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Show --- - - - -- -----· TIIE UNIVERSITY JOURNAL • OUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY • FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 1995 FOCUS: SOCIAL SCIENCE Media affects public opinion, political process To analyze this, SU's political science program offers POSC 312, mass media and politics By J. ARTHUR FIELDS SENIOR STAFF WRITER Political science is the study of governments. It analyzes how they work; what political ideologies failed in the past and which applications may flourish in the future. However, the study of political science does not stop with the Magna Carta, legislative process, and political parties. The political science courses at SUU are constantly expanding the curriculum in an effort to change with the times. Associate Professor of Behavioral and Social Science W. Craig Jones has been teaching political science at SUU since 1963. "The central theme of political science is to study the functions of government," said Jones, " which produces the rules and the laws in an attempt to promote the purposes of the constitution. "l believe that the study of political science gives the individual the ability to understand just how the political machine in this country works," Jones explained. In addition, Jones reiterates that both justice and domestic tranquillity are also important aspects of the general study as well as the process in which political parties form. "This field of study is interest d in the influences that affect the political process," said Jones, "this includes the role of the media, which runs ~oth wide and deep through our society." The media, said Jones, strongly affects public opinion, which in turn can alter the entire political process. To analyze this trend, the behavioral and social science department offers a political science course entitled "Mass Media and Politics." "Democratic citizenship and what that means," said Jones, "is what the study of political science is all about is the emphasis I like to give to nonmajors." One major area of political science study involve what is refereed to as "political Craig Jones socialization," which is - - - - - - - - - - an analysis of how societies arrive at their political attitudes. Political science majors must take at least 48 hours of courses within the discipline, which may include some classes in geography, history, sociology, and economics. "We tend to overlap into some of the other departments on campus like sociology and economics," said Jones. "We think that it is important for political science majors to have a fairly broad background." Once a student graduates with a bachelor's degree in political science there is a wide spectrum of opportunities available to them. Political science majors are often finding jobs in governmental and foreign service fields. In addition, they are filling positions as administrators and officials in city, county, and federal government positions. Many graduates intending to go on to law school major in political science as a base £or their education and legal area of specialty. However, as with most fields these days, a diploma does not necessarily guarantee a job after graduation. To help ensure that its political science graduates are gainfully employed after they depart SUU, the behavioral and social science department arranges for internship to both Washington, D.C. and Salt Lake City for students who would like to see the political process up close. This hands-on experience is much more valuable than anything these student can learn in a classroom and often aids in establishing contacts in important places for the future. Sociology has diverse offerings History degree preps Classes range from deviance to gender studies Deviance, Sociology 350, explores the different social deviances that have appeared in our society. OF THE JOURNAL STAFF The class presents theoretical viewpoints used to explain a deviant behavior and Under tanding societies and ocial research regarding each viewpoint. structures is one of the primary function of Another is Gender Studies, Sociology 471, the sociology classes offered through the which focuses on theories of role behavior. behavioral and social science department at This course also looks at gender roles suu. The major and minor program focuses on the throughout hi tory and in different cultures. A related course to Gender Studies is Race, study of social systems and how they are Ethnic and Gender tructured. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Relations, Sociology 340. The program include This class examines the offerings covering a wide range of issues from social relationship of these i sues in American society. relations to ethnic and gender relations to crime Emphasis is placed on the fun , contemporary theories of and to mental illness and race and ethnic relations, health. In short, SUU' sociology the problems of prejudice O.T and discrimination, the program covers the myths concerning group spectrum of threads that J. ... L differences, and make up and tie together UJ.e contemporary issues and people. "Research methods, dilemmas of intergroup ,,1 relations. including statistical uepartDleD.t Some of the other courses analysis, are essential aspects of each ...area in SUU. in sociology offered at SUU sociology," according to the .___ _ _ _.,______........_.....,............. include introduction to sociology, social problems, SUU General Catalog. origins of human society, crime and 1n order to help sociology students in delinquency, and substance abuse and society. practical applications of their skills, a field Sociology classes complement several career practicum is offered. choices, not just counseling and relations. This includes 60 hours of work "in a social These other careers that benefit from a agency engaging in the supervised work of the knowledge of sociology include corrections, agency and/or engaging in social policy law enforcement, social science research, oriented research." public relations, counseling, drug and alcohol Among the courses offered in sociology at education, mental health and race relations. SUU are Deviance and Gender Studies. By MICKI SELLERS Understanding societies and social Structures is One Of " the pr111Jary ctions of the socioloov classes offered .. tbrou~ behavioral IJIJd social . Science at students for law school By JENNIFER ELLIOTT SENIOR STAFF WRITER If you want to be a contestant on Jeopardy, a degree in history can really boost your scores- and believe it or not Newt Gingrich has a Ph.cl. in history. But for the average person, a degre in history can really open some career doors. Especially for those who are undecided about what they want to be when they grow up. . Behavioral and Social Science Department Head Wayne Hinton, said a liberal arts degree such as history can give you an edge by demonstrating to prospectiv employers that you are trainable because you have completed a degree. Hinton also said that SUU's history curriculum is "writing intensive," meaning that students will learn the communication skills necessary to be successful in a competitive job market. Some of SUU's graduates with degrees in history have gone on to become computer specialists, pentagon workers, and others managers of chain stores like Target. Many history graduates certify to teach and others go on to graduate school to teach at the college or university level. For graduates planning to move on to law school, history is a good prep minor. Professor of History Jim Vlasich, said history is "a lot more than just names, dates, and places .... history helps people make value decisions." Vlasich feels that a degree in history helps people look at all sides of the coin and not get as emotionally involved. "Too many people use history as a tool to prove their points" he said. Therefore, they fail to be objective and look at "all the facts." An example of these people are interest groups that would like to change the history texts to present their issues only. Vlasich said "history needs to be all inclusive.'' He said that people who are politically correct want to eliminate white males like inventor, Alexander Graham Bell, from the historical picture. Instead, Vlasich feels that we should look at all facets of history by looking at the roles of everybody in society, not just those who dominate society. |