Courses - NMU Bulletin

SO 101 Introductory Sociology 4 cr.

• Offered: Fall Winter Summer

A study of social organization, culture and social interaction with particular emphasis on American society. The sociological approach is developed through such concepts as status and role, social stratification, socialization and social change. This approach is used to study crime, population, family, religion, education and other areas.

SO 113 Social Problems 4 cr.

• Offered: Fall Winter Summer

Survey of the major social problems in contemporary American society including urban problems, population, environment, power, family, health care, work and leisure, aging, poverty, race and ethnic relations, sex roles, war, deviant behavior, drugs and alcohol, social movements, crime and delinquency, and others.

SO 120 Introduction to Food Studies 4 cr.

• Offered: Fall

Examines the complex social, economic, and cultural relations that determine what we eat. Analyzes how problems in the food system, including environmental degradation, labor injustices, and unequal access to healthy food are social problems that reflect an ongoing tension between the agency of individual eaters and the power of institutions and social structures.

SO 208 Methods of Social Research I 4 cr.

• Offered: Fall Winter
• Prerequisites: SO 101 or instructor's permission.

Introduction to techniques of data analysis for social research. Applied uses of descriptive and inferential statistics are emphasized. Computers and statistical software are used as part of the instruction process.

Notes: Cross listed as SW 208.

SO 232 Sociology of Family and Intimate Relationships 4 cr.

• Offered: Fall Winter Summer
• Prerequisites: SO 101 or instructor permission.

Examination of social changes that have affected family relations in western culture and the multifaceted effects of these changes and the social significance of these changes in a complex social order. Also explores many of the issues and problems confronting contemporary families.

SO 263 Criminology 4 cr.

• Offered: Fall
• Prerequisites: SO 101 or SO 113 or CJ 110 or instructor's permission.

This course explores the nature, extent, causes and methods of treatment and prevention of crime. Emphasis is on the theories and methods of studying crime and criminal behavior as a social phenomena.

Notes: Cross-listed with CJ 263.

SO 283 Tribal-Centered Victim Services 4 cr.  (4-0-0)

• Offered: Summer
• Prerequisites: NAS 204 and Instructor approval.

This course provides students with an introductory, experiential opportunity to practice social service work with Tribal communities in the Upper Peninsula. Students will be placed in a Tribal victim services agency where they will both observe and perform relevant tasks under the guidance of an agency supervisor. Students will concurrently participate in a seminar course with an NMU instructor, which will emphasize integration of knowledge and skills learned in the classroom and practicum through discussion and self-reflection.

SO 287 Culture, Society, and Happiness 4 cr.  (4-0-0)

• Offered: Contact Department

Human happiness is a focus of multiple traditions -- artistic, poetic, religious, philosophical, scientific, and social scientific. This course addresses the social and cultural factors that contribute to, or detract from, the experience of happiness. The emphasis is on social forces – interpersonal, institutional, and global -- that shape our human journey on a path toward well-being.  

Notes: Cross-listed with AN 287.

SO 292 Sociology of Sport 4 cr.  (4-0-0)

• Offered: Contact Department

This course introduces students to the sociological study of sports with particular emphasis on American society. The course covers topics such as culture, structure, social interaction, deviance, and power. The central theme, however, is differentiation and stratification by race, gender, and class. In short: students will use sociological theories, methods, and empirical data to better understand the social institution of sport and its relationship to individual and collective lives.

SO 295 Special Topics in Sociology 1-4 cr.

• Offered: Contact department
• Prerequisites: SO 101 or instructor's permission.

Topic varies with the area of specialization of the faculty member teaching the course. Notes: May be repeated if topic differs.

SO 308 Methods of Social Research II 4 cr.

• Offered: Fall Winter
• Prerequisites: SO 208 or equivalent or instructor's permission.

Introduction to methods, concepts and techniques of social research, including sampling, questionnaire and interview design, experiments, observation, evaluation research, and ethics. Involves research projects on social science issues. Computers and statistical software may be used as part of the instruction process. Notes: Cross listed as SW 308.

SO 312 Religion and Society 4 cr.

• Offered: Winter odd years
• Prerequisites: SO 101 or AN 100 or AN 101 or AN 110, or instructor permission.

This course introduces students to the sociological and anthropological traditions that examine religious practices and their relationship to sociocultural systems and processes. The thematic study of diverse religious practices, in North America and throughout the world, will shed light on the nature and functions of religion as a core social institution. Both classical and contemporary sociological and anthropological theory will emphasize the role of religion throughout human history.

Notes: Cross-listed with AN 312 Religion and Society.

SO 322 Social Class, Power and Mobility 4 cr.

• Offered: Fall semester of even-numbered years
• Prerequisites: SO 101.

