentation, attitudes, interpersonal influence and attraction, pro-social and aggressive behavior, and inter-group interaction. Emphasis is placed on the interdependence of group and individual in social relationships. Prerequisite: 3 hours of Sociology or Psychology.

4533 Sociology of Gender #

An analysis of gender roles as both macro and micro levels including emphasis on gender in relation to marriage, family, the economy, work, domestic violence, the media, and specifically in male-female relations.

4613 Sociological Theory #

Study current sociological theory, such as functionalism, social conflict, symbolic interactionism, dramaturgy exchange, and critical theory. Emphasis on historical roots of theories, as well as contemporary developments. Prerequisite: SOC 1113.

4713 Social Change #

The agents and processes of social change. Differential stability and adaptability of diverse cultures, and methods and mechanisms which may be used in promoting social change. Prerequisite: SOC 1113.

4723 Social Stratification #

Analysis of status, occupation, income and other elements in human societies. Critical evaluation of theory and research pertaining to social stratification and the associated lifestyles.

4813 Death and Dying #

Study of the ramifications of death; experiences and rights of the dying; significance to those who mourn; the meaning to society of the reality and symbolism of death.

4833 Aging in Other Cultures #

A comparative overview of human aging in societies around the world. Particular attention is given to aging in the American Indian, Black, Hispanic subcultures in modern America.

4853 Medical Sociology #

Presents students with a basic understanding of what health means and how people direct themselves and organize their societies to obtain and maintain it. Focusing on health care delivery in relation to other systems, the social behaviors within health care institutions, and international patterns of health. Prerequisite: SOC 1113.

4911 Independent Study #

Individual research or reading project with a selected faculty member. Content of course may vary with needs and interests of student. May be repeated with different topics for a maximum of 3 hours credit.

4951 Professional Seminar

Capstone course that assists in the integration of components of sociology and helps prepare the student for entry into the sociological profession by investigating career opportunities. Prerequisite: Final semester; restricted to Sociology majors. Pass/fail.

4993 Practicum

Supervised experience in a professional agency where gerontological, Health Care Administration, and sociological knowledge is employed in a vocational setting. Requires 40 hours of work per semester credit hour. Prerequisite: senior standing. Restricted to Sociology, Health Care Administration, or Gerontology major or minor, and approval of advisor. The student must contact advisor the semester before internship is desired. Credit may not be earned in both SOWK 4984 or SOWK 4994 and SOC 4993. Pass/Fail.