VCU Sociology Graduate Program

The University
Department of Sociology
Financial Aid
Advising and Registration
Requirements for M.S.
Choosing an Option
M.S. Thesis
Continuous Enrollment / Student Status
Grades
Graduation / Thesis Oral Defense Deadline / Time Limit
Survey Research Lab / Computer Resources and Facilities
Library Resources
Flow Chart for Graduate Career
Graduate Courses in Sociology

The University
Virginia Commonwealth University is an urban state university which combines a broad range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. The university has a major teaching hospital, a School of Graduate Studies, and twelve academic schools, which offer 54 undergraduate programs, 64 master's degree programs, and 21 doctoral degree programs. With a total enrollment of over 22,000, V.C.U. has a diverse student body. The university was created in 1968 by a merger of the Medical College of Virginia and Richmond Professional Institute. The Medical College of Virginia was established in 1838 as the medical department of Hampden -Sydney College and became an independent institution in 1854. The Monroe Park Campus, where the Department of Sociology is based, was the former Richmond Professional Institute, which was founded in 1917 as the Richmond School of Social Work and Public Health. The Department of Sociology office is located at 820 W. Franklin Street (The Bird House), in the historic Fan District of Richmond.

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Department of Sociology
The Department of Sociology offers a Master of Science degree in sociology. Students may choose between the thesis option and the concentration area option. The goal of the Master's program is to develop well-trained sociologists who may choose a variety of career options and who are capable of initiating, evaluating, and adapting to changes in the field. The Department has 12 full-time faculty, some whom are collateral or joint appointed. The faculty represents a wide range of orientations and specializations. Students, by carefully planning a program of study, may develop a concentration in any one of a number of areas of sociological inquiry. Members of the faculty make every attempt to involve students in their research projects and to aid them in their general intellectual development.

Overall, the faculty members make every effort to insure that those who receive the M.S. are fully capable of meeting the standards of scholarship characteristic of the best in the profession. In the core courses, emphasis is placed on the development of theoretical and methodological competencies. By the time students complete their degree requirements, they should have developed a deep appreciation of the nature and theoretical bases of contemporary sociology. They should be familiar with a wide range of methodological approaches, statistical concepts, and techniques of measurement, control, and analysis used in sociological research. Students should also develop substantive knowledge in at least one area of specialization.

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Advising and Registration
After notification of acceptance the new student's first step should be to consult with the Graduate Director. The Graduate Director will act as the student's interim advisor and will help the student work out a general plan of course work. The ultimate responsibility for meeting all requirements for the degree rests with the student.

Students must select (in consultation with the Graduate Director) a thesis advisor before the beginning of their third semester. Students should begin development of a thesis proposal under the guidance of a thesis committee (thesis option) or a concentration area under the guidance of a concentration advisory committee (concentration option). The thesis committee consists of three faculty, one of whom is designated as the student's advisor. One member of the thesis committee must be from a department, program, or area of specialization other than that in which the student is enrolled. The concentration advisory committee consists of three faculty including an advisor.

Students are advised to register for classes either during the pre-registration period or during regular registration before classes begin. Students should make it a general practice to consult with faculty members before classes begin, since assignments may be made for the first class.

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Requirements for the M.S. Degree in Sociology
Two options are available for students pursuing a master's degree in sociology. Students must receive approval from the Graduate Director before choosing an option. While each track has identical core course requirements, there are important differences among the options that have implications for students' subsequent course choices.

Note: in the descriptions that follow, "substantive departmental seminars" do not refer to courses that are cross-listed; rather, substantive seminars are taught by graduate faculty in the Sociology department and are designed around their areas of expertise. Seminar requirements ensure that students graduate from the program with a broad base of sociological knowledge, approaches, and topic areas.

Thesis option: Required Courses - 12 hrs. core; 6 hrs. thesis; Electives: 18 hrs. [9 hrs minimum in substantive departmental seminars; 9 hrs. combination [described below].

