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2024-25 Academic Catalog

SOCI Course Descriptions

Table of Contents

SOCI 150 Principles of Sociology

3 credit hours

An introduction to the study of society, including the study of the shared relationships that create social organization and social processes of society. Required for sociology minors and for admission into the social work major.

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SOCI 223 Sociology of Families

3 credit hours

A study of marriage and the family from a sociological perspective, including historical, cross-cultural, and economic backgrounds. A Christian faith perspective will emphasize the worth of people, the importance of the family as a place of nurture, and the gift of marriage. (SOCI 223 and HLTH 223 are identical)

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SOCI 285 Selected Topics

1-3 credit hour

A seminar dealing with topics of special interest to students and current faculty.

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SOCI 295 Individualized Study

1-3 credit hour

Individualized study or supervised research in an area of special interest to the student which is outside the regular offerings of the minor. Additional course fee (per credit) is required.

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SOCI 310 Cultural Anthropology

3 credit hours

A comparative study of world societies and their ways of life.

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SOCI 331 Crime and Deviance

3 credit hours

An introduction to the study of deviance and criminology, including theoretical and paradigms and research. Prerequisite: SOCI Principles of Sociology or instructor's permission.

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SOCI 333 Juvenile Delinquency

3 credit hours

A study of the causes and nature of juvenile delinquency, the development of the juvenile court, probation, and other rehabilitative programs. Prerequisite: SOCI 150 Principles of Sociology or instructor's permission.

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SOCI 339 Restorative Justice

3 credit hours

This course will cover the theological and historical backgrounds of alternative systems of justice, and the criminological principles undergirding a variety of restorative justice programs, particularly community policing, problem-solving courts and community corrections, and will apply an international comparative component as well as a study the programs’ effectiveness. Prerequisite: SOCI 150 Principles of Sociology or instructor permission.

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SOCI 340 Statistical Procedures

3 credit hours

Applied statistics for the social and behavioral sciences. Emphasis is placed on statistical logic and decision making. Recommended for the sophomore or junior year. Required for social work majors. (Identical to SWRK 340) Prerequisites: SOCI 150 Principles of Sociology and high school algebra.

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SOCI 363 Social Inequality

3 credit hours

Examines the nature, causes, and consequences of inequality in society. An understanding of how social resources are distributed, and the resulting distribution of life chances, is central to understanding the fundamental bases of social order and social organization. This course takes a sociological approach to the study of inequality in which we argue that inequality is a characteristic of societies, not individuals.

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SOCI 370 International Economic Development

3 credit hours

This course introduces students to causes and consequences of 'the wealth of nations.' Students will learn theories of economic growth and poverty alleviation. Topics to be covered include: globalization, education, international trade, holistic conceptions of development, and the role of institutions. (ECON 370 and SOCI 370 are identical courses.) Prerequisite: ECON 200 Principles of Economics.

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SOCI 380 Race in America

3 credit hours

A study of the historical and socioeconomic factors experienced and lived by people of differing racial and ethnic backgrounds in the United States. Specific attention is placed on the social construction of race, social attitudes and past and present racial issues.

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SOCI 485 Selected Topics

1-3 credit hour

A special-interest course that addresses current topics in the field of sociology. Course offerings depend on current faculty competencies and student interest. Previous offerings have included a Christian response to the contemporary family, criminal justice, cross-cultural education, death and dying, Native American cultures, sociology of religion, sociology of adolescence, and sociology of literature. Prerequisites: SOCI 150 Principles of Sociology and upper-division majors.

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SOCI 495 Individualized Study

1-3 credit hour

Individualized study or supervised research in an area of special interest to the student which is outside the regular offerings of the major. Additional course fee (per credit) is required.

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