SOCI - Sociology

SOCI 1101 Introduction to Sociology (3-0-3) 
A scientific examination of human social behavior and institutions. Basic concepts, theoretical approaches, and methods of sociology, with an emphasis on culture, socialization, social organizations, and major institutions (e.g., family, education, religion, the political order, and the economy). (Course fee required).
SOCI 1168 Social Problems (3-0-3) 
A study of modern U.S. social problems related to benefits, transformations, environmental threats and uneven development deriving from late industrial capitalism in the 21st century. Special attention will be paid to the nature of industrial capitalism as a basis for contemporary social structure, social problems, the rise of an integrated global economy, poverty and uneven development in the U.S. Problems treated will include ethnic, gender and class conflict, as well as the conditions related to criminality, poor health came, drug abuse, environmental deterioration, and lack of educational opportunities.
SOCI 2126 Introduction to Social Work and Welfare (3-0-3) 
Prerequisite: SOCI1101 with grade of C or higher. Scope, purposes, philosophy, and problems of social welfare services and the community.
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C
SOCI 3103 Sociological Theory (3-0-3) 
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101 with grade of C or higher. This course gives a broad overview of sociological theory that includes both the founders of sociology in the 19th and early 20th centuries and to the theoretical problems with which they struggled. Contemporary theorists will be presented who continue to develop answers to classical problems and who address new and perplexing issues of postmodernism such as radical relativism, queer theory, feminism and multiculturalism. It describes some of the classic concepts and debates in the field including sociocultural system, social structure, function, and conflict; stratification, class, social interaction, individual action, freedom, and determinism; institutions, bureaucracy, values and social change. It includes illustrations of how earlier theorists influence contemporary theories of ethnicity, gender, postmodernism and multiculturalism.
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C
SOCI 3105 Social Psychology (3-0-3) 
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101 with a grade of C or higher. Required for Sociology Majors. Emphasis on the interaction between the individual and the situation. Topics include conformity and non-conformity, cognitive and moral development, the role of language, and the development of the social self.
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C
SOCI 3106 Sociology of Occupations and Professions (3-0-3) 
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101 with minimum grade of C. The psychological and social implications to the individual of participation in a given occupation, the means by which occupations and professions affect societal stability and change, and the significance of professional versus nonprofessional status.
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C
SOCI 3107 African Women and Development (3-0-3) 
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101 with a grade of C or higher. Explore theoretical questions and methodological concerns about modernization and the phenomena of industrial development, the social implications of development on the status of women in African societies, and the significance of women's grassroots organizations versus government organizations.
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C
SOCI 3109 Sociology of Deviance (3-0-3) 
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101 with a grade of C or higher. Focuses on the individual who violates social and legal norms and the consequences for both the individual and the society.
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C
SOCI 3111 Social Research Methods (3-0-3) 
The scientific method and the role of theory as applicable to sociological research; quantitative methods; qualitative methods; SPSS and other appropriate data analysis tools; research design, measurement, sampling, and research ethics; research report writing.
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C
SOCI 3114 Community Engagement Techniques (3-0-3) 
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to concepts and research practices related to qualitative methodology. The course will cover survey design, interview guides, and ethnography. Students will also learn how to categorize and to interpret the qualitative data that they have collected. Students will engage with community stakeholders in the local area as they develop and conduct their research.
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C
SOCI 3117 Race and Ethnic Relations (3-0-3) 
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101 with a grade of C or higher and any Area E Social Science course. Ways in which race and ethnic factors such as religion and national origin relate to family, education, and power.
Prerequisite(s): (SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C and HIST 2111) or (SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C and HIST 2112) or (SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C and POLS 1101) or (SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C and ECON 2105) or (SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C and ECON 2106) or (SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C and PHIL 2030) or (SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C and PSYC 1101) or (SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C and ANTH 1105) or (SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C and ANTH 1107) or (SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C and ANTH 2105) or (SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C and ANTH 2136) or (SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C and ENGL 2136) or (SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C and GEOG 1101) or (SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C and HIST 1111) or (SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C and HIST 1112) or (SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C and ITDS 1156)
SOCI 3122 Social Welfare Policy (3-0-3) 
Historical and philosophical perspective of social welfare policies and services. Analytical understanding of social welfare programs, policies and issues. Designed for students interested in social and human services.
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 2126 and (SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C or SOCI 1101H with a minimum grade of C)
Restriction(s):

Enrollment limited to Junior or Senior students.

