Professors: Aho, Bryan, Sarraf

Associate Professor: Cowles, Cutchen, Oakes

Assistant Professors: Brackenridge, Durham

Adjunct Faculty: Leman, Phoenix, Vick

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 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 g482.

Sixteen (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)
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 objectives of the social work program are:

1. Preparation of students for beginning generalist social work practice with individuals, families, small groups, organizations and communities.
2. Preparation of students to develop an identity which will incorporate the values, principles and ethics of the social work profession.
3. Preparation of students as beginning social work generalists who link social research and social work practice.
4. Preparation of students for lifelong learning and critical thinking through an educational process combining a liberal arts foundation and professional foundation.
5. Preparation of students to work with diverse, vulnerable, oppressed and disadvantaged populations.

Major in Social Work

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 143 (College Algebra) and MATH 253 (Introduction to Statistics);
Goal 4: BIOL 100 (Concepts Biology: Human Concerns);
Goal 11: ECON 100 (Economic Issues);
Goal 12: PSYC 101 (Introduction to Psychology).

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 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. Upper division courses are those numbered 300-400.

Social Work Electives Include:
 
 

SOWK g482	Independent Problems	6 cr
SOWK g491	Seminar	3 cr

 

Admission to Social Work Program
Application for admission to the Social Work Program is required of all students desiring to progress toward a social work major. Students apply for admission to the major at the completion of the sophomore year or after completing SOWK 271 and SOWK 272.

The first two years of college are spent in a pre-professional program of coursework in the twelve general education goals. Current Idaho State University students may apply for admission to the major during the second semester of their sophomore year (no later than October 1 for spring admission and February 15 for fall admission). Transfer students must submit a copy of all transcripts completed at other colleges or universities other than Idaho State University to the program admissions committee by February 15 for fall admission and October for spring admission.

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

1. Completion of a minimum of 61 credit hours with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 for that semester at the time of application;
2. Completion of the following goals or departmental requirements: Goals 1, 3, 4, 11 and 12 and SOC 248;
3. Maintenance of the 2.5 minimum GPA from the time of application until the semester of admission to the major;
4. Completion of SOWK 271 and SOWK 272 with a minimum grade of "C" in each course;
5. Completion of a Declaration of Major form including the name of assigned advisor;
6. Submission of a written application to the Social Work Admissions Committee.

All social work majors are required to meet the above standards before they may enroll in upper division social work courses (those numbered 300 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 400 Level Courses
Admission to the senior field courses (SOWK 476-477) is contingent upon completion of the following:

1. Completion of SOWK 308, SOWK 371, SOWK 372 and SOC 207 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.

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:

1. Students enrolled in Option A who have certificates in law enforcement from the ISU School of Applied 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.

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: SOC 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. 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. PREREQ: ADMISSION TO MAJOR. 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: ADMISSION TO MAJOR. 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: ADMISSION TO MAJOR. 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: ADMISSION TO MAJOR. 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: ADMISSION TO SENIOR PRACTICUM. 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: ADMISSION TO SENIOR LEVEL. 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: ADMISSION TO SENIOR LEVEL. S

IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY