Sociology

Undergraduate Programs

Description

Sociology is the scientific study of society and culture that examines patterns of human social behavior. In the sociology program at Minnesota State University Mankato, students use a sociological lens to examine inequality from a variety of intersectional perspectives to become better informed global and local citizens and to transform the social world. They learn to understand, apply, and critically evaluate the major theoretical paradigms, perspectives, and key concepts in Sociology that examine real-world social issues and promote social change. Students will develop professional habits, skills, and behaviors, including strong written and oral communication, cultural competencies, and data management and analysis skills as they conduct and evaluate evidence-based sociological research and/or collaborate with community partners. Students will explore and identify careers and professions that employ/require sociological analysis and data management skills, preparing them for careers in academic and applied settings including human services, government, business, nonprofit organizations, and social action organizations. 

Majors

 Program Locations Major / Total Credits
Sociology BS BS - Bachelor of Science
  • Mankato
 39 / 120

Minors

 Program Locations Total Credits
Sociology Minor
  • Mankato
 21

Policies & Faculty

Policies

Admission to Major is granted by the Department. Minimum University admission requirements are:

  • a minimum of 32 earned semester credit hours.
  • a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00.

P/N Grading Policy. Courses leading to a major or minor in sociology may not be taken on a P/N basis, except where P/N grading is mandatory. 

Residency Requirements. Excluding SOC 101, all Sociology majors must complete 27 of the required 39 credit hours within the Department of Sociology. Transfer courses that will not be accepted are Internship, capstone and experiential learning courses such as GERO 200, SOC 200, and SOC 493.

Transfer: Normally the department will not accept transfer courses at the 200-level for our upper-level courses (exceptions are on a case-by-case basis).

Residency: Excluding SOC 101, all students minoring in sociology must complete 12 of the required 18 credit hours within the Department of Sociology.

GPA Policy. A minimum grade of “C” is required for all courses counting towards the Sociology major. 

Combined BS, BA/MS, MA Program: Undergraduate students in our Sociology programs interested in pursuing a master’s degree in either of these two fields may be granted permission to double count up to 12 credits for both the undergraduate and the graduate program. To apply for this option, students must have completed their sophomore year, have and maintain a GPA of at least 3.0, and declare their intent to complete the graduate program following the completion of the baccalaureate degree. If accepted, students must obtain special permission to register for double counted courses and will receive graduate student credit when the undergraduate degree has been conferred and they have been fully admitted into one of our graduate programs. Please contact the Department Graduate Coordinator for detailed information. 

Contact Information

113 Armstrong Hall
Department of Sociology

Main Office (507) 389-1561
https://sbs.mnsu.edu/academics/sociology/

Faculty

Department Chair
  • Kristi Rendahl, DPA
Program Coordinator
  • Sarah Epplen, PhD
Faculty

100 Level

Credits: 3

Overview of the nature and characteristics of human societies; the structure and processes of social life; impact of social forces on individuals and groups; interdependence of society and the individual; emphasis on cultural diversity and globalism.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-05, GE-08

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Credits: 3

A critical description and analysis of selected social problems, with an emphasis on the sociological perspective, critical thinking, roots of group inequality, and exploration of solutions and alternatives to existing social problems.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-05, GE-07

Diverse Cultures: Purple

200 Level

Credits: 3

Elements of the sociological perspective; overview of theoretical and methodological orientations; sociological practice and application; initial development of student portfolio.

Prerequisites: SOC 101 or SOC 150

Credits: 3

Basic descriptive and inferential statistics used in the analysis of sociological data.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-04

Credits: 3

Relationships, marriages and families are studied as social and cultural phenomena. Focuses on the sociological connections between society, culture, social institutions, families and individuals especially as they are affected by social change.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-05, GE-07

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Credits: 3

Explores the social construction of sex and sexuality, including the organization of human bodies and activities into particular categories such as female and male or homosexual and heterosexual. How this is done in specific institutional settings like the law, media, and science is a primary focus. The effects of such practices and their associated meanings, as well as resistance to them, are also investigated.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-05, GE-07

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Credits: 3

This course examines the role of animals in society and the social relationships between humans and other animals. Student will explore how culture and society shape the ways other animals are integrated and treated in our families, schools, economy, legal system, and other social institutions. Through dialogue and writing students will identify their own perspectives on nonhuman animals and our relationships to them.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-02, GE-09

Credits: 3

A critical consideration of definitions of juvenile delinquency, emphasis on micro and macro level of struggle in which delinquent behavior takes place, critique of current theories on delinquency, and the juvenile justice response to delinquency.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-05, GE-09

Credits: 3

Courtship, marriage and family are studied as social and cultural phenomena. Focuses on the relationships between society, culture, social institutions, families and individuals especially as they are affected by social change.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

Topics vary as announced in class schedule. May be retaken for credit if topic varies.

