2022-23 Academic Catalog

Department of Sociology

This is an archived copy of the 2022-23 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.msstate.edu.

Social Work (SW)

Program Director: Kenya M. Cistrunk
Major Advisor: Mary Ann Dean
Office: 298 Bowen Hall

The Social Work Program at Mississippi State University is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education. Social work is a challenging and rewarding profession with the primary goal of enhancing individual functioning and promoting human rights and social and economic justice. The Bachelor of Social Work graduate is prepared to pursue graduate social work education or to work as a generalist social work practitioner in a variety of practice settings. These include, but are not limited to the following: child welfare service agencies, family services, medical hospitals, mental health clinics, public health clinics, home health agencies, nursing homes, industries, juvenile and family court, shelters for battered women and children, neighborhood and community services.

The Social Work curriculum is grounded in a liberal arts perspective. This liberal arts perspective enhances the person-in-environment focus of generalist social work practice. A student may declare social work as a major at any time in his or her academic career. There is a formal admission process into the program. Some upper division courses are restricted to students who have been admitted to the program. To be eligible for admission to the social work program students must:

  1. Have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 with a 2.5 GPA for all social work courses;
  2. Complete two of the following social work courses with a minimum grade of “C”: SW 2303 Social Welfare Policy I, SW 3003 Social Work with At-Risk Populations, and SW 3013 Human Behavior in the Social Environment I;
  3. Complete SW 2313 Intro to Social Work (including 30 hrs of service learning experience) with a minimum grade of "B";
  4. Complete an “Application for Admission” including three references on the designated program form;
  5. Participate in a personal interview with Social Work Admissions Committee.
     

The following liberal arts courses must be completed prior to petition for admission to the major:

EN 1103English Composition I3
or EN 1104 Expanded English Composition I
EN 1113English Composition II3
or EN 1173 Accelerated Composition II
MA 1313College Algebra3
BIO 1004Anatomy and Physiology4
PS 1113American Government3
PSY 1013General Psychology3
SO 1003Introduction to Sociology3
EC 2113Principles of Macroeconomics3

Before enrolling in any social work classes, it is the responsibility of the student to consult with their social work advisor regarding any prerequisites for social work classes.

The criteria for remaining in the program include:

  1. Maintain an overall GPA of 2.0, with a 2.5 GPA for all social work courses.
  2. Must earn a minimum of a “C” in each social work course.
  3. Continue to demonstrate an aptitude for a social work career.
  4. Adhere to all academic expectations of the university and the social work program.
  5. Adhere to the National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics.

Sociology (SO)

Undergraduate Advisor: Mary Ann Dean
Graduate Coordinator: Rachel Allison
Office: 207 Bowen Hall

The following degree programs are offered: Bachelor of Arts, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy.

Sociology is the scientific study of social life. With an interest in understanding human behavior, sociologists study such phenomena as deviant behavior, social organization, stratification, population, community, social institutions, race and ethnic relations, social problems, theory and methods of research.

Sociology majors are well prepared to enter many rewarding positions in the work force right out of college or further graduate training in law, business, community planning, architecture, medicine, politics or academics. Opportunities for employment include, but are not restricted to entry-level positions in administration, advertising, banking, counseling (family planning, career, substance abuse, etc.), health services, journalism, group and recreation work, marketing and market research, sales, non-profit organizations, teaching, criminal justice, social services and social research. In addition, sociology provides training that other liberal arts majors do not, such as the core elements of human interaction and relationships, and basic training for research analyst positions (in statistics and research methods, which include computer applications, for example).

Students are eligible for membership in the Mississippi Alpha chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta, the International Sociology Honor Society. To be considered for membership, a student must be an officially declared sociology major or demonstrate a serious interest in sociology, must be at least a junior, have at least a 3.00 overall GPA, and must have maintained a 3.00 GPA in sociology courses.

To earn a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in sociology, a student is required to take 36 hours of sociology.

All new freshmen desiring to major in  Sociology will be admitted into the Sociology major in the College of Arts and Sciences at Mississippi State University.  For all other students wishing to major in Sociology, to be eligible for admission to the Sociology program, students must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above on all college work attempted prior to entering the major.  The criteria for remaining in the program include:

  1. Students must earn a minimum of a "C" in all Sociology courses. Students earning a grade lower than C in a Sociology course must retake that course.
  2. Students must maintain an overall GPA of 2.0 or above. Students who fall below the overall GPA of 2.0 must bring it up to 2.0 the next semester or drop the Sociology major.

