University of Montana Catalog 2023-2024

Sociology (SOCI)

SOCI 101S - Introduction to Sociology. 3 Credits.

Offered every term. Overview of the principles and concepts used in the study of human social interaction, groups, communities and societies. Required of all majors.

Gen Ed Attributes: Social Sciences

SOCI 130S - Sociology of Alternative Religions. 3 Credits.

Offered intermittently. Unconventional religious groups in American society. Topics include recruitment, conversion, commitment, defection, leadership, belief systems, organizational structure and change.

Gen Ed Attributes: Social Sciences

SOCI 191 - Special Topics. 1-6 Credits.

(R-24) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

SOCI 202 - Social Statistics. 3 Credits.

Offered every term. Prereq., M 115. Application of descriptive and inferential statistical techniques to sociological data. Required for all Sociology majors.

SOCI 211S - Introduction to Criminology. 3 Credits.

Offered autumn. A critical examination of crime in society: how crime is defined, the extent and distribution of crime, theoretical explanations of criminal behavior, and crime control efforts.

Gen Ed Attributes: Social Sciences

SOCI 220S - Race, Gender & Class. 3 Credits.

Offered autumn. Analysis of the intersecting structure and dynamics of race, gender and class. Focus on power relationships, intergroup conflict and minority-group status.

Gen Ed Attributes: Social Sciences, Democracy and Citizenship

SOCI 221 - Criminal Justice System. 3 Credits.

Offered spring.  A systematic survey of crime and the administration of justice in the United States, including the organizational structures, processes, and dynamics of law enforcement, criminal adjudication, and corrections.

SOCI 225 - Careers in Criminology. 2 Credits.

Offered spring. Overview of criminology-focused career paths with an emphasis on learning from professionals in the field and development of career planning competencies.

SOCI 275S - Gender and Society. 3 Credits.

Offered intermittently. Exploration of the social construction of gender, especially in western, post-industrial societies such as the U.S.; gender ideologies affect the social definition and position of gendered individuals in work, family, sexual relationships, gendered divisions of labor, and social movements.

Gen Ed Attributes: Social Sciences

SOCI 291 - Special Topics. 1-6 Credits.

(R-24) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

SOCI 301E - Criminal Justice Ethics. 3 Credits.

Offered spring. This course will be an examination of competing moral philosophies and their application to ethical dilemmas within the criminal justice system.

Gen Ed Attributes: Ethical & Human Values

SOCI 306 - Sociology of Work. 3 Credits.

Offered intermittently. Prereq., SOCI 101S and WRIT 101 and enrollment limited to Sociology and Criminology majors. An introduction to contemporary sociological debates on work including overwork, working poor, housework, globalization, mechanization, routinization, surveillance, and unions. Special focus on gender and class impacts on working life.

Gen Ed Attributes: Intermediate Writing

SOCI 318 - Sociological Research Methods. 3 Credits.

Offered every term. Prereq., SOCI 101S, Sociology or Criminology majors only or consent of instructor. Methods of research in the social sciences including naturalistic observation, interviewing, measurement, experiments, surveys, content analysis, and basic data analysis. Required of all majors.

SOCI 325 - Social Stratification. 3 Credits.

Offered intermittently. Prereq., SOCI 101S or SOCI 220S or SOCI 275S. The origins, institutionalization and change of class, status, prestige, power and other forms of social inequality. Special attention to the effects of stratification on individuals.

SOCI 332 - Sociology of the Family. 3 Credits.

Offered intermittently. Prereq., SOCI 101S. Historical, cross-cultural, and analytical study of the family. Emphasis on ideology, social structures, and agency affecting family composition and roles.

SOCI 335 - Juvenile Justice System. 3 Credits.

Offered intermittently. Prereq., SOCI 101S and SOCI 211S or SOCI 260S. An analysis of the juvenile justice system in the United States, including the historical development of policies and practices. The role of various social agencies in defining, preventing, and responding to delinquency.

SOCI 345 - Sociology of Organizations. 3 Credits.

