Major in Sociology
The major in sociology encourages each student, based on her interests, to develop a creative combination of courses that derives its coherence from the thematic areas offered by the department. Each student majoring in sociology completes 40 credits: the courses in the core, at least three electives, eight semester hours of independent learning, and the departmental capstone requirement. Students work closely with advisors in course selection and planning.
Core Courses
| Course Name | Number | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 5 Courses | ||
| Transnational Studies | SOCI-222 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Principles of Sociology | SOCI-101 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Inequality:race,class,gen | SOCI-249 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| App. of Sociological Theory | SOCI-268 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Intro to Social Research I | SOCI-239 | 4.00 | Lecture |
Generally, SOCI 101 should be completed no later than the sophomore year, SOCI 239 and 268 by the junior year, and SOCI 222 and SOCI 249 in the junior or senior year. Students must take at least three electives.
Thematic Areas
Students may concentrate on one thematic area, or selectively combine courses across them. Courses may be listed under more than one thematic area. The department prepares students to understand and to interpret the following substantive areas from a sociological perspective:
Social Theory Theme
Social Theory incorporates and critiques traditional sociological concepts and models with multiracial, multidisciplinary models for understanding "the social" and "theory."
| Course Name | Number | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 3 Courses | ||
| Women in Social Movements | SOCI-225 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| App. of Sociological Theory | SOCI-268 | 4.00 | Lecture |
Methods Theme
Methods courses examine and evaluate different methodological lenses, the meaning of analytical categories, the interpretation of data, and the audiences to whom the findings are presented.
| Course Name | Number | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 3 Courses | ||
| Qualitative Research Wkshp I | SOCI-339 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Demographics:People,Places,Iss | SOCI-250 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Intro to Social Research I | SOCI-239 | 4.00 | Lecture |
Social Intersections and Social Justice Theme
Social Intersections and Social Justice courses focus on multiple social hierarchies and resistance to injustice by subordinated groups and communities.
| Course Name | Number | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 10 Courses | ||
| Sociology of Childhood | SOCI-231 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Body Politics | SOCI-210 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Black Exp in Ameri | SOCI-234 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Inequality:race,class,gen | SOCI-249 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Urban Sociology | SOCI-261 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Criminology | SOCI-262 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Sociology of Education | SOCI-263 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Society & Health | SOCI-346 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Whiteness,Antiracism & Justice | SOCI-347 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Re-envisioning the Third World | SOCI-348 | 4.00 | Lecture |
Transnational Studies Theme
Transnational Studies courses challenge inequities that result from colonial legacies, capitalism, and multiple forms of nationalism and neocolonialism. This perspective emphasizes the co-constitution of race, nation, class, gender, and sexuality across cultural and political borders.
| Course Name | Number | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 5 Courses | ||
| Intro to Latin American Study | SOCI-277 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Transnational Studies | SOCI-222 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Globalization | SOCI-267 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Re-envisioning the Third World | SOCI-348 | 4.00 | Lecture |
Health and Well-Being Theme
Health and Well-Being courses examine the social distribution of health, illness, and health care as a consequence of unequal distribution of social resources. Courses also scrutinize the social authority of medicine and consequences of medical assumptions. Courses analyze how approaches to health care reproduce existing social hierarchies.
| Course Name | Number | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 5 Courses | ||
| Sociology of Health | SOCI-241 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Death & Dying | SOCI-242 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Orientation to Health Profess | SOCI-247 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Health Systems & Policy | SOCI-345 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Society & Health | SOCI-346 | 4.00 | Lecture |
Cultural Practices Theme
Cultural Practices courses communicate an understanding of culture as plural, contested, and crucial to the construction of experiences and meanings in and across multiple contexts.
| Course Name | Number | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 7 Courses | ||
| Int. Fam. Violence:Multi Pers | SOCI-340 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Body Politics | SOCI-210 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Urban Sociology | SOCI-261 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Sociology of Sports | SOCI-266 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Globalization | SOCI-267 | 4.00 | Lecture |
Social Policy Theme
Social Policy courses promote analysis of how these formal, macro-level social structures that influence individuals' experiences originate in the relative power of groups to set agendas, design interventions, and produce unanticipated consequences of these policies.
| Course Name | Number | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 6 Courses | ||
| Family and Society | SOCI-230 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Urban Sociology | SOCI-261 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Criminology | SOCI-262 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Sociology of Education | SOCI-263 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Health Systems & Policy | SOCI-345 | 4.00 | Lecture |
| Society & Health | SOCI-346 | 4.00 | Lecture |
Independent Learning
No later than the fall semester of her senior year, each student, in consultation with her advisor, will design an eight-credit independent learning plan for the following spring semester. Applications generally are due in the fall semester of senior year before registration for the spring semester. Internships are not permitted during the summer. Students with double majors will develop integrative independent learning programs with advisors from both disciplines.
Capstone Requirement
A capstone is an integral requirement. Students who enter the College beginning September 2006 must meet the new capstone requirement. New transfer students, Dix Scholar students, and all other matriculating students are strongly encouraged to fulfill this requirement.
Students may take one of the two following options:
SOCI 355 Thesis
In order to fulfill the capstone requirement, students may choose to do an independent research and writing project which culminates in a 30-50 page thesis written under the supervision of a faculty member in the department. Students submit a proposal generally by the second semester of their junior year. Students are also required to take SOC 339 before the start of the independent work. This option also fulfills the college's independent learning requirement. An honors designation is granted to meritorious theses.
Portfolio
In order to fulfill the capstone requirement, students may choose to submit a portfolio instead of a thesis. This is a non-credit requirement and does not fulfill the college's independent learning requirement. The portfolio normally consists of the following: one paper written in SOCI 101; one paper from either SOCI 249, SOCI 268, or SOCI 222; a paper from the independent learning option; and an 5-7-page integrative essay. Double majors who do their independent learning requirement outside of the sociology department are asked to submit a paper related to their other major and a 4-5- page essay about how that relates to sociology. The portfolio should be approved by the student's advisor. The portfolio is due three weeks prior to the end of the semester.