Thirty-six hours of graduate course work must be completed including the following core courses: SOC 502 Contemporary Sociological Theory, SOC 601 Advanced Methods of Social Research, SOC 602 Applications of Advanced Research Methods, and SOC 608 Advanced Statistical Methods. In addition to the core requirements, students must take at least 3 substantive seminars offered by departmental faculty. A master's thesis will be developed under the guidance of a thesis committee and must be publicly defended. The student may present up to six thesis credits for graduation. Up to six graduate credits from other schools or other departments may be accepted toward the M.S. degree upon approval of the Graduate Director. Three independent study hours may also be applied toward the M.S. degree. Independent studies require extensive pre-planning with a faculty member and must be approved by the Graduate Director prior to the semester it takes place. In exceptional cases, and only with permission of the graduate committee, students may present up to six Independent Study hours. At no time can the combination of independent study and courses taken outside the department exceed 9 hours.
Thesis/ Practicum: Required Courses: 12 hrs core; 6 hrs practicum; Electives: 18 hrs. [9 hrs minimum in substantive departmental seminars; 9 hrs. combination [described below].

Thirty-six hours of graduate course work must be completed including the following core courses: SOC 502 Contemporary Sociological Theory, SOC 601 Advanced Methods of Social Research, SOC 602 Applications of Advanced Research Methods, and SOC 608 Advanced Statistical Methods. In addition to the core requirements, students must take at least 3 substantive seminars offered by departmental faculty. A master's thesis will be developed under the guidance of a thesis committee and must be publicly defended. In this track, however, students' theses are based on a participatory action research model (PAR) and are designed in collaboration with designated state or local agencies. The student may present up to six practicum credits for graduation. Up to six graduate credits from other schools or other departments may be accepted toward the M.S. degree upon approval of the Graduate Director. Three independent study hours may also be applied toward the M.S. degree. Independent studies require extensive pre-planning with a faculty member and must be approved by the Graduate Director prior to the semester it takes place. In exceptional cases, and only with permission of the graduate committee, students may present up to six Independent Study hours. At no time can the combination of independent study and courses taken outside the department exceed 9 hours.
Concentration option: Required Courses: 12 hrs. core; Electives: 24 hrs [12 hr. minimum in substantive departmental seminars; 12 hrs combination].

Thirty-six hours of graduate course work must be completed including the following core courses: SOC 502 Contemporary Sociological Theory, SOC 601 Advanced Methods of Social Research, SOC 602 Applications of Advanced Research Methods, and SOC 608 Advanced Statistical Methods. 1) The student must declare a concentration option prior to completing his /her twenty-eighth hour of course work; 2) The student in consultation withhis/her advisor will select an advisory committee (three faculty members including the advisor) which will develop an area of concentration consisting of fifteen credits. Six of these credits may be taken prior to committee approval of the total concentration area. The student may take up to nine of the fifteen concentration hours outside of the department, provided the advisory committee approves. In the final semester, students should enroll in one 3 credit independent study structured around the concentration area. Extensive pre-planning with a faculty member prior to the final semester is expected.. At no time can the combination of outside courses and independent study exceed 12 hours. No thesis credit is permitted. The student will receive certification of the concentration area by having it listed on the transcript; 3) The student will submit to the advisory committee a "concentration area paper" which must demonstrate competence in the subject matter by reviewing literature and discussing prominent issues.

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Choosing an Option
The concentration option is designed for students who wish to integrate courses in related fields with a strong sociological perspective. This option should be particularly attractive to students who are already working in social problems related community or state agencies and wish to develop a broader theoretical base from which to approach their respective occupations. The concentration option is also well-suited to pursuing of of the certificates. Students who plan a teaching career in a two-year college or secondary school should consider opportunities to develop a strong, interdisciplinary substantive area available in the concentration option.

Students who plan careers in research or who plan to pursue the Ph.D. in sociology are advised to choose the thesis track. Students should consult with the Graduate Director and faculty in their interest areas to reach a decision on which option to pursue. Students are advised to make the choice between options by the end of their first year of full-time graduate study.

Choosing Electives
Elective hours beyond the required curriculum for the appropriate option may be chosen to represent a general overview of the field, or they may be selected to permit concentration in a particular specialty area. Students choosing the thesis option will have eighteen credits of electives to choose from. Those students choosing the concentration option will have 24 hours of electives; nine hours of electives must be completed before declaring the concentration. Students should consult with their advisors in order to develop a coherent specialization area or concentration area with approved electives.

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M.S. Thesis
The M.S. thesis normally should be comparable to a publishable article (in length and format), although with a somewhat more extensive literature review and full elaboration of the theoretical framework and research procedures. Implications for future research and/or action should also be discussed. The stylistic conventions of the American Sociological Review should be used. Theses are defended publicly, after having been left on file for one week with the departmental secretary. Any faculty member present may express reservations regarding the acceptability of the thesis. However, the student's thesis committee makes the final departmental decision regarding acceptability of the thesis (majority vote). The thesis should demonstrate the student's ability to conceive an adequate research project rather than produce publishable material (i.e., insufficient sample size).