Offered intermittently. Prereq., SOCI 101S. Historical and analytical study of organizations as social systems, with an emphasis on applying theoretical models to analyzing organizational behavior and change.

SOCI 346 - Rural Sociology. 3 Credits.

Offered intermittently. Prereq., SOCI 101S. Demographic, economic and sociocultural change in rural communities with an emphasis on global economy, political structure, urbanization, and economic and social infrastructure. Special attention given to the rural west and Montana.

SOCI 350 - The Community. 3 Credits.

Offered intermittently. Prereq., SOCI 101S. The study of families, peer groups, neighborhoods, voluntary associations, power structures, social classes and large scale organizations as they come together in local communities.

SOCI 362 - Sociology of Law Enforcement. 3 Credits.

Offered intermittently. Restricted to majors in Sociology and Criminology. Prereq., SOCI 101S, SOCI 221 and either SOCI 211S or SOCI 260S. An examination of policing in society, with emphasis on the cultural context in which it occurs, its structural characteristics, and social psychological processes.

SOCI 376 - Comparative Criminology. 3 Credits.

Offered intermittently. Prereq., SOCI 211S or SOCI 221. An overview of macro-criminology, including an examination of macro-theoretical perspectives, cross-national variation in crime, and a comparative analysis of criminal justice systems around the world.

SOCI 382 - Social Psychology and Social Structure. 3 Credits.

Offered intermittently. Prereq., SOCI 101S. The study of the behavior of individuals in social contexts ranging from small groups to societies. Topics include attitude change, conformity, power, status, self-concept formation, and decision-making.

SOCI 386 - Preceptorship in Sociology. 2-3 Credits.

Offered every term. Prereq., SOCI 101S. Assisting a faculty member by tutoring, conducting review sessions, helping students with research projects, and carrying out other class-related responsibilities. Open to juniors and seniors with instructor's consent. Proposals must be approved by department chair.

SOCI 391 - Special Topics. 1-6 Credits.

(R-24) Offered intermittently. Prereq., SOCI 101S. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics.

SOCI 398 - Internship. 1-6 Credits.

(R-6) Offered autumn and spring. Prereq., consent of department. Extended classroom experience which provides practical application of classroom learning during placements off campus. Prior approval must be obtained from the faculty supervisor and the Internship Services office. A maximum of 6 credits of Internship (198, 298, 398, 498) may count toward graduation.

SOCI 414 - Family Violence. 3 Credits.

This course is an advanced seminar on domestic violence/family violence examining the nature of domestic violence, causes of family violence, and potential solutions. We discuss specific forms of family violence, including intimate partner violence, child abuse and neglect, and elder abuse. We also examine societal reactions to family violence in the form of police, legal, and community responses. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

SOCI 422 - Sociology of Punishment. 3 Credits.

Prereq., SOCI 101S, SOCI 211S, or SOCI 221. An examination of variation in punishment across societal contexts which addresses sociological theory and research on mass incarceration, capital punishment, and corporal punishment among other sanctions. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

SOCI 423 - Sociology of Corrections. 3 Credits.

Offered intermittently. Prereq., SOCI 101S, SOCI 221, and either SOCI 211S or SOCI 260S. An examination of the purposes, structures, and processes of jails, prisons, and community corrections, including probation and parole. Emphasis on historical development and current trends and issues in corrections. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate.

SOCI 425 - Victims and Society. 3 Credits.

Restricted to junior and senior majors in Sociology or Criminology. This course surveys the field of victimology, addressing the extent of victimization in the U.S. It examines the dominant theoretical explanations for victimization, and it discusses the causes and consequences of victimization, including the behavioral and psychological reactions to being a victim of crime. It examines victimization in a wide range of contexts and a wide range of victims. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

Gen Ed Attributes: Advanced Writing

SOCI 437 - Communities and Crime. 3 Credits.

This course examines sociological theories and research on communities and crime, including spatial variation in crime rates and the impact of efforts to control crime on the structure and well-being of communities. The class takes a holistic approach to understanding how crime comes “bundled together” with other social problems at the community level. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

SOCI 438 - Seminar in Crime & Deviance. 3 Credits.

