College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Department of Sociology and Corrections
113 Armstrong Hall
507-389-1561
Fax: 507-389-5615
Website: Sociology & Corrections
Sociology and Corrections offers graduate work leading to the Master of Arts in Sociology and the Master of Science in Sociology: Corrections and Sociology: Human Services Planning and Administration. All of these programs emphasize flexibility and individual attention by a broadly trained faculty with a diversity of interests and a commitment to real-world problems and solutions.
Students must meet the general admission requirements of the College of Graduate Studies and Research to be admitted to their program.
In addition to courses specific to each program, admission to the graduate programs in this department require a grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale for the undergraduate degree. Applicants are also expected to submit
-3 letters of reference
-a resume or curriculum vitae
-a statement of purpose
-a sample of written work
Students not meeting the requirements may be admitted conditionally; such conditions
to be determined by the program admission committee. Forms for the recommendations
are available from the department. The application and transcripts should be
sent to the College of Graduate Studies and Research. Letters of recommendation,
curriculum vitae or resume, and statement of interest should be sent directly
to the Department of Sociology and Corrections.
In addition to the general admission requirements noted above, admission to the Sociology MA program requires 24 quarter credits or 18 semester credits of sociology including courses in sociological theory, research methods and statistics
In addition to the general requirements noted above, admission to the Sociology: Corrections MS program requires 24 quarter credits or 18 semester credits in the social and behavioral sciences including courses in sociology, criminology, penology and research methods or statistics.
In addition to the general admission requirements noted above, admission to the Sociology: Human Services Planning and Administration MS program requires 24 quarter credit hours or 18 semester credit hours of social and behavioral sciences courses.
(Thesis Plan - 33 credits)
The Master of Arts in Sociology is designed for the person seeking a comprehensive, sociological understanding of the social world. The program strongly emphasizes the diversity of sociological theories and research methodologies. Upon this foundation, the program provides an in-depth apprenticeship in the discipline of sociology by combining core courses, diverse subject areas, and the opportunity for intensive academic specialization. This program can be effectively used as a terminal degree by those who choose to pursue careers in applied settings. It is also ideally suited for those planning on advanced graduate training and a career in teaching and research.
Any 500/600 level elective courses selected in consultation with an advisor.
(Thesis Plan - 33 credits)
The Master of Science in Sociology: Corrections is designed for a person seeking a leadership role in the active critique and transformation of corrections practice. A graduate of this program will have dedication to the application of the sociological perspective to correctional practices, a thorough understanding of the correctional system, a commitment to improving the justice system, and the ability to facilitate and maintain necessary processes for change. The graduate of this program is further expected to promote a commitment to the principles of social justice, respect, tolerance, dignity, and worth of all persons within corrections and the community at large.
Any 500/600 level Elective courses selected in consultation with an advisor. A list of approved electives is available in the department.
(Thesis Plan - 33 credits)
The Master of Science in Sociology: Human Services Planning and Administration is designed for a person seeking a leadership role as an administrator in the field of human services. The graduate of this program will have a solid grounding in the knowledge, values, and skills appropriate for a broad range of human services programs. The program especially encourages creative and critical thinking skills which enable the graduate to produce positive changes in organizations.
Any 500/600 level Elective courses selected in consultation with an advisor.
SOC 504 (3) Sociology of Aging
Social and social-psychological forces in later life. Problems and prospects of growing old in the United States.
SOC 505 (3) Sociology of Death
Study of the structure of human response to death, dying, and bereavement in their socio-cultural, interpersonal, and personal context. Formation of children's perception of death, functions of the funeral, euthanasia, and suicide are among the topics to be discussed.
SOC 506 (3) Applied Sociology
Applying sociology to create a career and make the world a better place. Explores how to investigate and implement solutions to problems of social process and social organization in workplace or other settings including community agencies, government, business, and other social institutions.
SOC 507 (3) Population Dynamics
The course will acquaint students with dynamic forces operating in the field of population and development. Includes an introduction to basic theories and techniques of population analysis, with coverage of global economic forces: fertility, morality, and migration. The causes and consequences of overpopulation are discussed with special attention to resource depletion and food shortages.
SOC 508 (3) Family Life Dynamics
An overview and analysis of major aspects of the American family, including cohabitation, mate selection, parenting, and changes in marriage, family, and sex role dynamics since 1970.
SOC 509 (3) Family Violence
Examines various forms of family violence, including dating violence, spouse abuse, and child abuse; reviews social theory and empirical research and explores social policy, appropriate responses, and possible solutions.
SOC 517 (3) Program Administration
Implications of sociological knowledge for the administration of Human Services programs. Theoretical and practical aspects of administration with the social service systems.
SOC 523 (3) Complex Organizations
Analysis of the development, structure, and functioning of social processes in large-scale, formal organizations.