Here is a listing of the typical steps involved in working through a thesis.

Develop an idea for a thesis problem or proposal. At this point the idea can be rather vague, but try to write down a statement of the problem that can be researched. This should be done in the summer between the first and second year or during the fall of the second year.
Bring the idea/statement of the problem to a faculty member/or advisor to discuss who should chair the thesis committee. Once a thesis chairperson has been identified, the two of you should ask at least one other member of the department to be on the committee. Finally, a faculty member outside of the department must be selected to be the outside representative.
Begin working on the thesis proposal with the chair and other members of the committee. Try to set up a structured set of dates for completion of each part of the thesis.
Schedule a formal defense of the thesis proposal with the committee before the end of the Fall semester, or at the latest the beginning of the Spring semester of the second year. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the research problem with the committee and define the steps intended to take to answer the research question or questions. At this point the student should have developed a statement of the problem, a review of the current literature in the area (this does not have to be as detailed as the final literature review) and the methodology section which includes the procedures to be used to answer the research questions. The student should not have any data collected at this point.
Once the proposal has been approved, collect and analyze the data. If the data is going to be generated from classroom students, get faculty approval early in the semester and collect the data well before the last week of classes.
Rewrite the proposal into a final thesis copy. Students should obtain a copy of the School of Graduate Studies Thesis and Dissertation Manual which explains the form the thesis must be in for final submission.
All students planning on graduating in May must have their advisors post the announcement of their thesis defense on the bulletin board outside the chairperson's office one week before the actual defense.
The defense should occur at least two weeks before the last day of classes.
The student should submit the final copies of the thesis to the Dean's office by the last day of Spring classes.
The student is required to pay a binding fee to the library for binding any copies of the thesis. A minimum of three copies must be bound. One copy will be held by the library, one by the Dean's office, and one is given to the chair of the thesis committee. The student may have more copies bound for her/his own use. Each copy must be signed by all committee members, the chairperson, and the Dean

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Progress toward the Degree: Continuous Enrollment
Once admitted to the degree program, a graduate student is expected to enroll each semester. Students may request a leave of absence from the program through written appeal to the Graduate Director. The Graduate Director will forward the request with attached recommendation to the graduate dean who will respond for the university. Students who do not register for courses for more than one calendar year and who have not been granted a leave of absence, must reapply for admission to the university and the M.S. program. Students who have completed course requirements for the degree (36 semester hours for the thesis options; 36 for the concentration option) must register for a minimum of one semester hour each semester until the degree is awarded.

Student Status
Full-time graduate status consists of a minimum of nine and a maximum of 16 credits per semester. No more than 12 semester credits may be earned in a summer semester. Graduate Teaching Assistants must register for 12 hours each semester, work 20 hours per week in their teaching assignments, and should not take on work obligations outside the department.

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Grades

Degree Requirements
Graduate students are expected to maintain an overall grade point average of at least 3.0 ("B"). Students who do not maintain a 3.0 average may be dropped from the master's program at any time. If students earn less than a "B" on 20 percent or more of all attempted credits, their graduate status will be reviewed by the Graduate Program Committee. Any graduate student who does not have at least a 3.0 average after completing 15 hours of graduate work will be dropped from the program. Students will receive no graduate credit for courses in which a grade of less than "C" is given. Graduate students must have earned an overall grade point average of 3.0 to receive a degree. Students must not have more than six semester hours of graduate courses with a grade of "C" to receive a degree.
Grade of W (Withdrawn)
The grade of "W'" indicates that a student has officially withdrawn from a course or has been dropped for non-attendance. Students must abide by attendance requirements as announced in each separate class even though the requirements may vary widely among courses. Students may officially withdraw any time up to the end of the eighth week of classes. (Consult the university calendar in the Graduate Bulletin for the exact date each semester).
Grade of I (Incomplete)
If, because of circumstances beyond a student's control, the student is unable to meet all the requirements of a course by the end of the semester, a grade of "incomplete" ("I") may be given with the instructor's permission. The award of a grade of "incomplete" requires an understanding between the instructor and the student as to when and how the course will be completed and the filing of an "Incomplete Grade Assignment" form. The maximum time-limit for submission of all course work necessary for the removal of an "incomplete" is the end of the last day of classes of the semester immediately following the semester or summer session in which the "incomplete" was incurred. At that time, an un-removed grade of "I", the "incomplete," is automatically changed to a failing grade. An extension of the time limit is possible but must be approved, prior to the time of expiration noted above, by the instructor and the dean of the school through which the course is offered. Written approval indicating the new time limit must be filed with the Office of Enrollment Services by the dean.
Thesis Grading
Students enrolling in SOC 698 (M.S. Thesis) will be awarded a grade of "S" (Satisfactory) or "U" (Unsatisfactory) each semester. There is no limit to the number of thesis credits a student may take while pursuing completion of the degree as long as the student receives a grade of "S" for each credit.

