Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice
Department website: https://www.vanguard.edu/academics/academic-programs/undergrad/sociology
Mission: The mission of the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice is to equip student scholars with the theoretical, methodological, and substantive knowledge to become professionally competent practitioners who are devoted to a flourishing society. Through the Christian-based integration of sociological perspectives and criminological analysis, the program equips students with the critical tools necessary to examine and address complex issues related to public health, immigration, crime, social work and public safety.
The Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice is a community of learners dedicated to understanding the socio-cultural forces shaping the life experiences of human populations. The program is based on an applied, active-learning educational model that emphasizes faculty-student collaboration to engage the work of sociologists at the community level. The department's faculty offer rigorous training in Sociological Theory, Research Design and Methods, and selective substantive areas including Criminology and Criminal Justice, Immigration and Migrant studies, Public Health, Social Work, and Social Inequality and Justice. We strive to cultivate in our students a moral vision of professional life so they remain committed to advancing public good in the vocations they pursue as Vanguard alumni.
The Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice also administers the following minors: Criminology and the Criminal Justice System, Public Health, Social Work, and Sociology.
Majors must achieve a minimum grade of "C-" in all upper division sociology or criminal justice courses required for the major.
Majors:
Minor:
Interdisciplinary Minors:
These minors are intended to be an interdisciplinary course of study administered by the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice in collaboration with other academic units. The minor is designed to provide students a theoretical and practical overview of the topic in society from the perspective of various disciplines.
NOTE: Some of the courses listed below may be applicable to general education requirements for students in Professional Education Programs (e.g. SOC-100 Intro to Sociology). Questions, contact the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice or the Registrar's Office.
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Anthropology
ANTH-102C Intro to Cultural Anthropology 3 Credits
The study of culture emphasizing culture's origins and processes. Concepts and theories about culture that apply to life in both developing and developed societies with the aim of solving human problems.
ANTH-453 Language,Culture/Linguistics 3 Credits
This course is cross listed with ENGL-453. This course surveys the acquisition and use of language within a cultural context. It examines the relationship of language to culture, language acquisition, and language analysis or linguistics, emphasizing the utility of such knowledge for educators. Stress is given to understanding language's reciprocal relation with culture, the nature of language systems, and linguistic analysis to enable educators a better comprehension of second language acquisition within learning environments.
Criminal Justice
CRMJ-225 Courts and Criminal Procedures 3 Credits
This course provides an analysis of the structure, process, and personnel involved in the state and federal court systems. An overview criminal law concepts and procedures, beginning with their historical basis in the Constitution is covered. The relationship between public order and due process will be examined. Students will trace the flow of a criminal case from the time the crime is committed all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
CRMJ-306 Justice & Law Enforcement 3 Credits
This course introduces students to the history of policing and provides an overview of recent approaches to policing. This course also includes an in-depth examination of police behavior, discretion, and community responses and attitudes toward law enforcement.
CRMJ-307 Criminal Organizations 3 Credits
This course will examines organized criminal structures including street gangs and organized crime rings. Studies the role society plays in increasing and decreasing membership into these organizations. Explores the societal and law enforcement approaches to the reduction of organized crime.
CRMJ-308 Terrorism and Homeland Security 3 Credits
This course covers key theories about the causes of terrorism, including social-psychological theories about the individual to macro-level theories about which countries experience terrorism and why. Students will learn about types of terrorism including suicide terrorism, state terrorism, ecoterrorism, and revolutionary terrorism. Various responses to terrorism are considered, including the law, media representations of terrorism, and human rights repercussions.
CRMJ-309 Race, Class, Gender and Crime 3 Credits
This course critically examines the influence of race, class and gender in the creation and application of criminal justice. This course discusses victimization and criminal behavior patterns, theoretical explanations, and the dynamics of differential involvement of specific groups in the criminal justice system. The class considers social movements and advocacy groups and their alternative proposals to transform the way we think of and enact justice, punishment, and prevention.
CRMJ-311 Criminological Theory 3 Credits
Students examine theoretical perspectives on crime causation and review associated empirical literature. The course covers the application of theory to various criminal justice policies.
CRMJ-312 Reentry 3 Credits
Investigates the role of the correctional system in the prisoner reentry process. Reviews the empirical research on successful reentry programs. This course covers the challenges of reentry for the community and those returning to society.
CRMJ-314 Community Impacts of Crime 3 Credits
Exposes students to social problems related to mass incarceration, including those that impact families, local economies, law enforcement-community relations, and churches. Students investigate policies aimed at addressing these issues.
