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Sociology and Anthropology

BA in Sociology

What is Sociology?

Sociology is a vibrant, exciting inquiry into the most interesting subject of all, human beings in a social context. Over the course of its 150-year history, sociologists have studied a broad range of social phenomena ranging from the dynamics of interactions and relationships, to the composition and workings of entire societies. Sociologists have contributed to our understanding of social beings from the smallest encounters to the largest units of society and culture.

As sociologist Peter Berger notes, in addition to being a profoundly interesting discipline taught at universities throughout the world, sociology is also a fascinating individual pastime and a unique form of consciousness. Acquiring the insights and understandings that only a sociological framework can provide, is a life-changing experience that countless students have discovered. Whether the topic of analysis is crime and deviance, marriage and family relationships, population dynamics, race and ethnic relations, medicine, aging, or death, sociology contributes a distinctive framework for understanding social problems and issues from the most mundane to the ultimately profound.

In addition to Sociology, the department houses the Anthropology program which will be discussed below. The diversity of our faculty may be seen in the wide range of courses offered and in the recent addition of an expert in statistics and methodology who also serves as director of the Gender Studies program, and, on the anthropology side, the hiring of an archaeologist with a specialty in the Middle East.

    A BA in Sociology consists of at least 32 credit hours of sociology, including:

  • SOCI 2300 - Introduction to Sociology
  • SOCI 3381 - Social Statistics
  • SOCI 3383 - Classical Theory OR SOCI 3384 - Contemporary Theory
  • SOCI 3385 - Research Methods
  • SOCI 4387 - Applied Sociology

17 upper-level credit hours of sociology courses approved by the sociology advisor.

Students with a sociology emphasis may minor in any program offered either inside or outside the department. Students preparing for a professional career in sociology are encouraged to pursue this emphasis.

Updated 9.15.2011