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Applying for Graduation
Students are required to submit a Graduation Application Form and a Degree Completion Form (Form 3.1) to the dean of the College of Humanities and Sciences in advance of the date when they expect to receive a degree . The deadline for the submission of these forms to the student advisor normally occurs shortly after classes begin in the semester of expected graduation. Consult the university calendar in the Graduate Bulletin for the exact date each semester.

Thesis Oral Defense Deadline
The university sets deadlines each semester for the completion of the thesis oral defense, normally at the beginning of final examination week. Consult the university calendar in the Graduate Bulletin for the exact date each semester. Theses must be filed with the departmental secretary one week prior to the public defense.

Time Limit
The time limit for completion of the M.S. degree may not extend beyond a period of seven years, which includes five years with two possible one-year extensions which may be granted, upon petition, by the dean of the School of Graduate Studies. Students taking nine hours per regular semester may complete the thesis option or the concentration option in four regular semesters. Taking summer courses may quicken the pace of an individual's program.

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Survey Research Laboratory
The Survey Research Laboratory (SRL) of Virginia Commonwealth University offers graduate students the unique opportunity to participate in survey research conducted for local, state and federal agencies, as well as other groups working in the public interest. Students gain direct experience in sampling procedures, questionnaire development, interviewing, computer applications, and statistical analysis of the data. Research project , directed by members of the Lab as well as members of the Faculty afford the student opportunities seldom offered by purely academic settings.

Computer Resources and Facilities
Academic Campus Computing Services (ACCS) provides staff support and computer facilities for instruction, research, and certain community service activities. A wide range of computing facilities is available at VCU. The University maintains systems for research and instruction, and students can obtain accounts that provide access to Internet and electronic mail as well as to a variety of databases and an assortment of statistical software. Public access terminals are located in Cabell Library, the Temple Building, and the Business Building.

Software available on these computers, or through the VCU network, include statistics packages (e.g., SPSS--Statistical Package for the Social Sciences and SAS--Statistical Analysis System), word processing applications (e.g., Microsoft Word), electronic mail, and software to facilitate Internet access. Databases include the complete General Social Surveys (1972 - present). VCU is a member of the ICPSR (International Consortium for Political and Social Research) which allows researchers to use a vast array of survey data that has been archived over the past 30 years. Up-to-date U.S. Census data is also available.

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Library Resources
The combined collections in James Branch Cabell Library on the Academic Campus and Tompkins -McCaw Library on the MCV campus total more than one million volumes and feature over 8,400 journal and newspaper titles. The Cabell Library is a selective depository for U.S. government documents and also houses audio, video, and multimedia resources.

Both libraries offer an assortment of services, including reference assistance from professional librarians, library orientation tours and bibliographic instruction, computer-assisted literature services, and self-service photocopiers. The online catalog links libraries on both campuses and offers a social science electronic database. Through interlibrary loan, students may borrow books from public and academic libraries throughout the United States.

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Flow Chart for Graduate Career
The Graduate Director is the temporary advisor for all first year students. All students should make an appointment to see him/her and discuss their first year curriculum. A permanent advisor should be identified during the first year. The following curriculum is the most typical one pursued by students. Exceptions are common when prerequisites have not been fulfilled or when students come with extensive sociological backgrounds.

