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Sociology
Sociology explores how society shapes human behavior, social structures, and cultural norms. As a sociology major, you’ll develop critical thinking and research skills to analyze social inequalities, cultural shifts, and institutional systems.
Through hands-on learning and real-world research, you’ll gain the tools to understand and address pressing social issues, preparing you for graduate school, law school, or a variety of careers in social services, policy, and advocacy.
Experiential Learning
As a sociology major, you’ll explore topics like inequality, culture, crime, politics, gender, family, race, and social movements while developing strong research and analytical skills. Your hands-on learning experiences may include:
- Living Learning Community – First-year students interested in social justice can enroll in a shared course and live in designated LLC housing.
- “Drugs & Society” Internship – Gain real-world experience addressing drug-related social issues and policies.
- Advanced Research Track – Conduct independent research with faculty mentorship through directed readings or independent study courses.
Program Details
Required Courses – 9 hrs.
- SOC 100: The Sociological Perspective (3 hrs.)
- SOC 240: Research Methods (3 hrs.)
- SOC 320: Social Theory (3 hrs.)
Elective Courses – 18 hrs.
- ANT 303: Culture and Belief
- ANT 305: Peoples and Cultures of the World
- ANT 306: Health & Illness in Cross-Cultural Perspective
- ANT 314: Indigenous Peoples
- SOC 210: Sociology of Families
- SOC 300: Cross-cultural Perspectives on Gender
- SOC 310: Sociology of Families
- SOC 311: Comparative Family Systems
- SOC 312: Social Inequality
- SOC 313: Race, Ethnicity and Power
- SOC 315: Gender and Society
- SOC 322: Self and Social Interaction
- SOC 325: Environmental Sociology
- SOC 326: Sociology of Globalization
- SOC 330: Perspectives on Deviance
- SOC 331: Correctional Policies and Society
- SOC 332: Juvenile Delinquency
- SOC 333: Sociology of Violence
- SOC 334: Crime and Society
- SOC 341: Medical Sociology
- SOC 343: Sociology of Mental Health
- SOC 344: Social Movements
- SOC 345: People, Power and Politics
- SOC 347: Drugs and Society
- SOC 390: Topics in Sociology
Career Opportunities
A sociology degree prepares you for a wide range of careers in fields that address social issues and public policy. Graduates pursue roles in:
- Social Services – Case management, community outreach, advocacy
- Criminal Justice – Probation and parole, corrections, victim advocacy
- Public Policy & Government – Research analysis, urban planning, legislative assistance
- Education & Research – Data analysis, higher education, nonprofit organizations
- Business & Marketing – Human resources, market research, diversity and inclusion initiatives
Minors
Learn more about this discipline’s history, its research methods, and topics of interest. Open to all students, the minor pairs well with majors in business, the health sciences, criminal justice studies, political science or pre-law, social work, psychology, or marketing.
Ready to see how parts of the criminal justice system interact? This minor will help you understand factors for crime and how different parts of the justice system address issues. The minor, which is open to all students, works well with sociology, psychology, computer information systems and political science majors.
Explore the scientific study of human activities. This minor introduces you to cross-cultural variations in values, worldviews and ways of life.
You’ll be exposed to topics such as religion, art, kinship, gender roles, communication styles and body modifications. The minor, which is open to all students, often is paired with biology, history, psychology and sociology.