Sociology

As a sociologist, you'll investigate society from a grounded and critical perspective.

Student reading a magazine in the library

Do you want to change the world? First you have to understand it

You'll study everything from crime to religion, developing a unique understanding of what motivates human behavior. Our Students are encouraged to study abroad and apply your substantial training to the real world. The culture at Simmons is focused on community service and activism, giving you ample opportunities to connect and grow within our community.

Our faculty encourages diverse learning styles, offering many options for personalized courses of study and independent learning. You'll benefit from a well rounded liberal arts education with classes in specialties like women's and gender studies, Africana studies and international relations.

With their technical and intellectual experience, our students find successful careers in community organizing, law, public policy, teaching, higher education and social work.

Required Courses

SOCI 101	Principles of Sociology	4
SOCI 239	Introduction to Social Research I	4
SOCI 249	Inequalities	4
SOCI 325	Applications of Sociological Theory	4
SOCI 330	Transnational Studies	4

Generally, SOCI 101 should be completed no later than the sophomore year, SOCI 239 and 268 in the sophomore or junior year, and SOCI 325 and SOCI 330 in the junior or senior year.

Students choose any three electives from the list below:

SOCI 210	Body Politics	4
SOCI 216	I Sing the Body Electric: Social Justice and the Expressive Arts	3
SOCI 220	Working for Social Justice	4
SOCI 222	Organizing for Social Change	4
SOCI 223	Mass Media and Popular Culture	4
SOCI 225	Social Movements	4
SOCI 232	Race, Gender & Health	4
SOCI 241	Health, Illness & Society	4
SOCI 245	Global Health	4
SOCI 262	Criminology	4
SOCI 267	Globalization	4
SOCI 270	South Asia, People & Power	4
SOCI 275	Birth and Death	4
SOCI 280	Sociology of the Law	4
SOCI 285	Drugs and Society	4
SOCI 301	Disability and Society	4
SOCI 321	Sociology of Food	4
SOCI 338M	Cross Cultural Alliance Building	4
SOCI 339	Community Research	4
SOCI 344	Sociology of Poetry & Prose	4
SOCI 346	Gender and Islam	4
SOCI 347	Antiracism and Social Justice	4
SOCI 349	Directed Study	4
SOCI 350	Independent Study	4
SOCI 365	Intimate Family Violence	4

Capstone

Students may take one of the two following options:

Internship

Students may choose to complete an internship to fulfill the capstone requirement. Internships are completed in the spring semester of the student’s senior year. In the fall semester before the internship, each student works with the internship supervisor to design an 8-credit internship plan for the following semester. As part of this requirement, students also take the Internship seminar (SOCI 370). Students completing double majors who wish to do an internship will complete their internship through one of their departments.

Thesis

Students may choose to do an independent research and writing project that culminates in a 40–50 page thesis written under the supervision of a faculty member in the department.

Students submit a proposal by the second semester of their junior year and take SOCI 350 (Independent Study) in the first semester of their senior year and SOCI 355 (Thesis) in the second semester of their senior year. An honors designation is granted to meritorious theses. All theses are presented at an event organized by the department.

The minor in sociology consists of five courses.

One required course:

SOCI 101	Principles of Sociology	4

One of the following core courses:

SOCI 239	Introduction to Social Research I	4
SOCI 249	Inequalities	4
SOCI 325	Applications of Sociological Theory	4
SOCI 330	Transnational Studies	4

Three elective courses, selected from the lists of required and elective courses, after consulting with a faculty advisor in the department.

So you know that Simmons is a great place to be, you've learned about our programs, maybe even come for a visit...now you're ready to apply! Let's get started.

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