CRMJ-315 Interview and Interrogation 3 Credits
Students will learn theories and evidence-based techniques to interview and interrogate witnesses, informants and suspects. Students also consider and discuss the codes of ethics to which investigators adhere as well as the impact of technological advancements on the future of criminal investigation.
CRMJ-470 Special Topic in Criminal Justice 1-3 Credits
Study of a special topic in one of the fields of Criminal Justice. May be repeated for credit. Special topic courses are developed by faculty according to student interest and are offered periodically.
CRMJ-490C Faith and Justice Capstone 3 Credits
This course explores the concept of faith and justice and how these ideas have changed over time. Considers various faith-based methods used to restore an offender to the community, including restorative justice. Examines the Christian faith as a motivator in producing social change pertaining to crime, victimization, offending, and reentry.
Prerequisite: CRMJ-311
Terms Typically Offered: Fall and Spring.
Sociology
SOC-100 Intro to Sociology 3 Credits
An introduction to the study of society, considering the fundamental concepts of sociology in each of three great areas: social structure, social processes, and social problems. Sociology deals with the way individuals, groups, and institutions are related to one another. This course meets the Social Science requirement in the Professional Education Program. (Professional Education Course)
SOC-100C Introduction to Sociology 3 Credits
An introduction to the study of society, considering the fundamental concepts of sociology in each of three great areas: social structure, social processes, and social problems. Sociology deals with the way individuals, groups, and institutions are related to one another.
Terms Typically Offered: Fall and Spring.
SOC-220 Marriage & Family Social Context 3 Credits
This course provides students with a sociological perspective of marriage and family living. Themes include: the social construction of gender and the consequences for relationships and social institutions; intimacy in family relationships; communication, conflict and stress in the family; the realities of parenting; integrating work and family life; separation divorce and remarriage; later life families. This course meets the Social Science requirement in the Professional Studies program. (School for Professional Studies Course).
SOC-230 Social Problems 3 Credits
A selective sociological analysis of major problems confronting American society, discussion of individual and social disorganization, poverty, urbanization, deviancy, effects of mass media, and other issues.
SOC-258 Sociology of Sport & Human Movement 3 Credits
This course is cross listed with KINE-258. This class will examine the historical and contemporary interpretations of the role of play, games, sports, dance, fitness, and recreation in a variety of cultures. This class will also address sociocultural issues such as gender, socioeconomic status, race and ethnicity in sport. This course is only offered odd years in the Fall.
Terms Typically Offered: Fall, odd years.
SOC-265C Introduction to Behavioral Statistics 3 Credits
A course in basic statistical concepts and methods of collecting, summarizing, presenting, and interpreting data in the behavioral sciences; including descriptive statistics (use of graphs and charts), normal distribution curve, measures of central tendency, deviation and dispersion, hypothesis testing, statistical fallacies, correlation, and topics in probability. Students majoring in Psychology, Sociology or History/Political Science must take PSYC-265C or SOC-265C to fulfill the core curriculum requirement in mathematics and the major requirement.
Terms Typically Offered: Fall and Spring.
SOC-305 Criminology/Criminal Justice System 3 Credits
This is a survey course that introduces students to the motivations for criminal behavior and societal responses to them. Law, crime, and crime control will be presented as social phenomena that can be adequately understood only in terms of larger social and cultural contexts.
Terms Typically Offered: On Demand.
SOC-310 Introduction to Social Work 3 Credits
This course will introduce students to the profession of social work across a variety of contexts. Special attention will be given to the values supporting social work, areas/fields of practice, and the social functions filled by social workers.
SOC-312 Death, Grief, and Loss 3 Credits
This course is cross-listed with PSYC-312. This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the study of death and dying. This course will discuss the intellectual, emotional, social, psychological, experiential and spiritual aspects of death and loss as part of one's personal discovery.
SOC-316 Health Education for Flourishing 3 Credits
This course provides an opportunity for students to explore, apply and critique the foundations of health education programs and to learn more about applications in various settings, including schools, hospitals, prisons and neighborhoods. The course will focus on the theories of health-related behavior from the individual to the environmental level and consider intervention strategies.
SOC-317 Community Development 3 Credits
In this introduction to the field of community development we explore the historic roots of poverty and development as well as some of the key theories and methods in the field. We will explore the ingredients that connect communities and the ways in which communities can advocate for the design of programs and initiatives which reflect their needs and values. The course includes case studies from both local and international contexts. Out of this course, students will develop a specific assessment plan for a group in which they are interested.
SOC-320 Social & Cultural Change 3 Credits
The study of change, its processes and consequences in non-Western and contemporary societies. Special emphasis will be given to cross-cultural change involving migrants, minorities, and religious contacts as well as change at the personal level.
