Dr. Carlene Turner
Department Chair
(757) 823-8436
Sociology provides many distinctive perspectives of the social world, generating new ideas and critiquing the old. The field also offers a range of research techniques that can be applied to virtually any issue: street crime and delinquency, corporate downsizing, the alleviation of poverty and homelessness, welfare or education reform, or problems of peace and war. Because sociology addresses the most challenging issues of our time, it is a rapidly expanding field whose research and scholarship is increasingly tapped by those who craft policies and create programs. Sociology is an exciting discipline with expanding opportunities for a wide range of career paths.
As such, the NSU Department of Sociology offers students a high quality education, providing knowledge and skills to strive in a competitive, diverse and ever-changing world. The main goal of the department is to not only share our knowledge and professional experiences, but to encourage and challenge students to develop their full academic potential. The department will accomplish this by increasing the understanding of social behavior, promoting original research and teaching the principles and methodologies of sociology. Consequently, the overall goal of the Sociology Department is the pursuit of excellence in the areas of teaching, research, scholarly activities and community service. The Department is committed to student excellence, preparing students to address these issues in society by working closely with them to encourage and develop their skills. Through research and scholarly activities, faculty contribute to the further understanding of human behavior and involve students in these activities. Simultaneously, the Department seeks to serve as an interface between the theoretically-oriented university and the pragmatically-oriented community and to be involved in community service.
The Department offers the Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology with concentrations in Crime and Criminal Justice, Social Justice and Social Inequality, Family and Social Relationships, and Population Studies. In addition, the Department offers two Master of Arts degrees in Urban Affairs and Criminal Justice.
Sociology Courses
SOC 101 Introduction to the Social Sciences (3 Credits)
Introduction to common and divergent perspectives of the social sciences, including the general methods and special techniques used by social scientists to acquire an understanding of how human beings behave. Emphasis on the United States and global context.
SOC 110 Introduction to Sociology (3 Credits)
Introduction to the basic perspectives, concepts, and principles of sociology, with emphasis on basic social processes such as social organization, culture, socialization, deviance, and inequality. Study of the functioning and influences of major social groups, such as the family and government. Application of the principles to understanding everyday life.
SOC 205 Human Sexuality (3 Credits)
Examination of the sociocultural, psychological, and physiological factors related to human sexual behavior. A forum for a scientific examination of the various processes by which humans develop and manifest their sexual identity and sexual behavior.
SOC 228 Demographic Principles (3 Credits)
Study of the relationship between population and society; the historic growth of population and its causes; the composition and historic growth of population in terms of age, sex, race, occupation, education, and health; factors influencing birth and death rates; and trends and problems in world population.
SOC 228H Honors Demographic Principles (3 Credits)
Study of the relationship between population andsociety; the historic growth of population and itscauses; the composition and historic growth ofpopulation in terms of age, sex, race, occupation,education, and health; factors influencing birthand death rates; and trends and problems in worldpopulation.
SOC 230 Social Problems (3 Credits)
Study of current social issues such as poverty, race and ethnic relations, unemployment, crime, drug use, the elderly population, and environmental problems. Examination of various explanations, consequences, and suggested solutions for each problem.
SOC 230H Honors Social Problems (3 Credits)
Study of current social issues such as poverty, race and ethnic relations, unemployment, crime, drug use, the elderly population, and environmental problems. Examination of various explanations, consequences, and suggested solutions for each problem.
SOC 234 Urban Sociology (3 Credits)
Study of origin and development of urban life with emphasis on the family, housing, health, education, poverty and dependency, crime and the treatment of the criminal.
SOC 237 Racial & Ethnic Minorities (3 Credits)
Examination of problems and issues characterizing interaction patterns among different racial, ethnic, and religious groups. Study of the concepts of race, nationality, prejudice, and discrimination, including racism, intergroup conflict, segregation, unemployment, crime and juvenile delinquency, education, housing and instability, and poverty in contemporary industrial urban societies. Focus on psychological, social, and cultural factors that influence interaction between dominant and minority groups, as well as the issues and problems related to blacks in the United States.
SOC 325 Sociology of Business/Internationalism (3 Credits)
Study of relationship between businesses and society, including multicultural and international approaches, and impact of changes in society, business practices, and technology on societal structure. Emphasis on roles of industrial revolution, modern technology, and information science. Analysis of current international environment, interconnectedness of business, societies, and economic processes. Examination of effect of business practices on environmental problems and possible solutions.
SOC 325H Hnrs Socio Business & Internationalism (3 Credits)
Study of the relationship between businesses and society, including multicultural and international approaches, and impact of changes in society, business practices, and technology on societal structure. Emphasis on roles of industrial revolution, modern technology, and information science. Analysis of current international environment, interconnectedness of business, societies, and economic processes. Examination of effect of business practices on environmental problems and possible solutions.
SOC 326 Native American Societies (3 Credits)
A sociological survey of Native American societies across the land mass that is now the United States of America from pre-Columbian times through the present. Cultures of nations and important events will be examined to illustrate broad social and historical dynamics and how those dynamics inform contemporary position and treatment of Native Americans. Explores the impact of Native Americans on U.S. politics, law, and culture, as well as the impact of the U.S. on indigenous nations.
SOC 331 Social Psychology (3 Credits)
Examination of human social behavior at the individual and interpersonal level. Discussion of socialization, power, attitude formation and change, conformity, and language to provide an understanding of how persons are influenced by interaction with other persons as members of social groups. The focus is primarily on basic social science, emphasizing major theoretical ideas and research findings. Applications to everyday life are also considered.
