Study of Culture and Society department web site
The information on this page pertains to program requirements for students who matriculated in the 2023-2024 academic year. View requirements for previous catalog years here.
Sociology is the systematic and empirically-based study of human social interaction ranging from the most simple exchanges between people to complex, multi-layered and multi-scaled global processes and structures. It also examines the central place of language, a shared and dynamic set of symbols and meanings, in human lives. Students learn both about the worlds in which they and others live and how to understand and explain how these worlds work and sometimes do not. And they consider, based on these understandings, what sorts of interventions, through policy or practice, might serve to change aspects of those worlds for the better for those living in them. The department offers students literacy and training in multiple theories and methods of social inquiry, giving special attention to qualitative and historical analysis.
Students in the program enjoy frequent collaboration with the Des Moines community through research assignments, service learning, and internships. Recent graduates have gone to graduate school in social work, business, law, paralegal studies, sociology, criminology, and anthropology. They also have found jobs in government agencies, businesses, and social service organizations according to their interests and past experiences.
The sociology major offers sound preparation for careers in law and public administration, medicine and public health, activism, social work, advertising and marketing, politics and public policy, business, banking, and consulting, to name just a few. The various courses in the sociology program examine social groups and processes in a wide diversity of contexts, with an emphasis on critical thinking and social justice.
The program has flexibility built into the core course requirements and allows anthropology and rhetoric courses to contribute to the curriculum for majors. Students are encouraged to work with their advisers to assure selection of courses compatible with their educational and career objectives.
| Course | Credits |
|
Core Requirements |
15 |
|
SOC 001 - Introduction to Sociology |
3 |
| SOC 042 - Sociological Inquiry | 3 |
| SOC 065 - Social Science Data Literacy | 3 |
|
SOC 175 - Theories of Inequality |
3 |
|
SOC 199 - Sociology Capstone |
3 |
| One additional methods course from the following list: |
3 |
| SOC 159 - Methods of Social Research | 3 |
| ANTH 156 - Ethnographic Methods | 3 |
| SOC 165 - The Art of the Interview | 3 |
| ANTH 140 - The Practice of Oral History | 3 |
| Sociology Electives* | 12 |
| ANTH 024 - Anthropology of Religion | 3 |
| ANTH 125 - Traveling Cultures | 3 |
| ANTH 143 - Transracial Adoption | 3 |
| ANTH 145 - Global Reproductive Politics | 3 |
| ANTH 156 - Representing Race | 3 |
| ANTH 170 - Global Political Violence | 3 |
| ANTH 175 - Medical Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH 180 - Ritual and Myth | 3 |
| SOC 050 - Sociology of Family | 3 |
| SOC 060 - Intro to Crime and Justice Studies | 3 |
| SOC 078 - Inequality and Public Health | 3 |
| SOC 078 - Sociology of Childhood | 3 |
| SOC 080 - Social Problems | 3 |
| SOC 081 - Medical Sociology | 3 |
| SOC 085 - Sociology of Everyday Life | 3 |
| SOC 090 - Effective Listening | 3 |
| SOC 105 - Race, Gender and Poverty | 3 |
| SOC 122 - Making Families Public | 3 |
| SOC 137 - Women, Madness, and Culture | 3 |
| SOC 140 - Youth and Crime | 3 |
| SOC 146 - Restorative Justice | 3 |
| SOC 154 - Poverty and Society | 3 |
| SOC 161 - Race and Ethnicity | 3 |
