The Department of Sociology, Social Work and Criminal Justice offers courses leading to the Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology or social work and the Master of Arts degrees in sociology. For a full description of the M.A. degrees refer to the Graduate Catalog.
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.
The social work program is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education for the preparation of bachelor's-level social work practitioners. This program emphasizes a generic base for beginning professional social work practice. The goals of the program are to prepare the student for competent entry-level social work practice and for graduate education in social work or other helping professions.
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
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 the following required courses:
SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology 3 cr
SOC 102 Social Problems 3 cr
SOC 206 Sociological Methods 3 cr
SOC 207 Social Statistics 3 cr
SOC 301 Principles of Sociology 3 cr
SOC g361 Social Stratification 3 cr
SOC g403 Contemporary Sociological
Theory 3 cr
SOC 490 Senior Seminar 1 cr
TOTAL: 22 cr
Elective CoursesSixteen (16) of the total credits in Sociology must be upper division.
Minor in Sociology
Required Courses
SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology 3 cr
SOC 102 Social Problems 3 cr
SOC 206 Social Research 3 cr
SOC 301 Principles of Sociology 3 cr
TOTAL: 12 cr
Elective Courses (9 credits)
Bachelor of Arts in Social Work
The Social Work Program is accredited by the Council on Social
Work Education and provides students with a general base for
beginning professional social work practice. Social workers and
social welfare programs help individuals, families, groups, and
communities meet basic human needs and enhance the quality of
life. The social work curriculum is designed to:
Many excellent career opportunities for social workers are available in the areas of children's services, community planning, corrections and criminal justice, family services, community mental health, senior services, mental retardation, public assistance, rehabilitation, and educational institutions.
Major in Social Work General University Requirements
As part of the general university requirements, the following
courses are required of the major:
BIOL 100 Concepts Biology: Human Concerns 4 cr
ECON 100 Economic Issues 3 cr
PSYC 101 Intro to General Psychology I 3 cr
Departmental Requirements
SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology 3 cr
SOC 207 Social Statistics 3 cr
SOC 248 Local and National Minorities 3 cr
SOC 301 Principles of Sociology 3 cr
Social Work Course Requirements
SOWK 271 Introduction to Social Work 3 cr
SOWK 272 Human Behavior and the
Social Environment 3 cr
SOWK 308 Social Work Research 3 cr
SOWK 371 Social Welfare Policy 3 cr
SOWK 372 Practices with Individuals and Families 3 cr
SOWK 373 Group Work 3 cr
SOWK 476 Social Work Field Practicum I 6 cr
SOWK 477 Social Work Field Practicum II 6 cr
SOWK 497 Community Organization and
Social Change 3 cr
SOWK 498 Integration of Social Work Methods 3 cr
An additional six units of course work from any sociology,
anthropology or social work courses are required.
Social Work Electives Include
SOWK g482 Independent Problems 6 cr
SOWK g491 Seminar 3 cr
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 ISU and must immediately contact one of the Criminal Justice Program Advisors to declare a major. The advisors are Dr. Clifford Bryan, Sociology, and Mr. Noble Taylor, School of Applied Technology Law Enforcement.
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 238 Peoples and Cultures of the
New World 3 cr
Goal 10B
SPAN 101-102
Elementary Spanish 8 cr
OR
Satisfactory completion of a language
proficiency examination.
