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Sociology and Criminology Courses
SO205, Contemporary Social Issues: Analysis
of selected social problems in contemporary
society using readings from both academic and
popular sociological analysis. The emphasis of
this course is on developing in the students the
ability to identify social phenomena, to understand
how these causes may influence social
policy, and to develop an ability to conduct
basic research on social issues using social
science methodology; including documentary
and literature based search skills from bibliographical
databases and online web-based
materials. Prerequisite: SW200SO or any social
sciences course. (U)(3). Fall only.
SO293, Statistics for Social Research: An
introduction to statistical techniques and their
application to problems in social research.
This course covers descriptive and inferential
statistics including measures of central tendency
and variability, correlation, cross-classification,
sampling and statistical inference, and an introduction
to multivariate analysis. An emphasis
is placed on the sociological application of such
techniques, and on developing an understanding
of when they are appropriate, and the information
that they yield. Students will also learn to
use the computer in data analysis. Prerequisite:
MA101 or equivalent. (U)(3). Spring only.
SO301, Families and Gender Roles: The
organization and functions of marriage and
the family. Cross-cultural and historical
perspectives provide background for analysis
of contemporary family patterns. Prerequisite:
SW200SO. (U/G)(3). Occasionally.
SO303, Political Behavior, Polity and Society:
An analysis of social power and decisionmaking
in small groups, complex organizations,
communities and societies; social and personality
factors, and political behavior; political
movements and social change. Prerequisite:
SW200SO. (U/G)(3). Occasionally.
have impacted our cultural values and social
institutions. Film and media will be studied
sociologically both as a form of popular culture
(symbolic analysis) and as a new social institution
in its own right (structural analysis). Prerequisite:
SW200SO. (U/G)(3). Occasionally.
SO317, Gender and Society: An examination
of gender as a system of stratification and a
social construction, which changes over time
and differs cross-culturally. Focus is on the
structural and interactional aspects of gender
inequality and the intersection of gender, class,
race and sexuality. Prerequisite: SW200SO.
(U)(3). Occasionally.
SO319, Mental Illness, Culture and Society:
A sociological analysis of mental health and
mental illness. This course examines the social,
cultural and political factors involved in the
definition of mental illness and the control of
mental illness in society. Emphasis is placed on
labeling theory; on the impact of status characteristics
(e.g. race, social class and gender) and
social relationships on levels of stress and social
functioning; and on legal and ethical issues associated
with current health care trends, including
the deinstitutionalization of mental patients
and the movement toward community-based
care. Prerequisite: SW200SO or permission of
the instructor. (U/G)(3). Occasionally.
SO321, Crime and Society: An analysis of
the definition and extent of crime; the impact
on society; and the theoretical explanations of
crime, offending and victimization. Prerequisites:
SW200SO and junior standing. (U/G)
(3). Occasionally.
SO323, Racial and Ethnic Relations: Analysis
of the ethnic (including racial) composition of
society, the minority group status of some ethnic
groups and the strains toward assimilation
or cultural pluralism. Prerequisite: SW200SO.
(U/G)(3). Occasionally.
SO311, Law and Society: An analysis of the
legal system, legal doctrines and legal institutions
as social phenomena. The focus is on law
in action as it reflects the relationship between
law and society. Prerequisite: SW200SO or permission
of the instructor. (U/G)(3). Fall only.
SO325, Class, Status and Power: A study of
the dynamics of class and caste, class mobility,
power, authority, influence and prestige in
different kinds of communities. Prerequisite:
SW200SO. (U/G)(3). Occasionally.
SO326, Gender, Race and Crime: Current
SO315, Film, Media and Society: This
sociological and criminological theories will be
course examines how film and electronic media
used to examine gender and crime, race and
211 Butler University
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences