The Department of Sociology, Social Work and Criminal Justice offers courses leading to the Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice, the Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, the Bachelor of Arts in Social Work, and the Master of Arts degrees in Sociology. For a full description of the M.A. degree, refer to the Graduate Catalog.

Outcome Objectives

The objectives of the Sociology: program are:
1.    To gain a well-rounded knowledge of the fields of the discipline.
2.    To develop an understanding of how sociologists think, gather information, process data and reach tentative conclusions.
3.    To sort out trends in social data.
4.    To assist in conflict resolution between groups of people in society.
5.    To engage in problem solving based on varying patterns of behavior of diverse groups.
6.    To be exposed to a rich variety of perspectives and ideas.
7.    To prepare for a career after graduation that is related to the sociology major.

Bachelor of Arts in Sociology

Sociology deals with social institutions, activities, and patterns of behavior of diverse groups. The challenge for sociologists is to sort out trends and to find ways to resolve the conflicts between groups of people. The sociology major provides students with background in the basic theoretical, research, and substantive areas of the discipline. The field of sociology leads to an understanding of the social forces impinging upon one's life and can lead to careers in many diverse settings.

Required Courses for Graduation

The following courses representing the core of the discipline are required. Sociology majors must attain a grade of "C" or better in all required and elective courses.

SOC 1101	Introduction to Sociology		3 cr
SOC 2206	Sociological Methods			3 cr
SOC 2207	Social Statistics			3 cr
SOC 3301	Classical Social Theory			3 cr
SOC 4403	Contemporary Sociological Theory	3 cr
SOC 4462 	Power, Class, and Prestige		3 cr
						TOTAL: 18 cr

Elective Courses

In addition to the required courses, students are expected to complete 18 credit hours from any of the remaining courses in the Sociology curriculum excluding SOC 4482. Fifteen of the elective credit hours must be upper division.

Minor in Sociology

Required Courses

SOC 1101	Introduction to Sociology		3 cr
SOC 2206	Sociological Methods			3 cr
SOC 3301	Classical Social Theory			3 cr
SOC 4462 	Power, Class, and Prestige		3 cr
						TOTAL: 12 cr

Elective Courses (9 credits)

With the approval of a Department of Sociology faculty member, the student shall select nine credit hours from any of the electives listed for the sociology major.

Bachelor of Arts in Social Work

The Social Work Program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education at the Baccalaureate level. As such it provides students with a generalist framework for beginning professional social work practice. Social workers help individuals, families, groups, and ­communities meet basic human needs and enhance the quality of life.

The goals of the Social Work Program are:

Admission to the Social Work Program

Application for admission to the Social Work Program is required of all students desiring to progress toward a social work major. Admission to the Social Work Program is competitive. Students may apply to the major at the completion of the sophomore year and after completing or with current enrollment in required prerequisite goal areas and courses.

The following criteria must be met for an  applicant to be eligible for consideration for admission to the social work major:

Application Deadline

The above admission procedures must be completed and submitted to the Department of Social Work prior to February 15 for Fall semester admission, and prior to October 1 for Spring semester admission. 

The Social Work Program does not grant credit for previous life experience.

All social work majors are required to meet the above standards before they may enroll in upper division social work courses (those numbered 3000 and above).  Pre-social work students enrolled in upper division courses without admission to the major will be withdrawn until major admission requirements have been met.

Admission to 4000 Level Courses

Admission to the senior field courses (SOWK 4476‑4477) is contingent upon completion of the following:

a.    Completion of SOWK 3308, SOWK 3371, SOWK 3372, SOWK 3373, and SOC 2207 with a minimum GPA of 2.5;
b.    Maintenance of GPA to senior year at the 2.5 level;
c.    Submission of form applying for senior field experience;
d.    Interview by program senior field placement coordinator prior to notification of field agencies.

General Education Requirements

Students pursuing the Bachelor of Arts in Social Work must complete Goals 1-9, Goals 10A and 10B and Goals 11-12. Certain goals may be met using Social Work Program requirements; for example:

Goal 3: MATH 1108 (Intermediate Algebra) and MATH 1153 (Introduction to Statistics);

Goal 4: BIOL 1100 (Concepts Biology: Human Concerns);

Goal 11: ECON 1100 (Economic Issues);

Goal 12: PSYC 1101 (Introduction to Psychology).

