The sociology curriculum seeks to broaden and deepen students’ understanding of social organization and social change in the United States and throughout the world. To do this, it provides perspectives and methods that will be useful in examining real-world social problems. By connecting immediately experienced social troubles to broader social issues, students will be encouraged not just to understand the social world but to think about how they can change it for the better.
An undergraduate degree in sociology offers an excellent foundation for a critically informed understanding of and engagement with contemporary social issues. It is excellent preparation for graduate-level work leading to careers in journalism, law, politics, healthcare, social planning, social services and other professions that must take into account social organization and social relations.
A sociology major or minor combines readily with racial, ethnic, area and women’s studies, as well as with other interdisciplinary social sciences.
Harpur College Requirements
Harpur College students must complete the following requirements in addition to those listed for the major:
- 126 credits
- 94 liberal arts and sciences credits
- Minimum of 46 upper-level credits
- Completion of the Harpur College writing requirement (four to five courses as described in the All-College Writing section of the Harpur College Undergraduate Information section of the Bulletin. Maximum of one C/J course and two W courses may be transferred).
- Minimum of 44 credits in residence in Harpur College
- 2.0 or higher GPA
Harpur College requirements are described in detail in the Requirements for Graduation section of the Harpur College Undergraduate Information section of the Bulletin.
Sociology Major
The department requires 10 sociology courses* for the major. These must include the following three courses:
- SOC 100 Social Change: An Introduction to Sociology
- SOC 200 Foundations of Social Theory
- SOC 305 Social Research Methods
Six of the required 10 sociology courses must be numbered 300 or above; one of these courses must be a General Education Composition (C or J) writing course. SOC 305 will count as one of this group of six 300-level courses.
Students may count only one of the following (for a maximum of 4-credit hours) toward the major requirements: SOC 395 (Internship), SOC 397 (Independent Study), SOC 491 (Teaching Practicum) or SOC 498 (Independent Research).
Sociology courses taken at other colleges or universities may, in some cases, substitute for sociology courses offered at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ but at least five of the 10 required sociology courses, and four of the six required upper-division sociology courses must be taken at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ. In addition, some courses offered by other departments at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ are "cross-listed" as sociology courses and are accepted toward the sociology major or minor. All courses required for the major must be passed with at least a C-.
*Only one of the 10 sociology courses (but not to include SOC 100, 200 or 305) may be taken on a Pass/Fail basis.
Honors Program
To earn honors in sociology, a student majoring in sociology must earn a grade-point average of 3.5 or above in sociology, 3.3 or above overall and have completed four courses toward the sociology major. In the fall, the student must enroll in the senior Honors Seminar (SOC 471), and in the spring in SOC 499 (to write the honors research paper). In order for the student to receive honors, that paper must be judged to be of honors quality. SOC 499 constitutes an "11th course"; that is, a course in addition to the 10-course requirement to fulfill the sociology major.
Consult the director of undergraduate studies for more information.
Sociology Minor
Six courses* (24 credits) are required: one Sociology Research Methods course (SOC 305); two additional sociology courses numbered 300 or above; and three other sociology courses. It is required that three of the six required sociology courses, and two of the three required upper-division sociology courses, be taken at Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ. All courses required for the minor must be passed with at least a C-.
*Only one of the courses in the minor may be taken with a Pass/Fail grading option (excluding SOC 305).