Courses
Courses primarily for undergraduates:
Cr. R. F.
Survey of public service and administration in agriculture. Exploration of career tracks and career planning. Recommended during first semester of freshman year or as soon as possible after transfer into the department.
(1-0) Cr. 1. F.S.
Orientation to sociology. A familiarization with University and LAS College requirements and procedures. Occupational tracks and career options open to sociology; introduction to career planning. Recommended during first semester of freshman year, or as soon as possible after transfer into the department.
Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.SS.
Social interaction and group behavior with emphasis on the scientific study of contemporary U.S. society, including issues relating to socialization, inequality, and changing rural and urban communities. Analysis of relationships among the institutions of family, religion, political participation, work, and leisure.
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.SS.
Social interaction and group behavior with emphasis on the scientific study of contemporary U.S. society, including issues relating to socialization, inequality, and changing rural and urban communities. Analysis of relationships among the institutions of family, religion, political participation, work, and leisure.
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.SS.
Prereq: SOC 134
Analysis of intimate relationships among couples using a sociological perspective. Attention is given to singlehood; dating and courtship; sexuality; mate selection, cohabitation, and marriage. Relationship quality, communication, conflict and dissolution of these types of relationship will also be explored.
(Cross-listed with ANTHR, ENV S, GLOBE, M E, MAT E, T SC). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.
An introduction to the key global issues in sustainability. Focuses on interconnected roles of energy, materials, human resources, economics, and technology in building and maintaining sustainable systems. Applications discussed will include challenges in both the developed and developing world and will examine the role of technology in a resource-constrained world.
Cannot be used for technical elective credit in any engineering department.
Meets International Perspectives Requirement.
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.
Introduction to the causes and consequences of social and economic change affecting rural people and places. Uses a sociological perspective to examine social structures, social change, and social relationships within rural society. Topics include community, population change, inequality, rural economy, structure of agriculture, social and environmental impacts of resource extraction.
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.
Prereq: SOC 134
Sociological concepts, theories and methods to analyze the causes and consequences of social problems. Social problems discussed may include crime, substance abuse, income inequalities, discrimination, poverty, race relations, health care, family issues, and the environment. How American culture and values shape societal conditions, public discourse and policy.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(Cross-listed with CJ ST). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.
Prereq: SOC 134
An examination of delinquency that focuses on the relationship between youth as victims and as offenders, social and etiological features of delinquency, the role of the criminal justice system, delinquents' rights, and traditional and alternative ways of dealing with juvenile crime.
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.
Prereq: SOC 134; STAT 101; or concurrent enrollment in STAT 101
Introduction to the principal research methods used in sociology, including survey research, interviewing, content analysis, experiments, ethnographies, focus groups, historical analysis, and analysis of secondary data. Instruction on sampling and the principles of validity and reliability underlying quantitative and qualitative methods. Training in data analysis using statistical software packages.
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.SS.
Prereq: SOC 134
Examination of human behavior in a social environment with emphasis on development of the self, interpersonal relations, attitudes, and small groups.
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.
Prereq: SOC 134
Analysis of evolving theory and research of community as an ideal type, an ecological system, a political economy, and an interactional field; examination of the impact of economic, cultural, social and political infrastructures on community power structures and change processes in a global era.
(3-0) Cr. 3. S.
The impacts of agricultural changes on farm families, rural communities, and consumers. Past, present, and future trends in family farms and their social implications.
(Cross-listed with W S). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.SS.
Prereq: SOC 134
How the biological fact of sex is transformed into a system of gender stratification. The demographics and social positions of women and men in the family, education, media, politics, and the economy. Theories of the social-psychological and sociological bases for behavior and attitudes of women and men. The relationship between gender, class, and race.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(Cross-listed with W S). (3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Prereq: SOC 134 or W S 201
Examination of socially constructed and idealized images of manhood, the nature of social hierarchies and relations constructed on the basis of imagery, ideologies, and norms of masculinity. Theories on gender (sociological, psychological, and biological). Particular attention given to theory and research on gender variations among men by race, class, ethnicity, sexual orientation, physical ability and age.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(Cross-listed with AF AM). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.SS.
Prereq: SOC 134
Analysis of ethnic and race relations, particularly in America; emphasis on the sociology and psychology of race and ethnic relations.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.SS.
Prereq: SOC 134
Social stratification and processes resulting in social and economic inequalities; implications of status, class, and poverty for people of different races, ethnicities, and gender.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(Cross-listed with US LS). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.
Prereq: SOC 134
Examination of the social, historical, economic and political experience of varied Latino ethnic groups in the U.S. - primarily focusing on Mexican, Puerto Ricans, and Cubans.
Meets U.S. Diversity Requirement
(Cross-listed with POL S). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.