Social Work Requirements

PSYC 3301	Abnormal Psychology			3 cr
SOC 1101	Introduction to Sociology		3 cr
SOC 2207        Social Statistics			3 cr
SOC 2248	Social Diversity			3 cr
SOWK 2271	Introduction to Social Work		3 cr
SOWK 2272	Human Behavior and the
                  Social Environment			3 cr
SOWK 3308	Social Work Research			3 cr
SOWK 3371	Social Welfare Policy			3 cr
SOWK 3372	Practice with Individuals 
		  and Families				3 cr
SOWK 3373	Group Work				3 cr
SOWK 4476	Social Work Field Practicum I		6 cr
SOWK 4477	Social Work Field Practicum II		6 cr
SOWK 4494	Community Organization 
		  and Social Change			3 cr
SOWK 4498	Integration of Social Work Methods	3 cr

An additional six credits of upper division course work in Social Work, Sociology, Criminal Justice or Psychology are required. Upper division courses are those numbered 3000-4000. Social Work students must attain a C or better grade in departmental and social work requirements.

Social Work Electives Include:

SOWK 4482	Independent Problems			6 cr
SOWK 4485	Grieving				3 cr
SOWK 4486	Family Issues in Social Work		3 cr
SOWK 4491	Seminar*				3 cr
*May be repeated; with different content, up to 9 credits may be used toward graduation)

Admission to 4000 Level Courses

Admission to the senior field courses (SOWK 4476-4477) is contingent upon completion of the following:

1. Completion of SOWK 3308, SOWK 3371, SOWK 3372, SOWK 3373, and SOC 2207 with a minimum GPA of 2.5;
2. Maintenance of GPA to senior year at the 2.5 level;
3. Submission of form applying for senior field experience;
4. Interview by program senior field placement committee prior to notification of field agencies.

Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice

This two-year degree program provides two career goal options. Option A, Law Enforcement, is for those who are, or are seeking to be, law enforcement officers. Option B, Female Corrections, is for those interested in a career working in correctional institutions and agencies which serve female offenders. Graduates from either option of this program will have fulfilled the majority of the General Education Requirements applicable to a four-year degree.

Option A, Law Enforcement, recognizes that many law enforcement agencies encourage or require personnel to obtain a higher education in order to better meet increased demands to perform more effectively in the face of complex legal, social, political and economic situations. For admission into Option A, a person must have been admitted as a student in the College of Arts and Sciences at Idaho State University and must immediately contact one of the Criminal Justice Program Advisors to declare a major. 

Option B, Female Corrections, provides an academic background specifically directed at issues associated with correctional approaches toward female offenders. This program is based on the premise that correctional workers should truly be able to provide corrective assistance in mathematics, English, and the various sciences in addition to fulfilling the more traditional custodial tasks. Admission into Option B requires three letters of reference, a minimum of 3.0 GPA, and a formal interview with the Criminal Justice Advisors prior to the declaration of a major.

Required Courses

I. General Education Requirements (45 credits minimum), as listed in the catalog excepting as specified for Goals 10A, 10B, 11, and 12 provided below.

Goal 10A

ANTH 2238       Peoples and Cultures of the New World 3 cr

Goal 10B

SPAN 1101-1102  Elementary Spanish                    8 cr
           OR
                Satisfactory completion of a 
                language proficiency examination.

Goal 11

POLS 1101       Introduction to American Government   3 cr

Goal 12

SOC 1102        Social Problems                       3 cr

II. Social Science Requirements (24 credits)

Option A — Law Enforcement

POLS 2248*	Politics and 
		  the Administration of Justice		3 cr
POLS 2249 	Introduction to Criminal Law 		3 cr
SOC 1102        Social Problems 			3 cr
SOC 2231        Juvenile Delinquency 			3 cr
SOC 2248        Social Diversity 			3 cr
SOC 2295        Criminal Justice Internship 		1-4 cr
* Or approved substitute

Plus one of the following:

PSYC 2200 	Child Abuse 				3 cr
PSYC 2205 	Human Sexuality 			3 cr
PSYC 2225 	Child Development 			3 cr
PSYC 3301 	Abnormal Psychology I 			3 cr

Option B — Female Corrections

POLS 2248*      Politics and 
                  the Administration of Justice 	3 cr
SOC 2248        Social Diversity			3 cr
SOC 2250        Women, Crime/Corrections `		3 cr
SOC 2295**      Criminal Justice Internship 		1-4 cr
WS 2201         Introduction to Women Studies 		3 cr
* Or approved substitutes

Plus one of the following:

PSYC 2200 	Child Abuse 				3 cr
PSYC 2205 	Human Sexuality 			3 cr
PSYC 2225 	Child Development 			3 cr
PSYC 3301 	Abnormal Psychology I 			3 cr

BOTH OPTIONS:
Two additional electives to be taken with consent of advisor.     

