A major in sociology consists of ten courses (29 hours) including SOC 101 (prerequisite
to all 300 and 400 level Sociology courses), 301, 302, 304 (4 credits), 404a, and 404 b, as well
as one additional elective. In addition, one course must be taken from each of the following
three:

1. Problems: (SOC 180, 210, 295, 310, 313, 315)
2. Structures: (SOC 320, 321, 325, 330, 335, 340)
3. Special Areas: ( SOC 390, 395, 490, ANT 201, CRJ 260)

At least 15 hours toward the major must come from courses numbered above
300.

A minor in sociology consists of a minimum of 15 hours, including SOC 101, 301,
and 304.

A minor in anthropology consists of a minimum of 15 hours, including ANT 201
and 12 additional hours in Anthropology, six of which must number 300 or above.

The minor in criminal justice consists of 15 credit hours, including SOC 101, CRJ 260, CRJ 490 (for 3 credit hours only), and 2 300-level Criminal Justice courses. With permission of the chair, SOC 313 may be taken in place of one of the two 300-level CRJ electives in the minor.

Majors may qualify for Departmental Honors in sociology by qualifying for membership
in Alpha Kappa Delta, the International Sociology Honor Society.

Read CRJ Individualized Major Requirements link. Checklist for CRJ major.

101. Introductory Sociology (3 hours)
A survey of the basic concepts, theories, methods, and research associated with the
sociological analysis of society. Emphasis will be placed on the study of major forms
of human association and interaction, as well as the social structures and processes
that affect the individual. Laboratory activities complement classroom instruction.

210. Social Problems (3 hours)
An examination of the principal causes, consequences, and solutions of major societal
problems from a sociological perspective. The emphasis on specific social
problems may vary, but attention will be given to such contemporary issues as social
class inequities, discrimination, poverty, violence, deviance, social justice, population
trends, technology, and change.

295. Ethnic Minorities (3 hours)
(Same as AFR 295)
Prerequisite: One semester of FYS or the equivalent.
This course is designed to introduce students to the multiplicity of ethnic groups that
make up the American Mosaic. Students will examine the consequences of the social
inequalities manifest among ethnic minorities through a historically grounded comparative
analysis of the variety and evolution of majority-minority relations in the United States.
The course will investigate a number of current theories that examine the basis for these
differences.

301. Classical Sociological Theory (3 hours)
This first course in a two-course sequence in sociological theory introduces students
to the masters of sociological thought. It focuses on the influence of eighteenth and
nineteenth century thinkers on the classical formulation of sociology's primary concerns
and traditions.

302. Contemporary Sociological Theory (3 hours)
Prerequisite: SOC 301.
The second of two theory courses, this course emphasizes contemporary sociology
focusing on Parsons' Action Theory, Neo-functionalism, the Frankfurt School and
Analytical Conflict Theory, Symbolic Interactionism, and alternative systems models.

304. Introduction to Social Science Research Methods (4 hours)
Prerequisite: SOC 101; MAT 226 is recommended.
In this course students are introduced to fundamental ideas and methods of social
science research, including the link between theory and research, the evaluation of
research literature, the basics of research design, and the principal elements of surveys,
experiments, and field research. Students will complete laboratory exercises
in these areas and will learn basic descriptive statistics through the use of a standard
statistical analysis program (e.g. SPSS).

310. Social Work (3 hours)
An historical and philosophical examination of social welfare services and social
work practice. Attention is given to the societal and value context in which the
American social welfare system evolved and to the development of social work as
a profession.

313. Social Deviance (3 hours)
A study of the social boundaries that separate normal behavior from deviant
behavior. This includes historical shifts in definitions of deviance, the social function
of deviance, the influence of "moral entrepreneurs'' and powerful groups in defining
and enforcing deviance, and social efforts to minimize deviant behavior. Attention is
also given to "ambiguous deviance'' and the medicalization of deviance in American
society.

