Curriculum

The Department of Sociology offers a variety of course useful to students with diverse professional and educational goals. Sociology is a popular major for students planning careers in such professions as law, business, journalism, health care, education, politics, social work, or public administration. It provides a solid body of knowledge on the nature and problems of human relations and a distinctive way of looking at the world.

Our courses offer a range of methodologies and research techniques which can be applied in a variety of fields such as administration, criminal justice, health care, counseling, and social work. In addition, exposure to theoretical and methodological issues and to comparative, historical, and critical analyses provides those students who want to pursue graduate work with a strong academic background. The department offers a major and a minor in sociology, and a major in social work. See the Social Work Program for information about majoring in social work at Bradley.

Curriculum Objectives

The general goals of our program are listed below.

We want our majors to obtain a solid understanding of the field of sociology and its applications.
We seek to prepare our students for a variety of careers that increasingly require a strong grasp of the structure and problems of the American society.
We also seek to prepare our majors for graduate study in sociology and related social sciences, should they choose to continue their education after graduating from Bradley University.

Moving toward these ends, our courses encompass the history of the field, methods of data collection and analysis as well as a variety of specific subject areas (e.g., gender, race/ethnicity, work and occupations, mental health, and crime). Many of our courses have a cross-cultural or comparative component. We also offer opportunities for directed study or independent research and participation in internships within a variety of work settings.

Requirements for the Major

A major in sociology consists of a minimum of 30 semester hours in sociology including the following required core courses:

SOC 100 The Sociological Perspective
SOC 240 Research Methods
SOC 320 Social Theory or SOC 420 Critical Theory

At least 15 of the 30 required hours must be at the 300 level or above. Only one internship course may apply towards the 30-hour requirement. A grade point average of 2.01 in all courses taken in the department is needed for graduation. Students may earn either a B.A. or B.S. degree in sociology.

Sociology majors are urged to consult with a department advisor each semester concerning class schedules.

Requirements for the Minor

The sociology minor requires a minimum of 15 hours as specified below:

SOC 100; SOC 240 or SOC 320
At least 9 of the 15 hours must be at the 300 level or above.
Minimum of 2.01 grade point average in courses taken for the minor.

General Education Courses

The following Sociology Department courses meet the University General Education requirements:

Cultural Diversity (CD) and Social Forces (SF)

SOC 100 The Sociological Perspective (SF)
SOC 302 Sociology of Diversity (CD)
SOC 312 Social Inequality (SF)
SOC 313 Race, Ethnicity, and Power (CD, SF)
SOC 314 Native Americans (CD)
SOC 315 Gender and Society (CD, SF)
SOC 325 Science, Technology and Modernity (SF)
SOC 326 Sociology of Globalization (SF)

Non-Western Civilization

SOC 300 Cross-Cultural Perspective on Gender
SOC 301 Peoples and Culture of the Non-Western World
SOC 311 Comparative Family Systems (of non-Western cultures)
SOC 314 Native Americans

Human Values (Philosophical)

SOC 321 Individual and Society
SOC 420 Critical Theory

View the current course schedule.

Bradley University Course Catalog

To view the course catalog please visit the Undergraduate Catalog. Or click here for a list of sociology courses.

Sociology

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