Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work
Chairperson and
Associate Professor Cutchen
Professors Aho, Bryan, Sarra, Stocks
Associate Professors Holmer
Assistant Professors Hall, Loether,
Lohse, Oakes, Perry, Pierson
Visiting Assistant Professor Siebold
Master of Arts in Sociology
In addition to the criteria for admission to the Graduate School, students must submit GRE advanced sociology test scores. An accepted thesis (six credits) plus 26 additional credits approved by the department are the minimum requirements for the M.A. in sociology.
Requirements
Required courses are: SOC 508, Advanced Sociological Methods (may be taken as SOC 408 as an undergraduate); SOC 600, Comparative Sociological Theories; SOC 603, Seminar: Topics in Methods; SOC 650, Thesis. The remaining credits are to be composed of approved electives of which no more than nine credits are to be at the 500 level. Other requirements include the successful completion of a written comprehensive examination, a thesis proposal presentation and an oral defense of the completed thesis. Before students are formally admitted to candidacy for the M.A., they must pass the written comprehensive examination and achieve minimum specified standards on the GRE. Master of Arts in Anthropology
Admission
In addition to the general requirements of the Graduate School, the following steps are required of students seeking admission to the anthropology program:

Submission of an application
Three letters of recommendation
Transcripts of undergraduate
performance
A minimum grade point average of 3.0 during the last two years of undergraduate work is desirable. Applicants with grade points above 2.75 will be considered for conditional admission. Admission will be conditional until the scores from the aptitude (quantitative, verbal, and analytical) sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) are received. During the first semester the GREs must be taken. Total GRE scores must average at least the 40th percentile for admission as a classified student.
Requirements
For graduation with the M.A. in anthropology, the student must write and orally defend an acceptable thesis (six credits) and accumulate 27 additional graduate course credits approved by the department. At least 15 of the total credits must be at the 600 level. Required courses are the following: A 600-level seminar in each of the four fields of anthropology (ANTH 605, Language and Society; ANTH 615, Physical Anthropology; ANTH 627-628, Ethnology and Ethnography; ANTH 637-638, Archaeology). Students are strongly encouraged to take ANTH 501, History and Theory of Anthropology (may be taken as ANTH 401 while an undergraduate at ISU), and methodology (SOC 508, Sociological Methods, and/or ANTH 584, Methods and Techniques of Field Research). Competence in a foreign language approved by the student's M.A. committee and by a member of the graduate faculty of the Department of Foreign Language at ISU is required. The student must pass a comprehensive written examination in anthropology before registering for thesis credit. By the middle of the second semester of residence, the student will form a two-person M.A. committee and later expand it to three, with one member from outside anthropology.
Sociology Graduate Courses
g330 Sociology of Health 3 credits. Sociological examination of health and illness, including social and cultural variables related to illness, conceptual problems in research on health care, and a discussion of the professions associated with health care.
g335 Demography and Human Ecology 3 credits. A study of the interrelationships of population trends with technology, environment, and social institutions. Consideration of world population patterns and their implications. g361 Social Stratification 3 credits. Theories and methodology of status systems; the relation of class to the social structure; analysis of class in different societies, with emphasis upon the class system in contemporary American society. PREREQ: SOC 101 or permission of the instructor.
g364 Industry and Society 3 credits. Summary of the scientific knowledge that is applicable to the understanding of the sociological aspects of industrialization as a culture system, the industrial work situation, and the sociopolitical and community aspects of industrialism. PREREQ: SOC 101 or permission of the instructor.
g366 The Community 3 credits. Development of the concept of "community." Examination of selected theories of community origins, characteristics, and consequences, internal community structure, tensions, and processes of change. PREREQ: SOC 101. g368 The Sociology of Religion 3 credits. Contemporary issues as they relate to religion. The relationship of religion to other social institutions. Religious experience and mysticism. Prophecy and its routinization. Cults and religious dissent. PREREQ: SOC 101.
g403 Contemporary Sociological Theory 3 credits. Survey and appraisal of major schools of sociological thought at present, with an examination of areas of change and controversy emphasizing recent significant sociological contributions. PREREQ: SOC 101 and 301.
g408 Advanced Sociological Methods 3 credits. Emphasizes advanced techniques in research design, data measurement, and multivariate analysis utilizing computer application. PREREQ: SOC 206 and SOC 207.
g413 Mind, Self and Society 3 credits. Focus discussion of regularities in human social behavior and interaction arising from group life. Emphasizes communication, attitude, language, interpersonal perception, sexual identities, symbolic interaction and other phenomenological experiences. PREREQ: SOC 101. g431 Criminology 3 credits. Analysis of criminal law, law enforcement, judicial roles and processes, correctional approaches, the criminal offender and societal reactions. Theory and research as applicable to behavior and institutional relationships. PREREQ: SOC 231.
g450 Sociology of the Third World 3 credits. Survey of pertinent literature and analysis of the socio-economic characteristics of third world countries. The quest for modernization and social change, along with the obstacles encountered by developing nations, will be emphasized.
g482 Independent Problems. Consultation course consisting of independent student effort under the guidance of the instructor. May be repeated for maximum of 6 credits. PREREQ: Permission of instructor.
g491 Seminar 3 credits. Reading, discussion, and preparation of reports on selected topics. May be repeated for up to 6 credits. 597 Professional Education Development Topics. Variable credit. May be repeated. A course for practicing professionals aimed at the development and improvement of skills. May not be applied to graduate degrees. May be graded S/U.
