Department Head: Dr. Tina H. Deshotels
210 Brewer Hall
The Department of Sociology and Political Science offers a variety of courses that prepare students for 21st century careers. The Sociology program offers courses on social behavior, social relations, culture, the structure of society, and the tensions and conflicts produced by changes, expanding technologies, and knowledge, preparing students for careers and graduate school in criminal justice, business, teaching, data analysis, human services, and many more. The Political Science program offers a wide range of courses in American government and international relations, preparing students for careers in law, government, politics, international affairs, business, communications, and many other fields.
- Sociology - Advanced Sociology (Bachelor of Arts)
- Sociology - Advanced Sociology (Bachelor of Science)
- Sociology - Applied Sociology (Bachelor of Arts)
- Sociology - Applied Sociology (Bachelor of Science)
- Political Science (Bachelor of Arts)
- Criminology Minor
- Gerontology Minor
- International Studies Minor
- Legal Studies Minor
- Political Science Minor
- Public Administration Minor
- Sociology Minor
- Criminology and Justice in Society Microcredential
- Healthcare and Society Microcredential
- Human Relations and Society Microcredential
- Legal Studies Microcredential
Political Science
PSC 100 Introduction to American Government (3)
Structure and organization of the American national government. Evolution of the United States Constitution and the federal system, civil rights, voting and elections, Congress, the President, and the federal courts
PSC 101 Introduction to Political Science (3)
(American Government) Nature and scope of political science, basic concepts and terminology, nature of the state and government, types of political systems, comparative political institutions.
PSC 102 Introduction to State and Local Government (3)
(American Government) A study of the organization, functions, and powers of state, county, and municipal governments in the United States.
PSC 103 Honors Introduction to American Government (3)
Prerequisite(s): Member of Honors Program or ACT English 25 or SAT Critical Reading 610.
(American Government) Structure and organization of the American national government. Evolution of the United States Constitution and the federal system, civil rights, voting and elections, Congress, the President, and the federal courts.
PSC 200 Business, Government, and Society (3)
This course will highlight some of the key forces and drivers of change and behavior in society. The focus will be on how the private (business) and public (government) sectors interact with one another and with their social environments. PA 200 is cross-listed with PSC 200, and only one course may be taken for credit.
PSC 203 Introduction to the Law (3)
(American Government) An examination of the American legal system, court procedures, appeals procedures, and the use of legal reference materials with selected cases.
PSC 210 Introduction to Public Administration (3)
Surveys the public administration literature. Examines the field's development and key concepts. Introduces core topics such as organizational theory and culture, bureaucratic structure, policy process, public finance, personnel policy, ethics, reform movements, managerial performance and accountability, and public sector drivers of local economic development. Public service values are emphasized. PA 210 is cross-listed with PSC 210, and only one course may be taken for credit.
PSC 220 Introduction to Public Policy (3)
A survey of the functions and major programs of the United States federal government including federal taxes and spending, the regulation of business, national labor policy, public health and welfare programs, conservation and the environment, and national defense and foreign policy. PA 220 is cross-listed with PSC 220, and only one course may be taken for credit.
PSC 230 Politics and Film (3)
(American Government) Current impact and historical influence of film upon American politics and policy. Includes scholarship about the movie industry and civic values. Students view political films.
PSC 232 Introduction to International Relations (3)
(Global Studies) Background and basic principles of international politics with emphasis on the modern state system, nationalism, changes in international politics from World War II to the present, and domestic influences on foreign policy.
PSC 301 Political Science Methods (3)
(Theory and Methodology) The scope and approaches to political science with considerable attention to research methods, techniques, and current research problems.
PSC 303 Probate Courts and Administrative Law (3)
(American Government)Studies the duties and operations of Alabama probate courts as applied to adoptions, commitments, conservators, elections, eminent domain, estates and wills, guardians, legitimations, licensing, marriage licenses, name changes, and recording activities. Provides practical knowledge of the context and nature of administrative law at the state and local level.
PSC 330 Introduction to Economic Development (3)
This course will introduce students to the five cornerstones of economic development: organizational, product, market, business, and workforce. Students will learn how the five cornerstones of economic development relate and can support each other to improve the economic well-being and quality of life for a community. PA 330 is cross-listed with PSC 330, and only one course may be taken for credit.
