The Sociology curriculum includes introductory courses in sociology and anthropology, a sequence of skills courses for majors and minors, and a variety of substantive courses on specific topics. Sociology majors with a grade point average above 3.00 may complete a senior thesis for the sociology honors program.
The Sociology Major
Sociology students take a total of 15 three-credit courses to complete the major, including a sequence of required courses designed specifically for majors including those double majoring in sociology and education. Seminars at the freshman and senior levels provide extensive class participation, personalized instruction, and carefully supervised individual research. Courses in research methods and statistics instruct students in diverse techniques of information gathering and analysis. In addition to these courses, sociology students select a set of courses in substantive areas. Through consultation with their faculty advisors, students are able to focus on such areas of special career or academic interest to them as criminal justice, law, education, social services, management, or marketing.
The Sociology Minor
Business, Education and Liberal Arts and Sciences majors may minor in sociology. The minor consists of seven courses. Each minor is assigned an advisor who will help the student to select courses most suited to his or her major and career goals. Since management and marketing techniques are based on sociology, the minor is especially valuable to students interested in business careers.
The Social Work Minor
Students may combine the major in sociology with a minor in social work. In a sequence of three social work courses, students learn about the development of special welfare and social service programs; they acquire skills in interviewing, case management, and group dynamics; and they gain work experience in a social service agency. Dr. Dickinson is the advisor for the social work minor.
Internships
The Department of Sociology arranges supervised internships in a variety of organizational settings for interested students. These placements provide students with an opportunity to apply their academic training in concrete, work-place settings, to learn about different careers, and to cultivate contacts in the field. For students taking the social work minor, placement in a social service agency is part of the Field Work Experience course.