600 Seminar: Comparative Sociological Theories 3 credits. Comparative analysis of various theoretical perspectives in sociology with special emphasis on structural functionalism, symbolic interactionism, exchange theory, conflict theories, phenomenology, and ethnomethodology. Primary emphasis will be placed on the major propositions of each perspective and the significant contributions of scholars in each area. PREREQ: SOC 403 or equivalent.
601 Sociological Theories 3 credits. A seminar in selected topics in theory which will focus on either historical, comparative or contemporary theories. PREREQ: SOC 600. May be repeated for up to 6 credits.
603 Seminar: Topics in Methods 3 credits. In depth focus on methodological topics relevant and timely to student's needs and interests. PREREQ: SOC g408. May be repeated up to 6 credits. 605 Social Organization 3 credits. A seminar in selected topics of social organization and disorganization which will include such themes as complex organization, industrial sociology, community, and urban studies. May be repeated for up to 6 credits.
607 Social Differentiation 3 credits. A seminar in selected topics of social differentiation such as stratification, minorities, etc. May be repeated for up to 6 credits. 611 Applied Sociology 3 credits. A seminar in selected fields which have come to utilize sociological methods and theory to impact the social world, such as gerontology, substance abuse, mental health, medical sociology, evaluation research, etc. May be repeated for up to 6 credits.
613 Social Behavior 3 credits. A seminar in social interaction which will consider such themes as collective behavior, social psychology, deviance, ethnography, and neo-positive approaches to behavioral analysis. May be repeated up to 6 credits. 615 Social Institutions 3 credits. A seminar in selected aspects of political sociology, law and crime, religion, education, and the family. May be repeated up to 6 credits. 620 Seminar: Philosophy of Social Science 3 credits. The application of mathematical and scientific methods to the study of social, economic, and political life will be considered through the reading of certain seminal writings. Attention will be given to the fundamental assumptions about the nature of scientific rationality. Required of all D.A. students. 621 Seminar: Interdisciplinary Topics in Social Science 3 credits. Examination of selected topics in the social sciences from the analytic orientations and perspectives common and peculiar to the disciplines of political science, economics and sociology. Required of all D.A. students. 638 Teaching Sociology 1 credit. A discussion of the philosophy and mechanics of teaching undergraduate sociology. 649 Independent Studies 1-4 credits. Consultation course consisting of independent student effort under the guidance of the instructor. Students are assigned to, or request assignment to, specific independent problems on the basis of interest and preparation. This may include preparation and presentation of a major research project, directed readings, or tutorial study. 650 Thesis 1-6 credits. Research, analysis, and writing of master's thesis.
700 Supervised Teaching Internship variable up to 9 credits. Social Work Graduate Courses
g417 Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team 1 credit. Introduction to the principles and techniques of interdisciplinary evaluations and treatment planning for youth with special needs. Disciplines emphasized: Social Work, Psychology, Speech Pathology, Audiology,
Nursing, Special Education, Physical Therapy. PREREQ: Permission of instructor.
g482 Independent Problems Consultation course which may be repeated for maximum of 6 credits. PREREQ: 12 credits in Social Work.
g491 Seminar 3 credits. Readings, discussion, and preparation of reports on selected topics. PREREQ: Permission of instructor. 597 Professional Education Development Topics. Variable credit. May be repeated. A course for practicing professionals aimed at the development and improvement of skills. May not be applied to graduate degrees. May be graded S/U.
Anthropology Graduate Courses
g330 Human Evolution 3 credits. Evolutionary process and events in the development of humans from primate ancestors: fossil hominids, origin of modern Homo sapiens. PREREQ: Introductory course in physical anthropology, biology, or zoology, or permission of instructor.
g360 Introduction to Sociolinguistics 3 credits. Examination of sociolinguistics within linguistic anthropology; link between the study of language and culture; how sociolinguistics highlights the commonalities and bridges the differences. g362 American Indian Verbal Arts 3 credits. Analysis of current theories in the study of oral literature and ethnopoetics, focusing on the oral traditions of American Indians. PREREQ: ANTH 107, ANTH 220, or permission of instructor. g364 Survey of American Indian Languages 3 credits. History of scholarship, analysis and classification of American Indian languages with emphasis on the languages of a particular phylum or geographical area. PREREQ: ANTH 107 or permission of instructor.
g384 Methods and Techniques of Field Research 3 credits. Methods and techniques of field research: field notes, types of data collecting, types of analytical procedures, report writing. May be taken concurrently with g483 Field Research, with instructor's permission.