Prereq: A course in political science or sociology
The relationship between politics and society with emphasis on American society. Discussion of theories of inequality, power, social movements, elites, ruling classes, democracy, and capitalism.
(Cross-listed with CJ ST). (3-0) Cr. 3. S.SS.
Prereq: SOC 134
Theory and research on the etiology of types of social deviance; issues relating to crime, antisocial behavior and social policies designed to control deviant behavior.
(Cross-listed with CJ ST). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.
Prereq: SOC 134
The nature of crime and criminology; the concept of crime; statistics and theories of criminality; major forms of crime; official responses to crime and control of crime.
(Cross-listed with ENV S). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.
Prereq: SOC 134
Human population growth and structure; impact on food, environment, and resources; gender issues; trends of births, deaths, and migration; projecting future population; population policies and laws; comparison of the United States with other societies throughout the world.
Meets International Perspectives Requirement.
Cr. 3.
Prereq: SOC 134
Trends in hunger, poverty, resource use and development. Assessment of theories, policies, and programs to promote sustainable livelihoods, resource management, and development at local and national levels. Examine solutions through institutional efforts and grassroots social movements.
Meets International Perspectives Requirement.
(Cross-listed with CJ ST). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.
Prereq: SOC 241 or CJ ST 240
Introduction and overview of law enforcement in the United States. Theory and research on police history, function, and organization; constitutional issues of policing; and critical topics, such as community policing, officer discretion and decision-making, corruption, use of force, and racial profiling. The course illustrates the interconnections between communities, police organizations, citizens, and criminal offenders.
(Cross-listed with CJ ST). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.
Prereq: SOC 241 or CJ ST 240
Introduction and overview of corrections in the United States. Theory and research on probation, parole, intermediate sanctions, prison, inmate society, inmate behavior and misconduct, capital punishment, recidivism, correctional treatment, rehabilitation, and offender reintegration into society.
(Cross-listed with ECON). (3-0) Cr. 3.
Prereq: ECON 101 or SOC 134, junior or senior status in the College of Agriculture
Identify major ethical issues and dilemmas in the conduct of agricultural and agribusiness management and decision making. Discuss and debate proper ethical behavior in these issues and situations and the relationship between business and personal ethical behavior.
(Cross-listed with RELIG). (3-0) Cr. 3.
Prereq: Prior course work in Religious Studies or Sociology recommended
The influence of religion in society, both as a conservator of values and as a force for social change.
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.
Prereq: SOC 134
Inequalities (gender, race, class) related to jobs, occupations, firms, and industries. Satisfactions, rewards, alienation, discrimination, and other topics of importance to workers are examined.
(Cross-listed with ENV S). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.
Prereq: SOC 134 or 3 credits of ENV S
Environment-society relations; social construction of nature and the environment; social and environmental impacts of resource extraction, production, and consumption; environmental inequality; environmental mobilization and movements; U.S. and international examples.
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.SS.
Prereq: 9 credits in sociology
Both historical and modern social theories as applied to understanding and researching the social world.
(Cross-listed with CJ ST). (3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Prereq: SOC 241 or CJ ST 240
Introduction and overview of white-collar crime as a form of deviance. Theory and research on occupational, corporate, and organizational offending; prevalence, costs, and consequences of white-collar crime; predictors and correlates of white-collar crime; and political, business, and public policy responses to white-collar crime.
(3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Prereq: SOC 134 plus 3 credits in social sciences
Social change and development in developing countries; international interdependence; causes and consequences of persistent problems in agriculture, city growth, employment, gender equality, basic needs; local and worldwide efforts to foster social change and international development.
Meets International Perspectives Requirement.
(1-0) Cr. 1. F.
Prereq: Most of major core courses, senior classification
Transition from student to professional. Career development procedures including self-assessment, short- and long-term goals, strategies for the job search, development of contacts and sources, resumes and interviews. Enrollment preferred in first semester as senior.
Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.
Prereq: SOC 134 plus 3 credits in social sciences
Examination of public responses to complex and controversial innovations, such as environmentalism, feminism, stem-cell research, same-sex marriage, large-scale hog lots, and others. Strategies for gaining adoption/rejection of controversial innovations. Applications to topics in agriculture, development, business, and marketing.
Credit for only Soc 415 or 515 may be applied toward graduation.
(Cross-listed with CJ ST). Cr. 3-12. Repeatable, maximum of 12 credits. F.S.SS.
Prereq: Junior or senior classification; permission of criminal justice studies coordinator; major or minor in criminal justice or sociology
Study of the criminal and juvenile justice systems and social control processes. Supervised placement in a police department, prosecutor's office, court, probation and parole department, penitentiary, juvenile correctional institution, community-based rehabilitation program, or related agency. Assessed service learning component.
Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only. No more than a total of 9 credits of 460 can be counted toward graduation. No credits in Soc 460 may be used to satisfy minimum sociology requirements for sociology majors.
