SOCIOLOGY

Sociology is the scientific study of the social behavior of individuals, the workings of social things such as social groups, organizations, cultures and societies, and the influence of these social things on individual and group behavior. A central concern of sociology is the reciprocal relationship between the individual and society: students of sociology explore the ways in which society shapes us, and, in turn, the ways in which we can shape society. The sociology faculty strive to provide a multicultural perspective in which human lives are understood within the context of historical and macroscopic social forces.

Our courses are designed to develop students' skills in analytical and critical thinking and oral and written communication. As a strong liberal arts major, sociology provides excellent preparation for a wide variety of positions in business and non-profit organizations, social services, research, the health professions, the criminal justice system, and public administration. The study of sociology provides a broad knowledge base for further graduate training for such professions as the law, education, medicine, and applied sociology. Sociology majors gain a solid grounding in the theoretical and methodological underpinnings of the field and are thus prepared to make their own contributions to sociological knowledge, beginning with an original empirical research project in the Social Research Practicum taken in the Senior year.

For non-majors, the Sociology Department offers electives on topics as diverse as social life itself, including gender, the family, ethnic relations, technology, and juvenile delinquency. While the introductory sociology course is not a formal prerequisite, taking the introductory course prior to an elective course in sociology will enhance non-majors’ learning experience.


REQUIREMENTS

Major
The major in Sociology leads to the B.A. degree. The requirements for the major include a minimum of 36 credits in Sociology courses. In addition to 15 credits of elective courses, every Sociology major will include the following courses in her program:

SOC 100 Introductory Sociology
SOC 350 Sociological Theory
SOC 300 Social Science Research
PSY 230 OR MTH 117 Psychological Statistics or Elementary Statistics
SOC 310 Social Research Practicum
SOC 365 Reading Seminar
SOC 385 Senior Research Seminar

Minor
A student may minor in Sociology by completing 18 credits in Sociology, including SOC 100, SOC 350, and 12 credits in Sociology courses at the 200 level or above.

A student working toward a major or minor in Sociology with 12 credits in Sociology completed and a general index of 3.0 in Sociology courses is eligible for induction into Alpha Kappa Delta, the national sociology honor society. Senior Sociology majors who have a cumulative index of 3.5 in their major courses and a successful oral examination on the senior thesis will be awarded departmental honors upon graduation.