PSC 331 International Organizations & World Order (3)
(Global Studies) This course examines the concept of international order, exploring how it is sustained and challenged through power, norms, institutions, and conflict. Drawing on theory and case studies, students will analyze competing visions of order and global stability.
PSC 337 Civil Wars (3)
(Global Studies) Civil war is the most common and deadly form of political violence in the modern world. This course examines why civil wars begin, how they are fought, and how they end, with special attention to the roles of greed, grievance, identity, institutions, and international actors.
PSC 338 International Human Rights (3)
(Global) Examines the concept and role of human rights in international affairs. Highlights the origins and protections of, explanations for the violations of, and the variety of solutions to protect human rights.
PSC 342 Political Parties (WI) (3)
(American Government) Composition, organization, and function of American political parties on the national, state, and local levels. (Writing Intensive Course)
PSC 352 The Legislative Process (3)
(American Government) American legislative bodies with emphasis upon recruitment, composition, structure, procedures, functions, role of parties and pressure groups, and problems of legislative reform.
PSC 355 Contemporary Values and Ideologies (3)
(Theory and Methodology) Surveys the development of political theory during the late 19th and 20th centuries. The course will examine the value systems and ideologies existing within the contemporary moment, including post-modernism, liberalism, conservatism, communitarianism, anarchism, nationalism, socialism, communism, fascism, multiculturalism, feminism, environmentalism, and others.
PSC 363 Comparative Religion and Politics (3)
(Global Studies) This course explores how religion shapes political life—in the United States and around the world. We begin by examining global religious traditions, secularization debates, religious conflict, peacebuilding, and the relationship between religious institutions and political power. We then turn to the American context, studying how religion influences public opinion, political behavior, candidates, social movements, and identity politics.
PSC 373 Governments of Europe (3)
Prerequisite(s): PSC 100.
(Global Studies) Examines the political systems and political cultures of Europe with major emphasis on Great Britain, France, Germany and Russia.
PSC 375 Governments of Latin America (3)
(Global Studies) Political organization and structure of the principal Latin-American countries with emphasis on constitutional development and present-day issues.
PSC 377 Governments of the Middle East (3)
(Global Studies) The government and politics of the Middle East with attention to present developments and the role of these countries in world affairs.
PSC 398 Political Science Study Away (1-18)
(1 to 18). Involves domestic study for credit. Topics, excursions, and requirements determined by the department. May be duplicated for credit; however only three (3) credits may be applied toward the completion of the major or minor. Sophomore level or higher. Subject to minimum and maximum numbers. Advance deposit, minimum GPA and permission of the department or instructor required.
PSC 399 Political Science Study Abroad (1-18)
(1 to 18). Involves short-term and long-term international study for credit. Topics, excursions, and requirements determined by the department. May be duplicated for credit; however only three (3) credits may be applied toward the completion of the major or minor. Sophomore level or higher. Subject to minimum and maximum numbers. Advance deposit, minimum GPA and permission of the department or instructor required.
PSC 412 Intergovernmental Relations (3)
PSC 423 American Foreign Policy (3)
(Global Studies) Traces main streams of American foreign policy from the twentieth-century to the present. Major American foreign policy decisions are used in the analytical development of American foreign policy processes. The various influences upon foreign policy decision-making are identified and evaluated.
PSC 425 U.S. Grand Strategy (3)
(Global Studies) The course examines how U.S. leaders have understood the nation's role in the world and used military, economic, and diplomatic tools to achieve national objectives. The course explores how policymakers identified threats and opportunities, balanced competing aims, and developed coherent grand strategies. Students will analyze major historical debates while strengthening their skills in writing argumentative essays.
PSC 430 Governments of Asia (3)
(Global Studies) Examines the political systems and political cultures of Asian countries from Afghanistan to Southeast Asia, with major emphasis on India, China, and Japan.
PSC 431 Comparative Politics (3)
(Global Studies) An examination of the government and politics of a variety of different national states that includes the concepts, ideas, and analytical tools necessary to understand the structures and processes of different types of political systems. Covers western and non-western, developed and less developed, communist and post-communist, and newly industrializing countries. The impact of globalization is also examined.