(3-0) Cr. 3. S.SS.
Prereq: 6 credits in sociology
Project-focused engagement in community issues and initiatives. A broad range of strategies will be addressed, including popular education, applied research, network analysis and mapping, policy focused work, action research, curriculum development, community organizing, and organizational development.
(Cross-listed with CJ ST). (3-0) Cr. 3. Repeatable, maximum of 9 credits.
Prereq: 6 credits in sociology and permission from instructor
Thematic or topical issues and studies dealing with the sociology of police, judiciary, institutional and community-based corrections, gender/ethnicity and crime/delinquency, criminal and delinquent gangs, and crime and delinquency prevention.
(3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Prereq: 6 credits in sociology
The contemporary family in developing, industrial, and post-industrial societies. Effects of modernization, cultural change, and family policies on family dynamics, structures, and functions.
Cr. 1-3. Repeatable, maximum of 6 credits.
Prereq: 6 credits in sociology and permission of instructor
Students in the College of Agriculture must be of junior or senior classification and may use no more than 6 credits of Soc 490 toward the total of 128 credits required for graduation. Students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences may count no more than 9 credits of 490 toward graduation.
Cr. 1-3. Repeatable, maximum of 6 credits.
Prereq: 6 credits in sociology and permission of instructor
Students in the College of Agriculture must be of junior or senior classification and may use no more than 6 credits of Soc 490 toward the total of 128 credits required for graduation. Students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences may count no more than 9 credits of 490 toward graduation.
Cr. 1-3. Repeatable, maximum of 6 credits.
Prereq: 6 credits in sociology and permission of instructor
Students in the College of Agriculture must be of junior or senior classification and may use no more than 6 credits of Soc 490 toward the total of 128 credits required for graduation. Students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences may count no more than 9 credits of 490 toward graduation.
Cr. 1-3. Repeatable, maximum of 6 credits.
Prereq: 6 credits in sociology and permission of instructor
Students in the College of Agriculture must be of junior or senior classification and may use no more than 6 credits of Soc 490 toward the total of 128 credits required for graduation. Students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences may count no more than 9 credits of 490 toward graduation.
Cr. 1-3. Repeatable, maximum of 6 credits.
Prereq: 6 credits in sociology and permission of instructor
Students in the College of Agriculture must be of junior or senior classification and may use no more than 6 credits of Soc 490 toward the total of 128 credits required for graduation. Students in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences may count no more than 9 credits of 490 toward graduation.
Courses primarily for graduate students, open to qualified undergraduates:
(3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Prereq: SOC 401 or SOC 505
The origins of the canonical works of sociology in the mid-Industrial Revolution period including Karl Marx, Max Weber, Emile Durkheim and others.
(Cross-listed with AGRON, SUSAG). (3-4) Cr. 4. F.
Prereq: Senior or above classification
Experiential, interdisciplinary examination of Midwestern agricultural and food systems, emphasizing field visits, with some classroom activities. Focus on understanding multiple elements, perspectives (agronomic, economic, ecological, social, etc), and scales of operation.
(3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Prereq: SOC 302 and STAT 401
Covers the philosophy and the techniques of research methods in sociology and other social sciences, including the ethics and politics of social science, validity issues, conceptualization and operationalization, sampling strategies, appropriate research designs for different questions, survey construction, and various data collection and analysis techniques.
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.
Prereq: STAT 404 or with instructor's permission
Applied techniques of multivariate analysis includng cluster analysis, principal components and factor analysis, multivariate analysis of variance and covariance binomial and multinomial regression, multi-level random coefficient models, and spatial regression. Conceptual and mathematical grounding for nonstatisticians. Instruction in Mplus and SAS.
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.
Prereq: SOC 511
Applied qualitative research methods in sociology. Design and implementation of a course-based research project including data collection, analysis, and presentation of results. Qualitative data gathering techniques using observational, historical, in-depth interviewing or content analysis approaches. Laboratory emphasis on completion of data gathering, analysis, and report writing.
(3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered even-numbered years.
Prereq: 6 credits in sociology
Analysis of racial and ethnic inequality in the United States and the world; focus on the implications of the changing world social and economic order for differences in racial and ethnic groups relative to wealth, status, and power; a critical examination of majority-group domination of minority groups in various societies.
(3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered even-numbered years.
Prereq: 6 credits in sociology
Analysis of racial and ethnic inequality in the United States and the world; focus on the implications of the changing world social and economic order for differences in racial and ethnic groups relative to wealth, status, and power; a critical examination of majority-group domination of minority groups in various societies.
(3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered even-numbered years.
Prereq: 6 credits in sociology
Analysis of racial and ethnic inequality in the United States and the world; focus on the implications of the changing world social and economic order for differences in racial and ethnic groups relative to wealth, status, and power; a critical examination of majority-group domination of minority groups in various societies.
