Sociology

http://socanth.msu.montana.edu/

Department of Sociology & Anthropology

The Bachelor of Science in Sociology program provides students the opportunity to combine a liberal arts education with a unique focus on the empirical study of human societies including social dynamics, institutions, and inequality. The curriculum is designed for students to explore interests in sociology, with an on elective courses and few prerequisites.

A Bachelor's degree in Sociology prepares students for employment in a number of arenas, including governmental agencies, nonprofit organizations, for-profit businesses, agricultural organizations, and academic institutions. The fields of law enforcement, probation and corrections, labor relations, business management, personnel administration, market analysis, and various types of industrial research employ students who major in Sociology. Many graduates enter social services. Sociology also provides excellent preparation for graduate school and other educational and career opportunities.

The Department offers a Bachelor of Science degree with two options: (a) General Sociology, or (b) Criminology. Both options require 42 credits in Sociology courses, along with 3 credits in Statistics. In choosing specific SOCI classes and topics, it is recommended that students should frequently consult with their advisor and instructors to determine the best set of classes to fulfill the elective requirements. For students in both the General Sociology and Criminology options, it will be helpful to discuss your substantive and occupational interests with your advisor to better design and align your major coursework with these interests. We offer many SOCI classes that can be combined to create a focused and comprehensive plan of study, which will better prepare you to enter post-baccalaureate positions.

Additionally, the department recommends that students consider adding a second major or a minor to their degree plans to further assist in preparing them for labor market or graduate education options. The choice of this major or minor should also be made in consultation with advisors and other faculty members.

General Sociology Option

This option is for the student who desires a broad and general foundation in Sociology with the ability to fully customize their major and substantive focus. For this option, the student is required to takeSOCI 101ISSTAT 216Q STAT 216Q,  SOCI 318R SOCI 318RSOCI 455 SOCI 455, andSOCI 499 (15 credits total). The remaining 30 credits in Sociology will be comprised of ten courses of the student's choosing, of which eight must be at the 300-level or above. Students that choose the General Sociology Option often take a set of courses that lead to a specific area of emphasis, such as Social Inequality, Family Relations and Children, Business and Management, Marketing and Public Relations, Social Services, Health and Medicine, and Pre-Law.

We strongly recommend that prior to enrolling in any upper division courses in Sociology, students complete their core in Writing, Quantitative Reasoning, Diversity, and Inquiry-Social Sciences with a grade of "C-" or better.  We also recommend students complete their Quantitative Reasoning core by the end of their sophomore year and SOCI 318R SOCI 318R in their junior year.

Criminology Option

This option is for the student who desires a strong foundation in Sociology with a specific focus on laws, the legal system, the social structure of criminal behavior, and society's efforts to understand and control crime. This option allows students to pursue a sociology degree that integrates core coursework in sociology with sociology courses that focus on law, crime, and the criminal justice system. To achieve this integration, the student is required to take SOCI 101IS SOCI 101ISSTAT 216Q STAT 216QSOCI 318R SOCI 318RSOCI 311 SOCI 311, and SOCI 499 SOCI 499 (15 credits total). The remaining 30 credits in Sociology will be comprised of 15 credits in Directed Criminology Elective courses and 15 credits in Sociology elective courses.

We strongly recommend that prior to enrolling in any upper division courses in Sociology, students complete their core in Writing, Quantitative Reasoning, Diversity, and Inquiry-Social Sciences with a grade of "C-" or better. We also recommend students complete their Quantitative Reasoning core by the end of their sophomore year and SOCI 318R SOCI 318R in their junior year

Prerequisite Requirements

Any student who enrolls in a course offered by the Department of Sociology and Anthropology without the required prerequisite(s) will be required to withdraw from the course. Most elective courses in Sociology require SOCI 101IS as a prerequisite. Required Courses: Students must complete SOCI 101IS SOCI 101ISSTAT 216Q STAT 216QSOCI 318R SOCI 318R and SOCI 499 SOCI 499 in sequence

Curricula in Sociology

Transfer Students: 

The maximum number of Sociology transfer credits accepted is 18.

SOCI 318RSOCI 455 or SOCI 311, and SOCI 499 must be taken within the MUS system. Transfer students who have taken these prior to transferring can petition to have these courses accepted. For graduation in the Sociology option, students must have a grade of  "C-" or higher in all required and elective Sociology courses.

