Overview

David Baronov, Chair

Kevin Clarke, Barbara Rockell, Marta Rodríguez-Galán, Patricia Tweet, Pao Vue

Contemporary society is nothing if not interesting. Our 24-hour news and entertainment media flood us with a daily orgy of sex and violence; disintegrating, dysfunctional families are suddenly the norm; deadly global diseases lurk in the shadows; corrupt, conniving CEOs control vast wealth; we are haunted by the specter of terrorism; each ride in an SUV further accelerates global warming; Kodak ships more jobs than cameras to China. Meanwhile, our increasingly self-absorbed pop culture of American Idol and Lady Gaga spins aimlessly out of control. The ominous signs of gloom and doom feel overwhelming, as today’s students confront a variety of complex challenges. The Sociology major represents an effort to make sense of this avalanche of spectacular social change and to provide students with the skills and tools to navigate an ever-shifting and altering world after graduation and into the future.

The Sociology major is designed, above all, for inquisitive students who are curious about the strange and amazing society that they call home. For example, why do almost half the prime-time television shows involve either solving crimes or putting people in jail? How does drug use among SJFC undergraduates differ from drug use among SJFC professors? Does MTV shape social attitudes toward gays and lesbians or do social attitudes shape MTV programming? How can the U.S. compete in a new global information economy when less than 30 percent of the population has college degrees? Given the divorce rate, isn’t it likely that the notion of long-term, monogamous marriage is today just an old-fashioned, outdated concept? What kind of society do I want to live in 20 years from now? ... 40 years? ... 60 years? Sociology is about trying to figure out the current and future social trends across all these domains and more.

Given the broad range of topics addressed by sociology, there are a number of career options for which our majors are especially well-suited. These include law, criminal justice, human services, social work, business, journalism, politics, etc. For this reason, Sociology majors may choose a career-related department concentration. The department concentrations in Criminal Justice and Human Services are described under Program Requirements.

Lastly, Sociology majors are strongly encouraged to consider a double-major to further enhance their knowledge base, skill set, and career prospects. Likewise, it is suggested that non-Sociology majors consider either a minor or double-major option, given the need for everyone to anticipate and adjust to the enormous social changes affecting all of our professional and personal lives.

The Washington Experience: Fisher Semester in Washington

Sociology majors may avail themselves of the Washington Experience, a semester in Washington, D.C. See The Washington Experience section for details.

Minor

Minor in Sociology

Students pursuing a minor in Sociology should consult with the Sociology Department Chair and their major advisors to determine the most appropriate courses in Sociology for their academic program.

Note: A grade point average of 2.00 is required of courses taken at SJFC that may be applied to the minor.

Program Requirements

Required Courses for the Sociology Major

*See the following domain listings.

**Students may choose general Sociology electives or choose electives to meet either the Criminal Justice or Human Services departmental concentration.

All courses designated as Sociology courses (SOCI) are included in the determination of the grade point average in the major.

Four Domains

Sociology courses are distributed across the following four domains:

Foundations

Structured Patterns

Social Institutions

Processes/Fields of Inquiry

Criminal Justice Concentration

In addition to completing the required course selections for the Sociology major, students may pursue a Criminal Justice departmental concentration within the major. The Criminal Justice concentration includes three required courses that must be taken as electives within the major:

• SOCI 111C P3 Sociology of Crime (3)
• SOCI 115 CC Crime and Punishment (3)
• SOCI 230 CC Prison Nation (3)

Human Services Concentration

In addition to completing the required course selections for the Sociology major, students may pursue a Human Services departmental concentration within the major. The Human Services concentration includes three required courses that must be taken as electives within the major:

• SOCI 150 Introduction to Human Services (3)
• SOCI 160 Helping Relationships (3)
• SOCI 220 CC Groups and Diversity (3)

General Department Rules

• SOCI 101D is a prerequisite for all Sociology courses except SOCI 110, 111C, 115, 150, 160, 180P, 190, 200, 203, 205, and 209.
• No seniors are permitted to enroll in: SOCI 101D, 110, 111C, 115, 150, or 160.

Independent Study Criteria

To be eligible for an Independent Study in Sociology, a student must be a senior Sociology major with a minimum 3.30 grade point average.

To apply, a student must submit a three-page proposal to the department chair explaining the topic, purpose, and design of the study, along with the required Independent Study/Tutorial Authorization form. The chair will assign a faculty member to work with the student.

All Independent Studies are graded S/U; work must be at the B+ level to earn a satisfactory grade.

Recommended Progression

B.A. Sociology

Recommended progression of courses required for a B.A. Sociology major. Students should consult Core Requirements for a complete description of the College’s Core.