YEAR ONE

Fall Semester [both options]

Sociology 508 Introduction to Social Statistics (for students with minimal statistical background or those needing a review of basic statistics) or Sociology 608 Statistics for Social Research (required)
Sociology 601 Advanced Methods of Social Research (required)
Elective

Spring Semester [both options]

Sociology 502 Contemporary Sociological Theory (required)
Sociology 608 (required) if 508 was taken in the Fall.
Elective

In the spring semester Methods class (601) students choosing the thesis option will have the opportunity to develop a first draft of a thesis proposal. During the summer months, students should move this process forward in two ways:

Summer

Over the summer, students should start thinking seriously about who they will ask to be their advisor and about a research problem that they will pursue for their thesis (if they haven't already done this). If at all possible, they should tie the interest reflected in their thesis to one or more courses they will select in the fall..

1a. Identify and ask a faculty person to serve as a thesis chair. In consultation with the chair, students should also identify the rest of their thesis committee [one additional departmental faculty member; one faculty member outside the department.] Once agreements to serve have been obtained, students should inform the Graduate Director of these selections.

2. In consultation with the thesis chair, the student should develop a reading list and conduct their preliminary literature review based on their thesis area.

2a. While it is not necessary to begin the fall semester with a finalized research topic, one must come out of the fall semester with a detailed research problem and a thesis advisor. In order to graduate in the Spring of their second year, students should present thesis proposals to their thesis committees during the end of the fall semester at the very latest.

2c. Students are advised to read previous theses located in the Graduate Reading Room in Lafayette Hall (in the alcove) to obtain the best idea of what is currently acceptable.

YEAR TWO

Fall Semester [thesis and concentration options]
1) Sociology 602 Applications of Advanced Research Methods (required)
2) Elective
3) Elective

Fall Semester [practicum students]
1) Sociology 602 Applications of Advanced Research Methods (required)
2) Practicum Seminar
3) Elective

Electives: If at all possible, students should choose courses that are in their interest area. This may include courses offered by the department and/or courses outside of the department but in the area of interest. Courses taken outside the department must be approved by the student's advisor. For students in the thesis option, it is appropriate at this time to take an Independent study with a faculty member if there are no offerings in the interest area.

Spring Semester [Thesis Option ]
1) Thesis Credit
2) Thesis Credit (Students should take six credits of thesis supervised by their advisor. )
3) Elective

Practicum Option
1) Practicum Seminar
2) Elective
3) Elective

Concentration Option
1) Independent Study (Students should take a supervised 3 credit independent study to focus on concentration area. )
2) Elective
3) Elective

All second-year students planning to graduate in May should file for graduation prior to the Spring deadline which is always at the beginning of the Spring semester (consult the Graduate Bulletin for exact date).

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Graduate Courses in Sociology

Note: Required core courses are offered each year while others are offered on a rotating basis. Some elective courses are offered more frequently than others.

502 Contemporary Sociological Theory. Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. A critical assessment is given of such contemporary theoretical orientations as functionalism, conflict theory, exchange theory, symbolic interactionism and phenomenology.

510 Seminar in Sexual and Domestic Violence. Students will learn about the experiences of and responses to sexual and domestic violence in specific social contexts, with a focus on less visible contexts and underserved populations. We will examine violence within various family structures and intimate relationships including racial/ethnic minority and immigrant groups and gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender relationships; in various community settings including college campuses and the military; and among people with disabilities. Guest lectures will be provided by community experts in these areas.

593 Internship in Sexual and Domestic Violence. The internship is designed for students to gain real-world experience working in settings that address gender violence. Students will focus on various areas including but not limited to service provision, intervention, research, and program evaluation. Students will work closely with organization/agency staff and follow their instructions. Students will commit to spending 12 hours a week at their field sites.

Currently, possible internship sites include Safe Harbor, YWCA, VDH, VASDVAA, and VCU's Office of Student Health. (See homepage for links to these community sites.)

601 Advanced Methods of Social Research. Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: SOC 214 and 320 or equivalent. Research as a systematic process involving formulation of the problem design of the research, field operation, the processing and analysis of data, and preparation of the research report. Also considered are critical analyses of current methods, administration of research projects, and the significance of research to social action.

602 Applications of Advanced Research Methods. 3 lecture and conference hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: 601, and 608. The methods of developing a research project will be analyzed from the initial problem identification, literature review, theoretical framework, through research design and procedures.

603 Seminar in Population Studies. Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Analysis of fertility, mortality and migration from a sociodemographic perspective. Special attention will be paid to sociological determinants of demographic processes and their interrelationships.

604 Sociology of Work in Industry. Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Analysis of work relations and the social structures and mechanisms which govern and arise out of them and examination of the social problems that are inherent in the characteristics that make a society an industrial society.

