Sociology
Julie Wilson Email
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Sociology, broadly defined, is the study of social life. Sociology makes the familiar seem unfamiliar, and thus it challenges our assumptions about why people behave the way they do.
Students who major in sociology at Emory & Henry study social life throughout history and across cultures. You learn to see the interconnectedness of social life, and become well-versed in different frameworks of social thought. You also gain valuable skills in research methods and statistical analysis, and the use of computer software programs. Thus, sociology graduates are prepared for careers in business, policy analysis, program evaluation, or human services, as well as for continued study of sociology in graduate programs across the country.
Core courses in the Department of Sociology introduce students to the philosophical foundations of sociology and the skills of critical evaluation, data collection, and data analysis. Additional courses provide you with an in-depth study of major subfields of the discipline. The study of sociology at Emory & Henry is interdisciplinary, since many of the courses are taught by faculty in or cross-listed with courses in other fields, such as Public Policy & Community Service, Political Science and Psychology.
Course of Study
A typical course of study in sociology would include several required classes – Introductory Sociology, Statistics for the Social Sciences, Methods of Social Research, and Social Theory – as well as several topical courses within the discipline. Such topical courses might include Marriage and the Family; Race, Class, Gender and Sexuality; Law and Society; and a capstone seminar focusing on a critical issue & in the field. Students also select either a contextual and support area or a minor in another discipline.
Students who major in sociology are encouraged to conduct collaborative research with faculty or others in the field through Internships, as well as independent research through an Honors Thesis or other research options. You have the opportunity to present your research at regional or national conferences, including annual meetings of the Southern Sociological Society and the American Sociological Association.
Degree Program
The Department of Sociology offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. You may choose to combine a major in Sociology with a major in other disciplines, such as Public Policy & Community Service, Political Science, Psychology, or Mathematics. Students majoring in other disciplines also may pursue a minor in Sociology.
The Liberal Arts Advantage
A bachelor’s degree in sociology provides an excellent liberal arts foundation for embarking on the wide range of career paths that many liberal arts majors pursue. Your undergraduate training in sociology can open a variety of doors in business and the human services. Sociology majors who enter the business world work in sales, marketing, customer relations, or human resources. Those who enter human services work with youths at risk, the elderly, or people experiencing problems related to poverty, substance abuse, or the justice system.
When we ask sociology majors who are employed outside academic settings to reflect on their education with the wisdom of hindsight, they value most highly their undergraduate courses in social research methods, statistics, and computer skills. These courses help make undergraduates marketable, especially in today’s highly technical and data-oriented work environment. In addition, sociology majors develop analytical skills and the ability to understand issues within a “macro” or social structural perspective. Learning the process of critical thinking and how to bring evidence to bear in support of an argument is extremely important in a fast-changing job market. Consequently, as a sociology graduate, you have a competitive advantage in today’s information society. The solid base you receive in understanding social change—as well as in research design, data
analysis, statistics, theory, and sociological concepts—enables you to compete for support positions (such as program, administrative, or research assistant) in research, policy analysis, program evaluation, and countless other social science endeavors. As a well-educated sociology graduate you will acquire a sense of history, other cultures and times; the interconnectedness of social life; and different frameworks of thought. You are proficient at gathering information and putting it into perspective. Sociological training helps students bring breadth and depth of understanding to the workplace. A sociology graduate learns to think abstractly, formulate problems, ask appropriate questions, search for answers, analyze situations and data, organize material, write well, and make oral presentations that help others develop insight and make decisions. They have an advantage in understanding human behavior on three levels:
- how individuals behave in organizations, families, and communities;
- the ways in which these social units function as groups;
- the wider social, political, and economic contexts in which decisions are made and in which groups function.
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800.848.5493
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