SOC-324 Social Psychology 3 Credits
This course is cross-listed with PSYC-324. An examination of interpersonal behavior as it is influenced by social processes, culture, face-to-face interactions, and personality characteristics; including interpersonal and group behavior in relationship to social values, norms, attitudes, roles, and social needs.
SOC-332 Marriage & the Family 3 Credits
The institutions of marriage and the family are explored from the sociological perspective which emphasizes the influence of societal norms on human behavior and social structures. Commonly held conceptions of traditional marital forms and alternative forms of cohabitation both historical and modern are examined using the analytical tools of social science theory, research methods, and statistics.
SOC-334 Gender, Culture, and Society 3 Credits
Gender as a social construction with powerful consequences is explored in this course along with those cultural values and ideologies which perpetuate the discourse of differences. Contemporary studies of gender cross-culturally will enable an appreciation of the broad diversity in the application of gender constructs and their resultant cultural effects.
SOC-336 Managing Crisis 3 Credits
This course is cross-listed with PSYC-336. This course examines the phenomena of social crises and emergencies. It will examine Crisis Theory, response, coping skills and intervention methods. Implications for gender, race, social class, and diverse backgrounds will be explored in light of how those differences influence differing needs, norms, and ways of coping.
SOC-337 Public Health 3 Credits
This course introduces the multifaceted discipline of public health. Students will consider current public health problems such as diabetes, infant mortality, the aging of the U.S. population and health inequalities. In addition, students will learn about the core functions and essential services of public health in both the U.S. and around the world.
SOC-338 Child Welfare 3 Credits
The objective of this course is to provide students with an overview of Child Welfare practice and how it has shaped legislation, policy, advocacy and services for children and families in the United States. This course will also examine competencies, knowledge and skills that are essential for child welfare social workers to perform their work with children and families.
SOC-343 Class, Race, Ethnicity & Gender 3 Credits
This course focuses on the distribution of power and resources across racial and ethnic/cultural groups, class structure, and gender. Phenomenological, institutional, and structural aspects of prejudice and discrimination are examined using the matrix of domination (the intersection of attributes related to class, race, ethnicity and gender) to explore the life experiences of individuals.
SOC-345 Family Violence 3 Credits
This course is cross-listed with PSYC-344. Investigates the identification, causes, and prevention of all types of intrafamily abuse: child, spouse, sibling, and parent. Explores theories and research findings for practical application. Studies the sociocultural contexts in which abuse and violence occur. For students whose careers will bring contact with victims and/or perpetrators of family violence.
SOC-346 Human Sexuality 3 Credits
This course is cross-listed with PSYC-346. Human Sexuality provides an overview of human sexual anatomy, gender identify, sexual orientation and expression, and the ways that contexts affect sexual meanings. Must have junior or senior class standing.
SOC-349 Religion & Society 3 Credits
The social structural approach to the study of religion, with particular emphasis on American society. Examines personal religious experience and expressions, structural forms, systemic relationships between religious systems and other social subsystems.
SOC-357 Inside-Out-Jail Class 3 Credits
This class meets at the Orange County jail and provides an overview of the study of crime as a social phenomenon. It focuses on the perspectives, meanings of, theories about, correlates of, consequences from, and societal responses to crime. Students in this course will meet at the jail for class each week.
SOC-362 Juvenile Delinquency & Justice 3 Credits
The causes of juvenile delinquency are reviewed from a broad social systems perspective. Delinquent crimes, gang activity and violence are studied, as is the system of juvenile justice. Course is designed for those who will be working with juveniles.
SOC-365 Sociological Theory 3 Credits
An introduction to the theorists and theoretical models which result from examination and analysis of our empirical world of social relations, social structures, and social institutions.
Prerequisite: SOC-100C
Terms Typically Offered: On Demand.
SOC-369 Research Design & Methods 3 Credits
Examines the major qualitative and quantitative research methods used in applied Sociology. Particular emphasis will be given to design, preparation, and process of applied social research. Introduces students to various methods including unobtrusive observation, structured and unstructured interviewing, and survey research.
SOC-369L Research Design & Methods Lab 1 Credit
Introduces students to computer software utilized by social researchers to compile, manage and analyze data as a product of research.
Co-Requisite: SOC-369
Terms Typically Offered: On Demand.
SOC-371 Urban Studies 3 Credits
A study of urban life with emphasis on its organization, unique functions, and problems.