Offered every term. Prereq., WRIT 101 or equivalent, one intermediate writing course and consent of instructor. Advanced studies in criminology theory, research, and practice. This course will meet the upper-division writing expectation for sociology majors only. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

Gen Ed Attributes: Advanced Writing

SOCI 439 - Advanced Criminological Theory. 3 Credits.

Offered spring. This course surveys the field of criminological theory, which attempts to understand and explain crime. It examines a range of major theories, including classic theories and their modern revisions. It also focuses on recent research testing and expanding criminological theories. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

SOCI 440 - Deviant and Criminal Behavior. 3 Credits.

Prereq., SOCI 101S, SOCI 211S, or SOCI 221. An analysis of the causes and theoretical perspectives of deviance, crime, and antisocial behavior. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

SOCI 441 - Capstone: Inequality and Social Justice. 3 Credits.

Offered intermittently. Prereq., WRIT 101 or equivalent, one intermediate writing course, SOCI 101S, or consent of instructor. Research and writing on inequity and social justice issues. Students bring together readings from other inequality content courses and/or independent readings, research methods training, and data and/or internship experience to write a final research paper on a topic of their choice within the ISJ area. Meets advanced writing expectation. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate.

Gen Ed Attributes: Advanced Writing

SOCI 443 - Sociology of Poverty. 3 Credits.

Offered intermittently. Prereq. junior or senior standing or consent of instructor. An examination of the roots, prevalence, and social characteristics of poverty. Analysis of policies intended to end poverty. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

SOCI 446 - Prostitution & Human Trafficking. 3 Credits.

Offered every other year. Prereq., Restricted to Sociology and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies majors and minors, or consent of instr. Exploration of prostitution and human trafficking, their incidence, causes, implications for individuals and society, and responses from non-governmental organizations and governments. Highlights various feminist and human rights approaches to these phenomena. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

SOCI 450 - Gender, Crime, and Justice. 3 Credits.

This course will examine the role of gender throughout the criminal justice system. Focus will be placed on victimization, incarceration, and the reentry of female offenders. Moreover, this course will examine women professionals in the criminal justice system such as police officers, corrections staff, and court service providers. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

SOCI 455 - Classical Sociological Theory. 3 Credits.

Offered spring. Prereq., SOCI 101S, or consent of instructor. Exploration of the classical foundations of sociological theories, emphasizing Marx, Durkheim, and Weber. Required of all sociology majors. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

SOCI 469 - Homicide. 3 Credits.

Offered autumn. This course is a specialized introduction and overview of homicide as a societal and criminological phenomenon. The course focuses broadly on criminological, interdisciplinary, and psychiatric perspectives about homicide offending and victimization. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

Gen Ed Attributes: Advanced Writing

SOCI 470 - Environmental Sociology. 3 Credits.

Offered intermittently. Introduction to environmental sociology and the social dimensions of environmental change.  Case studies of major environmental problems as applications of environmental sociological perspectives. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

SOCI 475 - Work, Labor, and the Criminal Justice System. 3 Credits.

This course explores the intersection of work and the criminal justice system in the U.S. by examining the experiences of unpaid (incarcerated) and paid workers (corrections/probation/police officers, etc) in the system. We’ll also investigate the influence of the criminal justice system on the American labor market and solutions to problems with work in the system such as collective action, regulations, and legislation. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

SOCI 488 - Writing for Sociology. 3 Credits.

Offered intermittently. Prereq., WRIT 101 or equivalent, one intermediate writing course and consent of instructor. Advanced study of variable topics or issues in sociology, with emphasis on writing for the discipline. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

Gen Ed Attributes: Advanced Writing

SOCI 490 - Undergraduate Research. 1-12 Credits.

(R-12) Prereq., consent of instr. Directed individual research and study appropriate to the back ground and objectives of the student. Level: Undergraduate

SOCI 491 - Special Topics. 1-6 Credits.

(R-24) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

SOCI 492 - Independent Study. 1-3 Credits.