Enrollment limited to students major in Sociology.

Enrollment limited to students in the College of Letters Sciences college.

SOCI 3128 Drugs and Society (3-0-3) 
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101 with minimum grade of C. An examination of the social, psychological, and biological aspects of psychotropic drug use and abuse, with emphasis on the sociological aspects. Social aspects related to drug types and their addictive properties are also discussed. Addiction, addiction treatment, drug use prevention and various arguments related to legalization and criminal penalties are addressed.
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C
SOCI 3129 Sociology of Gender (3-0-3) 
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101 with a grade of C or higher. This course will explore the core ideas and socially constructed concepts that create male and female gender-roles in our culture. Examines how behavior associated with gender-roles have come to be defined by the influence of social institutions. Examines the biological differences and similarities between the sexes that have helped perpetuate gender-roles.
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C
SOCI 3135 Sociology of Development (3-0-3) 
Introduction to generalist social work practice in a multicultural society. Professional codes of ethics and the concepts of values, boundaries, morals, and confidentiality within social work and other human service-related occupations will be explored. Students are expected to become familiar with the ethical decision-making process. Designed for students interested in social and human services
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 3103 with a minimum grade of C
Restriction(s):

Enrollment limited to students in the BSSP02 or BSSP02_ONL programs.

SOCI 3138 Sociology of Domestic Abuse (3-0-3) 
Prerequisites: SOCI 1101 with a grade of C or better. This course will examine the various types of domestic abuse within a sociological framework. Types of interpersonal abuse presented will include child abuse (e.g., physical abuse, verbal/psychological abuse, sexual abuse, etc.), spouse abuse (e.g., physical abuse, verbal/psychological abuse, and including spousal rape), elder abuse (e.g., physical abuse, verbal/psychological abuse, exploitation and financial abuse, etc.), and rape (including date rape). Students will explore interpersonal abuse while learning about the social and cultural forces that perpetuate the abuse (e.g., cultures of violence, gender roles, rape-prone cultures and climates, etc.). Finally, students will be exposed to social policy as it relates to interpersonal abuse and a topical view of various intervention techniques being employed to reduce incidents of interpersonal abuse.
Prerequisite(s): (SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C or CRJU 1105 with a minimum grade of C)
SOCI 3145 Violence and Society (3-0-3) 
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101 with a grade of C or better. This course will investigate the many causes, consequences, and interpersonal and structural characteristics of violence and hate. Students will study not only individual acts of violence and hate, but also inter-group conflict. Topics covered include hate crimes, prejudice, serial and mass murder, genocide, mass media violence, school massacres, and international conflict. Finally, students will explore the effectiveness of individual and group interventions.
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C
SOCI 3146 Sociology of the Family (3-0-3) 
Prerequisites: SOCI 1101 with a grade of C or higher. Analysis of family life and kinship structures in the U.S. and cross-culturally; marriage, husband/wife and parent/child relations; transformations of family and kinship in industrial societies.
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C
SOCI 3147 Sociology of Pop Culture (3-0-3) 
Recent trends in American culture, focusing on traditions, practices, and products, including books, music, and film.
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C
Restriction(s):

Enrollment limited to students in the College of Letters Sciences college.

SOCI 3149 Applied Social Psychology (3-0-3) 
Examination of social and organizational systems that social psychology can address and problem-solving strategies. Examples include studying social change within small groups to larger societies, providing strategies that improve social diversity, helping society see diversity as a societal strength and not a weakness, and understanding the dynamics of small groups and effecting change using social psychological concepts and principles.
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C
Restriction(s):

Freshman or Sophomore students may not enroll.

