Department of Sociology - Emory University

The Undergraduate Program

 

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:

  • 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.
  • 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



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.

 

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