Sociology

Sociology Major and Minor

The Sociology Program offers courses designed to meet the needs and interests of students who choose sociology as a major or minor or who select sociology courses as electives. Two sociology courses fulfill one element of the General Education requirements.

A student who chooses to major or minor in sociology will increase his/her knowledge of the principles, processes, and problems involved in group relationships; the origins and interrelationships of the major social institutions; and the impact of these institutions on social behavior. The students will also acquire research skills sufficient to conduct a research project of any specific social phenomena. When appropriate and possible, sociology courses will include community-based learning experiences.

By completing this major, the student will build a body of knowledge and set of skills important for employment and/or entering graduate work in one or more of the areas of emphasis and related professional fields such as the social services, counseling, criminal justice, gerontology, and law. The sociology major offers two emphases: 1) Core courses, to be completed by all majors, provide the central concepts and techniques of sociology. 2) Specifically required emphasis courses provide for the development of a specialty within sociology.