SOC 331H Honors Social Psychology (3 Credits)
Examination of human social behavior at theindividual and interpersonal level. Discussion ofsocialization, power, attitude formation andchange, conformity, and language to provide anunderstanding of how persons are influenced byinteraction with other persons as members ofsocial groups. The focus is primarily on basicsocial science, emphasizing major theoreticalideas and research findings. Applications toeveryday life are also considered.
SOC 338 Sociology of Families (3 Credits)
Study of the family and its functions among primitive peoples; the different types of family organizations; history of marriage and divorce in Europe and the United States; changing idea of family life; the functions of the family in the modern world; and contemporary problems.
SOC 338H Honors Sociology of Families (3 Credits)
Study of the family and its function among primitive peoples; the different types of family organizations; history of marriage and divorce in Europe and the United States; changing idea of family life; the functions of the family in the modern world; and contemporary problems.
SOC 344 Methods of Social Research (3 Credits)
Introduction to basic principles and procedures of social science research to assist students in becoming competent consumers of research. Emphasis on understanding the research process, noting the reasons for particular procedures and the errors and limitations inherent in research. Topics include the scientific method, conceptualization, formulation of hypotheses, research design, analysis and interpretation of findings, theoretical basis of research, application and evaluation of research, and the nature of science.
SOC 355 Social Statistics (3 Credits)
Introduction to the basic tools of statistics and how statistical tools are used in social science research. Covers both descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Introduction to data analysis and data visualization methods in Excel, SPSS, SAS, R, and other statistical packages.
SOC 356 Intermediate Social Statistics (3 Credits)
Study of statistical foundations necessary to develop competence in the analysis and interpretation of sociological data. Assumes knowledge of basic statistical principles. Emphasis on hypothesis testing, logic, application, and interpretation of test statistics; graphic and tabular presentation of data; parametric and nonparametric tests of significance and tests of association; and regression analysis, with emphasis on the derivation and interpretation of coefficients. Extensive use of statistical packages to explore complex survey and demographic data.
SOC 393 Internship (6-12 Credits)
Various duties in agencies and organizations active in the fields of gerontology, urban affairs, and criminal justice. An agency supervisor and the internship supervisor direct each student in mastering relevant skills to complete the tasks associated with a significant position in the internship agency.
SOC 401 Socio-Cybersecurity (3 Credits)
Examination of the sociocultural aspects of cybersecurity and its accompanying social problems. Cybersecurity is situated in social deviance theory framework in order to explain the role of policing and the judicial system. Examination of cybersecurity position in pivotal social institutions. Application of sociological research to cybersecurity and managerial best practices for handling big data.
SOC 404 Population & Socioeconomic Development (3 Credits)
Study of the relationship between population growth and socioeconomic change, especially in regard to the developing societies of Africa, Latin America, and South-East Asia. Examination of the debate as to whether population growth is stimulative or retardative to economic development. Assessment of cross-cultural data on population growth and development indicators. Utilization of country case studies.
SOC 405 Readings in Urban Demography (3 Credits)
Intensive directed reading course for exceptionally able.
SOC 406 Topics in Urban Demography (3 Credits)
Examination of trends and emerging issues in the field of urban demography.
SOC 410 Seminar on Social Problems of Aging (3 Credits)
This course is designed to provide understanding and insight regarding the nature of many of the social problems of aging, including perspectives on defining aging and the aged. Also examines the impact of race and class on aging life cycle.
SOC 415 Sociology of Health & Health Care (3 Credits)
This course examines and offers a sociological perspective on the social production of health, illness, mortality, and health care. It highlights the connection between social justice, social transformation, health, illness, mortality, and health care. While this course focuses on health and health care within the U.S., it also examines the global challenges in health and health care.
SOC 446 Sociological Theory (3 Credits)
Survey and analysis of the main types of sociological theories and the major theoretical concepts in Sociology. Special emphasis on outstanding theorists, past and present, and their works.
SOC 458 Social Stratification (3 Credits)
Evaluation of the pervasive phenomenon of social inequality in society. Discussion of the various theoretical explanations offered by Karl Marx and other social scientists. Exploration of some of the current and classic research findings. Description of the different kinds of inequality and social structural forms that occur. Examination of the international and American stratification systems is included.
SOC 462 Complex Organizations (3 Credits)
Survey of the evolution and dynamics of bureaucratic organization and administration. Analysis of classical writings and findings from empirical research to provide students with broad perspectives of the structure and functions of organizations in a complex industrial-urban society. Special emphasis on unique characteristics of different kinds of organizations. Study of alternative techniques for the assessment of the effectiveness of complex organizations.
SOC 495 Topics in Sociology (3 Credits)
Examination of trends and emerging issues in a dynamic social world.
SOC 499 Applied Sociology (3 Credits)
The objective of this course is to acquaint students with the process of integrating knowledge from previous courses into two research projects (one mini and one major). Students will be guided through the systematic sociology research process based on knowledge from research methods, statistics, and sociological theory into a capstone project. Students will learn how to write critically and analytically and how to use quantitative or qualitative software for lab data analysis.
Austin Ashe, Ph.D., Associate Professor
awashe@nsu.edu
757-823-2144
Regina Brisgone, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
rebrisgone@nsu.edu
757-823-8931
James Curiel, Ph.D., Associate Professor
jacuriel@nsu.edu
757-823-8924
Michael Fischer, Ph.D., Professor
mfischer@nsu.edu
757-823-8708
Timothy Goler, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
tgoler@nsu.edu
757-823-8023
Bernadette Holmes, Ph.D., Professor
bjholmes@nsu.edu
757-823-8263
Robert Perkins, Ph.D., Professor
rkperkins@nsu.edu
757-823-8164
Yuying Shen, Ph.D., Associate Professor
yshen@nsu.edu
757-823-2013
Carlene Turner, Ph.D., Associate Professor
cmturner@nsu.edu
757-823-9078