Program in Sociology

Website: https://twu.edu/sociology/

Program Lead: James Williams, Professor
Location: CFO 605
Phone: 940-898-2055
E-mail: sociology@twu.edu

Graduate Degrees Offered

Master of Arts in Sociology

The objective of the sociology program is to produce intellectually well-rounded graduates capable of (1) analyzing human social groups and relationships between groups, (2) evaluating the influence of social factors on social situations, and (3) functioning effectively in either an academic milieu or a sociological practice setting.

Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology

The objective of the sociology program is to produce intellectually well-rounded graduates capable of (1) analyzing human social groups and relationships between groups, (2) evaluating the influence of social factors on social situations, and (3) functioning effectively in either an academic milieu or in a sociological practice setting. Doctoral students are required to study core sociological theory, social research methods, and statistics, and must concentrate further in one major area.

The Doctor of Philosophy degree in Sociology is offered through a cooperative program of the Federation of North Texas Area Universities that includes Texas Woman’s University, the University of North Texas, and Texas A&M – Commerce. The Ph.D. in Sociology is granted by Texas Woman’s University and the University of North Texas. Students apply for acceptance into the Ph.D. program through one of the participating universities. Together the two universities offer graduate training in various aspects of sociology along with opportunities in the area of sociological practice. Ph.D. students enrolled at either TWU or UNT take courses at both universities, thus benefiting from the combined faculties and facilities of both schools. Students graduating from the Federation program will be granted the Ph.D. from the university through which they entered the program.

Minors

Students may minor in sociology at both the master’s and the doctoral levels. Courses designed to complement the student’s major field will be selected in consultation between the student and his/her advisory committee. Normally a minor in sociology requires 6 semester credit hours at the master’s level and 12 semester credit hours at the doctoral level.

Faculty

*BONES, PAUL D.C., Associate Professor of Sociology, B.A., University of Oklahoma; M.A., University of Oklahoma; Ph.D., University of Oklahoma
*GULLION, JESSICA S., Associate Dean of Research, College of Arts and Sciences, Professor of Sociology, B.A., Texas Tech University; M.A., Southwest Texas State University; Ph.D., Texas Woman's University
*KAPINUS, CAROLYN, Professor of Sociology; Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, B.A., Centenary College of Louisiana; M.A., Texas Tech University; Ph.D.,The Pennsylvania State University
*SADRI, MAHMOUD, Professor of Sociology, B.A., University of Teheran : Teheran, Iran; M.A., University of Teheran : Teheran, Iran; Ph.D., New School for Social Research
*WILLIAMS, JAMES L., Professor of Sociology, B.A., University of Georgia; M.A., University of Georgia; M.A.Ed., Western Carolina University; Ph.D., University of Georgia
*YANG, PHILIP Q., Professor of Sociology, B.A., Zhongshan University : China; M.A., University of California, Los Angeles; Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles

Courses

SOCI 5113. Statistical Methods in Sociology. Introduction to conceptualization, operationalization, and measurement in the social sciences. Use of elementary measures of central tendency and dispersion, cross-tabulation, and linear modeling procedures to evaluate relationships among variables; problems of description and inference. Includes use of the SPSS statistical software package and secondary analysis of data. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 5313. Research Methods and Design. Social science research methods for sociologists. Emphasis on qualitative and quantitative methods, research design, and development of a research proposal. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 5473. Foundations of Classical Sociological Theories. Introduction to classical sociological theory including major theorists such as Marx, Weber, and Durkheim. Focus on intellectual biographies of major sociologists. Three seminar hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 5483. Foundations of Contemporary Sociological Theories. Introduction to contemporary sociological theory including theorists such as Parsons, Goffman, and Giddens. Focus on intellectual biographies of the major sociologists. Three seminar hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 5643. Race and Ethnic Groups in the United States. Emphasis on selected groups (African Americans, Mexican Americans, and Asian Americans), their history, heritage, contributions to society, similarities, and differences. Application of theory and research to current intergroup relations. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 5833. Gender and Sexualities. Overview of gender and sexualities with a focus on social control. Gender roles, sexual identities, sexual deviance, patriarchy. Three seminar hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 5843. Feminist Theories. Thoroughly explores feminist critical inquiry, focusing on particular theoretical issues, historical writings, and/or disciplinary contexts within the diverse body of scholarship of feminist theory. May be repeated for credit when topics vary. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 5903. Special Topics. Seminars on sociological theory, research methods, or selected substantive areas. May be repeated for credit when topics vary. lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 5911. Independent Study. Individual study of topics in sociological theory, research, or in substantive areas selected in accordance with student's interests and needs. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Credit: One hour.