| SOC 162 - Women and Work | 3 |
| SOC 170 - Deviance | 3 |
| SOC 171 - Grief and Loss | 3 |
| SOC 176 - Documenting Lives | 3 |
| SOC 177 - Gender and Violence | 3 |
| SOC 179 - Mass Incarceration | 3 |
| SOC 180 - Constructing Normal | 3 |
| SOC 181 - Death and Society | 3 |
| Interdisciplinary Electives | 6 |
| EDUC 162 - Urban Education and Immigration | 3 |
| EDUC 164 - Perspectives on Race, Ethnicity, and Gender | 3 |
| EDUC 183 - Social Context of Urban Schools | 3 |
| EDUC 186 - Youth, Culture, and Society | 3 |
| ENG 022 - Critical Media Studies | 3 |
| ENG 071 - Rhetorics of Race | 3 |
| ENSS 107 - Civic Environmentalism and Smart Growth | 3 |
| ENSS 135 - Global Change - The Science and Policy of Global Warming | 3 |
| ENSS 157 - Environmental Justice | 3 |
| HIST 185 - Public Health and Medical History | 3 |
| HIST 188 - Urban Environmental History | 3 |
| LPS 113 - Law and Social Change | 3 |
| LPS 135 - Justice Reform | 3 |
| PHIL 136 - Theories of Justice | 3 |
| POLS 117 - Race and American Politics | 3 |
| POLS 153 - Racial Justice & Human Rights in the U.S. Since WW II | 3 |
| POLS 154 - Human Trafficking | 3 |
| POLS 156 - Global Health | 3 |
| POLS 157 - Crime and Punishment in United States | 3 |
| PSY 135 - Psychology of Prejudice | 3 |
| WLC 148 - Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| TOTAL | 36 |
* At least 6 credits need to be above 100 level. Up to 6 credits can be Anthropology courses
| Course | Credits |
|
Core Requirements |
21 |
|
SOC 001 - Introduction to Sociology |
3 |
| SOC 042 - Sociological Inquiry | 3 |
| SOC 062 - Intro to Crime, Violence and Justice | 3 |
| SOC 065 - Social Science Data Literacy | 3 |
|
SOC 151 - Criminology |
3 |
|
SOC 175 - Theories of Inequality |
3 |
|
SOC 199 - Sociology Capstone |
3 |
|
One course in the area of ethnicity and race from approved list:** |
3
|
| SOC 105 - Race, Gender, and Poverty |
3 |
| SOC 161 - Race and Ethnicity | 3 |
| ANTH 156 - Representing Race - Life History Research | 3 |
| SOC 167 - Sociology of the African-American Experience | 3 |
| POLS 117 - Race and American Politics | 3 |
| EDUC 164 - Perspectives on Race, Ethnicity, and Gender | 3 |
| Track Electives*** | 18 |
| ANTH 156 - Representing Race | 3 |
| ANTH 170 - Global Political Violence | 3 |
| EDUC 162 - Urban Education and Immigration | 3 |
| EDUC 183 - Social Context of Urban Schools | 3 |
| EDUC 186 - Youth, Culture, and Society | 3 |
| ENSS 157 - Environmental Justice | 3 |
| LPS 031 - Law & The Borders of Belonging | 3 |
| LPS 038 - Law and Order | 3 |
| LPS 133 - Drugs, Law and Society | 3 |
| LPS 135 - Justice Reform | 3 |
| PHIL 136 - Theories of Justice | 3 |
| POLS 117 - Race and American Politics | 3 |
| POLS 152 - Transitional Justice | 3 |
| POLS 153 - Racial Justice & Human Rights in the U.S. Since WW II | 3 |
| POLS 154 - Human Trafficking | 3 |
| POLS 162 - Gender and War | 3 |
| PSY 135 - Psychology of Prejudice | 3 |
| SCS 179 - Mass Incarceration | 3 |
| SOC 080 - Social Problems | 3 |
| SOC 105 - Race, Gender, and Poverty | 3 |
| SOC 140 - Youth and Crime | 3 |
| SOC 146 - Restorative Justice | 3 |
| SOC 161 - Race and Ethnicity | 3 |
| SOC 167 - Sociology of the African-American Experience | 3 |
| SOC 170 - Deviance | 3 |
| SOC 177 - Gender and Violence | 3 |
| WLC 148 - Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| TOTAL | 42 |
** Additional courses on this list can count towards electives. See below.
***At least 9 credits need to be in sociology. The other 9 credits can be chosen from sociology, anthropology or approved courses outside of the department. No more than 6 credits can come from the same discipline with the exception of sociology and anthropology. See list.