SOC-373 Deviant Behavior 3 Credits
Explores how societies decide what behaviors are deviant, how they attempt to prevent and/or correct deviance and the consequences to the offenders and the social structures in which they occur. Emphasis is given to research that describes deviance, theories which explain the social conditions contributing to the emergence and perpetuation of deviance, and the analysis of society's programmed efforts to resolve the problems deviance produces.
SOC-375 Social Issues of Health & Wellness 3 Credits
Explores the social forces that shape the health and illness of populations, the changing social definitions of wellness and social expectations. The course examines the role of society and culture in wellness-related decision making and health-care delivery systems.
SOC-376 Immigration and Diversity 3 Credits
This course will discuss topics of immigration and demographic change as interconnected social phenomena and will explore different generational cohorts as social forces that contribute to suburbanization, American consumerism, the birth and rebirth of social movements and various subcultures.
SOC-377 Migrants and Refugees 3 Credits
This course explores sociological explanations of migration to understand voluntary and involuntary movement of refugees and migrants. The course discussion includes the history of global refugee responses, immigration policies in the U.S. and its growing population of undocumented migrants and refugees, and global political instabilities and subsequent displacement of people from their places of security. The course aims to achieve deeper understanding of diversity embedded in migration stories, intended and unintended consequences of our reactions to refugee crises, and the social significance of development and globalization.
SOC-378 Prisons and Jails 3 Credits
Provides an overview of modern adult corrections, specifically probation, parole, incarceration, community-based corrections, and prevention programs. Includes survey of history, application and theory of punishment philosophies and practices. Studies contemporary correctional policies, practices, and issues.
SOC-382 Mental Illness in Society 3 Credits
This course is cross-listed with PSYC-382. This course examines the distribution of mental illness throughout society, the social conditions of processes that contribute to mental illness and mental health, and the individual experience of being labeled and treated as mentally ill.
SOC-442 Global Development & Society 3 Credits
Course considers social science approaches to the analysis of economic development and change with special attention given to contemporary development concerns as perceived at the local level. The organization of large- and small-scale development organizations, including non-government organizations, in non-Western settings will also be examined.
SOC-450 Sociology Teaching Internship 1-3 Credits
Students may be a teaching intern for classes they have previously taken. Regular hours each week for classes and/or meetings are established at the beginning of the semester. The intern will assist the instructor in course-related activities. May be repeated for a maximum of six units. Must be Junior or Senior standing with a GPA of 3.0 or above and the permission of the instructor.
Terms Typically Offered: Fall and Spring.
SOC-455 Sociology Research Assistantship 1-3 Credits
The student assistant will be assigned to work on various steps of the research process from the formulation of the problem through the analysis of the data and preparation of the research report in written and/or oral formats. May be repeated for a maximum of six units.
SOC-460 Field Practicum 1-4 Credits
Field experience in a social service agency such as an outpatient health facility, a community organization, or a social program. This course is controlled by the instructor and all field sites must be approved by the professor. The course instructor and the university manage the course requirements and responsiblities which may include a research paper, weekly journals, and various written assignments. The course requires weekly interaction between professor and student as well as training and preparation that are comparable with other courses within the major. Thirty hours of field experience will be required for each credit hour. Must take 3 units during the first semester. May be repeated for 1-4 units in a subsequent semester.
SOC-462 Research Practicum 1-4 Credits
This course provides an in-depth research experience. Students work closely with a faculty mentor at all levels of the research process from the development of a conceptual framework and articulation of the research question to the creation of the research instrument, collection of data, and analysis of key findings. Students will submit an empirical research paper at the end of the term with the opportunity to present their research in a number of academic conferences and colloquia. Must take 3 units during the first semester. May be repeated for 1-4 units in a subsequent semester.
SOC-464 Practicum 1-4 Credits
This course provides in-depth research or internship experience. Students work closely with a faculty mentor who must approve the research or internship plans and who oversees their progress. Students will present their research findings or field experience at a conference or poster session. Students must take 3 units the first semester and may repeat the course for 1-4 units in a subsequent semester.
SOC-470 Special Topic in Sociology 1-3 Credits
Study of a special topic in one of the fields of sociology. May be repeated for credit. Special topic courses are developed by faculty according to student interest and are offered periodically.
SOC-480 Individual Studies in Sociology 1-3 Credits
May be repeated for credit.
SOC-490C Senior Seminar 3 Credits
This course is designed to serve as a rite of passage for graduating seniors. It particularly is intended to assist the student in integrating the multifaceted aspects of their educational experience with their short- and long-term life goals. This course fulfills the Core Curriculum Capstone requirement for Sociology majors.
Terms Typically Offered: On Demand.