Enrollment limited to students in the BSSP02 or BSSP02_ONL programs.

SOCI 3155 Sociology of the Life Course (3-0-3) 
Prerequisite: SOCI 3103 with a minimum grade of C. Introduction to the theories, methods, and important topics present in detail as to what is referred to as the life course paradigm. The general themes of this perspective center on the historical context, societal forces, “life domains,” and the “time dimension.”
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 3103 with a minimum grade of C
Restriction(s):

Freshman or Sophomore students may not enroll.

Enrollment limited to students in the BSSP02 or BSSP02_ONL programs.

SOCI 3156 Sociology of Aging (3-0-3) 
Prerequisite: SOCI 3103 with a minimum grade of C. The examination of age as a social construct and aging as a social process. We will also explore the effects of societal norms and social institutions on the aging experiences of individuals. Major sociological theories of aging will be examined. We will also discuss issues of age-related inequality related to social class, race, and gender inequalities. Finally, stereotypes associated with the aging process will be examined.
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 3103 with a minimum grade of C
Restriction(s):

Enrollment limited to students in the BSSP02 or BSSP02_ONL programs.

SOCI 3157 Sociology of Religion (3-0-3) 
Prerequisite: SOCI 3103 with a minimum grade of C. A study of religion as a social institution, the history of major world religions, major sociological theories associated with religion and their assumptions about religion’s use and value to society.
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 3103 with a minimum grade of C
Restriction(s):

Freshman or Sophomore students may not enroll.

Enrollment limited to students in the BSSP02 or BSSP02_ONL programs.

SOCI 3158 Sociology of Formal Organizations (3-0-3) 
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C. From the time we are born, until we die, we enter, negotiate with, and interact with formal organizations. But what do we know about these influential forces? How do organizations come about, maintain, and change? Using our sociological imagination, this course aims to provide students with the basic concepts, structures, and practices of formal organizations and bureaucracies. Students will have the opportunity to perform an in-depth case study on an organization.
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C
Restriction(s):

Freshman or Sophomore students may not enroll.

Enrollment limited to students in the BAUA09, BSSP02 or BSSP02_ONL programs.

