Sep 05, 2025

Butler University Bulletin 2025-2026

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Butler University Bulletin 2025-2026

Political Science and Sociology, BA

Sociology (30 hours)

Sociology Core Requirements (18 hours)

SW 200-SO - Understanding Society Min Units: 3
SO 205 - Contemporary Social Issues Min Units: 3
SO 293 - Statistics for Social Research Min Units: 3
SO 391 - Social Theory Seminar Min Units: 3
SO 393 - Research Methods Seminar Min Units: 3
SO 463 - Directed Research Min Units: 3
(Note: SO 499 may be completed in place of SO486)

Sociology Electives (12 hours)

Students must take one course from each of the four areas below:

Culture and Community

SO 319 - Mental Illness, Culture, and Society Min Units: 3
SO 339 - Violence, Media, and Culture Min Units: 3
SO 341 - Self and Society Min Units: 3
SO 343 - Popular Culture Min Units: 3
SO 347 - Urban Community Min Units: 3
SO 354 - Aging and the Life Course Min Units: 3

Inequality and Social Change

SO 303 - Political Behavior, Polity, and Society Min Units: 3
SO 317 - Gender and Society Min Units: 3
SO 321 - Crime and Society Min Units: 3
SO 323 - Racial and Ethnic Relations Min Units: 3
SO 325 - Class, Status, and Power Min Units: 3
SO 326 - Gender, Race, and Crime Min Units: 3
SO 329 - The Sociology of Racism Min Units: 3
SO 349 - Social Movements Min Units: 3
SO 357 - Abolition Min Units: 3

Social Institutions

SO 301 - Families and Gender Roles Min Units: 3
SO 311 - Law and Society Min Units: 3
SO 315 - Film, Media, Society Min Units: 3
SO 351 - Punishment and Society Min Units: 3
SO 352 - Mental Illness and the Criminal Justice System Min Units: 3
SO 353 - Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Min Units: 3
SO 356 - Health, Illness, and Society Min Units: 3

Transnational Sociology

SO 331 - Latin American Societies Min Units: 3
SO 333 - European Societies: Politics, Culture, Economics, and the process of European Integration Min Units: 3
SO 334 - Immigration Min Units: 3
SO 335 - The Global Society Min Units: 3
SO 355 - International Crime Min Units: 3

Political Science (27 hours)

Introductory Courses (6 hours)

Two PO courses including at least one course on Politics beyond the USA or Political Theory

USA Politics in Theory and Practice

PO 131 - Introduction to U.S. Politics Min Units: 3
PO 220 - Community Mediation Min Units: 3
PO 230 - Activism Min Units: 3
SW 242-PO - Introduction to U.S. Politics Min Units: 3

Politics Beyond the USA

PO 141 - Introduction to International Politics Min Units: 3
OR
SW 244-PO - Introduction to International Politics Min Units: 3
PO 151 - Introduction to Comparative Politics Min Units: 3
OR
SW 243-PO - Introduction to Comparative Politics Min Units: 3
SW 242-PO - Introduction to U.S. Politics Min Units: 3
SW 245-PO - Politics from the Margins Min Units: 3

Political Theory

PO 102 - Introduction to Peace Studies Min Units: 3
PO 210 - Introduction to Political Theory Min Units: 3
TI 255-PO - The Politics of Alice Walker Min Units: 3

Questions, Problems, and Methods (3 hours)

PO 201 - Research and Analysis Min Units: 3

Upper-Level Courses (15 hours)

Five PO courses distributed across at least 3 of the 4 areas below:

Politics in the USA
Politics Beyond the USA
Theorizing Politics
Making Connections, Practicing Politics (includes Internships)

Capstone (3 hours)

PO 490 - Seminar in Political Science Min Units: 3

Community Engagement: (0-3 hours)

Students must complete an SO/PO internship or a major-related ICR course. This can happen while meeting other requirements.