Sociology

College of Arts and Sciences

222 Williams Hall, 419-372-2294

Sociology is the study of relations among individuals, relations between individuals and society, and relations among the systems and structures of society. A sociology major is excellent preparation for many professions.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the baccalaureate degree, students in sociology are expected to:

• Apply a sociological perspective, built upon an understanding of basic sociological constructs and theories, to various areas of social life;
• Explicate the diverse ways in which sociologists gather, interpret, and evaluate data;
• Articulate sociologically informed opinions and arguments concerning social and behavioral phenomena, and critically read and understand sociological argument;
• Describe the similarities and dissimilarities of behaviors, attitudes, values, beliefs, and opinions across populations and subpopulations.

Major, Bachelor of Arts (33 hours) - minor required - Fall 2014 course requirements

Majors and minors with specific career aspirations (including Honors in Sociology) may wish to concentrate course selections in one of the following areas:

Criminology/Corrections — This concentration studies the nature of criminal law, the causes and consequences of criminal behavior, and the ways in which society deals with criminal offenders. Criminology is excellent preparation for careers in both the adult and juvenile justice systems, including police departments, court systems, and the probation and corrections networks within each. Electives include, but are not limited to:

SOC 3160, 3190, 3400, 3410, 4410, 4420, 4450, 4610

Family and Social Services — This concentration prepares students for careers in agencies responsible for the planning, delivery, and administration of services and resources for the well-being of individuals and families. Coursework provides a strong background for management decisions which must reflect an understanding of family dynamics—produced from social and individual variables including gender, age, race, and class—and the interactions of those dynamics with social institutions generally and human service programs in particular. Electives include, but are not limited to:

SOC 3130, 3160, 3170, 3190, 3410, 3610, 4040, 4170, 4600, 4610

Population Studies — This concentration examines the composition of human populations, communities, and organizations as they adapt to their environments. Basic issues emphasized include the development of technical skills, family relationships, and international population issues such as immigration. The curriculum provides a breadth of training for careers in business planning, labor-force analysis, and economic development. Population analysts are employed in all levels of government and private business. Electives include, but are not limited to:

SOC 3120, 3130, 3160, 3610, 4040, 4140, 4190, 4200

Minor in Sociology (21 hours)
A student minoring in sociology is strongly encouraged to complete SOC 2680, 2690, 3020, and 4800.

Internships
Any concentration may involve cooperative education placements or internships which offer an opportunity for students to work in settings where they can apply their knowledge and learn more about careers in their area of study, as well as cognate courses in other departments.

Other related areas
Students should consult the department's undergraduate advisor for the planning of other concentrations (e.g., prelaw, social-science education) or for individual planned programs.

Demographic Studies Minor (21 hours)
The interdisciplinary undergraduate minor Demographic Studies provides students with rigorous training in the area of population studies. This minor consists of 21 credit hours. Three courses are required, and four other courses are electives to be selected from at least two of the nine departments listed below. Note, however, that if courses were used to satisfy the requirements of the major, then they may not be used to fulfill the requirements of the minor.

• Three Required Courses (9 hours)

  • SOC 3120 (3)*, SOC 4200 (3)** and one from either SOC 3130 (3)*, SOC 3610 (3)*, SOC 3710 (3)***, SOC 4040 (3)*, SOC 4140 (3) or SOC 4190 (3).
• Four Elective Courses from: (12 hours)***
  
  • DHS 3300 (3)
  • ECON 2000 (3)
  • GEOG 3120 (3), GEOG 3210 (3), GEOG 3250 (3), GEOG 3370 (3), GEOG 4220 (3), GEOG 4240 (4), GEOG 4250 (3), GEOG 4260 (3)
  • GERO 3010 (3), GERO 3300 (3)
  • LEGS 4290 (3)
  • MKT 3000 (3), MKT 3200 (3)
  • POLS 3310 (3)
  • PUBH 3010 (3), PUBH 3020 (3)
  • SOC 3130 (3), SOC 3160 (3), SOC 3610 (3), SOC 4040 (3), SOC 4140 (3), SOC 4190 (3)

  * SOC 1010 or its equivalent is a prerequisite for this course.
  ** SOC 1010, SOC 2680, and SOC 2690 or their equivalents are prerequisites for these courses.
  *** To be selected from at least two of the nine areas. Elective courses may also have prerequisites of which students should be aware.