Department of Sociology
The Sociology Department seeks to enhance one’s understanding of human societies, including such aspects as social institutions, cultures, social problems and social change.
Students who desire to study the criminal justice system or the social service field may pursue a bachelor of arts degree with a major in either criminal justice or sociology. Students who major in criminal justice will be prepared for careers in the criminal justice field as well as for entry into graduate programs in criminal justice. Students who study sociology will be prepared for careers in the social service field as well as for graduate study in sociology.
Criminal Justice
Students who choose criminal justice as a major for the bachelor of arts degree complete CJ 105, 111, 112, 321, 345, 346, 380, 480, 495 (three hours); PS 111; SW 236; and two courses from CJ 215, 322, 334, PS 346, 456, PY 211, 215, 351, 461, SO 321, 333, and 413. The following specific core requirements are necessary in order to fulfill prerequisites to courses required in the major: MA 151, PY 111, and SO 111.
The minor in criminal justice requires CJ 105, 111, and 345; and nine additional hours from criminal justice courses.
Sociology
Students who choose sociology as a major for the bachelor of arts degree complete SO 111, 380, 480, 481, 485, 490 or 495; and 21 additional hours in sociology, which may include PY 221 and SW 236. Sociology majors may not count SO 141 toward the core social science requirement. The following specific core requirement is necessary in order to fulfill prerequisites to courses required in the major: MA 151.
The minor in sociology requires SO 111, 485; and 12 additional hours in sociology.
For information about requirements for Indiana teacher licensing in sociology, refer to the section on social studies teacher licensing.
Urban Studies Minor
Students who choose urban studies as a minor complete 18 hours of study, including SO 111, 321, 351, 413, and 6 hours from CJ/SO 345, MI 233CO, 233UM, 321, 376, 377, PY 461, SO 333, 421, 495, and SW 236.
Cyber Security Minor and Cyber Security Management Minor
Students interested in adding a cyber security minor or a cyber security management minor may refer to the description in the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science.
Forensic Accounting Minor
Students interested in adding a forensic accounting minor may refer to the description in the Department of Business.
Forensic Science Minor
Students interested in adding a forensic science minor may refer to the description in the Department of Biology.
Courses in Criminal Justice
Survey of the fields of criminal law and criminal procedure, civil law and civil procedure, torts, business and contract law, property and constitutional law. Attention is given to preparation for law school and aspects of the legal profession.
Identical with PS 105.
This course will provide an overview and analysis of the U.S. criminal justice system, including the roles of law enforcement, the court system and the corrections system.
Topics in this course will include the history and philosophy of corrections, various types of corrections and their strengths and limitations and current trends in corrections.
Fundamentals of Law Enforcement introduces fundamental concepts in regards to the operations and organization of police departments along with basic knowledge in key areas of policing, such as recruitment, interviewing for a police job, traffic stops, crash investigations, force continuum, and proactive community policing strategies.
Prerequisite: Criminal justice major or minor
This course will focus on the elements and techniques of criminal investigations, including crime scene examination, collection and preservation of evidence, questioning of suspects and other information and witness gathering procedures.
Prerequisite: CJ 111
This course deals with the methods of collecting forensic evidence, techniques for the proper analysis and documentation of that evidence, and use of forensic evidence in criminal trials.
Prerequisite: CJ 111
This course is designed to familiarize students entering the criminal justice field with the ethical considerations associated with the industry. Students will engage in a discussion-driven course that presents past, present, and future ethical concerns within the criminal justice system.
Prerequisite: CJ 111
This course examines theoretical explanations of crime, the distribution of crime within the U.S. population, legal definitions of crime and victimology.
Identical with SO 345.
Prerequisites: SO 111 and criminal justice major or minor or sociology major or minor
This course will examine the history of juvenile justice in the U.S., current trends in juvenile justice, differences between the adult and juvenile justice systems as well as the rationales for those differences and developmental issues that are particularly relevant in understanding juvenile delinquency.
Prerequisite: CJ 111
Introduces behavioral science research as a scientific process. Students become familiar with the basics of empirical research design, descriptive and basic inferential data analysis techniques and interpretation, measurement considerations, empirical journal articles, APA style scholarly writing and ethical issues in research. Students analyze and interpret data and write APA style reports. Students also develop basic skills in analyzing data using statistical analysis software.
Identical with CO 380, PY 380 and SO 380.
Prerequisites: PY 111 or SO 111, and successful completion of MA 151
Practicum in some aspect of criminal justice designed to give student practical, directed experience.
Prerequisite: Consent
A continuation of the 380 course, though additional focus is placed on the execution and dissemination of behavioral science research. Topics include empirical research design and statistical data analysis, analysis and critique of empirical research, implications of research results and writing in APA style. Students plan, conduct, analyze and present a research project during the course, and they further develop skills in analyzing data using statistical analysis software.
Identical with CO 480, PY 480, and SO 480.
Prerequisite: CJ 380
The study of a problem, a research paper or a project related to the criminal justice major.
Prerequisite: Consent
Full-time involvement in a field situation of criminal justice maintaining close cooperation with the supervisory personnel in the selected field. An in-depth paper will be submitted.
Prerequisite: Consent
Courses in Sociology
Basic concepts, theories, methods and principles of sociology. Topics will include social institutions, the dynamics of change and the diverse behavior of people in different parts of the world.
This course will focus on the perspectives and terminology of the field of cultural anthropology, including the development of culture, similarities and differences among various cultures and processes of change.
This course examines the various political, economic, cultural and environmental factors that are critical to sustaining healthy, vibrant communities. Healthy communities facilitate "persistence in place" and promote the long-term stability of human populations. Through various case studies, students will explore factors that result in community deterioration and ultimately, dispersal of human populations. This course is intended to develop practical skills and academic competencies for further academic and professional work in international affairs, immigrant and refugee studies and community development.
Identical with PS 171.
Students observe the daily routines and activities of employed professionals and see how skills and knowledge acquired in class are applied in the sociology field.
Prerequisite: Consent
A study of the family as a social institution. The life cycle of the family will be analyzed, including dating, marriage, child rearing and later life. Family problems and the impact of social change will also be considered.
Practicum in some aspect of sociology designed to give student practical, directed experience.
Prerequisite: Consent
This course will explore the social aspects of aging. Role changes associated with aging, the impact of those changes, social responses to the elderly and issues of death and dying will be considered.
Prerequisite: SO 111
The focus of this course is intergroup relations of a dominant-minority character. The majority-minority relations in many societies are examined with emphasis on American patterns. The goal is to identify the universal behavior patterns and basic concepts in the study of majority-minority relations.
Identical with SW 321.
Prerequisite: SO 111
A study of the ideology, function and structure of the public and private auspices by which societies seek to assure the well being of their members, historically and currently. American society is the primary focus, accompanied by ongoing global comparisons. Key topics include poverty, oppression, health care, education and families.
Identical with SW 333.
Prerequisite: SO 111
This course considers the contributions of psychology and sociology to the understanding of religion, which is studied both as an individual experience and as a social institution. The influence of personality factors and social variables on religious behavior will be considered. Topics will include stages of faith development, conversion, mysticism, charismatic experience, cults and the influence of social class on religion.
Identical with PY 341.
Prerequisite: PY 111 or SO 111
This course examines theoretical explanations of crime, the distribution of crime within the U.S. population, legal definitions of crime and victimology.
Identical with CJ 345.
Prerequisites: SO 111 and criminal justice major or minor or sociology major or minor
A study of how the thoughts, feelings and behavior of individuals are influenced by others. Topics include attitude formation and change, prejudice, conformity, leadership, interpersonal attraction, prosocial behavior and cooperation/competition.
Identical with PY 351.
Prerequisites: PY 111 or SO 111 and sophomore standing at time of registration
Introduces behavioral science research as a scientific process. Students become familiar with the basics of empirical research design, descriptive and basic inferential data analysis techniques and interpretation, measurement considerations, empirical journal articles, APA style scholarly writing and ethical issues in research. Students analyze and interpret data and write APA style reports. Students also develop basic skills in analyzing data using statistical analysis software.
Identical with CJ 380, CO 380 and PY 380.
Prerequisites: PY 111 or SO 111, and successful completion of MA 151
Practicum in some aspect of sociology designed to give student practical, directed experience.
Prerequisite: Consent
This course examines the process of urbanization in the U.S. as well as in other societies. Urban life styles and the social changes and problems associated with urbanization will also be explored.
Identical with EB 413.
Prerequisite: SO 111
This course will examine the trends and changes in world population, its composition and distribution, population movements, issues involving quality of life and approaches used by various nations in dealing with population problems.
Identical with EB 421.
Prerequisite: SO 111
A continuation of the 380 course, though additional focus is placed on the execution and dissemination of behavioral science research. Topics include empirical research design and statistical data analysis, analysis and critique of empirical research, implications of research results and writing in APA style. Students plan, conduct, analyze and present a research project during the course, and they further develop skills in analyzing data using statistical analysis software.
Identical with CJ 480, CO 480, and PY 480.
Prerequisite: SO 380
This course is aimed at summarizing and integrating the learning that has occurred in the sociology major. Trends and developments in the field will be discussed. Each student will complete a scholarly faith integration paper.
Prerequisites: Sociology major and sophomore standing at time of registration
The focus of this course is on the development of sociological theory from the founding of sociology as a discipline until the present time. Current trends and issues in sociological theory will be considered in some detail.
Prerequisite: SO 111
The study of a problem, a research paper or a project related to the sociology major.
Prerequisite: Consent
Full-time involvement in a field situation of sociology or social work maintaining close cooperation with the supervisory personnel in the selected field. An in-depth paper will be submitted.
Prerequisite: Consent