The Criminal Justice Internship provides an option for those who seek 
careers outside of law enforcement or women's correctional facilities. 
Credits for this course can also be obtained as described below.

General Information

Please note the following guidelines:

1. Students enrolled in Option A who have certificates in law enforcement from the Idaho State University College of Technology may transfer 12 credits of general electives into the Associate of Arts Criminal Justice degree.
2. Students enrolled in Option A who have completed the Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Academy may obtain six credits of general electives which may be applied toward the AA degree.
3. Students Enrolled in Option B who have completed the Correctional Officer Standards and Training (COST) Academy may obtain six credits of general electives which may be applied toward the AA degree.
4. Students who do not meet the criterion for 1, 2, or 3 above, must arrange individual field internships or have other internship experience approved by the Criminal Justice Advisors.

The Department offers courses in Sociology and in Social Work.

Sociology Courses (SOC Prefix)

SOC 1101 Introduction to Sociology 3 credits. Introduction to the scientific point of view in the study of group life, social institutions, and processes. Satisfies Goal 12 of the General Education Requirements. F, S

SOC 1102 Social Problems 3 credits. Theoretical analyses and application of research to selected social issues and social institutions such as politics, economics, education, medicine, families, the military, crime and corrections, religion and related major social forces. Satisfies Goal 12 of the General Education Requirements. F, S

SOC 2206 Sociological Methods 3 credits. Introduces the principles and procedures of scientific research and includes a variety of strategies and tools for studying social phenomena. F

SOC 2207 Social Statistics 3 credits. A survey of statistical techniques focusing on descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing and correlations. Students work in computer labs and use SPSS-PC to produce descriptive and summary statistics for large data sets. PREREQ: MATH 1153. S

SOC 2231 Juvenile Delinquency 3 credits. Theories of delinquency, criminal behavior, and law enforcement in relation to the modern social institutions in American culture. PREREQ: SOC 1101 or SOC 1102. F, S

SOC 2248 Social Diversity 3 credits. Examines selected theories and research concerning how race, class, gender and ethnicity intersect in and affect the lives and cultures of the peoples in the United States historically and in contemporary society. S

SOC 2250 Women, Crime and Corrections 3 credits. Analysis of theories and research applicable to women's involvement in crime, correctional centers and in professional roles in the criminal justice system. PREREQ: SOC 1102. S

SOC 2295 Criminal Justice Internship 1-4 credits. Required reading assignments and daily journal to be completed. Maximum of four credits per semester. May be repeated for up to 6 credits. PREREQ: Permission of instructor. F, S, Su

SOC 3301 Classical Social Theory 3 credits. A survey of the foundation of sociological thought from the Enlightenment to 1945. The focus is on the recurring themes in sociology and the importance of classical theory to understanding contemporary sociological theory and current social issues. PREREQ: SOC 1101. F, S

SOC 3321 Families in American Society 3 credits. American families in social-historical contexts. Contemporary issues confronting families as social institutions and impact of family interaction dynamics. Crosslisted as CFS 3321. PREREQ: SOC 1101 or permission of instructor. F

SOC 3330 Sociology of Health and Illness 3 credits. Sociological examination of health and illness including historical and cultural variations, health care and physician-patient issues. S

SOC 3335 Population and Environment 3 credits. The scientific study of population and its environmental consequences. AF

SOC 3366 The Community 3 credits. Examines selected theories of community origins, characteristics, structures, boundaries, and change. Analyze methods of studying various aspects of communities. PREREQ: SOC 1101. F

SOC 3368 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 1101. F

SOC 4402 Proseminar in Sociology 3 credits. An overview of the field of sociology, with emphasis on the teaching of sociology, orientation to graduate education, major sociological theories, issues, research approaches, and ethical problems in the field. PREREQ: Permission of instructor. D

SOC 4403 Contemporary Sociological Theory 3 credits. Survey and appraisal of sociological theories since 1945: structural functionalism, rational choice, conflict, symbolic interactionism, and phenomenology. PREREQ: SOC 3301. S

SOC 4408 Advanced Sociological Methods 3 credits. Emphasizes advanced techniques in research design, data measurement, and multivariate analysis utilizing computer application. PREREQ: SOC 2206 and SOC 2207. AS

SOC 4413 Mind, Body and Society 3 credits. Symbolic interaction and its relation to selfhood, sympathy, illness, sexuality, and addiction; and to groupings like enemies, communities, and associations. PREREQ: SOC 1101. F

