Sociology Courses, Radford University

Course Rotation

SOCY110. 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. This course has been approved for credit in the Social/Behavioral Studies and U. S. Perspectives Areas of the Core Curriculum.

SOCY 121. Understanding Cultures. (3) Three hours lecture. Introduction to the ways anthropologists view human behavior and the methods they use. Cultures past and present and around the world explored to study diverse adaptations humans have made. This course has been approved for credit in the Social/Behavioral Studies and Global Perspectives Areas of the Core Curriculum. This course may be used to meet the requirements for the minor in International Studies.

SOCY 210. Social Problems. (3) Three hours lecture. 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 or SOCY 121. 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 301. Culture Change and Globalization. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisite: SOCY 110, or SOCY 121, or permission of instructor. Examination of social science theories on the processes of culture change, including globalization and the changes it brings to societies around the world.

SOCY 326. Men and Women in Society. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisite: SOCY 110 or SOCY 121. Examines differential access to positions of public power and authority for women and men, structural determinants of major social institutions in shaping gender roles and effects of gender roles on institutions.

SOCY 331. Race and Ethnic Relations. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisite: SOCY 110 or SOCY 121. 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 333. Social and Cultural Diversity. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisite: SOCY 110, or SOCY 121, or permission of instructor. Provides, through lecture, discussion, and experiential exercises, an understanding of diverse cultures in the United States. Emphasis will be on developing the knowledge, attitudes and skills necessary for full participation in a diverse workplace and a diverse society. This course may be used to meet requirements for the minor in Women's Studies.

SOCY 341. Sociology of Health and Medicine. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisite: SOCY 110 or SOCY 121. 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 360. Sociological Theory. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisite: SOCY 110 or SOCY 121. Surveys a variety of sociological theories and provides an overview of the critical differences in their assumptions and foci.

SOCY 361. Work, Organizations, and Society. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisite: SOCY 110 or SOCY 121. This course examines a wide variety of white- and blue-collar occupations and the impact of organizational structure on work and workers.

SOCY 365. Society and the Individual. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisite: SOCY 110 or SOCY 121. 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 370. Environmental Sociology. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisite: SOCY 110 or SOCY 121. 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 110 or SOCY 121; 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 389. Sociology of the Family. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisite: SOCY 110 or SOCY 121. 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 390. Sociology of Sport. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisite: SOCY 110 or SOCY 121. 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 411. Appalachian Cultures. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisite: APST 200, or SOCY 110, or SOCY 121, or permission of instructor. Contemporary Appalachian culture; social science explanations of regional culture explored; causes and repercussions of culture change in Appalachia examined. This course may be used to meet requirements for the minor in Appalachian Studies.

SOCY 421. Religious Patterns in Culture. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisite: SOCY 110, or SOCY 121, or permission of instructor. Study of social science theories of magic, witchcraft, and religion. Discusses the impact religious ideology has on other aspects of culture. Includes primitive and modern religions as examples.

SOCY 430. Twentieth-Century Social Movements. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisite: SOCY 110 or SOCY 121. 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. Prerequisite: SOCY 110 or SOCY 121. 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 435. Native American Cultures. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisite: SOCY 110, or SOCY 121, or permission of instructor. Study of these cultures as they existed prior to and at the time of European contact and as they exist today.

SOCY 441. Global Inequalities. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisite: SOCY 110 or SOCY 121. 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. Prerequisite: SOCY 110 or SOCY 121. 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 471. Society and Film. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisite: SOCY 110 or SOCY 121. 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 475. Ecology, Economy, and Culture. (3) Three hours lecture. Prerequisite: SOCY 110, or SOCY 121, or permission of instructor. Examination of sociocultural theories on economic organization and behavior, and related environmental issues, for societies around the world.. Cross-cultural study of economic diversity using cases from cultures around the world, past to present.

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 482. Practicing Ethnographic Methods. (4) Two hours lecture; two hours field. Prerequisite: SOCY 110, or SOCY 121, or permission of instructor. A research project of the student's own choosing is carried through from entree into a local cultural scene through analysis of data and writing an ethnography. The course promotes understanding ethnographic method and perspective for viewing people and situations. This course may be used to meet requirements for the minor in Appalachian Studies.

SOCY 485. Organizational Research. (3) Prerequisites: SOCY 380 or equivalent, junior or senior standing. 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 486. Community-Based Research. (3) Prerequisite: SOCY 110, or SOCY 121, or permission of instructor. Examines the ways that social science perspectives, theories, and methods are applied to help communities solve problems.

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. 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 493. Practicum in Sociology. (1-6) Field or laboratory course: variable hours per week. Prerequisite: SOCY 110, or SOCY 121, or permission of instructor. This course provides experience in all aspects of a field or laboratory research project in sociology. It is taught when field sites or laboratory work are available. It may be repeated when topics vary, for a maximum of twelve hours credit.

SOCY 495. Topical Seminar in Sociology. (3) Three hours seminar. Prerequisite: SOCY 110 or SOCY 121, 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. Prerequisite: 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.