What is sociology? How to declare a major or minor in sociology Major Requirements Recommended Major Course Plan Minor Requirements Special Programs Research Resources Contact Information

 

What is sociology?

Sociology is the study of social life, social change, and the social causes and consequences of human behavior.  Sociologists investigate the structure of groups, organizations, and societies, and how people interact within these contexts.  Since human behavior is shaped by social factors, the subject matter of sociology ranges from the intimate family to the hostile mob; from organized crime to religious cults; from the divisions of race, gender and social class to the shared beliefs of a common culture; and from the sociology of work to the sociology of sports.  In fact, few fields have such broad scope and relevance for research, theory, and application of knowledge.

Sociology provides many distinctive perspectives on the world, generating new ideas and critiquing the old.  The field also offers a range of research techniques that can be applied to virtually any aspect of social life: street crime and delinquency, corporate downsizing, how people express emotions, welfare or education reform, how families differ and flourish, or problems of peace and war.  Because sociology addresses the most challenging issues of our time, it is a rapidly expanding field whose potential is increasingly tapped by those who craft policies and create programs.  Sociologists understand social inequality, patterns of behavior, forces for social change and resistance, and how social systems work. 

~American Sociological Association

Our undergraduate sociology program consists of introductory 100-level courses, more specialized 200-level courses, and advanced 300-and 400-level courses primarily aimed at majors. The program is designed to enable students to think systematically and critically about their society, and to help students develop analytical, research and writing skills relevant to a variety of careers. We encourage qualified advanced students to enroll in graduate courses. Our courses cover topics such as health and illness, crime and law, sex and gender, culture and religion, social change and economic development.

 

How to declare a major or minor in sociology

Please see Katharine Wilson in the Sociology Department Office, 225 Tarbutton Hall, to complete paperwork.

Katharine Wilson will review the sociology requirements, sociology opportunities, and assign students to a regular faculty adviser. Faculty advisers will be your main source of information about the program, course planning, and career options.

All minors are advised by Dr. Scott.

 

Major Requirements

The major requires 9 courses (36 hours) in Sociology and a GPA of a 2.0 or higher within the major.
	I.	REQUIRED COURSES
		The following 2 courses are required for the major:
			SOC 355: Social Research I
			SOC 457: Development of Sociological Theory
	II.	FOUNDATION COURSES
		Majors must take 2 courses from the following group (you may select any two):
			SOC 201: Organizations & Society
			SOC 214: Class, Status, & Power
			SOC 221: Culture & Society
			SOC 245: Individual & Society
			SOC 247: Racial & Ethnic Relations
			SOC 266: Global Change
	III.	ELECTIVES
		The remaining 5 courses are electives.  Most sociology courses count as electives, with the following conditions:
			No more than 1 course in the general introductory series of SOC 101, 103, and 105 can count as an elective.
			No more than 1 course (4 hours) from the SOC 497R-499R series may count as an elective toward the major.
			You may take 1 elective S/U. Most students don't do this because it is their major, but it is an option. All other courses must be taken for a letter grade.
			Majors who study abroad can take up to 3 of their sociology electives abroad.

Sociology Major Handbook

Recommended Major Course Plan

Freshman Year:	a course in the general introductory series of SOC 101, 103, or 105
Sophomore Year:	SOC foundation courses, SOC electives
Junior Year:	SOC 355, SOC electives
Senior Year:	SOC 457, SOC electives

Minor Requirements

The minor requires 5 courses (20 hours) in Sociology.
	I.	REQUIRED COURSE
		Minors must take 1 course from the following group (you may select any one):
			SOC 201: Organizations & Society
			SOC 214: Class, Status, & Power
			SOC 221: Culture & Society
			SOC 245: Individual & Society
			SOC 266: Global Change
			SOC 247: Racial & Ethnic Relations
			SOC 355: Social Research I
			SOC 457: Development of Sociological Theory
	II.	ELECTIVES
		The remaining 4 courses are electives.  Most sociology courses count as electives, with the following conditions:
			No more than 1 course in the general introductory series of SOC 101, 103, and 105 can count as an elective.
			No more than 1 course (4 hours) from the SOC 497R-499R series may count as an elective toward the minor.
			All 5 courses for the minor must be taken for a letter grade.
			Minors who study abroad can take up to 2 electives abroad.

