Sociology, Bachelor of Arts
Interim Department Chairs: Laurel Elder (Political Science) and Amy Forster Rothbart (Political Science)
Faculty: Ryan Ceresola; Elena Chernyak; Amber Kerwin; Laura Landertinger Adjunct Faculty: Denise Newvine
Major
Sociology
Minor
Sociology
About
Sociologists investigate human relationships and interaction at interpersonal, organizational, institutional, societal, and global levels.
Sociology provides insight into social relationships among individuals, couples, families, organizations, political institutions, social movements, and globally. It examines social structuring based on race, ethnicity, nationality, sex, religion, age, and class. The study of sociology as part of a liberal education helps students develop a critical understanding of the workings of societal forces.
The department presents a wide range of theoretical perspectives. Research areas include health, demography, social and political history and movements, youth, criminology and criminal justice, rural poverty, social welfare, public policy, third world studies, human rights, domestic violence, indigenous rights, and globalization.
In addition to a rich theoretical mix, the department encompasses a broad range of pedagogical approaches. Faculty utilize videos, participant observation exercises, role playing, ethnography, film analysis, basic and advanced statistical analysis, journal writing, community-based advocacy and service learning, field trips, faculty-student collaborative research, and guest speakers as well as traditional lectures in their teaching.
While most department courses consider issues of race, class and gender, the department also offers specific courses examining issues of race, class, gender, and cultural identity in the U.S. Many of our courses fulfill the requirements for the Race and Ethnic Studies Program. Race and Ethnicity and Multiculturalism are entry level courses for this minor. We also have a departmental affiliation with the Women’s and Gender Studies Program.
Special study opportunities available through the department include off-campus programs in Ireland and Charleston, NC. Other opportunities include social advocacy work with agencies and organizations, internships in related careers in the local community and in other locations throughout the country, and community-based service-learning projects. Majors may also participate in the College-affiliated Great Lakes Colleges Association Philadelphia Urban Semester. The Hardy Chair Lecture Program grants students the special opportunity to interact with nationally and internationally recognized scholars and practitioners.
The Sociology major is composed of six required courses, and five electives. Electives may be organized to construct a focused area of study (e.g. social work, community advocacy, social and political rights and social movements). In addition, the department offers a minor and major in Criminal Justice (CRMJ).
All CRMJ courses with the exception of CRMJ 490 Senior Thesis may count as electives, with the exception of SOCI 383 Quantitative Analysis/CRMJ 390 Quantitative Analysis in Criminal Justice may not count towards both majors.
Please note: If you are in the 3-year or Education Program, you will need to take both Classical Theory and Qualitative Methods in fall and Contemporary Theory and Quantitative Methods in the spring of your sophomore year.
Please note: If you wish to combine a sociology major and criminal justice minor, you must complete all requirements for both including 8 total electives (5 sociology and 3 from CRMJ minor list). The only course that may count for both the sociology major and CRMJ minor is CRMJ 390 Quantitative Methods in Criminal Justice.
A major in Sociology prepares students for graduate study in the discipline, as well as in a variety of other fields including law, counseling, teaching, social work, public health, education and criminal justice. The understanding of how people interact and behave in groups provides an excellent background for a wide range of careers in such fields as law enforcement, business, education, and government service. In addition, majors have used their background in sociology to pursue careers in communications, community relations, human resources management, and community organizing and advocacy.
Grades for all courses taken in sociology are used to calculate the average in the major for Departmental Distinction.