If you are actively concerned about the world you live in and want to do something constructive and useful in it–whether in law, business, education, medicine, urban or rural planning–sociology provides our best means for understanding how "the system" works. Whether you want to change society radically, modify it, preserve it as it is, or restore it to a bygone era, you must first understand what the structure of system is, how social order is maintained, and how social change can be affected. Sociology can give you some of that knowledge and can further help you acquire the analytic tools to develop it on your own.
Sociology majors generally leave with solid research skills, people skills, and presentation skills, which helps prepares them for many fields of work. Some of our students go on to get PhDs in sociology or related fields, many work in human service agencies, or go on to masters in social work programs or law school.
Get the current major requirements worksheet (PDF).
Only three credit hours of TA (188/288) may count toward the major. At least three of the 200 level credits must come from courses 202-281 or 295-296.
Social Gerontology Concentration
The Department of Sociology offers an optional twelve credit concentration in Social Gerontology for Sociology Majors only, including SOC 020 and SOC 120; either SOC 220 or SOC 222; and at least one course from SOC 154, SOC 254, or SOC 255. Students interested in completing the Social Gerontology concentration are encouraged to consult their faculty advisor early in their program.
Crime and Criminal Justice Concentration
The Concentration in Crime and Criminal Justice within the Major in Sociology requires that of the courses taken for the major 12 credits/four courses must be chosen from the list below (at least two of which must be at the 100 level or above and at least one of which must be at the 200 level.) Courses that count toward the concentration (and thus also toward the major) may also include a relevant internship (Sociology 285 or 286), a relevant variable content course (e.g., SOC 096 – Urban Inequality and Crime, "The Wire") a relevant HCOL course (e.g., HCOL 186 – Gender, Race and Crime), or a relevant course from another department. These will be considered for approval on a case-by-case basis. Students who took courses before Spring 2017 that now count toward the concentration before the concentration was approved may have them count. Professor Eleanor Miller will be adviser to students in the concentration and can be reached at [email protected] with questions.
Courses that Count toward the Concentration within the Sociology Major in Crime and Criminal Justice:
SOC 014 - Deviance and Social Control
SOC 112 - Global Deviance
SOC 114 - Sociology of Punishment
SOC 115 - Crime
SOC 118 - Race, Crime and Criminal Justice
SOC 214 - Delinquency
SOC 216 - Criminal Justice
SOC 217 - Corrections
SOC 258 - Sociology of Law
SOC 285 or 286 (with relevant placement)
Additional courses, and internships and research experience taken for a grade will be considered for credit as appropriate.