SOCI 3165 Social Stratification and Inequality (3-0-3) 
Prerequisites: SOCI 1101 with a grade of “C” or higher. Examination of social stratification (class, estate, caste) throughout history and their intersection with social inequalities such as ethnic group, nationality, religion, gender, sexuality, or other social characteristics. Discussion will be guided by theoretical explanations of both stratification and inequality proposed by major theorists, as well as by case studies of more egalitarian solutions in the contemporary world.
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C
SOCI 3166 Urban Studies (3-0-3) 
Prerequisites: SOCI 3103 with a grade of “C” or higher. City life is composed of intersecting social, cultural, and institutional sectors that change over time. This course examines the origin of urban centers and explores how historical change spurs the development of contemporary communities. Using both macro-sociological and micro-sociological perspectives we seek to understand how institutions and formal organizations interact with symbolism, meaning, and culture to socially construct phenomenon associated with cities such as crime, art, educational innovation, and the dynamics of neighborhoods
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 3103 with a minimum grade of C
SOCI 3167 Human Sexuality and Society (3-0-3) 
Prerequisites: SOCI 1101 with a grade of “C” or higher. Study of the sociological and anatomical aspects of human sexuality. Examines sexual responsibility, sexual values, sexual practices and techniques, contraceptives, sexually transmitted diseases, deviant sexual practices, sexual dysfunctions and laws pertaining to sexual conduct.
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C
SOCI 3168 Rural Sociology (3-0-3) 
Prerequisites: SOCI 1101 with a grade of “C” or higher. Introduction to the sociological significance of rurality in the U.S. and other regions. This will be done by exploring conceptual perspectives and methodologies applied to major areas in rural sociology, such as, community development, agriculture/farming systems, environmental issues, rural crime, and health disparities among various population segments. Rural development policies, civic organizations, and household survival strategies will be explored to assess their contribution to rural viability.
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C
SOCI 3175 Sociology of Health and Illness (3-0-3) 
Prerequisites: SOCI 1101 with a grade of “C” or higher. This course explores the sociocultural definitions and responses to illness; organization of health and medical institutions; social epidemiology of disease; changing doctor-patient relationships; inequality and the distribution of health care; and emphasis on sociocultural and environmental factors influencing health and illness.
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C
SOCI 3176 Sociology of Homelessness (3-0-3) 
Prerequisites: SOCI 1101 with a grade of “C” or higher. Examination of the human tragedy of homelessness as well as the social, political and economic causes of homelessness in the United States. Introduction to theories about the causes of homelessness, conflicting priorities about who most needs help, which needs are most pressing, and the inconclusive evidence about what works.
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C
SOCI 3225 Model African Union (3-0-3) 
Prerequisites: SOCI 3103 with a grade of “C” or higher. This course introduces students to the academic discussion about contemporary African issues through research and simulation exercises using the African Union (AU) organization as a model. The course includes not only theoretical analysis of the AU system, its functions, and current missions, but also offers students practical experience in debate, and simulation of the AU approach to contemporary issues of global significance, such as, disease outbreak, hunger, war/terrorism and violence against women.
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 3103 with a minimum grade of C
SOCI 3508 Selected Topics in Sociology (3-0-3) 
Prerequisite: SOCI 1101 with a grade of "C" or better. Various topics on sociological themes. May be repeated for credit with consent of the instructor and if not the same topic.
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 1101 with a minimum grade of C
SOCI 4113 Social Services and Mental Health (3-0-3) 
This course aims to develop the student's knowledge and skills to enhance the student’s ability to engage in clinical social work practice with individuals who have moderate to severe mental illness, their families, and other systems with which they are involved. It will contribute to the student’s knowledge of the historical background, legislation, and policies that inform practice in today's mental health/behavioral health environment and describe theories, the process of biopsychosocial assessment, and methods of practice. Cultural competence, gender issues and needs of aging adults will be emphasized throughout the course.
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 2126 with a minimum grade of C
Restriction(s):

Enrollment limited to Junior or Senior students.

Enrollment limited to students major in Sociology.

SOCI 4114 Social Work Practice (3-0-3) 
Students will learn a variety of direct practice skills in this course. Some of these skills include: basic interviewing skills, listening skills, rapport building, learning to engage individuals, families and groups at different stages and levels of intervention. In addition, students will learn skills to develop appropriate goals for interventions and be able to differentiate between behavioral, psychological and environmental goals.
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 2126 with a minimum grade of C
Restriction(s):

Enrollment limited to Junior or Senior students.

Enrollment limited to students major in Sociology.

Enrollment limited to students in the College of Letters Sciences college.

SOCI 4698 Sociology Internship (0-0-(3-6)) 
Practical, supervised experience in the field with an approved agency or company and selected seminars in the student's area of interest. Sociology majors may earn up to 6 credit hours.
Restriction(s):

Enrollment limited to Senior students.

Enrollment limited to students major in Sociology.

Enrollment limited to students in the College of Letters Sciences or Department Prerequisite colleges.

SOCI 4796 Sociology Capstone (3-0-3) 
This course represents the culmination of your sociological learning experience at Columbus State University. Participation in this course will enhance your knowledge of sociological concepts and terms as well as the sociological research process while allowing you to put those learned skills and knowledge into practice. Students will also be required to take the ETS subject exam in Sociology (i.e., exit exam) which serves as an assessment tool for the sociology program. (S/U grading).
Prerequisite(s): SOCI 3103 with a minimum grade of C and SOCI 3111 with a minimum grade of C
Restriction(s):

Enrollment limited to Senior students.