Bachelor of Sociology at Saint Louis University

Sociology is the scientific study of human groups and their characteristics, changes, causes and consequences. Through teaching, research and service, sociology reveals a critical understanding of the different ways people relate to one another through the organization of society and how its structures and cultures influence lives.

At Saint Louis University, the Bachelor of Arts in Sociology program's subject matter ranges from family life to large-scale organizations, from crime to religion, from the divisions of race and social class to the shared beliefs of a common culture, from poverty to prosperity, and from the sociology of work to the sociology of sport. Few fields have such a broad and exciting scope.

1. Graduates will demonstrate an understanding of issues related to diversity, inequality, and social justice. Specifically:
   1. identify examples of cross-cultural diversity in beliefs and customs,
   2. identify examples of stratification by race/ethnicity, gender, and social class, and explain how inequality affects life chances, especially for marginalized others, and 
   3. does the student describe policies or practices that can help promote or impede social justice in local, national, or global contexts
2. Graduates will understand the role of theory in social analysis. Specifically:
   1. describe the role of theory in building sociological knowledge, 
   2. compare and contrast basic theoretical orientations; or, identify assumptions in analyses and arguments, and
   3. apply theories to examples or situations
3. Graduates will understand the role of qualitative and quantitative research methods in sociology. Specifically:
   1. compare and contrast methodological approaches for gathering data, 
   2. design a small study, and
   3. critically assess a published research report
4. Graduates will communicate effectively in written and oral forms. Specifically:
   1. write a clear and convincing sociological analysis of an event, issue, or problem, 
   2. make an oral presentation that is succinct, clear, convincing, and professional, 
   3. use computerized and online resources to find information (e.g., databases, reputable internet websites, government statistics, etc.), and
   4. evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of information sources, and assess which references are appropriate for academic research