Sociology - Major

Sociology classes provide a background in social analysis and insight into human affairs, including how societies work, group life, and all aspects of social life. Course work examines such topics as marriages and families, racial and cultural minorities, social classes, gender roles, the criminal justice system, environmental problems, human sexuality, mass media and popular culture, homelessness, and human behavior.

In an acknowledgement that sociology consists of more than intellectual study, students (and professors) frequently volunteer at area soup kitchens and in the past have completed internships at local schools, hospitals, radio stations, social services, and other locations. Many students combine sociology with the inclusive childhood/middle childhood education major and become teachers. Others go on to attend graduate school or to work in such fields as counseling, human resources, communications, human services, and international relations.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Students will be able to analyze systems of privilege, with particular emphasis on the ways in which race, class, and gender shape social and cultural life.
2. Students will able to describe and evaluate the role of scientific method in investigating and understanding the social world.
3. Students are able to discuss the role of culture and the social structure in our lives and the lives of others.
4. Students are able to explain the influence of gender, class, and racial inequalities on individual life chances and experiences.
5. Students are able to articulate the role of theory in sociology.