PSC 439 Model Debate Team: Global Issues (1)
Prerequisite(s): Sophomore status and completion of one global course with a grade of C or better and permission of instructor.
Students learn about global issues by representing other countries in model simulations such as Model United Nations and Model Arab League. Students research, write, debate, negotiate, and pass resolutions on issues of international concern. Repeatable up to 4 times. Course also counts toward Political Science major.
PSC 442 Legal Reasoning (3)
Prerequisite(s): PSC 203 or instructor approval.
(American Government) An examination of American legal decision-making processes with emphasis on legal theory and application, a review of our blended statutory-common law system and the associated legal processes, and the methodology of legal research and writing.
PSC 443 Constitutional Law I (3)
(American Government) Fundamental principles of U.S. Constitution and its development including powers of President and Congress, federalism, interstate commerce, and others; textbook and case method.
PSC 444 Constitutional Law II (3)
(American Government) Relationship between individual and government as revealed through constitutional law cases; civil liberties based on interpretation of Bill of Rights and Fourteenth Amendment; textbook and case method.
PSC 445 Southern Politics (3)
(American Government) An examination of the party system of the Southern states in terms of its origin, nature, distribution of power and impact on national politics.
PSC 447 Politics and Public Opinion (3)
(American Government) Forces affecting politics, public opinion, and elections in the U.S.; examines the election structure, as well as individual and group political participation.
PSC 450 The American Executive (3)
(American Government) Role and behavior of American executives at national, state, and local levels in the U.S. political system with emphasis on American presidency.
PSC 451 Ancient and Medieval Political Theory (3)
(Theory and Methodology) Examines political thought from ancient Greece to the late Middle Ages in Europe. An emphasis is placed on the historical-cultural context in which these theories developed and their influence on modern concepts.
PSC 452 Modern Political Theory (WI) (3)
(Theory and Methodology) Examines the major trends in political thought from the Early Modern Era of the 1600's to the present with emphasis upon the development of classical (conservative) liberalism, progressive or new liberalism, socialism, Marxist communism, fascism, and national socialism. (Writing Intensive Course)
PSC 454 American Political Thought (3)
(Theory and Methodology) Principal ideas of leading political thinkers in America from colonial period to the present.
PSC 455 Introduction to Political Psychology (3)
(Theory and Methodology) This course is an overview of the interdisciplinary connection between political and psychological processes. The incorporation of political science and psychology may help in the understanding of why leaders behave as they do and why citizens support or oppose political leaders. The course will include social cognition and decision making, personality and identity, and environmental factors that affect individual political ideologies. PSC 455 is cross-listed with PSY 446, and only one course may be taken for credit.
PSC 458 Theory of Political Film (3)
(Theory and Methodology) Examines the literature-based classical conditioning of America's founding fathers with attention to symbolism, models and conceptions of merit. Contrast civic virtue in classical republicanism to individual rights in modern liberalism. Juxtaposes theories of Machiavelli and Montesquieu as enlivened in classical film.
PSC 482 Grantwriting (3)
PSC 484 Individual Study (3)
Prerequisite(s): Must be major or minor with advanced standing and have consent of instructor.
Involves extensive study/research upon specific topics under close supervision by instructor. Letter grades are assigned for this course.
PSC 485 Individual Study (3)
Prerequisite(s): Must be major or minor with advanced standing and have consent of instructor.
Involves extensive study/research upon specific topics under close supervision by instructor. Letter grades are assigned for this course.
PSC 493 The Judicial Process (3)
(American Government) Procedures involved in judicial process; attendance at actual court trials in the local area.
PSC 498 Internship (3)
Prerequisite(s): 15 hours of Political Science.
(American Government) Involves supervised assignment of student either to the U.S. Congress or Alabama State Legislature or to an area public agency such as the East Alabama Regional Planning Commission, City of Anniston, Calhoun County District Attorney's Office, Alabama Seventh Judicial Circuit offices, or a lawyer's office. Grade: Pass/Fail.
PSC 499 Internship (3)
Prerequisite(s): 15 hours of Political Science.
(American Government) Involves supervised assignment of student either to the U.S. Congress or Alabama State Legislature or to an area public agency such as the East Alabama Regional Planning Commission, City of Anniston, Calhoun County District Attorney's Office, Alabama Seventh Judicial Circuit offices, or a lawyer's office. Grade: Pass/Fail.