g401 History and Theory of Anthropology 3 credits. A broad survey of the development of anthropology, reviewing the various schools of thought, important personalities, and principal concepts that have contributed to anthropology over time. g402 Cultural Ecology 3 credits. Examination of the interaction of human cultures, particularly hunting-gathering cultures, with their environments. Emphasis on the relation of technological inventories and practices to particular aspects of the environment. Some experimental work in hunting-gathering technology required.
g406 American Indian Health Issues 3 credits. An overview of health concerns, both current and past, of American Indian people, and the biological and socio-cultural factors which influence health status. PREREQ: ANTH 220 or permission of instructor.
g432 Human Osteology 3 credits. Techniques of bone identification, sex and age determination, stature reconstruction, paleopathology, and bone biology are reviewed. PREREQ: An introductory course in physical anthropology, biology,
or zoology, or permission of instructor. g458 Historical Linguistics 3 credits. Course focuses on the school of diachronic or historical/comparative linguistics. Examines language change and reconstruction theories. History and reconstruction of one language family, viz. Uto-Aztecan family. g474 Special Topics in Indian Education 3 credits. Rotating review of topics dealing with issues in Indian education. Consult current schedule of classes for exact course being taught. PREREQ: ANTH 220 or permission of instructor.
g481 Specializations in Anthropology 3 credits. Rotating review of anthropological specializations and subdisciplines, concepts and methods, and their contributions in such areas as applied anthropology, proxemics, ethnology, religion, development anthropology. Consult current schedule of classes for exact course being taught.
g482 Independent Problems in Anthropology 1-3 credits. Investigation of an anthropological problem chosen by the student and approved by the staff. May be repeated up to 6 credits. g483 Field Research 3 credits. Practical experience in field research. May be taken concurrently with g384, Methods and Techniques of Field Research, with permission of instructor. g485 Linguistic Analysis 3 credits. Advanced course in the techniques of language analysis. Topics deal with sound systems (phonetics and phonology) or grammatical systems. May be repeated up to 6 credits. Course also listed as ENGL and LANG g485. g489 Special Topics in American Indian Studies 3 credits. Rotating review of topics dealing with issues in American Indian studies. Consult current schedule of classes for exact course being taught. PREREQ: ANTH 220 or permission of instructor. g490 Folklore 3 credits. Principles, content, and dissemination of orally transmitted religious beliefs and popular narrative forms in preliterate societies. Also listed as ENGL 490. g491 Archaeology Laboratory Analysis 3 credits. Supervised analysis of materials gathered in the course of ongoing archaeological research. May be repeated up to 6 credits. PREREQ: Permission of instructor.
g493 Interdisciplinary Anthropology 3 credits. Rotating review of anthropological issues involving other disciplines, analysis of their contributions to anthropology such as psychological anthropology, medical anthropology, visual anthropology, educational anthropology. Consult current class schedule for exact course.
g495 Department Colloquium 1 credit. Critical examination of a significant problem in anthropology to be chosen each semester. For faculty, graduate students, and anthropology majors. Interdepartmental participation is also encouraged. 597 Professional Education Development Topics. Variable credit. May be repeated. A course for practicing professionals aimed at the development and improvement of skills. May not be applied to graduate degrees. May be graded S/U.
605 Seminar in Language and Society 3 credits. Discussion of problems, methods, and results in linguistic anthropology and sociolinguistics.
615 Seminar in Physical Anthropology 3 credits. Studies in current physical anthropology such as the interpretation of human phylogeny from fossil evidence or human variation from population genetics.
627-628 Seminar in Ethnology and Ethnography 3 credits. Discussions of problems, methods, and results in cultural anthropology. Topics selected with emphasis on historical development and interrelations of cultures with special regard to social structure and ethnographic data. 637-638 Seminar in Archaeology 3 credits. Studies in prehistoric archaeology, including prehistoric human environments, lithis technology, and cultural systems.
641 Special Projects variable credit. Individual work under staff guidance. The student will pursue original research (which may include contractual obligations with various agencies) in some area of anthropology of particular interest to him/her and write a departmentally approved final report. The form should be suitable for publication (or if linked to contractual obligations, acceptable to the contracting agency). This course may substitute for ANTH 650 Thesis in fulfilling the requirements for a master's degree. PREREQ: Permission of the chairman of the student's graduate committee.
642 Practicum in Teaching Anthropology 3 credits. Directed preparation of an anthropology course with a review of course materials, format, teaching techniques, films, and other aids. The trainee will participate in a supervised teaching experience. 650 Thesis 1-10 credits.
651-652 Seminar in the Anthropology of Western North America 3 credits. Applications of methods, techniques, and data of ethnology, linguistics, archaeology, and physical anthropology to the culture historical problem of aboriginal Western North America.
655 Cultural Resource Management Internship 3-6 credits. Supervised work
experience in the development and implementation of cultural resource inventory, conservation and utilization plans, including preparation of budget, contracts, R.T.E. evaluation, and environmental impact statements.