Sociology (SOCL)
SOCL 100 Introductory Sociology 3 Hours
Introduction to the basic concepts of society and culture, group behavior, population, class, minorities, community, social institutions and social changes. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code E-SB | SB
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; summer 2021; fall 2021; winter 2022; spring 2022; summer 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; summer 2023; fall 2023
SOCL 199 College & Careers in Criminology & Sociology 1 Hour
An orientation to academic life within Criminology & Sociology at WKU, as well as career planning and preparation. Students are introduced to information and skills essential to success as a criminology or sociology major. Throughout the course, students develop their own career paths by employing job search strategies and refining artifacts such as a resume/cv, ePortfolio, and cover letter.
Equivalent(s): CRIM 199
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2023
SOCL 210 Interaction: Self in Society 3 Hours
Study of the individual in social context. Emphasis is on group, social, and cultural factors and their consequences for self-development, role perception, role performance and value orientation. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SC
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; fall 2021; spring 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; fall 2023
SOCL 220 Marriage and Family 3 Hours
Analysis of the family institution, its structure and function and the dynamics of social change in family interaction and organization. Note: Consent of instructor. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SC | SB
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; summer 2021; fall 2021; spring 2022; summer 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; fall 2023
SOCL 240 Global Social Problems 3 Hours
Examines causes of and responses to critical social problems in different world regions, with a focus on the dimensions and impacts of globalizations. Diverse social theories are applied to interpret problems such as environmental degradation, AIDS, family violence, racism, migration, international poverty, and crime. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-LG
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: winter 2021; spring 2021; summer 2021; fall 2021; winter 2022; spring 2022; summer 2022; fall 2022; winter 2023; spring 2023; summer 2023; fall 2023
SOCL 245 Sociology of Popular Culture 3 Hours
Investigation of various forms of popular culture, including television, film, music, fashion, sports, computers, and language from a sociological perspective.
Prerequisite(s): SOCL 100
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
SOCL 250 Systems of Social Inequality 3 Hours
In this course students will explore how social structures and systems produce inequalities, especially those related to race, gender, sex, sexuality, class, disability, and national identity. Students will learn: 1) about the historical roots of contemporary inequalities and how they produced systems of stratification, 2) the processes that sustain and reproduce these systems of inequalities over time, and 3) how to identify themselves and others within these systems of stratification and oppression in their everyday lives. Students will also learn about the work of contemporary and historical social movements which have defined and advocated alternative forms of social organization as a way to reduce the harm from these inequalities. While this course will focus on systems of oppression primarily within a U.S. context, students will explore how these inequalities connect to global systems of stratification.
Prerequisite(s): SOCL 100
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
SOCL 260 Race and Ethnic Relations 3 Hours
Designed to acquaint students with the historical and contemporary experiences of racial and ethnic groups in America. Explores social class and gender variations in the experiences of these various groups.
Prerequisite(s): SOCL 100
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2023
SOCL 300 Social Statistics 3 Hours
Introduction to statistical methods and techniques that are used to 1) summarize, describe, and analyze data, and 2) make inferences about populations based upon data collected from samples of populations.
Prerequisite(s): (MATH 109 or MA 109C or MATH 109E or MATH 112 or MATH 115 or MA 115C or MATH 115E or MATH 116 or MA 116C or MATH 116E or MATH 117 or MATH 123 or MATH 183)
Recent Term(s) Offered: winter 2021; spring 2021; summer 2021; fall 2021; winter 2022; spring 2022; summer 2022; fall 2022; winter 2023; spring 2023; summer 2023; fall 2023
SOCL 301 Social Statistics Lab 1 Hour
Students will use statistical analysis software to create datasets, calculate and interpret descriptive statistics, create visual presentations of data, calculate and interpret inferential statistics, and construct and interpret bivariate tables.