(R-9) Offered every term. Prereq., SOCI 101S and consent of instructor. Individual work with a faculty supervisor in an area of special interest. Proposals must be approved by department chair. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

SOCI 494 - Seminar/Workshop. 2-3 Credits.

Offered intermittently. Prereq., SOCI 101S and at least junior standing. Selected sociological topics. Level: Undergraduate-Graduate

SOCI 496 - Public Service. 1-6 Credits.

(R-12) Offered every term. Prereq., SOCI 101S and SOCI 318; junior standing and consent of instr. Course material appropriate to the needs and objectives of the individual student. Level: Undergraduate

SOCI 498 - Internship SERV. 1-6 Credits.

(R-12) Offered every term. Prereq., SOCI 101S, 202, and 318; junior standing and consent of instr. Supervised placement in an agency or business which involves work experience related to Sociology, Criminology, and/or inequality and social justice. Level: Undergraduate

SOCI 520 - Contemporary Social Theory. 3 Credits.

Offered intermittently. Sociology Graduate Student or consent of instr. The major sociological theories developed since World War I, including an examination of the critical issues under debate. Level: Graduate

SOCI 538 - Seminar in Crime & Deviance. 3 Credits.

(R-9) Offered every term. Consent of instructor. Graduate-level studies of a specific criminological topic or issue with special emphasis on theory, research, policy, and practice. Level: Graduate.

SOCI 545 - Seminar in Inequality & Social Justice. 3 Credits.

Offered intermittently. Graduate student in Sociology or consent of instr. Advanced study of variable topics in inequality and social justice held in a small group setting that maximizes opportunities for graduate student research, discussion, and writing. Level: Graduate

SOCI 561 - Qualitative Methods. 3 Credits.

Offered spring even-numbered years. Consent of instr. Introduction to the basic methods used to conduct qualitative studies including ethnography, interviewing, observation and/or focus group. Includes hands-on fieldwork projects, data coding and analysis, and research ethics. Draws on examples and literature from sociology. Students should have had undergraduate research methods training. Level: Graduate

SOCI 562 - Quantitative Methods. 3 Credits.

Offered autumn. Prereq., SOCI 101S, SOCI 318 and SOCI 202, or consent of instructor. Introduction to the basic methods used to conduct quantitative sociological research and program evaluation including proposal development, survey design, sampling techniques, data analysis, and dissemination of findings. Level: Graduate

SOCI 563 - Social Data Analysis. 3 Credits.

Offered intermittently. Introduction to basic techniques of quantitative data analysis emphasizing multivariate regression analysis. Students will learn how to prepare a dataset, assure that basic statistical assumptions are met, correctly estimate and interpret regression coefficients, estimate regression models using data analysis software (SPSS). Level: Graduate

SOCI 590 - Criminology Research Group. 1-6 Credits.

(R-6) Offered every term. Prereq., consent of instructor. Level: Graduate

SOCI 594 - Graduate Seminar. 3 Credits.

(R-9) Offered intermittently. Selected sociological topics. Level: Graduate

SOCI 595 - Special Topics. 1-12 Credits.

(R-12) Offered intermittently. Experimental offerings of visiting professors, experimental offerings of new courses, or one-time offerings of current topics. Level: Graduate

SOCI 596 - Independent Study. 1-6 Credits.

(R-6) Offered every term. Prereq., consent of instructor. Work with a faculty supervisor in an area of special interest related to sociology. Level: Graduate

SOCI 597 - Graduate Research. 2-3 Credits.

(R-9) Offered every term. Directed research. Student must develop a specific research or evaluation proposal which is approved by the instructor prior to registration. Those students electing the professional paper option may apply three credits of 597 toward graduation. Level: Graduate

SOCI 598 - Internship. 1-6 Credits.

(R-6) Offered every term. Prereq., consent of instr. Supervised placement in governmental, nonprofit, or for-profit organizations. Practical application of classroom learning related to sociology, criminology, and/or inequality and social justice. Level: Graduate

SOCI 599 - Thesis. 1-6 Credits.

(R-6) Offered every term. Students may apply six credits of 599 toward graduation. Level: Graduate