SOC 525 (3) Social Movements
Survey of major sociological perspectives on social movements, including theoretical approaches and empirical research on the causes, processes, and outcomes of social movements.
SOC 530 (3) Sociology of Capitalism
Overview of the political economy of the United States as an advanced capitalist society with a focus on economic and political inequality, the class structure, the labor process, race and gender relations, the welfare state, the global dimensions of capitalism, and modern crisis tendencies.
SOC 541 (3) Social Deviance
Sociological perspectives on social deviance; overview of theoretical approaches; emphasis on symbolic interactionism; issues of social control; research examples and policy implications.
SOC 542 (3) Criminology
A critical consideration of myths concerning crime, perspectives on crime and their assumptions, current criminology theory, and construction of alternative explanations related to crime.
SOC 546 (3) Race, Culture & Ethnicity
Study of minority racial and cultural groups in US society. An examination of how the lives of the members of these groups are affected by racism, prejudice, and discrimination.
SOC 558 (3) Sociological Theory
An overview of sociological theory that surveys the classical tradition and emphasizes contemporary theories including functionalism, conflict theory, rational choice theory, and symbolic interactionism, as well as recent trends in theoretical developments.
SOC 560 (3 ) Environmental Sociology
Examines the sociological relationship between people and the environment including: ways various societies view the environment, social changes from ecological degradation, and solutions to environmental problems. Topics may include a sociological analysis of climate change, agriculture, and resource extraction.
SOC 561 (3) Urban Sociology
A survey of sociological theory and research on the ecology, demography, and social organization of the urban community. Presents a sociological interpretation of the development of urban society and how the process of urbanization affects the basic societal institutions and individual behavior.
SOC 563 (3) Social Stratification
An overview of the causes, processes and consequences of social stratification in society. Includes an overview of classical statements about stratification and focuses on social inequalities rooted in social class structures, the organization of political power, and social hierarchies based on race and gender differences in society.
SOC 565 (3) Law & Chemical Dependency
Addresses aspects of criminal and civil law pertinent to substance abuse.
SOC 566 (3) Program Planning
Theoretical and practical aspects of the planning process within social service systems. Examines the social context of planning and the use of a sociological knowledge base for planning in human services.
SOC 569 (3) Survey Research
Techniques of survey research, interview, and questionnaire construction, field administration, and sampling methodology.
SOC 570 (3) Sociology of Parent-Child Interaction
Examines parent-child relationships in societal context; socialization theories; classic and contemporary research; parenting applications.
SOC 579 (3) Sociological Ethnography
Examination of ethnographic methodologies in sociology with emphasis on analytic, performance, and autoethnography. Exploration of ethics in ethnography, visual sociology, and first-hand experience in both crafting and presenting ethnographic works. Pre: SOC 101 or SOC 101W; SOC 201 or similar social science research course with instructor permission.
SOC 580 (3) Qualitative Methods
Examination of ethnographic methodologies in sociology with emphasis on analytic, performance, and autoethnography. Exploration of ethics in ethnography, visual sociology, and first-hand experience in both crafting and presenting ethnographic works. Pre: SOC 101 or SOC 101W; SOC 201 or similar social science research course with instructor permission.
SOC 582 (3) Social Change
Analysis of social forces and processes involved in changing norms, values, and structures in traditional and modern societies. Examines both planned and unplanned change.
SOC 583 (3) The Family and Society
An examination of theory development and research findings about family systems with a special emphasis on societal influences (social, economic, political) on the changing family.
SOC 584 (3) Sociology of Religion
Analysis of the structures, functions, and origins of religion, its relationship to other social institutions, and its role in modern secular society. Examines processes of individual religiosity and explores current religious movements and trends.
SOC 585 (2-6) Selected Topics
Topics vary as announced in class schedule. May be retaken for credit if topic varies.
SOC 590 (1-3) Workshop
Workshop topics vary as announced in class schedule. May be retaken for credit.
SOC 591 (1-6) In-Service
SOC 601 (3) Topics in Sociology
Topics vary as announced in class schedule. May be repeated for credit if topic varies.
SOC 602 (3) Seminar: Social Organization
Macro-analysis of society as a system. Examines cultural, structural, behavioral, and ecological patterns of organization. Includes a focus on complex organizations.
SOC 603 (3) Seminar: Social Psychology
A survey and analysis of major scientific approaches to human social behavior.
SOC 604 (3) Seminar: Social Statistics
Appreciation of basic multivariable methods in the analysis of sociological data. Includes computer applications using SPSS and application to various social issues.
SOC 605 (3) Seminar: Social Research
Advanced-level introduction or review of social science research methods, including entire research process: problem definition, literature review, hypothesis development, method development, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and communication; focuses on quantitative methods.
