Courses marked with ++ are part of the University's General Education program.

++SO 100 Introduction to Sociology (3)
Concepts and elementary methods used in the study of society. Special attention is given social organization, social stratification, social institutions, formal organizations, small groups and social change.

++SO 101 American Social Problems (3)
Major problems of contemporary American society from the viewpoint of sociology. Special emphasis is given to problems emerging from divisions in society related to social power, social class, race, sex and the environment.

SO 205 Juvenile Delinquency (3)
Characteristics and extent of youthful deviancy; possible causes, concepts of treatment, and societal reaction. Prerequisite: three hours in Sociology.

SO 206 Criminal Victimization Victimology (3)
Perceptual and behavioral responses to criminal victimization, victim epidemiology and victim precipitation. The focus will be on victim-offender relationships, personal and societal responses to crime. Prerequisite: SO 100 or SO 101.

SO 207 / AN 207 Race and Ethnic Group Relations (3)
How racial and ethnic group contacts are resolved, including expulsion, annihilation, segregation, assimilation and pluralism. Social power and intergroup conflict are emphasized. A major segment is devoted to discrimination and racism in the United States. Prerequisite: SO 100 or AN 112.

SO 300 Special Topics in Sociology (1-3)
Topics will vary from semester to semester and will be announced in advance. May be taken for more than one semester. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

SO 301 World Population: Growth, Hunger & U.S. Foreign Policy (3)
Worldwide trends in fertility, mortality and migration; the role of the US in reducing population growth and alleviating hunger. Prerequisite: SO 100 and AN 112 or EC 201.

SO 302 / AN 302 Culture and Human Sexuality (3)
A theoretical and empirical survey of human sexual beliefs and activities in selected Western and nonwestern cultures. Prerequisite: AN 112 or SO 100 or consent of instructor.

SO 304 / AN 304 The Family (3)
Changes that have occurred in definitions of family and family functions, the effects of the changes on status and roles of family members, and family disorganization, with emphasis placed on the United States family. Prerequisite: SO 100 or AN 112.

SO 305 Criminology (3)
Theories of causation of crime and their relationships to social structure and culture. Prerequisite: six hours of Sociology including SO 100.

SO 306 Law and Society (3)
The legal system is studied not in terms of the rules which make up the system, but in terms of the activities involved in creating, interpreting and enforcing these rules. The primary concern is with the ways in which the legal system affects society and in which society is an integral part of the larger social system and not an isolated set of rules, procedures and activities. Prerequisite: SO 100 or consent of instructor.

SO 307 Penology (3)
History of treatment of convicted adults and juveniles. Discussion of modern alternatives to prison: probation, parole, and suspended sentence. Field trips to local institutions. Prerequisite: six hours of Sociology including SO 305.

SO 308 The Sociology of Mental Health (3)
Survey and sociological analyses of major theoretical approaches toward mental health and illness exploring the social factors associated with mental illness; examination of the dynamics of societal reactions to mental illness. Prerequisites: SO 100 or AN 112.

SO 309 Sociology of Deviance (3)
Presentation, evaluation, and integration of sociological theories of deviance. Focus on the social processes producing and maintaining deviance. Consideration given to a variety of deviant expressions. Prerequisite: SO 100 or 101.

SO 310 Social Inequality: Differences in Power & Wealth (3)
Stratification systems, including theories of stratification and historical and comparative studies of stratification systems, with the primary emphasis on the American social class system, and its implication for contemporary society and the individual. Prerequisite: SO 100.

SO 312 / AN 312 Culture, Health and Illness (3)
Sociocultural causes of illness; health care delivery systems, patient-practitioner relationships; prevention of illness. Prerequisite: SO 100 or AN 112 or consent of instructor.

SO 314 Organizations (3)
Organizations are examined from the sociological perspective with attention given to the formal and informal components of organizations ranging from voluntary association, through professional organizations to modern bureaucracies. Special attention is given to organizational theory and its implications for behavior within and between organizations. Prerequisite: SO 100.

SO 315 Sociology of Sport (3)
The emergence of organized sport in becoming a major social institution in American society. Prerequisite: SO 100.

