This course introduces the basic principles and concepts of sociology and examination of the elements of social structure and social behavior. Focus is placed on the fundamental structure of American society and the basic changes occurring in recent years, with tentative projections into the future. This course is a prerequisite for all required courses in the Sociology major. Offered each semester.
CREDIT: THREE SEMESTER HOURS
Offered each semester.

This course will help students to understand social welfare and social work. It focuses on the why, the what, the who, the when, the where, and in a beginning way, the how of social work. The course is for students who want to increase their general understanding about social welfare and social work and those who have a professional interest in social work.
CREDIT: THREE SEMESTER HOURS
COREQUISITE: SOC 111

This course will introduce the student to the broad concept of social welfare policy. A critical framework will be developed for analyzing the process of social welfare policy formulation and program implementation. Attention will also be given to the social welfare policies in the history of American society with focus placed on those policies that are significant in the lives of black people and poor people and the development of their communities in the United States.
CREDIT: THREE SEMESTER HOURS
COREQUISITES: SWK 115, SOC 111

The course is designed to examine human growth and development, human behavior, and the social environment. in addition, this course focuses on social systems in which people live (families, groups, organizations, institutions, and communities), the interaction among systems, and the ways in which systems promote or hinder optimum health and well-being.
CREDIT: THREE SEMESTER HOURS
PREREQUISITES: SWK 115 and SWK 211

This course is an introduction to the foundations of statistical thinking and exploratory data analysis. This course is designed to help students acquire fundamental skills in organizing, displaying, reading, and interpreting data including the use of standard computer software, such as the BIDP package to analyze their data. The computer analytic skills are taught in a two-hour computer applications lab which meets once a week. Offered every fall; this course is required of all majors within the School of Social Sciences.
CREDIT: THREE SEMESTER HOURS
PREREQUISITES: MAT 103, or MAT 106, or advanced level math with a "C" average
Offered every fall; this course is required of all majors within the School of Social Sciences.

This foundation course examines the role and interaction of social workers with vulnerable groups. This includes concepts of racism, sexism, homophobia, oppression, affirmative action, and xenophobia. These components will be discussed in relation to the role institutions of the larger society play for These groups. Implications for practice with individuals, families, and communities are examined, as are policy and research implications.
CREDIT: THREE SEMESTER HOURS
PREREQUISITES: SWK 115, SWK 211

The purpose of this course is to assists students in acquiring the knowledge base and skills required to identify ethical issues, to resolve ethical dilemmas, and the capacity to make ethical decisions when confronted with conflicting duties and choices that occur within the context of professional social work practice at all levels.
CREDIT: THREE SEMESTER HOURS
PREREQUISITES: SWK 115 and SWK 211

This course is the second of two required course in the Human Behavior & Social Environment sequence. in this advanced course, students prepare for clinical social work practice that reflects advanced understanding of life span development and socio-psychological identity development in individuals, families, groups, and communities. An emphasis will be placed on the understanding and identifying the classifications in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). FurTher, students will sharpen their assessment, evaluation, intervention, and advocacy skills for clients who present with a mental disorder diagnosis.
CREDIT: THREE SEMESTER HOURS
PREREQUISITE: SWK 215

The course is designed to familiarize students with different practice techniques to use when working with individuals, families, and groups. The student will develop knowledge and skills for direct service to individuals, families, and groups to address issues related to well-being. Students will also learn Theories of group formation and group work techniques to use while in group settings.
CREDIT: THREE SEMESTER HOURS
PREREQUISITES: SWK 115, SWK 211

This is the second of two required practice courses in the social work practice sequence. This course will continue to build upon client-system engagement and assessment skills introduced in SWK 314 - Social Work Practice I. The course will provide students with an understanding of planning and generalist intervention methods used especially with individuals, families, and groups with an emphasis on the utilization and integration of Theory, methods, techniques of practice, and interviewing skills.
CREDIT: THREE SEMESTER HOURS
PREREQUISITE: SWK 314

This is an educationally directed practice experience in selected community agencies with a pre-screened and trained site supervisor to apply and integrate skills, cognitive and affective learning, within a formalized service system for a required 80 hours of on-site field experience. in addition, students will begin to develop a research project that will be executed in SOC 444 - Senior Seminar II.
CREDIT: THREE SEMESTER HOURS

This course is a survey of sociological Theories of contemporary relevance. Marx, Durkheim, Weber, Dubois, Park, and others considered against the background of the intellectual and social currents of their time; contributions of These thinkers to modern social Theory are evaluated.
CREDIT: THREE SEMESTER HOURS
PREREQUISITES: SOC 111, two other courses in the Department, and junior standing, or permission of the instructor
Co-listed As: SWK 341

In this course, consideration will be given to the nature, methods, principles, and techniques of scientific social research. The application of statistical techniques (both descriptive and inferential) to various kinds of research problems and methodologies will be delineated. Students will be expected to conduct a group/individual sociological research project as well as be familiar with the use of computers in research.
CREDIT: THREE SEMESTER HOURS
PREREQUISITE: SSD 215
COREQUISITE: SOC 341
Co-listed As: SWK 380