Sociology
SY 221 Introduction to Sociology (3)
This course examines how people and groups shape everyday life, culture, and community. Students critically examine how everyday experiences are shaped by larger social forces.
SY 222 Honors Introduction to Sociology (3)
Prerequisite(s): Member of Honors Program or ACT English 25 or SAT Critical Reading 610.
Basic concepts, principles, and methods of sociological analysis are examined. Writing intensive, the primary goal is to teach students how to critically evaluate the world around them and their place in it using the sociological imagination.
SY 223 Social Problems (3)
This course examines major contemporary social issues and the ways individuals, communities, and institutions respond to them. Students develop critical thinking skills while considering causes, consequences, and potential solutions to today’s challenges.
SY 301 Researching Society (WI) (3)
Prerequisite(s): SY 221 or SY 222.
Researching Society asks the central question: how do we know? The course examines how sociologists formulate research questions, collect and analyze data, and generalize findings to build scientific knowledge about society. Topics include theory, ethics, research design, measurement, sampling, surveys, qualitative and unobtrusive methods, and both qualitative and quantitative data analysis. (Writing Intensive Course)
SY 308 Pop Culture (3)
This course examines popular culture as a site where social identities, power, and inequality are reflected and contested. Students will use sociological tools to critically analyze cultural forms and their role in shaping everyday life and social change in America and beyond.
SY 309 Disability and Society (3)
This course looks at how disability is shaped by culture, history, and everyday life. Students explore how ideas and social forces influence the way disability is understood, experienced, and represented in the world today.
SY 310 Modern Family (3)
What does “family” mean today? This course examines how social, cultural, and economic forces influence families. Students explore the many forms families take, origins and changing patterns of marriage and divorce, parenting, and inequality within and between families. Through this course students critically reflect on how families both shape and are shaped by the societies in which they live.
SY 313 Social Psychology (3)
SY 315 Deviant Behavior (3)
This course explores why certain behaviors are labeled “deviant” and how society responds to them. Students examine everyday examples alongside broader explanations to better understand how rules, norms, and definitions of deviance take shape.
SY 320 Criminology (3)
This course introduces criminology by examining the making of laws, the breaking of laws, and society’s response to those violations. Students explore the nature of crime, the development of law, the workings of the criminal justice system, and major explanations of criminal behavior.
SY 322 Juvenile Delinquency (3)
This course examines why juveniles commit crime, deviance, and delinquency. Its focus is on the juvenile justice system, the causes of juvenile delinquency, and debunking popular misconceptions surrounding juveniles’ antisocial behavior.
SY 324 Social Stratification (3)
This course examines systems of structured inequality and the ways societies rank people into hierarchies of wealth, power, status, and privilege. Topics include explanations for stratification, globalization, class divisions, poverty, mobility, and the intersections of race, gender, and other social identities. The course also considers how systems of inequality are reproduced, challenged, and transformed over time.
SY 326 Education and Society (3)
This course explores the relationship between education and society, examining classroom interactions, school policies, and broader social contexts. It considers how schools shape identity, influence social mobility, and affect students’ opportunities.
SY 340 Perspectives on Death and Dying (3)
An examination of the attitudes of differing cultures and subcultures toward death, which encourages students to supplement relevant readings by discussing personal attitudes toward death and dying. Current research in this topic will be explored by lectures, films, and readings. By better understanding death and dying, students can explore in this course opportunities for growth and for improving the quality of life. SW 371 is cross-listed with SY 340, and only one course may be taken for credit.
SY 356 Social Movements and Activism (3)
Crowds, mass behavior, fashions and fads, reform movements and revolutions are examined. Current examples are used to illustrate models and theories.
SY 358 Sports and Society (3)
This course examines sports from the individual athlete and fan experience to the role of teams, organizations, and larger institutions. Students will explore how sports connect to identity, power, and social change while gaining new insights into one of society’s most influential arenas.
SY 360 Race, Ethnicity, and Society (3)
This course examines race and ethnicity in the United States. In this course students will learn how ethnic and racial groups are created and how racial inequality is perpetuated by cumulative factors.