607 Seminar in Racial and Ethnic Relations in America. Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. A study of inter-group relations in such areas as busing and school desegregation, racism, minority separatist movements, ethnic-racial violence, minorities and athletics, the emergence of white ethnic groups in the political systems, and the position of minorities in legal, economic, and medical institutions.

608 Advanced Statistical Methods. Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisites: SOC 214 and 320 or equivalent. A discussion of statistical methods related to sociological research. The statistical techniques include correlation and regression, multiple correlation, and multiple regression, T test, one- and two-way analysis of variance, non-parametric statistical techniques especially PRE measures.

609 Seminar in the Family. Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Analysis of contemporary family life with an emphasis on the influence of social change. Consideration of current family crises and problems.

610 Complex Organizations. Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. A study of complex organizations in society with emphasis on the determinants and effects of organizational structure and process.

611 Studies in the Community. Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. The organization of the community with emphasis on major trends in urban development and growth, the inter- dependence of political, social and economic geographic units, and the need for cooperative planning and control.

612 Seminar in the Sociology of Deviant Behavior. Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. The nature and functions of deviance. Theories and problems of social control.

613 Social Stratification. Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. An in-depth analysis of status differentials in society (e.g. social class, prestige, and power).

614 Seminar in the Sociology of Education. Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. A sociological analysis of education as a social institution with an emphasis on methodological issues and policy implications.

615 Seminar in Mass Communications. Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. A sociological analysis of contemporary media and their interrelationships with social systems, media, and national development. Special emphasis on media as instruments of social and cultural change. (Some theoretical background in sociology is recommended.)

620 Seminar in Criminology. Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Discussion and investigation of contemporary issues in criminology. Special emphasis on research problems in and theories of crime causation.

625 Urban Sociology and Social Change. Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Prerequisite: graduate standing. A detailed analysis and examination of the social and ecological structures and processes of the modern metropolis with primary emphasis on the macro-level organization of urban life. Special attention will be given to suburbanization, gentrification, and urban change.

630 Social Psychology. Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Discussion and investigation of selected social psychological issues in sociology, as well as traditional and innovative methodology applied to these issues.

631 Battered Women in the Criminal Justice System. This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of (1) the major developments and trends in the law related to battered women in the criminal justice system; (2) the role of the various players in the criminal justice system; (3) how child abuse and sexual abuse are treated in the criminal justice system; and (4) battered women who kill and the defense of battered woman syndrome. The students will learn the stages of the criminal justice system as it relates to battered women and their children.

635 Theorizing Gender Violence. Semester course; The purpose of this course will be to explore the origins and maintenance of gender violence primarily in the United States . Student will become familiar with sociological and feminist theories and use them to analyze how culture and social structure contribute to and perpetuate gender violence. The social policy and research implications of various approaches will also be examined.

640 Seminar in Political Sociology. Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Analysis of structures and processes of political organization. Examination of the creation and management of power, diffusion and regulation of conflict, and the politics of modernization and bureaucratization.

645 The Sociology of Health and Illness. Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. An examination of sociocultural factors in health and illness and the influence of social factors on recovery and rehabilitation. Special attention will be paid to the methodology found in current studies.

646 Seminar in the Sociology of Mental Health and Disorder. Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Seminar is social organizational causes of clinical depression, schizophrenia, neurosis, and personality disorders. Focus is on prevention through social engineering and social policy. Impact of social change, sex roles, and socialization processes on rates of mental disorder emphasized.

660 Sociology of Women. Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. An examination of the theories, methods, and treatment of women in traditional social thought and research. Feminist scholarship is used to analyze the sociological basis for the roles and status of women and the social forces that create and maintain hierarchical patterns and arrangements.

650 Theories of Social and Institutional Change. Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. A study of social change with emphasis on institutional settings. Topics examined include alternative theoretical perspectives on change, structural sources of change, approaches to planned change, and the role and function of change agents.

691 Topical Seminar. Semester course; 3 lecture hours. 3 credits. Seminars on current specialized areas of sociological and anthropological interest.

692 Independent Study. Semester course. 1-3 credits per semester. Prerequisites: permission of both an instructor and the Graduate Director. A maximum of 6 credits may be submitted toward the master's degree. An independent study must be planned prior to the semester in which it will be carried out; a tentative reading list and timeline should be submitted to the Graduate Director with the request for permission.

698 M.S. Thesis. 1-6 credits. May be repeated.

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