The purpose of this class is to prepare students for the State of Mississippi Social Work examination. The 15-week course will include informative sessions that focus on the four content areas: (1) Human Development, Diversity, and Behavior in the Environment; (2) Assessment; (3) Interventions with Clients/Client Systems; and (4) Professional Relationships, Values, and Ethics. The course will include a series of comprehensive practice examinations to sharpen test-taking skills to increase students' speed and accuracy and interview skills.
CREDIT: THREE SEMESTER HOURS
PREREQUISITE: Student must have senior standing

This course is designed as a follow-up to SWK 443 - Skills in Interview and Licensure Exam. The course objective is to provide senior Social Work majors an opportunity to execute the research proposal developed in their SWK 443 course. Students will collect the data, analyze the data using SPSS, and complete the paper in fulfillment of the College's Senior Paper requirement. The exit requirement for the course is an oral presentation (senior paper defense) on and a written copy of the completed paper following the Department's guidelines. The written copy is to be submitted by the date published by the College's Writing Commission, which will be made known to students at the beginning of the course. Offered during the spring semester. Students are also required to take the comprehensive exam for Sociology.
CREDIT: THREE SEMESTER HOURS
PREREQUISITES: SWK 400 & SWK 443; Student must have senior standing
Offered during the spring semester.

This course is a study of the origin development and functioning of culture; an examination of the variations of social structure and social behavior in various societies around the world; an analysis of the relationship between culture and personality.
CREDIT: THREE SEMESTER HOURS

The course will investigate the nature of complex social and community organizations such as business, industry, and government. Students will apply key social Theories for bringing effective community based social action. Special attention will be given to community-based disaster preparedness, recovery efforts, and management strategies. Students will be familiar with the strategies to build resilient community, community-mindedness, and cooperative relationships between disaster victims and recovery organizations. How disasters lead to rapid social change will also be explored.
CREDIT: THREE SEMESTER HOURS
PREREQUISITES: SOC 111 or SWK 115 (for Sociology majors). Non-majors (must complete one of the Theme areas of the General Education)
Co-listed As: SOC 331

The course examines the impact of race, ethnicity, class, and gender by engaging students in major topics and Themes currently shaping political and cultural institutions in the United States. A major focus of the course is on the social construction of race, racial, ethnic, class, and gender identity. It will include a historical perspective from pre-colonial times to the present to examine the experiences and contributions of marginalized groups and how the status quo has been maintained by dominant group. The course will also explore current strategies to build an inclusive society. The course can be used by other departments and interdisciplinary programs such as education, history, political science, psychology, economics, and some humanities.
CREDIT: THREE SEMESTER HOURS
Co-listed As: SOC 412

This course examines how the rise of metropolitan area has impacted both city-dwellers and rural communities. The seminar introduces students to the key Theoretical and methodological trends in urban and rural sociology. Topics include the changing nature of community, the development and structure of neighborhoods, the relationship between social processes and the built environment, and variation in urban, suburban, and rural social problem and policy issues. The course draws on the sociological study of cities while integrating perspectives from history, political science, economics, anthropology, and geography so students gain a holistic understanding of the American physical and cultural landscape.
CREDIT: THREE SEMESTER HOURS
Co-listed As: SOC 422

This course provides seminars and independent studies in various subfields within sociology and anthropology, with emphasis on areas not represented in regular offerings in the department. Individual study projects will be encouraged. Topics include A. Independent Study B. Research Seminar in Sociology C. Selected Topics in Sociology, e.g., Black Institutions, Population and Environment, Sociology of Deviant Behavior, or Social Movements. This course may be taken more than once as different topics are treated each time.
CREDIT: THREE SEMESTER HOURS
PREREQUISITE: SOC 111

HIS 225 examines the origins, philosophies, tactics, events, personalities, and consequences of the Southern Civil Rights Movement. This course will begin with the struggles of black veterans to register to vote after WWII and will conclude with the Meredith March Against Fear in 1966.
CREDIT: THREE SEMESTER HOURS

Contemporary Political Ideology explores the theoretical foundations and practical implications of major political ideologies shaping contemporary politics. Students will critically engage with liberalism, conservatism, socialism, anarchism, feminism, environmentalism, nationalism, and post-colonial thought, among others. The course investigates how ideologies influence public policy, political behavior, and social movements, both historically and in today's globalized world. Emphasis is placed on understanding the ideological underpinnings of current political debates and how these belief systems interact, conflict, and evolve over time. Offered bi-annually.
CREDIT: THREE SEMESTER HOURS
Offered bi-annually.

This course is a systematic study of the psychological processes of adulthood and aging. This course focuses on the psychiatric and psychological aspects of the aging process, as well as the effects aging on family and other social relationships. Offered every spring semester.
CREDIT: THREE SEMESTER HOURS
PREREQUISITES: PSY 111 or SOC 111
Co-listed As: SOC 301
Offered every spring semester.