SY 362 Global Immigration Patterns and Trends (3)
Prerequisite(s): SY 221 or SY 222.
This course examines the structural and individual immigration patterns and trends between country of origins and destination countries. The course examines how economic, political, and social forces lead to push and pull factors in both voluntary and forced migration routes. Course topics include illegal immigration, brain drain, refugees/asylum seekers, transnational migrants, etc.
SY 364 Medicine and Society (3)
This course introduces students to key themes and current trends in how society influences health and illness. Topics include how social conditions affect disease, the role of health organizations, and the interactions between patients, providers, and the larger health system.
SY 365 Drugs and Society (3)
This course explores how communities both encourage and restrict the ways people use psychoactive drugs, examining cultural attitudes, social norms, and policies that influence everything from everyday habits to public debates.
SY 366 Religion, Spirituality, and Cults (3)
The study of religion in its social and cultural contexts. Comparatively examines how religious beliefs, rituals, and practices exist in close relation to other aspects of society and culture, giving to human existence coherence and purpose.
SY 367 Sexualities and Society (3)
This course explores how sexuality is perceived, defined, and experienced in the context of society. Topics include social norms, attitudes and beliefs about sexuality, public and private policies, as well as practices surrounding sexuality, and how sexuality is related to social institutions.
SY 368 Gender and Society (3)
This course explores perspectives on how gender is shaped by social norms and how it influences daily interactions, opportunities, and expectations. Students will examine how gender operates within schools, workplaces, families, politics, and media, as well as how individuals and groups challenge and redefine gender in society.
SY 370 Aging and Human Development (3)
SY 398 Special Topics in Sociology (1-3)
(1-3). Content varies from semester to semester according to student and faculty interest. May be duplicated up to 12 credit hours as long as each course taken is on a different topic.
SY 399 Study Tour (3)
Topics, excursions, and requirements determined by department. May be duplicated for credit; however, only three (3) credits may be applied toward any major or minor. Infrequently scheduled and subject to minimum and maximum numbers. Advance deposit required.
SY 425 Perspectives on Social Life I (3)
Prerequisite(s): SY 221, SY 222, or SY 223.
This course introduces students to the key perspectives that help us make sense of social life. It examines the major ways scholars explain how societies are organized, why people behave as they do in groups, and how social change occurs. Students learn to apply these perspectives to understand everyday experiences, social institutions, and current issues in the world around them.
SY 426 Perspectives on Social Life II (3)
Prerequisite(s): SY 221, SY 222, or SY 223.
This course examines contemporary ways scholars challenge traditional ideas about truth, knowledge, and identity. Students explore how culture, media, technology, and power shape everyday life and use these perspectives to analyze current social issues in a rapidly changing world.
SY 427 Understanding Society I (3)
SY 428 Understanding Society II (3)
SY 441 Independent Study (3)
Prerequisite(s): Students seeking admission must have advanced standing and secure approval of instructor and head of department.
An opportunity for the student with advanced standing to explore areas of special interest.
SY 442 Independent Study (3)
Prerequisite(s): Students seeking admission must have advanced standing and secure approval of instructor and head of department.
An opportunity for the student with advanced standing to explore areas of special interest.
SY 443 Independent Study (3)
Prerequisite(s): Students seeking admission must have advanced standing and secure approval of instructor and head of department.
An opportunity for the student with advanced standing to explore areas of special interest.
SY 460 Sociology Internship (3)
Prerequisite(s): Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0; and a minimum completion of 12 hours of sociology course work at Jacksonville State University.
Instructor approval required. This course provides students the opportunity to gain work/career experience in service/learning or business/corporate settings.
SY 480 Advanced Seminar in Sociology (3)
Prerequisite(s): SY 221, advanced standing and approval of instructor.
An examination of current issues in sociology. The content of the course will vary each semester.
SY 499 Senior Sociology Seminar (WI) (3)
Prerequisite(s): 12 hours of sociology courses (200+ level) with a C or better, or permission of the instructor.
This capstone seminar brings together the core ideas and concepts students have studied and applies them in new ways. Students will reflect on their learning, sharpen their writing and communication skills, and explore career paths and future opportunities. Offered Spring only. (Writing Intensive Course)