Special Programs

The Undergraduate Program in Sociology offers a variety of special features and opportunities, including the following:

• Informal Career Concentrations - to assist students in planning for five different career fields.
  

• Sociology/Religion Joint Major - interested students take specific courses in both departments to graduate with a joint major.

• Study Abroad (SOC 390: Health Care & Society Seminar) - held in London each summer, compares British and American health care institutions; contact Dr. Tracy Scott for information.

• SouthEastern Undergraduate Sociology Symposium (SEUSS) - held each spring, the SEUSS draws students from across the country, providing them with the opportunity to present their research in a conference setting.

• Internship Program (SOC 494R) - students gain work experience in settings like Center for Disease Control, CNN, DeKalb Juvenile Court, or various social service agencies; contact Dr. Elizabeth Griffiths for information.

• Alpha Kappa Delta (International Sociology Honor Society) - open to majors who have completed at least five sociology classes and who have at least an overall 3.2 GPA

• Undergraduate Sociology Teaching Assistant - eligible seniors perform specific responsibilities to aid professor with a course.

• Peer Mentoring - seven to ten students, all senior sociology majors, serve as peer mentors to younger sociology majors, minors, and those interested in majoring or minoring in sociology.

• Program in Social Research & Data Analysis (PSRDA) - eligible students take a series of courses designed to strengthen their quantitative reasoning skills. Contact Dr. Elizabeth Griffiths.

• Honors Program (Sociology 495A/B) - eligible seniors engage in their own research and write a thesis to graduate with honors; contact Dr. Tracy Scott for information.

• Solomon and Sara Sutker Outstanding Student Award - for the top graduating sociology major.

• B.A./M.A. Program - advanced students who will have completed the sociology major during their junior year may apply to the BA/MA program.  If accepted, the student would do graduate work and complete a thesis during senior year. Contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies, Dr. Tracy Scott, for more information.

Research

Students may have opportunities to assist faculty members on their research projects.  These opportunities are dependent on the current research needs of the faculty.  The best way to pursue research is to get to know the faculty with whom you take classes, and then talk with them about research opportunities. Remember that doing well in a class is the best way to show you would be a good research assistant. Students who do find a research assistant opportunity will be enrolled in SOC 497R: Directed Research. In the recent past, students have assisted on projects focused on the experimental analysis of interaction in small groups, the causes of delinquency, and the trends in transnational corporations.

Please see Dr. Scott if you would like to talk more about how to pursue research opportunities in the Department.

The Department also strongly encourages students to pursue their own research interests, especially through the Honors program and selected courses. Recent thesis topics include the synergy between the film and recording industries; the relationship between SES, social capital, parental involvement in education; an analysis of the anti-globalization movement; upward mobility among women who are raised in female-headed families; the effects of cognitive and cultural factors on racial and ethnic self-segregation; and the perceptions of police and prosecutors toward violent female offenders.

Students who complete outstanding research papers are encouraged to present their work at the SouthEastern Undergraduate Sociology Symposium (SEUSS), held each Spring, alternately at Emory and at Morehouse College

The best preparation for doing research is taking SOC 355: Social Research I and SOC 500: Research Methods-Statistics.

 

Resources

• Sociology Peer Mentoring
• Sociology Faculty
  
• Emory General Libraries Sociology Research Guide

• The Globalization Website managed by Emory's Dr. Frank Lechner
  

Contact Information

Have questions? Want to know more? Please contact:

Dr. Tracy Scott, Director of Undergraduate Studies
E-mail: tscott@emory.edu
Phone: 404-727-7515

Katharine Wilson, Undergraduate Program Administrative Assistant
Email: kbwilso@emory.edu
Phone: 404-727-7511

 

For more information about applying for admission to Emory College, see the Office of Undergraduate Admissions website.