The development and organization of systems of social stratification. Relationship of social mobility to social stratification. A survey of theories, methods, class characteristics and the channels, types and forms of social mobility.

SO 343 Sociology of Deviant Behavior 4 cr.

• Offered: Fall Winter Summer
• Prerequisites: SO 101.

A survey of individuals and groups that are considered “deviant” in our society. Various theories and research methods will be used to study the nature and extent of social deviance in American society. Additionally, processes of social reaction and social control will be analyzed.

SO 351 Social Change 4 cr.

• Offered: Fall
• Prerequisites: SO 101.

The latest theoretical and factual knowledge applied to the understanding of contemporary social change and the master trends shaping our lives, including robotization of work, computerization of live space, visual media and the social consciousness, environmental impacts, coping with the stress of change, and the prospects for planning change.

SO 353 Globalization and Asian Societies 4 cr.

• Offered: Fall semester of odd years
• Prerequisites: SO 101 and junior standing or instructor permission.

Course examines globalization in a diverse social, cultural, and historical context from both macro and micro level perspectives. Topics also include a survey of world poverty and major global issues concerning a number of Asian nations and regions. Economic reform and dramatic social transformation in China are given primary emphasis as a case study.

SO 355 Introduction to Social Psychology 4 cr.

• Offered: Fall
• Prerequisites: SO 101, EN 211 with a grade of "C" or better and sophomore standing.

Social basis of human behavior, with emphasis on symbolic interaction theory. People are shown to possess a “mind” and “self” not possessed by other organisms. Further, human behavior is shown to depend upon the use of language and learning through social interaction that language makes possible.

SO 362 Gender and Society 4 cr.

• Offered: Contact department for information
• Prerequisites: SO 101 or instructor's permission.

Addresses the significance of gender/sex roles in American society. This course focuses on cultural and social ingredients in people’s perception of themselves as men and women. The implications of gender for social inequality are examined in depth.

Notes: Formerly listed as Women, Men and Social Inequality.

SO 372 Minority Groups 4 cr.

• Offered: Fall Winter
• Prerequisites: SO 101.

Survey of selected ethnic minorities in the United States. Special attention is given to the structural sources of prejudice, discrimination and social conflict in America.

SO 382 Health, Society and Culture 4 cr.

• Offered: Winter, odd-numbered years.
• Prerequisites: SO 101 or instructor's permission.

Analysis of behavioral science dimensions of health systems and institutions at a national level, with emphasis on the United States. Discussion includes health and disease and social and cultural factors relating to the occurrence and distribution of disease. American medical systems and institutions are analyzed in comparison with medical systems in other societies.

SO 407 Sociological Theory 4 cr.

• Offered: Fall
• Prerequisites: SO 101 and eight credit hours in other sociology courses, junior standing or instructor's permission.

Emphasis on the development of theory in the discipline and its application in solving problems. The modern schools of theory are also examined.

SO 408 Survey Research, Design and Analysis 4 cr.

• Offered: Winter
• Prerequisites: SO 208 and SO 308 or equivalent courses, junior standing or instructor's permission.

Course builds on the competencies established in SO 208 and SO 308. Students design and carry out a large-scale survey research project, culminating in the presentation of the results. Stresses skills in advanced computer usage for data collection and analysis, interviewing, techniques for data manipulation and transformation and report preparation and presentation.

SO 423 Death, Dying, and Grieving 4 cr.  (4-0-0)

• Offered: Winter
• Prerequisites: SO 101, or SW 101, or AN 101, HL 111, or instructor permission.

This course provides an inter-disciplinary comprehensive overview of death, dying, and grief. The course examines the structure of the human response to death, dying, and grief in their socio-cultural, interpersonal, and individual contexts. Theories, research, and implications for practitioners will be discussed. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to apply principles and evidence-based tools to enhance their professional and personal life related to grief.

SO 433 Environmental Sociology 4 cr.  (4-0-0)

• Offered: Fall
• Prerequisites: SO 101 or SO 120 or instructor permission.

Provides a sociological introduction to environmental problems in historical perspective. The course is organized around three central issues: 1) the nature and character of environmental problems; 2) social drivers of environmental problems; and 3) societal responses to environmental problems.

SO 491 Internship in Sociology 4-12 cr.

• Offered: Contact department for information.
• Graded: S/U
• Prerequisites: SO 308, senior standing and department permission.

Students interested in doing a sociology internship should contact the department’s internship coordinator during the second semester of their junior year. Internships usually involve working with a client agency or a research need. The nature of the project, as well as the credit hours earned is negotiated with the internship coordinator. Notes: Can be taken for two consecutive semesters, but not for more than a total of 12 credits.