SO / AN 317 Peoples and Cultures of Africa (3)
A survey of the indigenous cultures and societies of Africa through the study of kinship, politics, economics, religion and contemporary socio-cultural change. Prerequisite: AN 112 or consent.

SO 318 Sociology of Religion (3)
A comparative study of the phenomenon of religion with special emphasis on the impact and future of religion in the modern world. Concepts of such men as Weber, Durkheim, Troeltsch, & Merton will serve as a basis for the approach to religious values, norms, institutional structures & changing religious practices. Prerequisite: SO 100 / AN 112.

SO 323 / AN 323 The City and Urban Life (3)
Comparative study of the origin and development of cities. Focuses on processes of urban development, rural-urban migration, interrelationships between people, urban cultures, social institutions, use of space and competing theoretical perspectives. Examines Latin American, African, European as well as American cities. Prerequisite: SO 100, AN 112, or consent.

SO 326 / AN 326 Aging and Society (3)
The social position of the aged, paying particular attention to American society, using historical and cross-cultural considerations. The situation and problems of older persons will be examined from the vantage point of sociological theories of aging and related empirical studies. Prerequisites: SO 100 or consent of instructor.

SO 330 Collective Behavior: Crowds, Disasters & Social Movements (3)
Collective behavior as a special form of social change. Topics investigated include crowd behavior, rumor, panic, fads and social movement. Prerequisite: SO 100.

SO 338 / AN 338 Advanced Social Problems (Strategies for Change) (3)
This course examines possible solutions to major contemporary social problems, including poverty, racism, sexism, educational inequality, and environmental abuse. Theories of social change are explored and alternative futures for American society are considered. Prerequisite: SO 100, 101 or consent.

SO 360 Sociological Theory (3)
Exploration of the development of sociological theory from its classical roots to the present. Central concepts are elaborated and interrelated within the context of the work of particular theorists and the "schools of thought" they represent. One of two capstone courses required of Sociology majors.
Prerequisite: declared major, junior/senior standing, or consent.

SO 361 Supervised Study (1-3)
Under supervision, Sociology-Anthropology majors may undertake a research project or undertake extensive reading in some aspects of the disciplines or engage in a field experience. Prerequisite: declared major, junior/senior standing or consent.

SO 362 / AN 362 Methods of Social Research (3)
Specific research techniques employed by sociologists, anthropologists, and other social scientists are considered, including polls and surveys, the interview and participant observation. Each student will complete an outside project. One of two capstone courses required of Sociology majors. Prerequisite: declared major, junior/senior standing, 12 hours of Sociology, or consent.

SO 363 Internship (1-3)
Field training to provide students with experience in an operational or research setting through assignment to local social agencies or museums approved and supervised by a faculty member. Prerequisite: declared major, senior standing and consent. May be elected twice for a maximum of three hours.

SO 377 The Sociology of Education (3)
This course examines theories and methods focusing on the role of education in stabilizing and changing industrial society particularly the United States. We describe and analyze how schools and universities figure into recurring crises and struggles - especially those related to the job market and to people's concerns as to what constitutes a rewarding life. Prerequisite: SO 100, SO 101 or consent of instructor.

SO 400 Special Topics in Sociology (3)
Topics will vary from semester to semester and will be announced in advance. May be taken for more than one semester. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

SO 514 Organizations (3)
Organizations are examined from the sociological perspective with attention given to the formal and informal components of organizations ranging from voluntary associations through professional organizations to modern bureaucracies. Special attention is given to organizational theory and its implications for behavior within and between organizations. Master's component: Master's students will present the findings of an in-depth analysis of a formal organization, resulting in a 20-page formal report and oral presentation. Prerequisites: SO 100.

SO 538 Advanced Social Problems (3)
This course examines possible solutions to major contemporary social problems, including poverty, racism, sexism, educational inequality, and environmental abuse. Theories of social change are explored and alternative futures for American society are considered. Master's component: Master's students will (1) identify one or more aspects of a social problem in or around Topeka and analyze it through several theoretical frameworks; (2) volunteer with a local organization (through LINC) to propose and/or implement solutions; and (3) document their analysis and volunteer experience in a 20-page formal paper. Prerequisites: SO 100, 101 or consent.