Prerequisite(s): MATH 109 or MA 109C or MATH 109E or MATH 112 or MATH 115 or MA 115C or MATH 115E or MATH 116 or MA 116C or MATH 116E or MATH 117 or MATH 123 or MATH 183
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
SOCL 302 Social Research Methods 3 Hours
Use of the scientific method as applied to societies, institutions, and social interaction. Development of research questions, research ethics, criteria for establishing causality, methods of research design, measurement, sampling techniques, and methods of data collection such as survey design. it is recommended that students take an introductory level social science class before enrolling in SOCL 302.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; summer 2021; fall 2021; spring 2022; summer 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; summer 2023; fall 2023
SOCL 304 Sociological Theory: Perspectives on Society 3 Hours
Prerequisite(s): Six hours of sociology. Study of the leading developments of schools of sociological theory from Durkheim to the present.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; summer 2021; fall 2021; spring 2022; summer 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; summer 2023; fall 2023
SOCL 309 Social Deviance 3 Hours
Introduction to the sociological study of deviance. Primary foci are classic writings in the field; stigmatization and stigma management (with an emphasis on criminal record stigma); methodological issues in the study of deviance; social control; drug use data sources, patterns, and trends; the social control of drug use; prostitution (sex work) and other non-index crimes.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; summer 2021; fall 2021; spring 2022; summer 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; summer 2023; fall 2023
SOCL 310 Behavior in Small Groups 3 Hours
The study of communication and interaction patterns within small groups, including analysis of power, status, cohesion, and leadership. Note: Six hours of sociology or consent of instructor required for course enrollment.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
SOCL 312 Collective Behavior and Social Movements 3 Hours
Prerequisite(s): Six hours of sociology. Analysis of collective behavior and social movements, focusing on individual participation and social consequences.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; spring 2022
SOCL 315 Public Problem Solving 3 Hours
Investigation of historical perspectives and theoretical dimensions of public problem solving with attention to the development of collective power, capacities, and responsibilities. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SY
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
SOCL 322 Religion in Society 3 Hours
Study of the various forms and content of religious organizations and movements and the behavioral and attitudinal concomitants of religious affirmation. Note: Consent of instructor. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SY
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status and SOCL 100
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; spring 2022
SOCL 324 Sociology of Sport 3 Hours
An examination of the sociological perspective of sport as an institution. Particular emphasis is placed on the impact of sport on the individual, small groups, other institutions, and society. Note: Consent of instructor.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; summer 2021; fall 2021; spring 2022; summer 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; summer 2023; fall 2023
SOCL 342 Aging in Society 3 Hours
An analysis of the elderly and their position in society. Attention is directed to aging as it relates to various social institutions and to the social aspects of aging in contemporary American society. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SY
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: winter 2021; spring 2021; summer 2021; fall 2021; winter 2022; spring 2022; summer 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; summer 2023; fall 2023
SOCL 345 The Sociology of Popular Music 3 Hours
A sociological examination of contemporary music. Focus is on the social organization of popular music performance, production and consumption. Note: Consent of instructor.
Prerequisite(s): SOCL 100
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
SOCL 346 Special Topics 3 Hours (repeatable max of 21 hrs)
Significant sociological topics, issues, or developments in the discipline of sociology.
Prerequisite(s): SOCL 100
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
SOCL 352 Technology, Work and Society 3 Hours
Analysis of technology's impact on work systems, relationships between work and society, and management-worker interaction in varied industrial settings. Note: Consent of instructor.
Prerequisite(s): SOCL 100
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
SOCL 355 Sociology of Gender 3 Hours
Examination of the social construction of women's and men's roles in society and of the concepts of masculinity and femininity. Note: Consent of instructor.
Prerequisite(s): SOCL 100
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2021; fall 2022; fall 2023
SOCL 359 Sexuality and Society 3 Hours
Sociological examination of issues, debates, and research on pornography, prostitution, sexual orientation, and sex and the law.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; fall 2021; fall 2022; spring 2023; fall 2023
SOCL 360 The Community in Rural and Urban Settings 3 Hours
Study of the structure and function of community life and the process of balancing community needs and resources. Note: Six hours of sociology courses required prior to course enrollment.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; summer 2021; fall 2021; spring 2022; summer 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; summer 2023; fall 2023
SOCL 362 Social Institutions: Race, Class, and Gender 3 Hours
The five primary institutions (family, religion, economy, education government) as they affect and are affected by race, class, and gender in America. Explores interrelationships among those institutions and between various racial and other groups. Note: Consent of instructor. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SY
Prerequisite(s): SOCL 100 and 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; summer 2021; fall 2021; spring 2022; summer 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023
SOCL 363 Population, Society, and Development 3 Hours
Course examines population as a system, focusing on the causes and consequences of population size, growth or decline, composition, and distribution in the United States and other countries with an eye toward development. Emphasis is placed on the interrelationship of system components (fertility, mortality and migration) as well as their relationship with other systems (e.g., social, economic, political, ecological). Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SY
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022
SOCL 372 Causes and Consequences of Human-Wildlife Conflict 3 Hours
Global study of human-wildlife conflict and the varying ecological, social, economic, and cultural realities that influence this conflict. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-LG
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022
SOCL 375 Diversity in American Society 3 Hours
Sociological analyses of ways societal institutions create and shape intergroup diversity. Focuses on the elements of social organization and their relationships to diversity. Note: Consent of instructor. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SC
Prerequisite(s): SOCL 100 and 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; summer 2021; fall 2021; spring 2022; summer 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023
SOCL 376 Sociology of Globalization 3 Hours
Sociological analysis of causes, effects, and implications of the process by which people become more interconnected in different ways and across large distances. Within this framework, economic, cultural, environmental, political, and social issues will be examined. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-LG
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2021; fall 2022; fall 2023
SOCL 389 Stigma and Society 3 Hours
Sociological examination of the conceptualization, types, consequences, and management of stigma. Course will cover associative stigma, stigma resistance, and reintegration. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SC
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
SOCL 402 Evaluation Research Tech 3 Hours
Study of the methods, techniques, and philosophical approaches used in conducting research to identify and evaluate social problems, programs, and policies.
Prerequisite(s): (SOCL 300 or SOCL 302 or SOCL 315)
Restriction(s): Students with a semester level of Academy Junior, Academy Senior, Freshman or Sophomore may not enroll.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
SOCL 404 Qualitative Research Methods 3 Hours
Study of the methods and techniques used in qualitative sociological research. Topics include observational research, in-depth interviewing and discourse analysis.
Prerequisite(s): SOCL 100
Restriction(s): Students with a semester level of Academy Junior, Academy Senior, Freshman or Sophomore may not enroll.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; summer 2021
SOCL 408 Survey Applications 3 Hours
Students will be involved in the design, conduct, analysis, and dissemination of an actual social survey research project. Note: Course pass and consent of instructor required.
Prerequisite(s): SOCL 300 and SOCL 302
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
SOCL 410 Socialization: Changes Through Life 3 Hours
Study of theories and research techniques in the area of socialization with summary of the findings dealing with changes over the life course.
Prerequisite(s): SOCL 100
Restriction(s): Students with a semester level of Academy Junior, Academy Senior, Freshman or Sophomore may not enroll.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
SOCL 435 Family Violence 3 Hours
A sociological perspective on family violence in the United States, emphasizing child abuse and intimate partner violence. Research, theory, laws, treatment and prevention are analyzed.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; summer 2021; fall 2021; spring 2022; summer 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; summer 2023; fall 2023
SOCL 440 Sociology of Health and Illness 3 Hours
A comprehensive introduction to sociological factors in disease etiology and illness behavior; the organization and operation of health delivery systems; and the social interaction between organization administrators, health professionals and semi-professionals, patients, and the public.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
SOCL 442 Sociology Research Project 3 Hours
Course pass required.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2022; fall 2022
SOCL 450 Occupations and Professions 3 Hours
Analysis of the meaning of trends in occupational activities and careers through investigation of various occupations and professions. Note: Consent of instructor.
Prerequisite(s): SOCL 100
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
SOCL 452 Social Change 3 Hours
Examination of the nature and theories of social change and of the factors affecting it. Emphasis on the process of modernization and contemporary social changes. Note: Nine hours of sociology or consent of instructor required prior to course enrollment.
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2022
SOCL 455 Theory and Practice of Community Development 3 Hours
Course explores the ecological, interactional, structural functional, technical assistance, action research, evaluation research and leadership approaches to community development practice. Course requires participation in a community development project. Note: Consent of instructor.
Prerequisite(s): SOCL 100
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
SOCL 466 Gender, Family, and Society 3 Hours
Examination of gender dynamics and inequality in the context of the family. Issues examined may include mate selection, parenting, same-sex families and parenting, gendered divisions of work, gendered family dynamics by social class and race/ethnicity, costs, for example.
Prerequisite(s): SOCL 100
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
SOCL 470 Environmental Sociology 3 Hours
Explores environmental thought within the sciences and the general public, including shifting worldviews, social movements, and social structural change associated with sustainability, environmental justice, and the rights of nature. Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation for optional field trips. Note: 3 credit hours in sociology or consent of instructor required prior to enrollment.
Prerequisite(s): ENG 300
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
SOCL 480 Sociology of Agri-Food Systems 3 Hours
Course examines the social organization and dynamics of food and agricultural systems. SOCL 270 is strongly recommended, but not required. Field trips are required. Note: Consent of instructor.
Prerequisite(s): SOCL 100
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
SOCL 489 Sociology Study Abroad 1-6 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)
Sociological and cultural study in international locations. May be repeated for credit. No more than six hours may be applied toward the major or minor.
Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
SOCL 494 Internship in Sociology 1-6 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)
Internships are unique experiential learning opportunities. Once placed with a community partner, the student works toward an enhanced understanding of prior coursework through practical experience in a supervised work situation. Note: Course pass and 80 hours of completed college coursework required.
Prerequisite(s): (SOCL 300 or SOCL 302)
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; fall 2021; spring 2022; summer 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; fall 2023
SOCL 495 Directed Study 1-3 Hours (repeatable max of 3 hrs)
Course pass required. Available to superior students who wish to conduct individual, intensive reading and research in a specific area of sociology in close cooperation with supervising faculty. Submission of such projects to student sections of regional professional meetings is encouraged.
Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor
Restriction(s): Students with a semester level of Academy Junior, Academy Senior, Freshman or Sophomore may not enroll.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; fall 2022; spring 2023
SOCL 496 Directed Study 1-3 Hours (repeatable max of 3 hrs)
Course pass required. Available to superior students who wish to conduct individual, intensive reading and research in a specific area of sociology in close cooperation with supervising faculty. Submission of such projects to student sections of regional professional meetings is encouraged.
Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor
Restriction(s): Students with a semester level of Academy Junior, Academy Senior, Freshman or Sophomore may not enroll.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021
SOCL 499 Senior Seminar 1 Hour
Integrates concepts, theories, research methods, and data analysis techniques learned during study of sociology.
Prerequisite(s): (SOCL 100 or SOC 100C) and SOCL 300 (may be taken concurrently) and SOCL 302 (may be taken concurrently) and SOCL 304 (may be taken concurrently)
Restriction(s): Students with a semester level of Academy Junior, Academy Senior, Freshman, Junior or Sophomore may not enroll.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021; fall 2021; spring 2022; fall 2022; spring 2023; fall 2023