SOC 4431 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 relations. PREREQ: SOC 1101 or SOC 1102. S

SOC 4462 Power, Class, and Prestige 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 and power. PREREQ: SOC 1101 or permission of instructor. S

SOC 4467 Community Networking: Cultivating the Sociological Imagination 3 credits.  Advanced study of the sociology of community through readings, class discussions, lectures, and a community networking internship.  S

SOC 4482 Sociology Internship  1-3 credits. Apply sociological principles in such ways as assisting the supervising professor with a lower-level course, conducting study groups, or small group instruction. Credits not applicable toward the major. May be repeated for up to 6 credits. PREREQ: Permission of instructor; junior status; minimum of 12 hours and 3.0 GPA in Sociology. D

SOC 4483 Independent Problems in Sociology 1-4 credits. Readings, observations, applied work, or data analysis in content area not offered in our curriculum. May be repeated for up to 6 credits. PREREQ: Permission of the instructor; junior status; minimum of 12 hours and 3.0 GPA in sociology. D

SOC 4491 Topics in Sociology 3 credits. Readings, discussion, and preparation of reports on selected topics. May be repeated with different content. D

Social Work Courses (SOWK Prefix)

SOWK 2271 Introduction to Social Work 3 credits. Introduction to social welfare institutions, social work profession, practice approaches, occupational contexts, and historical development of social welfare. Designed for students considering a career in social work or related fields. F, S

SOWK 2272 Human Behavior and the Social Environment 3 credits. Survey of human development from conception through adulthood. Focus is on the social context within which the bio-psycho-social development occurs using systems theory as a framework. F, S

SOWK 3308 Social Work Research 3 credits. Basic elements of the scientific method and research on human behavior. Examination of various research designs and techniques utilized in the field. PREREQ: Admission to Social Work major. F

SOWK 3371 Social Welfare Policy 3 credits. Social policies are created as society's strategy for addressing social problems such as unemployment, poverty, mental illness. Programs and policies are re-examined to understand strengths and weaknesses. PREREQ: Admission to Social Work major. S

SOWK 3372 Practice with Individuals and Families 3 credits. Presents generic base of skills utilizing systems theory. Interviewing methods, problem identification, assessment, treatment planning, implementation and evaluation are examined in use with families and individuals. PREREQ: Admission to Social Work major. F, S

SOWK 3373 Group Work 3 credits. Group theory, process, and dynamics and their application to practice. Designing, facilitating, and terminating groups using a generic skills base. PREREQ:  SOWK 3372 and admission to Social Work major. F, S

SOWK 4417 Interdisciplinary Evaluation Team 1 credit. Introduction to principles, techniques of interdisciplinary evaluation. Disciplines emphasized: Audiology, Nursing, Physical Therapy, Psychology, Social Work, Special Education, Speech-Language Pathology. Cross-listed as NURS 4417, PSYC 4417, CSED 4417. PREREQ: Permission of instructor. S

SOWK 4476 Social Work Field Practicum I  6 credits. Field experience in a social service agency under direct supervision of licensed social worker. Minimum of 200 hours of field instruction and weekly seminar. PREREQ: Permission of Department.  COREQ: SOWK 4498. F, S

SOWK 4477 Social Work Field Practicum II 6 credits. Field experience in a social service agency under direct supervision of licensed social worker. Minimum of 200 hours of field instruction and weekly seminar. PREREQ: Permission of Department.  COREQ: SOWK 4498. F, S

SOWK 4482 Independent Problems 1-6 credits. Consultation course. May be repeated for up to 6 credits. PREREQ: 12 credits in Social Work and permission of instructor. D

SOWK 4485 Grieving 3 credits. Preparation for working with grieving clients. Philosophical, cultural, medical, and psychological aspects of grieving. D

SOWK 4486 Family Issues in Social Work 3 credits. Advanced course in understanding of families and family issues.  Techniques for assessment and intervention, drawn from various current theories. D

SOWK 4491 Seminar 3 credits. Reading, discussion, and preparation of reports on selected topics. May be repeated for up to 9 credits with different content. PREREQ: Permission of instructor. D

SOWK 4494 Community Organization and Social Change 3 credits. Practice skills related to understanding and working in the community. Focus is on social action and social change. PREREQ: SOWK 3372. F

SOWK 4498 Integration of Social Work Methods 3 credits. Integration of advanced skills and theory involved in working with individuals, families, groups, and communities. Focus on work with poor, elderly, minorities, and women. PREREQ: Senior level in Social Work major. PREREQ OR COREQ: SOWK 4476 or SOWK 4477.  F, S