SOCI 5913. Independent Study. Individual study of topics in sociological theory, research, or in substantive areas selected in accordance with student's interests and needs. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 5953. Internship. Cooperative work-study arrangement between the University and business, industry, or selected institutions. No more than three credit hours counted toward degree. Pass-fail grade only. Thirteen practicum hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 5983. Thesis. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 5993. Thesis. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 6123. Advanced Classical Sociological Theories. Analysis of classical sociological theory including major theorists such as Marx, Comte, Spencer, Weber, Durkheim, Simmel, Tonnies, and Park. Focus on intellectual biographies and projects of the founders of sociology. Three seminar hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 6133. Advanced Contemporary Sociological Theories. Analysis of contemporary sociological theory including theorists such as Parsons, Goffman, Habermas, Bourdieu, Coleman, Levi-Strauss, Blumer, and Giddens. Focus on intellectual biographies and projects of the major contemporary sociologists. Three seminar hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 6203. Seminar on Research Methods. Theory and application of quantitative and non-quantitative methods to sociological data. Suggested topics may include: use of available data; qualitative and field techniques; data analysis; techniques of sociological measurement. May be repeated for credit when topics vary. Prerequisites: A course in statistics and one in basic research design. or permission of instructor. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 6323. Pro Seminar in Sociology. Orientation to the scholarly and professional work of sociology and to program and university requirements, missions, and policies; professional socialization in the discipline; preparation for teaching sociology in higher education. To be taken within the first year of graduate work. Three semester hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 6353. Qualitative Research in Sociology. Qualitative research design including data collection and analysis. Theoretical perspectives such as postmodernism, critical theories, and post-positivism. Prerequisite: SOCI 5313 or equivalent. Three seminar hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 6363. Intermediate Social Statistics. Emphasis on application of appropriate statistical techniques for social data analysis, including ANOVA; techniques of linear regression and diagnostics; and measures of association. Training for carrying out a quantitative research project using sociological data. Prerequisite: Graduate level introduction to social statistics or equivalent. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 6373. Quantitative Methods and Design. Advanced study of quantitative research methods for research in sociology. Advanced topics in survey research methods and design, and experimental methods and design. Preparation of quantitative research proposal. Prerequisites: Masters level social research methods course, and doctoral standing. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 6383. Advanced Statistical Methods. Statistical techniques beyond the intermediate level including two-stage least squares regression, multinomial logistic regression, ordinal regression, loglinear analysis, factor analysis, path analysis, structural equation modeling, multilevel analysis/hierarchical linear model, and event history analysis/survival analysis. Application of techniques to social science research. Prerequisite: SOCI 6363 or equivalent, or instructor permission. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 6513. Global and Comparative Sociology. Theoretical and empirical literature in global and comparative sociology; examination of classical and contemporary theories, methods, and current issues in comparative-historical sociology and globalization. Three seminar hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 6523. Social Psychology Theory. Classical and contemporary literature in sociological social psychology theory. Examines interactionist theories, social structure and personality, and sociological theories of group processes. Three seminar hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 6533. Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration. Major issues, approaches, and controversies in the study of race, ethnicity, and immigration. Theories of race, theories of ethnicity, panethnicity, U.S. racial hierarchy, theories of international migration, and transnationalism. Emphasis on the role of immigration in shaping racial and ethnic identities and intergroup relations and the impact of race and ethnicity on the admission, citizenship, and adaptation of immigrants. Three seminar hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 6553. Social Stratification. Advanced theoretical and empirical literature in social stratification. Review of classical and contemporary literature. Social inequality, social ranking systems, and the relationship of stratification theory and research techniques. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 6663. Sociology of Disabilities. Overview of disability and disability studies from a sociological perspective. Access and accommodation, visible and invisible disabilities, disability culture, and intersectional identities and disability. Three seminar hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 6723. Sociology of Terrorism. Critical analysis of organizational, instrumental, and cultural theories of terrorism. Transnational and global varieties of terrorism and secular and religious sources of the phenomenon. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 6733. Health and Illness. Advanced conceptual and substantive overview of the field of medical sociology, utilizing a critical approach to health and illness. Medical and sociological models of illness, medical institutions, and social epidemiology. Three lecture hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 6813. Criminology Theories. History, evolution, and current status of classical and contemporary theories of crime and deviance. Conceptual, logical, and empirical assessment of major theories. Theory construction and empirical testing. Three seminar hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 6823. Globalization, Crime, and Justice. Globalization and its impact on crime and criminal justice systems explored through theoretical and empirical literature. Global mobility, global risk, and state responses to crime. Three seminar hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 6833. Comparative Criminology. Transnational crime and justice processes and policy explored through theoretical and empirical literature. Transnational crime, globalization and crime, methods and data, and comparative justice systems. Three seminar hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 6843. Deviant Behavior. Theory, research, and classical and contemporary literature on the sociology of deviance and social control. Three seminar hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 6853. Contemporary Criminology. Contemporary issues in criminology including criminological epistemology, developments in theory and methodology, globalization, and global governance. May be repeated for credit when topic varies. Three seminar hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 6873. Race, Crime, and Justice. Analysis and evaluation of the relationships between race and crime. Consideration of segregation and crime, hate crimes, and race and the criminal justice system. Three seminar hours a week. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 6903. Special Topics. Seminars on sociological theory, research methods, or selected substantive areas. May be repeated for credit when topics vary. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 6911. Independent Study. Advanced individual study of topics in sociological theory, research, or in substantive areas selected in accordance with student's interests and needs. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Credit: One hour.

SOCI 6913. Independent Study. Advanced individual study of topics in sociological theory, research, or in substantive areas selected in accordance with student's interests and needs. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 6923. Individual Research. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 6983. Dissertation. Credit: Three hours.

SOCI 6993. Dissertation. Credit: Three hours.