| Course | Credits |
|
Core Requirements |
18 |
|
SOC 001 - Introduction to Sociology |
3 |
| SOC 042 - Sociological Inquiry | 3 |
| SOC 060 - Intro to Social Services, Policy & Advocacy | 3 |
| SOC 065 - Social Science Data Literacy | 3 |
|
SOC 175 - Theories of Inequality |
3 |
|
SOC 199 - Sociology Capstone |
3 |
| One additional methods course from the following list: | 3 |
| ANTH 140 - Practice of Oral History | 3 |
| ANTH 156 - Ethnographic Methods | 3 |
| SOC 159 - Methods of Social Research | 3 |
| SOC 165 - The Art of the Interview | 3 |
| Communication Elective: Choose one of the following: | 3 |
| ANTH 136 - Digital Storytelling | 3 |
| ENG 094 - Business & Administrative Writing | 3 |
| ENG 119 - Community Writing | 3 |
| ENSS 054 - Environmental Communication | 3 |
| SOC 090 - Effective Listening | 3 |
| SOC 150 - Grant Writing (to be developed, maybe J-term or summer) | 3 |
| WLC 148 - Intercultural Communication | 3 |
| Track Electives **** | 18 |
| ANTH 143 - Transracial Adoption | 3 |
| ANTH 145 - Global Reproductive Politics | 3 |
| ANTH 175 - Medical Anthropology | 3 |
| ANTH 180 - Ritual and Myth | 3 |
| ASL 070 - Deaf Culture | 3 |
| EDU 162 - Urban Education and Immigration | 3 |
| EDU 186 - Youth, Culture and Society | 3 |
| EDUC 164 - Perspectives on Race, Ethnicity, and Gender | 3 |
| ENSS 107 - Civic Environmentalism and Smart Growth | 3 |
| ENSS 135 - Global Change/Global Warming | 3 |
| ENSS 138 - Water Resources & Policy | 3 |
| HIST 185 - Public Health and Medical History | 3 |
| HIST 188 - Urban Environmental History | 3 |
| HSCI 025 - Intro to US Healthcare system | 3 |
| HSCI 108 - Introduction to Health Care Policy | 3 |
| HSCI 144 - Introduction to Public Health | 3 |
| LPS 113 - Law and Social Change | 3 |
| LPS 133 - Drugs, Law and Society | 3 |
| LPS 138 - Reproductive Law and Politics in U.S. | 3 |
| MGMT 135 - Non-profit Management and Leadership | 3 |
| PHIL 117 - Health Care Ethics | 3 |
| PHIL 124 - Health and Social Justice | 3 |
| POLS 156 - Global Health | 3 |
| SCSS 176 - Documenting Lives | 3 |
| SOC 050 - Sociology of Family | 3 |
| SOC 078 - Sociology of Childhood | 3 |
| SOC 080 - Social Problems | 3 |
| SOC 081 - Medical Sociology | 3 |
| SOC 085 - Sociology of Everyday Life | 3 |
| SOC 090 - Effective Listening | 3 |
| SOC 105 - Race, Gender and Poverty | 3 |
| SOC 122 - Making Families Public | 3 |
| SOC 137 - Women, Madness, and Culture | 3 |
| SOC 146 - Restorative Justice | 3 |
| SOC 154 - Poverty and Society | 3 |
| SOC 162 - Women and Work | 3 |
| SOC 171 - Grief and Loss | 3 |
| SOC 177 - Gender and Violence | 3 |
| SOC 180 - Constructing Normal | 3 |
| SOC 181 - Death and Society | 3 |
| SPAN 153 - Culture and Society | 3 |
| SPAN 154 - Cultural Health Perspectives | 3 |
| TOTAL | 42 |
**** At least 9 credits need to be over 100. At least 9 credits need to be in sociology. The other 9 credits can be chosen from sociology, anthropology or approved courses outside of the department. No more than 6 credits can come from the same discipline with the exception of sociology and anthropology. See list.
| Required Courses | Credits |
| SOC 001 – Introduction to Sociology | 3 |
| SOC 042 - Sociological Inquiry | 3 |
| Select 12 additional credits in sociology | 12 |
| TOTAL | 18 |
A maximum of 6 hours in anthropology (ANTH) courses may be used for the sociology minor. No more than 9 hours of transfer credit are allowed.
Students who wish to count courses as electives from related areas outside of SCS programs (no more than 3 credits) must petition their advisor and the department. To receive approval for the major, a non-SCS course must use or examine a method, theory, or substantive problem of historical importance and/or complementary to sociology.
The information in this catalog does not constitute a contract between the university and the student. The university reserves the right to make changes in curricula, admission policies and processes, tuition and financial aid, academic standards and guidelines, student services and any other regulations or policies set forth in this catalog without giving prior notice.