Prerequisites: none

300 Level

Credits: 3

Fundamentals of research methods focusing on the research process and research design and including hypothesis testing, basic analysis and interpretation; students will develop and practice research skills.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

Description and analysis of sex/gender systems, interpersonal power, language and communication, the role of gender in social institutions such as the family, work, and politics, and the role of social movements in creating change in gender relations.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

This course examines the sociological significance of popular culture and focuses on how popularized aspects of social life are produced, consumed and experienced by members of society. Includes discussion of celebrities, sports, music, television, movies, commercials and consumption practices.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

The study of symbolic interaction as the basis of the mind, the self, and society.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

Introduces students to the differences between indigenous and Western views of the environment. Analyzes the impact of invasion and encroachment on indigenous societies' interactions with nature. Compares historical and contemporary environmental issues in indigenous societies.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

400 Level

Credits: 3

Introduces students to central topics in medical sociology including: social factors responsible for people's health outcomes; social construction of health and illness; health inequalities; evolution of the social institution of medicine; and/or issues related to race/ethnicity; social class and gender. Fall

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

Social and social-psychological focus in later life. Problems and prospects of growing old in the United States.

Prerequisites: SOC 101 

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Credits: 3

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.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

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, mortality, and migration. The causes and consequences of over-population are discussed with special attention to resource depletion and food shortages.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

Various forms of family violence including dating violence, spouse abuse, and child abuse; social theory, empirical research and social policy on family violence; social context, responses and solutions.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

Implications of sociological knowledge for the administration of Human Services programs. Theoretical and practical aspects of administration within social service systems.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 4

Applies sociological theories of identity to the experiences of women being released from prison. Taught at the women's prison in Shakopee, Minnesota and integrates Minnesota State University, Mankato, students with students drawn from the educational program within the women's prison in Shakopee.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Gold

Credits: 3

Analysis of the development, structure, and functioning of social processes in large-scale, formal organizations.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

Survey of major sociological perspectives on social movements, including theoretical approaches and empirical research on the causes, processes, and outcomes of social movements.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

Overview of the role of the United States in an increasingly globalized society with a focus on economic and political inequality, the class structure, the labor process, race and gender relations, the global dimensions of capitalism, and modern crisis tendencies.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Credits: 3

Sociological perspectives on social deviance; overview of theoretical approaches; emphasis on symbolic interactionism; issues of social control; research examples and policy implications.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

A critical consideration of myths concerning crime, perspectives on crime and their assumptions, current criminology theory, and construction of alternative explanations related to crime.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

Study of minority racial and cultural groups in U.S. society. An examination of how the lives of the members of these groups are affected by racism, prejudice, and discrimination.

Prerequisites: SOC 101 

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Credits: 3

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.

Prerequisites: CJ 101

Credits: 3

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.

Prerequisites: SOC 101 or SOC 150 or by instructor permission.

Credits: 3

Examines the sociology relationship between people and the environment including: ways various societies view the environment, social changes form ecological degradation, and solutions to environmental problems. Topics may include a sociological analysis of climate change, agriculture, and resource extraction. Spring

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Credits: 3

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.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Credits: 3

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.

Prerequisites: SOC 101 or SOC 150 or by instructor approval.

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Credits: 3

Addresses aspects of criminal and civil law pertinent to substance abuse.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

This course will address theoretical and practical aspects of the planning and evaluation process within social service systems. Evidence-based methods of developing programs and measuring their effectiveness in the human services will be addressed.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

Techniques of survey research, interview, and questionnaire construction, field administration, and sampling methodology.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

A sociological perspective to examine the history of drug use and abuse in the United States. Multicultural issues in drug abuse, international drug distribution networks, prevention efforts, and legal issues will be discussed.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

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.Prereq: SOC 101 or SOC 101W; SOC 201 or similar social science research course with instructor permission.

Prerequisites: SOC 301W or similar science research course with instructor permission.

Credits: 3

Participant observation, focused interviews, and qualitative analysis; students actively participate in a field research project. Prereq: SOC 301W or similiar science research course with instructor permission.

Prerequisites: SOC 301W or similar science research course with instructor permission.

Credits: 3

Analysis of social forces and processes involved in changing norms, values, and structures in traditional and modern societies. Examines both planned and unplanned change.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

Theory development and research findings about family systems with a special emphasis on societal influences (social, economic, political) on the changing family.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

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.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 2-6

Topics vary as announced in class schedule. May be retaken for credit if topic varies.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1-3

Workshop topics vary as announced in class schedule. May be retaken for credit.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 1

For Honors students only.

Prerequisites: none

Credits: 3

Focuses on ways sociological theories, perspectives, and methods can be applied to address human concerns; how sociologists make a better world. Participants learn to use sociological methods and concepts (such as theories about social structure, social organization, and social movements) to identify, investigate, and implement solutions to problems of social organization, social process, and social change. Potential applications include issues encountered in various workplace and social situations including community agencies and organizations, government, business, health care, and other social institutions.

Prerequisites: SOC 301W or equivalent; Senior Standing. 

Credits: 3

Reviews sociological competencies and their applications in a variety of professional settings. A faculty-supervised, student-designed capstone project will integrate sociological knowledge, theory and research. Students must have completed or be currently enrolled in all other required courses for the major.

Prerequisites: SOC 200, SOC 301W and SOC 458

Credits: 1-12

The internship in sociology 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.

Prerequisites: Consent 

Credits: 1-6

A maximum of six credits is applicable toward a single major in the department; three credits toward a minor.

Prerequisites: Consent