Sociology Courses, Radford University

Course Rotation

SOCY 110. Introduction to Sociology. (3) Three hours lecture. This course introduces basic concepts and methods of sociology. It presents significant research and theory in areas such as culture, social structure, socialization, deviance, social stratification and social institutions.

SOCY 120. Sociological Analysis. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisite: SOCY 110. Intended as a prerequisite for the theory and methods course for the sociology major. Emphasis is placed on developing students' ability to understand and research social phenomena using the three primary theoretical paradigms in sociology, with the goal of developing and enhancing students' analytical and critical thinking skills.

SOCY 210. Social Problems. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisite: SOCY 110. An analysis of problems such as crime and delinquency, overpopulation, social inequality and poverty and minority oppression is the focus of this course.

SOCY 250. Social Inequality. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisite: SOCY 110. This course examines the dimensions, theories and distribution of inequality in the United States and worldwide. Particular attention is paid to the effects of inequality on the life chances of rich and poor, men and women, dominant and subordinate groups alike.

SOCY 265. Society and the Individual. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisite: SOCY 110. Designed to introduce students to sociological social psychology using a symbolic interactionist viewpoint. Approached this way, students will explore the symbolic nature of communication, the emergence of the self and our role in the creation and maintenance of our social skills.

SOCY 289. Sociology of the Family. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisite: SOCY 110. Examines family as a social institution. Includes sociological overview of modern family in its diverse forms and its relationship to economy, government, and stratification systems of gender, race, and class.

SOCY 320. Sociology of Aging. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisites: SOCY 110 and junior or senior standing, or 6 hours of sociology. This course provides an introduction to the sociological study of aging with emphasis on the normal aspects of aging, theories of aging and historical and demographic trends in aging. The focus is aging within the American social structure.

SOCY 326. Men and Women in Society. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisite: SOCY 110. Examines differential access to positions of public power and authory for women and men, structural determinants of major social institutions in shaping gender roles and effects of gender roles on institutions. Student can not receive credit for SOCY 226 and SOCY 326.

SOCY 331. Race and Ethnic Relations. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisites: SOCY 110 and SOCY 250, or SOCY 110 and permission of instructor. The effects of discrimination on groups such as Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans, and gays and lesbians are examined as well as the social policy questions relevant to dominant group and minority relations.

SOCY 334. Population Trends and Analysis. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisites: SOCY 110 and junior or senior standing, or 6 hours of sociology. The central emphasis of this course is the causes and consequences of population trends in the United States and the world. The use of demographic data and analysis for decision-making in business and government will also be examined.

SOCY 337. Political Sociology. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisites: SOCY 110 and junior or senior standing, or 6 hours of sociology. This course provides an overview of American political processes: individual political participation, political movements, influence groups, community power studies, and theories of political power at the national level.

SOCY 339. Urban Sociology. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisites: SOCY 110 and junior or senior standing, or 6 hours of sociology. The first third of this course examines the development and social organization of contemporary urban areas, including both central cities and suburbs. The remainder of the semester will be devoted to the problems and policy choices facing American urban areas in regard to housing, public services, education, transportation, finances, and government organization.

SOCY 340. Classical Sociological Theory. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisites: SOCY 110; SOCY 120; SOCY 210 or SOCY 250; minimum sophomore standing. This course surveys the classical theories which form the basis of sociology. It provides, also, an overview of the development of sociology as a science.

SOCY 341. Sociology of Health and Medicine. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisites: SOCY 110 and junior or senior standing, or 6 hours of sociology. This course covers the health professional-patient relationship, relationships between health professionals, the nature of care in different health facilities, social and environmental causes of illness, death and dying, and the general quality of health car and delivery in American society.

SOCY 350. Criminology. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisites: SOCY 110 and junior or senior standing, or 6 hours of sociology. This course is an introduction to the study of crime and society's attempts to control criminal conduct. It analyzes the major types of criminal conduct, explanations of criminal behavior and the role of the police, courts, and correctional agencies in controlling crime.

SOCY 361. Work, Organizations, and Society. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisites: SOCY 110 and junior or senior standing, or 6 hours of sociology. This course examines a wide variety of white- and blue-collar occupations and the impact of organizational structure on work and workers.

SOCY 370. Environmental Sociology (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisites: SOCY 110 and junior or senior standing. This course examines sociological issues relating to individuals, society and the natural environment. It focuses on a range of environmental problems utilizing an historical and comparative approach in assessing societal changes and their impact on nature as well as attitudinal differences toward the environment from multi-cultural perspectives.

SOCY 380. Introduction to Social Research Methods. (4) Three hours lecture, one hour laboratory. Prerequisites: SOCY 120; STAT 200 or equivalent. This course provides an introduction to basic procedures and techniques used in social research. Emphasis is placed on measuring instruments, as well as major methods and designs employed in social research.

SOCY 390. Sociology of Sport. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisites: SOCY 110 and junior or senior standing, or 6 hours of sociology. Sociological theories are utilized to understand the significance of sport as a social institution. Issues such as sport and socialization, the social organization of sport, sport and social stratification, and the relationship of sport to other institutions are discussed.

SOCY 422. Sociology of Death and Dying. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisite: SOCY 110. A study of the social construction of the meaning of death and of the dying process. Includes a review of the demographics and social institutions involved and a critical examination of current social issues of death and dying.

