UG Course Descriptions

Analysis of intragroup and intergroup relations of the major minority groups in the U.S., their structures, conflicts, and relations with the dominant culture. The primary focus is on ethnic and racial groups.

A study of how to help people with problems in living. Includes values, skills, and useful theoretical approaches to helping. Special attention to development of self-awareness and use of self in the helping process. Supervised field experience (one day a week) matching the student’s interests, time, and abilities in a variety of settings. (Juniors and Seniors)

A study of the global context of social problems with an examination of cross-cultural comparisons integral to the study of contemporary social problems in the United States. Application of both micro- and macro-level systems of sociological inquiry and explanations will be explored.

Twelve to Sixteen (12-16) hours per week in a field setting under professional supervision working with people in a variety of ways. An intensive, hands-on experience helping people to cope, problem-solve, and gain access to resources they need. Includes group supervision on campus. (Prerequisite: SOC 343)

Introduces students to policing in America by examining a wide range of areas including the historical development of policing, recruitment, training, organizational procedures, and current trends in law enforcement. Key issues of criminal and civil law, current and developing policing trends, and recent incidents in policing will be discussed.

An in-depth study of the diversity of human behavior and lifestyles around the world, exploring the social and cultural similarities and differences of human society and culture. The scope of the course ranges from the simplest people to the highly developed civilizations of the modern world. Additionally, this course will focus on another major anthropological field, Archaeology, through which our human past is studied.

The first of a two-course sequence, this course is devoted to the principles, procedures, and techniques in the development of a research proposal. Focus is on the structuring of inquiry used in the discipline of sociology and the writing of a research proposal. Junior standing.

This course is designed for students who have little or no knowledge of crime scene investigation procedures and techniques and is designed to educate students in the primary skills and procedures necessary to properly respond to, identify, preserve and collect evidence necessary for criminal prosecution. Topics such as responding to and securing the crime scene, crime scene sketching, photography and videographer techniques, evidence identification, collection and documentation, interviewing, report writing, and courtroom testimony will be presented. In addition to the class room material students do hands on work where they practice what is being taught in each module. The final exam (SOC 403) requires processing a staged crime scene. Must also register for SOC 403.

Students taking this workshop, like Police CSI’s, will be assigned to five member teams and will perform the duties and functions of each team member. This workshop will require students to properly respond to, identify, preserve and collect evidence necessary for criminal prosecution. Skills learned in SOC 402 will be demonstrated. Think of this workshop as a crime scene lab with the final exam the processing of a staged crime scene. Must also register for SOC 402.

Students in this course will learn the fundamentals of medical examinations of death and their relationship to the crime scene. Special focus will be given to the various manners of death and the pathology behind their top listed causes. Students will additionally learn the importance of rigor, livor, and algor mortis as well as various stages of decomposition in determining an accurate timeline of events.