Sociology Major Course Requirements

The sociology major consists of a sequence of four levels of courses ranging from introductory to the more advanced and capstone courses. Students are expected to complete courses in the lower levels before taking courses in the more advanced levels. For example, students should complete Level 1 courses before completing Level II courses, etc. The lower level courses are prerequisites for the advanced level courses.

Required courses include: SO 1003 Introduction to Sociology, SO 2203 Introduction to Race and Ethnicity, SO 3103 Social Theory I, SO 3213 Introduction to Social Research, and SO 4804 Social Research Practice.

Students are also required to take one of the following courses: SO 3003 Social Inequality, SO 3013 Society and the Individual, or SO 3053 Organizations in Modern Society. 

Finally, students must select any seven additional sociology courses, including any of those not listed above. A minimum of six of these courses must be 3000 or 4000 level.  

Sociology Minor

To earn a minor in sociology, a student must take 18 hours of undergraduate sociology courses. SO 1003, SO 2203, and SO 3213 are required. The other three SO courses must be 2000 level or above and include at least one 4000 level SO course.

Students who wish to major or minor in the department should plan their programs with the departmental major advisor as soon as possible after entering the University and should consult with their advisor before each registration period. Programs are arranged individually to combine the most varied advantages consistent with the student’s interest and purposes. Persons interested in secondary school teaching may elect sufficient courses in the College of Education to satisfy certification requirements for teaching social studies.

Criminology (CRM)

Major Advisor: Mary Ann Dean
Office: 207 Bowen Hall

The following degree program is offered: Bachelor of Arts.

Criminology, as a field, explores the nature and causes of crime. Criminology also examines the impact crime has on society and how society responds to the social problem of crime. The Bachelor’s degree in Criminology will emphasize the study of types, patterns and trends in criminal behavior; the social etiology of crime; and the social response to crime and its effect on society. The program will also train students to analyze crime data, test explanations of crime and victimization, and critically evaluate crime theory and policy.

The Criminology program is appropriate for students wishing to pursue career paths in all justice related fields including: law enforcement; probation and parole; community based prevention and control programs; court based programs; and corrections. Because our program provides for a broad knowledge of the nature and trends of crime and an understanding of crime control policy along with methodological and critical thinking skills, our students will be prepared to assume positions of leadership across a range of career paths in crime and justice related professions, as well as be prepared for post-graduate studies in Sociology, Criminology, and Law and Legal Studies.

All new freshmen desiring to major in  Criminology will be admitted into the Criminology major in the College of Arts and Sciences at Mississippi State University.  All other students wishing to major in Criminology must have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or above on all college work attempted prior to entering the major.  The criteria for remaining in the program include:

  1. Students must earn a minimum of a "C" in all Criminology and Sociology courses. Students earning a grade lower than C in a Criminology or Sociology course must retake that course.
  2. Students must maintain an overall GPA of 2.0 or above. Students who fall below the overall GPA of 2.0 must bring it up to 2.0 the next semester or drop the Criminology major.

Criminology Major Requirements

The BA in Criminology is a 36 credit hour major and is housed in the Sociology Department.  All students will complete 18 hours in required course work: CRM 1003 Crime and Justice in America, CRM 2003 Crime, Justice, and Inequality, CRM 3603 Criminological Theory, SO 3213 Introduction to Social Research, SO 4804 Social Research Practice, and CRM 4803 Senior Seminar in Criminology. Students will also be required to take a minimum of three hours in each of three sub-areas of the program and nine hours of 3000-.or 4000- level criminology electives. The sub-areas are: Criminal Behavior and Motivation, Social Dimensions of Crime, and Crime Control Policy and Practice. 

Senior Internships will be available at various crime and justice related agencies. To qualify for an internship a student must have completed 24 hours of coursework within the criminology major and have earned a minimum of a 2.5 GPA in said coursework. Students will meet with the Criminology Program Coordinator to discuss the selection of an appropriate internship site. Students will be expected to have a minimum of 150 contact hours with the sponsoring internship agency, as well as meet specific course assignments. The internship is elective. Students will register for CRM 3033 Criminology Internship.

A senior thesis option is available for students who have completed a minimum of 24 hours of coursework within criminology and have at least a 3.0 GPA in said coursework. Students who qualify and have an interest in the senior thesis option will work individually with a faculty member to produce a research paper on an approved topic in criminology. The thesis option is elective and designed for students wishing to pursue graduate school in criminology or a related field. Students will register for CRM 4000 Directed Individual Study in Criminology: Senior Thesis as a six credit hour course.