Goal 11
POLS 101 Introduction to American
Government 3 cr
Goal 12
SOC 102 Social Problems 3 cr
* Or approved substitutes
II. Social Science Requirements (24 credits)
Option A - Law Enforcement
POLS 248* Politics and the Administration
of Justice 3 cr
POLS 249 Introduction to Criminal Law 3 cr
PSYC 200* Child Abuse 3 cr
SOC 102 Social Problems 3 cr
SOC 231 Juvenile Delinquency 3 cr
SOC 248 Local and National Minorities 3 cr
SOC 295 Criminal Justice Internship 4-6 cr
Option B - Female Corrections
POLS 248* Politics and the Administration
of Justice 3 cr
PSYC 200* Child Abuse 3 cr
SOC 248 Local and National Minorities 3 cr
SOC 250 Women, Crime/Corrections 3 cr
SOC 295** Criminal Justice Internship 4-6 cr
W S 201 Introduction to Women's Studies 3 cr
* Or approved substitutes
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:
Sociology Courses
SOC 101 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 102 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 206 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 207 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 253. S
SOC 231 Juvenile Delinquency 3 credits. Theories of delinquency, criminal behavior, and law enforcement in relation to the modern social institutions in American culture. PREREQ: SOC 101 OR SOC 102. F, S
SOC 248 Local and National Minorities 3 credits. Sociological assessment of historical backgrounds and contemporary situations of major local and national ethnic groups. Theories of race relations examine issues associated with Black, Chicano, and American Indian populations. Cross-listed as AMST 248. S
SOC 250 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 102. S
SOC 295 Criminal Justice Internship 4-6 credits. Required reading assignments and daily journal to be completed. Maximum of four credits per semester. PREREQ: PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR. F, S, Su
SOC 301 Principles of Sociology 3 credits. Intensive analysis of the basic concepts and orientations which make up the sociological perspective as an approach to the understanding of human behavior. Focus upon such fundamental sociological concepts as role, norm, value, interaction, cooperation, conflict, and other social processes. PREREQ: SOC 101. F, S
SOC 321 Marriage and Family 3 credits. Analysis of: American family in social-historical/institutional contexts; contemporary issues confronting family as social institution and impact of family interaction dynamics on personal development/interpersonal relationships. Cross-listed as FCS 321. F
SOC g330 Sociology of Health and Illness 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. AF
SOC g335 Demography and Human Ecology 3 credits. A study of the interrelationships of population trends with technology, environment, and social institution. Consideration of world population patterns and their implications. AF
SOC 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 INSTRUCTOR. S
SOC g364 Industry and Society 3 credits. Summary of the scientific knowledge that is applicable to the understanding of the sociological aspects in industrialization as a culture system, the individual work situation, and the socio-political and community aspects of industrialism. PREREQ: SOC 101 OR PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR. F
SOC 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: S0C 101. AS
SOC 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. F
SOC 397 Workshop 1-2 credits. Workshops aimed at the development and improvement of skills. Does not satisfy requirements for a major or a minor. May be repeated. Graded S/U. D
SOC 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 SOC 301. S
SOC 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. AS
SOC g413 Mind, Self and Society 3 credits. 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. F
SOC 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 relations. PREREQ: SOC 231. S
SOC 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. S
SOC g482 Independent Problems 1-4 credits. Consultation course consisting of independent student effort under the guidance of the instructor. May be repeated for a maximum of 6 credits. PREREQ: PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR. D
SOC 490 Senior Seminar 1 credit. A capstone course for majors emphasizing empirical research that integrates sociological theory with methods and data analysis. PREREQ: SENIOR STATUS AND SOC 206, SOC 207 AND SOC 301. S
SOC g491 Seminar 3 credits. Readings, discussion, and preparation of reports on selected topics. May be repeated for up to 6 credits. D
Social Work Courses
SOWK 271 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 272 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. PREREQ: SOC 101 OR PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR. F, S
SOWK 308 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. F
SOWK 371 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: SOWK 271 OR PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR. S
SOWK 372 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: SOWK 272 OR PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR. F
SOWK 373 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 372 OR PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR. S
SOWK 397 Workshop 1-2 credits. Workshops aimed at the development and improvement of skills. Does not satisfy requirements for a major or a minor. May be repeated. Graded S/U. D
SOWK g417 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: NURS g417, PSYC g417, SPA g417. PREREQ: PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR. S
SOWK 476-477 Social Work Field Practicum I & II 6 credits each. 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: SOWK 373 AND SOWK 372. F, S
SOWK g482 Independent Problems. Consultation course which may be repeated for maximum of 6 credits. PREREQ: 12 CREDITS IN SOCIAL WORK AND PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR. D
SOWK g491 Seminar 3 credits. Reading, discussion, and preparation of reports on selected topics. PREREQ: PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR. D
SOWK 497 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 373 OR PERMISSION OF INSTRUCTOR. F
SOWK 498 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: SOWK 497. S
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