Criminology Option

Freshman YearCredits
FallSpring
Choose one of the following:3  
SOCI 101IS - Introduction to Sociology1
SOCI 110IS - Honors Sociological Inquiry1
W CORE - College Writing I3  
Q CORE -Quantitative Reasoning3  
IS CORE - (Social Science Inquiry): Outside of the Sociology Department3  
US CORE - University Seminar3  
CS CORE - Contemporary Issues in Science  3
IN CORE - Natural Science Inquiry  3
IH CORE -Humanities Inquiry  3
D CORE - (Diversity): Outside of the Sociology Department  3
IA CORE - Arts Inquiry  3
Year Total: 15 15
Sophomore YearCredits
FallSpring
Choose one of the following:23  
STAT 216Q - Introduction to Statistics
SOCI 202 - Social Statistics
SOCI Electives33  
Free Electives and/or Remaining CORE9  
SOCI Electives3  6
Free Electives and/or Remaining CORE  9
Year Total: 15 15
Junior YearCredits
FallSpring
SOCI 318R - Sociological Research Methods3  
SOCI Electives36  
Free Electives and/or Remaining CORE6  
SOCI 311 - Criminology  3
SOCI Elective3  3
Free Electives and/or Remaining CORE  9
Year Total: 15 15
Senior YearCredits
FallSpring
Free Electives and/or Remaining CORE9  
SOCI Electives36  
SOCI 499 - Senior Thesis Capstone4  3
SOCI Electives3  6
Free Electives and/or Remaining CORE  6
Year Total: 15 15
Total Program Credits: 120

Criminology designated Sociology electives: 

Criminology designated Sociology electives: 3
SOCI 150DSocial Difference3
SOCI 201DSocial Problems3
SOCI 221ISCriminal Justice System3
SOCI 313Principles of Criminal Law and Procedure3
SOCI 325Social Stratification3
SOCI 326Sociology of Gender3
SOCI 327Sociology of Deviance3
SOCI 335Juvenile Justice System3
SOCI 344Sociology of Race & Ethnicity3
SOCI 357Occupational/Corporate Crime3
SOCI 358Crime and Inequality3
SOCI 359Crime, Justice and Media3
SOCI 362Sociology of Law Enforcement3
SOCI 363Crime Prevention3
SOCI 375Law & Globalization3
SOCI 414Family Violence3
SOCI 415Sociology of Trauma3
SOCI 420Violence in America3
SOCI 423Sociology of Corrections3
SOCI 425Victims and Society3
SOCI 435Law and Society3
SOCI 436Law and Inequality3
SOCI 437Communities & Crime3
SOCI 498Internship2-12

General Sociology Electives 

General Sociology electives 4
SOCI 150DSocial Difference3
SOCI 201DSocial Problems3
SOCI 221ISCriminal Justice System3
SOCI 235Aging and Society3
SOCI 290RUndergraduate Research1-6
SOCI 303Society and the Individual3
SOCI 307Soc of Childhood & Adolescence3
SOCI 308Becoming an Adult in America3
SOCI 313Principles of Criminal Law and Procedure3
SOCI 320Sociology of Religion3
SOCI 325Social Stratification3
SOCI 326Sociology of Gender3
SOCI 327Sociology of Deviance3
SOCI 332Sociology of the Family3
SOCI 333Sociology of Education3
SOCI 335Juvenile Justice System3
SOCI 340Social Movements3
SOCI 344Sociology of Race & Ethnicity3
SOCI 345Sociology of Organizations3
SOCI 346Rural Sociology3
SOCI 347Urban Sociology3
SOCI 355Population and Society3
SOCI 357Occupational/Corporate Crime3
SOCI 358Crime and Inequality3
SOCI 359Crime, Justice and Media3
SOCI 362Sociology of Law Enforcement3
SOCI 363Crime Prevention3
SOCI 370Sociology of Globalization3
SOCI 374Sociology of Culture3
SOCI 375Law & Globalization3
SOCI 380Sociology of Health & Medicine3
SOCI 401Animals and Society3
SOCI 414Family Violence3
SOCI 415Sociology of Trauma3
SOCI 420Violence in America3
SOCI 423Sociology of Corrections3
SOCI 425Victims and Society3
SOCI 434Sociology of Human Sexuality3
SOCI 435Law and Society3
SOCI 436Law and Inequality3
SOCI 437Communities & Crime3
SOCI 448Society and Sport3
SOCI 455Classical Sociological Theory3
SOCI 470Environmental Sociology3
SOCI 485Political Sociology3
SOCI 490RUndergraduate Research1-6
SOCI 491Special Topics1-4
SOCI 492Independent Study1-3
SOCI 494Seminar1-3
SOCI 498Internship2-12