Department of Sociology

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People spend their entire lives in social groups and networks, ranging from the family to global systems. Like anthropologists, sociologists study how these groups and networks work. (Sociologists focus on industrial and post-industrial societies, while anthropologists are concerned with human culture in general. Psychologists, in contrast, study individuals.) Developing the ability to analyze society is a core component of anyone’s education and personal development, and thus the sociology major facilitates any career. In addition, sociology majors may design a specific program of study in preparation for graduate school, professional school (law, business, medicine), and for careers in social service, government, research, consulting, teaching, or business. Sociology courses also contribute to specialized certificates in African American and international studies and the women’s and gender studies major.

The Department of Sociology offers two curriculum options: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.). Students should consult a sociology faculty advisor to select the appropriate program.

Learning Objectives

• Critical thinking (synthesize material; assess evidence; reason logically; distinguish between fact and opinion).
• Clear and effective writing and speaking.
• Core concepts (culture, social change, status, norm, socialization, identity, stratification, social structure, social institutions).
• Research methods (evaluate evidence; use quantitative and qualitative analysis; understand ethical issues).

Programs

• Sociology, B.A.
• Sociology, B.S.

• Sociology Minor

Courses

• SOC 1033 The Sociological Imagination: An Introduction to Sociology
• SOC 2023 Statistics for the Social Sciences
• SOC 2123 Crime, Justice, and Social Order
• SOC 2133 Inequality in American Society
• SOC 2973 Sociology Seminar
• SOC 3013 Political Sociology
• SOC 3023 Sociology of Work and Occupations
• SOC 3053 Socialization
• SOC 3063 Sociology of Education
• SOC 3083 Urban Sociology
• SOC 3093 Sociology of Poverty
• SOC 3113 Population and Ecology
• SOC 3123 Sociology of Family
• SOC 3133 Social Movements
• SOC 3143 Environmental Sociology
• SOC 3163 Society and Economy
• SOC 3243 Sociology of Deviance
• SOC 3703 Sociology of Health, Illness, and Medicine
• SOC 3973 Sociology Seminar
• SOC 4013 Sociology of Law
• SOC 4083 Sociology and Philosophy of Belief
• SOC 4093 Social Trends
• SOC 4113 Quantitative Methods of Sociological Research
• SOC 4123 Qualitative Methods of Sociological Research
• SOC 4153 Women and Health
• SOC 4163 Sociology of Bodies
• SOC 4193 Sociological Theory
• SOC 4233 Responding to Violence
• SOC 4593 Internship
• SOC 4823 Globalization
• SOC 4863 Special Topics in Sociology
• SOC 4973 Senior Seminar
• SOC 4991-3 Independent Study

Return to: The Henry Kendall College of Arts and Sciences