Courses Available
Courses primarily for graduate students, open to qualified undergraduate students
Soc 505. History of Social Thought. (3-0) Cr. 3. F. Prereq : 401.
Reviews the historical origins of social
ideas about society how social thought has evolved
throughout history, and how these affect modern
sociological thinking.
Soc 506. Classical Sociological Theory. (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: Soc 401 or 505.
The origins of the canonical
works of sociology in the mid-Industrial Revolution period
including Karl Marx, Max Weber, Emile Durkheim
and others.
Soc 509. Agroecosystem Analysis. (Cross-listed with Agron, Anthr, SusAg). (3-0) Cr. 3. F. Prereq : Senior or above classification.
Experiential, interdisciplinary
examination of Midwestern agricultural and
food systems, emphasizing field visits, with some
classroom activities. Focus on understanding multiple
elements, perspectives (agronomic, economic, ecological,
social, etc.), and scales of operation.
Soc 511. Intermediate Research Methods. (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: 302 and Stat 401.
Research methods
in sociology including problem selection, research
design, hypothesis formulation, sampling, alternative
data collection techniques. Designing a research strategy
appropriate for a variety of social science questions,
and assessing the appropriateness, validity, and
generalizability of published sociological research.
Soc 512. Sociological Measurement. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2008. Prereq : 511.
Reliability and validity
for observed and latent variables; exploratory and
confirmatory factor analysis in the construction and
evaluation of measurement models. Applications using
LISREL, AMOS, and other programs.
Soc 513. Qualitative Research Methods. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2007. Prereq : 511.
Applied qualitative research
methods in sociology. Design and implementation
of a course-based research project including data
collection, analysis, and presentation of results. Qualitative
data gathering techniques using observational,
historical, in-depth interviewing or content analysis
approaches. Laboratory emphasis on completion of
data gathering, analysis, and report writing.
Soc 515. Sociology of Technology. (3-0) Cr. 3. Prereq : 6 hours of social science. Off campus and non majors only - offered as demand warrants.
Linkages
among science, technology, and society. Physical, life,
and social science approaches to technology evaluation.
Public responses to complex and controversial
technologies. Strategies for gaining adoption/rejection
of technology. Required in the Master of Agriculture
program. Only one of Soc 415 or 515 may be counted
toward graduation credits.
Soc 520. Social Psychology: A Sociological Perspective. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2008. Prereq : 305 or Psych 280.
Examination of cognitive, symbolic
interaction, exchange, role-reference group, and dramaturgical
approaches. Assessment of contemporary
issues in social psychology.
Soc 521. Small Groups. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2007. Prereq : 305 or Psych 280.
Examination of alternative
theoretical models and methods of studying
small groups.
Soc 522. Attitude and Attitude Change. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 2009. Prereq : 305 or Psych 280.
Analysis
of theories of attitude and attitude change; current
controversies between the theories examined, as
well as supporting research.
Soc 528. Sociology of Gender. (Cross-listed with W S). (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2007. Prereq : 6 credits in sociology.
Examination of the social construction
of gender and the social organization of gender
inequality. Analysis of gender identity in socialization,
interpersonal behavior, the media, and the economy.
Investigation of the intersection of gender, race, and
class.
Soc 529. Racial and Ethnic Inequality. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 2009. Prereq : 6 credits in sociology.
Analysis of racial and ethnic inequality in the United
States and the world; focus on the implications of
the changing world social and economic order for
differences in racial and ethnic groups relative to
wealth, status, and power; a critical examination of
majority-group domination of minority groups in various
societies.
Soc 530. Social Organization. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S.,offered 2008. Prereq : 6 credits in sociology.
Methodological
and analytical issues associated with the
study of group structure; contemporary theories of
social organization.
Soc 532. Organizations and Their Environments. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2008. Prereq : 6 credits in sociology.
Comparative analysis of complex organizations;
complex organizations as semi-open systems.
Interorganizational relations and organizational effectiveness.
Soc 533. Models of Community. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2007. Prereq : 6 credits in sociology.
Emphasis
on different models or frames of reference used in
community analysis. Theoretical and methodological
tools, current views of community problems, and explanation
of social and cultural change are presented
for each model.
Soc 534. Social Stratification. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 2008. Prereq : 6 credits in sociology.
Critical
examination of the causes and consequences of
social stratification and inequality; classical theories,
contemporary frameworks, and recent empirical studies;
international stratifi cation patterns.
Soc 535. Urban Sociology. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 2009. Prereq : 6 credits in social sciences.
Theoretical,
conceptual, and methodological approaches to
understanding transformation of urban society in
comparative perspective; interrelations among demographic,
social, economic, and political dimensions of
persistent urban problems and of urban development;
examination of case studies.
Soc 541. Technological Innovation, Social Change, and Development. (Cross-listed with T SC, U St). (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2008. Prereq : 6 credits in social sciences.
Sources, theories and models of
technological innovation; social and institutional contexts
of technology transfer; appropriate/intermediate
technology; issues and methods of impact assessment;
planning technology related social change;
democratic control of technological innovations and
application; local and international case studies.
Soc 542. Rural Development. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2008. Prereq : 6 credits in sociology.