(3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered odd-numbered years.
Prereq: 6 credits in sociology
Emphasis on different models or frames of reference used in community analysis. Theoretical and methodological tools, current views of community problems, and explanation of social and cultural change are presented for each model.
(3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered odd-numbered years.
Prereq: 6 credits in sociology
Critical examination of the causes and consequences of social stratification and inequality; classical theories, contemporary frameworks, and recent empirical studies; international stratification patterns.
(3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered even-numbered years.
Prereq: 6 credits in sociology
Project-focused community practice using diverse approaches and perspectives.
(3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered odd-numbered years.
Prereq: 6 graduate credits in sociology
Contemporary theories of social change, modernization, dependency, and development are critically examined; methodological issues identified; supporting research explored; applicability of theoretical models, concepts, and strategies to current national and international needs are evaluated.
(Cross-listed with T SC). (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered even-numbered years.
Prereq: 6 credits in sociology
Seminar in social change and development.
(3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered even-numbered years.
Prereq: 6 credits in sociology
(Cross-listed with T SC). (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered even-numbered years.
Prereq: 6 credits in sociology
(Cross-listed with T SC). (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered even-numbered years.
Prereq: 6 credits in sociology
(3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered odd-numbered years.
Prereq: 6 credits in sociology
Social organization of food and fiber production, processing, and distribution systems. Sociological comparison of conventional and alternative production systems; gender roles in agriculture and food systems; local, national and global food systems; perspectives on food and agricultural research and policy.
(3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered even-numbered years.
Prereq: 6 credits in sociology
Social causes and social consequences of environmental problems. Interrelationship between social inequality and environmental inequality. Social construction and social experience of the environment. Contemporary developments in the social theory of the environment. International and domestic implications.
(3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered even-numbered years.
Prereq: 6 credits in sociology
Social construction of economic activity in non-industrial and industrial societies with special attention on variations of industrial societies (capitalism and socialism), economic globalization, and economic development. Interaction of economic systems with human values, ideology, organizations, work and individual welfare.
(3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered odd-numbered years.
Prereq: 6 credits in sociology
(3-0) Cr. 3. F.
Prereq: 6 credits in sociology
(3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered odd-numbered years.
Prereq: 6 credits in sociology
Theory and research regarding causes of and reactions to deviant behavior. Mental illness, homicide, family violence, and property crime are among the types of deviant behavior considered.
(3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered odd-numbered years.
Prereq: 6 credits in sociology
Discussion of current research and theory in crime and delinquency; topics include the purpose and role of law in social life; emerging theoretical directions in criminology; recent work on specific forms of criminality; controversies in the criminal justice system.
(3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered odd-numbered years.
Prereq: 6 credits in sociology
Course presents a general overview of the field of family sociology. Topics to be covered include demographic trends, family theory and empirical research, as well as current debates in the discipline.
Cr. 1-3. Repeatable.
Prereq: 6 credits in sociology; senior or graduate classification
Cr. 1-3. Repeatable.
Prereq: 6 credits in sociology; senior or graduate classification
Cr. 1-3. Repeatable.
Prereq: 6 credits in sociology; senior or graduate classification
(1-0) Cr. 1. F.
Prereq: Formal admission into the sociology graduate program
Introduction to the department, current graduate student policies at department and university levels, departmental administrative procedures. Required of graduate students.
Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.
Cr. 1-6. Repeatable.
Cr. 1-6. Repeatable.
Cr. 1-6. Repeatable.
Courses for graduate students:
(3-0) Cr. 3. S.
Prereq: 6 graduate credits in sociology
Provides a review of modern sociological thought, issues, and controversies as they affect current research and discourse in the discipline.
(Cross-listed with A B E, AGRON, ANTHR, SUSAG). (3-0) Cr. 3. F.
Prereq: Graduate classification, permission of instructor
Historical, biophysical, socioeconomic, and ethical dimensions of agricultural sustainability. Strategies for evaluating existing and emerging agricultural systems in terms of the core concepts of sustainability and their theoretical contexts.
(3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered even-numbered years.
Prereq: SOC 512 and STAT 404, or with instructors permission.
Specification, identification, and interpretation of structural equation models. Techniques include structural or path models, measurement or confirmatory factor models, structural models with latent variables, and multi-level structural models. Conceptual and mathematical grounding for non-statisticians. Instruction in AMOS, MPLUS, and SAS.
(3-0) Cr. 3.
(3-0) Cr. 3.
(3-0) Cr. 3.
(3-0) Cr. 3.
(3-0) Cr. 3.
(3-0) Cr. 3.
Cr. 1-8. Repeatable.
Cr. 1-8. Repeatable.
Cr. 1-8. Repeatable.