SOC 606 (3) Seminar in Sociological Theory
An overview of sociological theory that spans the classical and contemporary traditions within the discipline and focuses on current theoretical issues and controversies within the field.
SOC 607 (3) Program Evaluation
Quantitative and naturalistic paradigms as a knowledge base for program evaluation. Examines the social context and implication of evaluation to discuss mode and ethical considerations. Includes applied contribution of empirical research and current issues and trends.
SOC 609 (3) Seminar: Thesis Writing
Exploration of intellectual craftsmanship, existing models of thesis scholarship, the generic elements of the thesis, the writing process, and common obstacles to thesis completion in a collaborative and supportive context designed to foster significant progress on the thesis project throughout the semester.
SOC 677 (1-3) Individual Study
A maximum of six credits is applicable toward a degree program.
SOC 691 (1-4) In-Service
Topics vary as arranged by students and instructor. May be retaken for credit.
SOC 695 (1-6) Internship: Human Services
Prerequisite: consent
SOC 696 (1-6) Internship: College Teaching
The internship in college teaching is designed to provide opportunity to acquire supervised teaching experience in the college classroom and to explore a career in college teaching. It also serves as a vehicle for the student to become more aware of personal strengths and identify areas in which further growth is needed.
Prerequisite: consent
SOC 697 (1-12) Internship: Sociology
The internship is designed to provide opportunity to apply classroom learning, to practice and enhance skills, to experience professional socialization, and to explore a career. It also serves as a vehicle for the student to become more aware of personal strengths and identify areas in which further growth is needed.
Prerequisite: consent
SOC 699 (1-3) Thesis
CORR 517 (3) Program Administration
Implications of sociological knowledge for the administration of human services programs. Theoretical and practical aspects of administration with the social service systems.
CORR 541 (3) Social Deviance
Sociological perspective on social deviance; overview of theoretical approaches; emphasis on symbolic interactionism; issues of social control; research examples and policy implications.
CORR 542 (3) Criminology
A critical consideration of myths concerning crime, perspectives on crime and their assumptions, current criminology theory, and construction of alternative explanations related to crime.
CORR 543 (3) Penology
Addresses the justifications for punishment, the historical development of punishment, the legal and policy issues concerning capital punishment, and the use of incarceration as a response to crime.
CORR 544 (3) Women in the Criminal Justice System
This course focuses on the experiences of women in the criminal justice system-as victims, offenders, and professionals. Women's involvement in this system (whether they were a defendant, an attorney, an inmate, a correctional officer of a crime victim) has often been overlooked or devalued. The goal of this course is to bring the special needs and contributions of women in the criminal justice system into sharper focus.
CORR 547 (3) Community Corrections
Philosophy, historical developments, and theoretical basis of probation, parole, and other community corrections programs. Evaluation of traditional and innovative programs in Community Corrections.
CORR 548 (3) Correctional Law
Examines the rights of inmates, probationers, and parolees.
CORR 549 (3) Correctional Counseling
Principles and methods of individual and group counseling with juvenile
and adult offenders; development of interpersonal helping skills.
CORR 551 (3) Law & Justice in Society
A critical look at the construction of the concepts of law and justice as it operates in the United States and an application of the principles of justice to community issues.
CORR 552 (3) Victimology
Historical overview of characteristics of victims, victim-offender relationships, societal victimization, victim's rights and services, and restorative justice.
CORR 553 (3) Treatment Methods in Corrections
Examination of major correctional treatment models, e.g., individual and group counseling approaches, behavior modifications, reality therapy, and transactional analysis. Considerations in planning, implementation, and evaluating juvenile and adult treatment programs. Critical evaluation of research on the effectiveness of various treatment methods.
CORR 559 (3) Issues in Corrections
A critical examination of current issues in the correctional field.
CORR 565 (3) Law & Chemical Dependency
Addresses aspects of criminal and civil law pertinent to substance abuse.
Prerequisite: HLTH 225 or PSYC 73
CORR 585 (2-6) Selected Topics
Topics vary as announced in class schedule. May be retaken for credit if topic varies.
CORR 591 (1-6) In-Service
Topics vary as arranged by students and instructor. May be retaken for credit.
CORR 607 (3) Program Evaluation
Quantitative and naturalistic paradigms as a knowledge base for program evaluation. Examines the social context and implication of evaluation to discuss mode and ethical considerations. Includes applied contribution of empirical research and current issues and trends.
CORR 647 (3) Correctional Theory & Practice
Critical analysis of the relationship between causal theory and correctional practice.
CORR 677 (1-3) Individual Study
CORR 698 (1-6) Internship
The graduate-level internship in Corrections is designed to provide opportunity to apply classroom learning, practice and enhance research and administrative skills, and experience professional socialization.
CORR 699 (1-3) Thesis