Sociological
perspectives on contemporary theory and practice in
rural development. Emphasis on the U.S. with international
comparisons. Rural development approaches
examined in a global context. The role of local, state,
and national agencies, institutions of higher education,
and the private sector in rural development will
be assessed.
Soc 544. Sociology of Food and Agricultural Systems. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2007. Prereq : 6 credits in sociology.
Social organization of food and fiber
production, processing, and distribution systems. Sociological
comparison of conventional and alternative
production systems; gender roles in agriculture and
food systems; local, national and global food systems;
perspectives on food and agricultural research and
policy.
Soc 546. Organizational Strategies for Diversified Farming Systems. (Cross-listed with SusAg, Hort, Agron). (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 2008. Prereq : SusAg 509.
Examination of the organization and operation
of complex, diversified farming systems using tools
and perspectives drawn from ecology, agronomy,
and sociology. The course includes a signifi cant fi eld
component focused on an Iowa farm.
Soc 547. Sociology of Adoption and Diffusion. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 2008. Prereq : 6 credits in sociology.
Sociological and social-psychological theories
related to adoption and diffusion of new ideas;
analysis of adoption and diffusion models; methods
of field research; factors related to rates and intensity
of adoption and diffusion; new directions in diffusion
research.
Soc 548. Sociology of the Environment. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2008. Prereq : 6 credits in sociology.
Social
causes and social consequences of environmental
problems. Interrelationship between social inequality
and environmental inequality. Social construction and
social experience of the environment. Contemporary
developments in the social theory of the environment.
International and domestic implications.
Soc 564. Community Action Practice and Theory. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2008. Prereq : 6 credits in sociology.
Methods of planning, organizing, and
conducting planned social change and other action
programs in communities; strategies of change,
change agent roles, client need identifi cation, community
organization strategies, citizen participation,
leadership identifi cation and development, program
planning and evaluation.
Soc 566. Political Sociology. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 2009. Prereq : 6 credits in sociology and/or political science.
The relationship between state and
society with emphasis on American society. Analysis
of theoretical frameworks, political participation,
power, social movements, elites, democracy, and
capitalist society.
Soc 582. Theories of Social Deviance. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2007. Prereq : 6 credits in sociology.
Theory
and research regarding causes of and reactions to
deviant behavior. Mental illness, homicide, family
violence, and property crime are among the types of
deviant behavior considered.
Soc 584. Current Issues in Crime and Justice. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 2009. Prereq : 6 credits in sociology.
Discussion of current research and theory in crime
and delinquency; topics include the purpose and role
of law in social life; emerging theoretical directions in
criminology; recent work on specifi c forms of criminality;
controversies in the criminal justice system.
Soc 585. Current Research in Family Sociology. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2007. Prereq : 6 credits in sociology.
Course presents a general overview of the
field of family sociology. Topics to be covered include
demographic trends, family theory and empirical
research, as well as current debates in the discipline.
Soc 590. Special Topics. Cr. 1-3. Repeatable. Prereq : 6 credits in sociology; senior or graduate classification.
A. General Sociology
B. Rural Sociology
Soc 591. Orientation to Sociology. (1-0) Cr. 1. F. Prereq : Formal admission into the sociology graduate program.
Introduction to the department, current
graduate student policies at department and university
levels, departmental administrative procedures.
Required of graduate students. Satisfactory-fail only.
Soc 599. Research for Master’s Thesis. Cr. 1-6. Repeatable.
A. General Sociology
B. Rural Sociology
Courses for graduate students
Soc 607. Contemporary Sociological Theory. (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: 6 graduate credits in sociology.
Provides
a review of modern sociological thought, issues,
and controversies as they affect current research and
discourse in the discipline.
Soc 610. Foundations of Sustainable Agriculture. (Cross-listed with SusAg, A E, Agron, Anthr). (3-0) Cr. 3. F. Prereq : Graduate classification, permission of instructor.
Historical, biophysical, socioeconomic, and
ethical dimensions of agricultural sustainability. Strategies
for evaluating existing and emerging systems of
agriculture in terms of core concepts of sustainability
and their theoretical contexts.
Soc 613. Advanced Theory Construction and Causal Modeling. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 2008. Prereq : 512 and Stat 404.
Formal strategies of
research design and analysis using structural equations
with latent variables. Strategies for the analysis
of multi-informant and panel data, with emphasis on
distributional problems and diagnostics.
Soc 640. Comparative Social Change. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2007. Prereq : 6 graduate credits in sociology.
Contemporary theories of social change,
modernization, dependency, and development are
critically examined; methodological issues identified;
supporting research explored; applicability of theoretical
models, concepts, and strategies to current
national and international needs are evaluated.
Soc 675. Current Topics in Family Sociology. (3-0) Cr. 3. Repeatable. Alt. S., offered 2009.
Current developments
in a selected field in the sociology of family
and the life course.
Soc 698. Seminars in Sociology. (3-0) Cr. 3.
L. Community Studies and Development
M. Criminology
N. The Economy, Organizations, and Work
O. Food Systems, Agriculture, and the Environment
P. Methodology
Q. Social Change and Development
R. Social Inequality
S. Social Psychology
T. Sociology of Families
Soc 699. Dissertation Research. Cr. 1-8. Repeatable.
A. General Sociology
B. Rural Sociology