SOCY 430. Twentieth-Century Social Movements. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisites: SOCY 110 and junior or senior standing, or 6 hours of sociology. Social movements are examined from a sociological perspective, with an emphasis on the social structural origins of collective events, their emergence, decline and effects on social policy.

SOCY 433. Rural Sociology. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing and 6 hours of sociology. This course is the study of rural society including its organization, rural people and their activities. The focus is on historical background, recent developments and significant current and future trends.

SOCY 441. Global Inequalities. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisite: SOCY 110, SOCY 250 or junior/senior standing with permission of instructor. Focuses on the social, economic, and political factors that shape unequal life chances between and within nations. Theories of development, the role of developed nations, evidence of various types of inequalities, and possible ways to address the global inequalities -- including specific projects that have been successful -- will be examined. The role of international treaties, of various international and multinational commissions, and of non-governmental agencies will be given particular attention.

SOCY 443. Deviance. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisites: SOCY 110 and junior or senior standing, or 6 hours of sociology. This course explores major sociological theories of deviance and examines the socio-political dynamics surrounding definitions of "morality," "normalcy" and goodness in societies. Particular attention is given to sociological approaches to "mental illness," drug/alcohol use and sexuality.

SOCY 444. Juvenile Delinquency. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing and 6 hours of sociology. This course examines felony and status offenses among juveniles and focuses on theories dealing with the impact of school, family and various subcultures on socializing youth. The differential handling of youthful offenders is also covered. Credit for SOCY 444 will not be granted after a student has received credit for CRJU 410, Juvenile Justice, or the equivalent course.

SOCY 446. Social Change. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisites: SOCY 110 and junior or senior standing, or 6 hours of sociology. Large-scale historical social change of societies is examined in regard to: the problem of definition and measurement of social change, major theoretical approaches to change and selected factors which cause change. Particular emphasis is placed on contemporary trends in industrial societies and the social problems associated with third world modernization.

SOCY 450. Contemporary Sociological Theory. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisites: SOCY 110, SOCY 340 and junior or senior standing. Surveys a variety of contemporary sociological theories and provides an overview of the critical differences in their assumptions and focus.

SOCY 457. Law and Social Injustice. Three hours lecture. (3) Prerequisites: SOCY 110 and junior or senior standing, or 6 hours of sociology. Familiarizes students with the current theories relating to the creation and enforcement of laws. It analyzes the political, economic, and social forces that influence the creation and administration of laws.

SOCY 471. Society and Film. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisite: SOCY 110 and consent of instructor. An examination of the social and cultural importance of film. The central focus will be on analyzing cinematic treatment of such things as gender, race, class, marriage and the family, and the impact of social change.

SOCY 480. Survey Research Methods. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisites: SOCY 110; SOCY 340 or equivalent ANTH or SOWK course; SOCY 380; junior or senior standing. This course covers the construction of an instrument, sampling design and methods of analysis and interpretation of data. It acquaints students with the use of computers for social science research. Students gain a hands-on experience with design and completion of survey research that is valuable for any student entering a career requiring familiarity with the basis of social survey research.

SOCY 484. Sociology of Education. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisites: Junior or senior standing; 6 hours of sociology, or SOCY 110 and EDUC 309. This course examines the social forces related to schooling and learning. Emphasis is placed on socialization and cultural transmission, teacher and student roles, informal networks in the school system and schools as bureaucratic institutions. The course also examines the application of sociological principles to the study of schooling and the examination of alternative educational movements.

SOCY 485. Organizational Research. (3) Covers how social organizations collect, analyze, and disseminate data to support planning, evaluation, and management. Students gain hands-on experience with the use of computers for social science research, analysis of data from at least two types of organizational databases, and the creation and presentation of reports for at least two target audiences.

SOCY 488H. Honors Thesis. (3) Prerequisites: Enrollment in the Honors Program, completion of all other Honors Program requirements, a minimum 3.5 GPA in all courses and in sociology and anthropology. The student conducts research and writes a thesis for a bachelor's degree with honors in sociology. In order to receive honors credit, the student must receive an grade of "A" or "B" for the thesis. This course may not be repeated.

SOCY 495. Topical Seminar in Sociology. (3,3) Three hours seminar. Prerequisites: 20 hours in sociology and a minimum 2.5 GPA for all sociology courses, or permission of instructor. The seminar offers reading and/or research orientation in a specialized area selected by departmental staff. It may be taken for a total of six hours credit when topics differ.

SOCY 497. Senior Seminar in Sociology. (3) Three hours seminar. Prerequisites: Senior standing. Serves as the capstone experience for sociology majors. Students will learn to market their skills, explore opportunities, and prepare for entry into the workplace.

SOCY 498. Independent Study. (1-6)

SOCY 499. Internship. (3-12) Prerequisites: Students must complete 12 hours of sociology and have permission of the department chair. Students must get approval of the department on the proposed program and agency in the semester preceding that in which the internship is anticipated. The course may carry three to twelve hours credit a semester and may be repeated to a maximum of twelve hours credit. Only three credit hours may be counted toward the sociology major. Offered as required. If you have questions about internships, please contact Dr. Mekolichick.