315. Social Gerontology (3 hours)
A study of the biological, psychological, and sociological aspects of aging and the
aged population in contemporary society. Special attention will be given to the
economic, political, and social problems of the aged.

320. Social Interaction (3 hours)
The sociological study of the patterns and modes of social interaction conditioned by
group membership; an analysis of the emergence of groups and the basis of their formation
and function; and an exploration of implications of contacts between groups.
The types of relations between groups and the reactions of groups and individuals in
the group to social interaction are studied.

321. Global Social Inequality (3 hours)
This course deals with the nature and impact of economic, political, and status differences in modern societies. It examines theories of dependency, modernization, neo-colonialism, and cultural and civilizational clash. It is centrally concerned with the nature, distribution, and consequences of unequal wealth and power for social cohesion and stability at the individual and societal levels.

323. Medical Sociology (3 hours)
Prerequisite: SOC 101
This course describes and contrasts the Functionalist, Conflict, and Symbolic Interactionist
models of health and sickness. It traces the historical development of "illness"
definitions as ways of defining, managing, and controlling behavior. Included
in the course are discussions of medical "gatekeeping", bioethical issues in medical
decision-making, the formulation of national health care policy, and the organization
of health care delivery systems.

325. Urban Ecology (3 hours)
The focus of "urban ecology'' is the synergistic relationship between people and the
urban environment (social, physical and institutional), to include the essential bond
between human and natural environments. It includes the study of the historical development
of cities, current urbanization trends and impacts, the critical role of he local
community in the development of human relations and institutions, community leadership
and organization, and the relationship of the urban and naturall environment.

326. The Sociology of Language, Culture and Communication (3 hours)
The sociological study of language and communication with attention given to language
as the organ or medium for comprehending reality; semantics and the problem
of meaning; the relation between language and the cultural history of a people.

334. The Family (3 hours)
A study of family structure and functions including the changing role of the family in
history; the economic, biological, and psychological aspects of the contemporary
American family; and family disorganization and reorganization.

340. Sociology of Religion (3 hours)
A study of religion in American society from the standpoint of its relationship to the
economic, political, and cultural life of the people.

366. Law and Society (3 hours)
(Same as SOC 366)
This course studies the moral and cultural values which shape our legal system and the pervasive impact of that system on our society and culture. Through an in-depth examination of the most controversial legal-societal issues of the day, the course will illuminate the evolving role and interaction of the public, the judiciary, and the legislature in defining and enforcing social norms, thus shaping the American social and cultural landscape.

390. Special Topics in Sociology (3 hours)
A study of some significant topic in anthropology, sociology or criminl justice (under specific program description in the Bulletin) that is not available through other departmental course offerings.

395. Supervised Independent Reading and Research (3 hours)
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor and chair.
Intensive reading of selected works on some sociological topic or directed research on
a sociological problem involving the collection of original data. May not be repeated.

404a. Empirical Project I (2 hours)
Prerequisite: SOC 304.
Using the knowledge and skills acquired in SOC 304, students will develop an
acceptable proposal for an empirical project on a sociological topic. Additional training
in inferential statistics using a standard statistical analysis program (e.g. SPSS)
will be provided.

404b. Empirical Project II (2 hours)
Prerequisite: SOC 404a.
Students will implement and complete the project proposed in SOC 404a. Additional
training in inferential statistics using a standard statistical analysis program (e.g. SPSS)
will be provided. Students will produce written reports of their project and will report
their results at an academically recognized public forum (e.g. Georgia Sociological
Association meetings, Mercer University's Undergraduate Research Symposium, or
the Southeastern Undergraduate Sociological Association meetings at Emory/UGA).

490. Internship (4 hours)
Students will be required to complete a minimum of 12 hours in sociology, including Soc. 101, 210, 301, and at least one other 300 level sociology course before applying for an internship in sociology. Students must achieve a 2.50 g.p.a. (overall in sociology) before commencing this field experience.