Sociology (B.A.)
Faculty
Dr. Konia Kollehlon, Associate Professor of Sociology (program chair)
Dr. Roberta Goldberg, Professor of Sociology
Sr. Mary Johnson, SND, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Religious Studies
Dr. Roxana Moayedi, Professor of Sociology
Dr. E. Wairimu Mwangi, Assistant Professor of Sociology
Description
Sociology is the scientific study and interpretation of group life. It provides a human perspective on the study of urban life, family patterns and relationships, work, and organizational structures. Gender, race, social class, social change, and current social issues are the focus of research and analysis.
The primary goal of this program is to enable students to develop a “sociological imagination,” giving them the ability to connect individual private experience with social structure through concrete experiences and a strong theoretical perspective. Teaching this deceptively simple insight, that people are affected by social forces and that social institutions are affected by their members, is the major focus of the discipline.
Majoring in sociology prepares students for graduate school and a wide variety of careers, such as social psychology, social research, social work, public administration, business, education, market research, law, and community planning.
A sociology major and minor are offered to students in the College of Arts and Sciences. The sociology program also supports the criminal justice and human relations majors.
Major Requirements
Required Courses (33 credits)
ALL of the following courses:
SOCY 100 Introduction to SociologyIntroduces students to the science of sociology and prepares students for upper-level social science course work. Formerly SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area V
Core Area II: Understanding the Self and Society
SOCY 311 Research Methods for Social ScientistsIntroduces the student to various research methods used in the social sciences. Topics include causal analysis survey, observational, and evaluating strategies; feminist methods; database management; and statistical data analysis. Formerly SOC 342 Research Methods.
3 credits
Prerequisites: SOCY 100 and MATH 110
SOCY 421 Sociological TheoryInvestigates the origin and development of classical sociological theory and how it is used in contemporary sociology. Formerly SOC 486 Sociological Theory.
3 credits
Prerequisites: SOCY 100.
SOCY 499 Senior SeminarServes as a capstone course that explores contemporary sociological and criminological concepts through new research and theory in the discipline. Students will contribute to class discussion through written work and oral presentations. Formerly SOC 460 Senior Seminar.
3 credits
Prerequisites: Senior status in the major
ONE course in statistics:
MATH 110 Introduction to StatisticsThis course presents the basic principles of statistics with applications to the social sciences. Topics include descriptive statistics, graphical representations of data, normal probability distributions and the Central Limit Theorem, linear correlation and regression and probability theory. This course also offers an introduction to the use of statistical software. Formerly MAT 110 Introduction to Statistics.
3 credits
Prerequisites: MATH 102, MATH 108, MATH 109 or higher level mathematics course.
SIX additional courses in sociology or other approved courses
Recommended Courses
SSC 207 Writing for the Social SciencesOffered in a seminar format, the course equips students with the skills necessary to write papers for social science courses. The course covers the process of writing for the social sciences and develops technical skills in researching and writing a variety of paper types. Specific topics include proposal writing, library research skills, internet research skills, critical thinking and writing, organization, outlines, drafts and documentation.
3 credits
General Education Requirements: Capstone Seminar
SOCY 491 InternshipProvides students with two days a week work experience in a variety of settings, research, human services, and criminal justice. Formerly SOC 595 Internship.
3 credits
This course cannot be taken Pass/No Pass
Social Justice Track
As part of the major, students may opt to take 5 of their 6 sociology elective courses in the Social Justice Track, which consists of specialized courses in this area.
ONE required course:
SOCY 321 Inequality and SocietyExamines classical and contemporary theories of social stratification. Are we all created equal? Can we become equal? Particular emphasis is on the American class structure, its impact on social institutions, and the importance of gender and race as factors contributing to inequality in society. Formerly SOC 378 Inequality and Society.
3 credits
Prerequisites: SOCY 100
FOUR additional courses from the following:
SOCY 231 International MigrationSurveys key issues in international migration. Provides basic information about issues such as the intersection and implications of international migration and race/ethnicity within the destination, the brain drain, the socioeconomic adaptation of immigrants, transnationalism, the economic and cultural impacts of international migration, and the trafficking and exploitation of women and children, among others. Formerly SOC 259 International Migration.
Prerequisite: SOCY 100.
SOCY 323 Race and Racism in SocietyTraces the history of race relations, prejudice, and racism within the United States. Special emphasis will be given to the relationship of racism and the changing economic, political, demographic, and educational structure of society. Examines the roots of prejudice, its expression, and its impact on individual, families, communities, and societal institutions. Addresses the critical role of social science theory and research in increasing understanding of race relations and racism, and suggests intervention strategies for improved relations. Formerly SOC 350 Race and Racism.
3 credits
FLC Area V
Prerequisite: SOCY 100.
SOCY 333 Women and Third World DevelopmentExamines insights that the feminist perspective brings to the issues of development, challenging the assumption that "integrating women into development" will solve problems caused by plans and policies that neglect women. This course is meant to be a guide to recent thinking and literature about women and development, and to the feminist critique of these. The course focuses on multinationals, rural development, and food production, including appropriate technology and income generation, health, migration, education, and communication. Formerly SOC 310 Women and Third World Development.
3 credits
Prerequisite: SOCY 100.
SOCY 335 Social MovementsThis course discusses the principal contemporary perspectives of social movements and collective behavior. Social, economic, and political inequality eventually lead to social movements as communities organize to demand changes to the societies to which they belong. By examining different social movements we will attempt to answer the questions: why do movements start? and how are they organized?, as well as who joins?, who stays?, and who drops out? Social Movements examined will include the Women’s Movements, the Civil Rights Movements, the Labor Movements, Gay Rights Movements, the Environmental Movements, and others.
3 credits
Prerequisites: SOCY 100
General Education Area: IV
SOCY 361 The Black FamilyProvides a multidisciplinary approach to the study of Black families, including immigrant families from Africa and the Caribbean. The course covers four broad content areas: historical/theoretical approaches to the study of Black families; Black family patterns (including socioeconomic, demographic, and intergenerational patters); socialization within Black families; and advocacy for and gender relations within Black families. Formerly SOC 302 The Black Family.
3 credits
Prerequisite: SOCY 100.
Minor Requirements
Required Courses (18 credits)
ONE introductory course:
SOCY 100 Introduction to SociologyIntroduces students to the science of sociology and prepares students for upper-level social science course work. Formerly SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area V
Core Area II: Understanding the Self and Society
ONE course chosen from between:
SOCY 321 Inequality and SocietyExamines classical and contemporary theories of social stratification. Are we all created equal? Can we become equal? Particular emphasis is on the American class structure, its impact on social institutions, and the importance of gender and race as factors contributing to inequality in society. Formerly SOC 378 Inequality and Society.
3 credits
Prerequisites: SOCY 100
SOCY 421 Sociological TheoryInvestigates the origin and development of classical sociological theory and how it is used in contemporary sociology. Formerly SOC 486 Sociological Theory.
3 credits
Prerequisites: SOCY 100.
FOUR additional courses in sociology or other approved courses, excluding field work. Students majoring in Human Relations may not declare a minor in sociology.
Program Policies
Advanced Placement:
Credits earned through AP examinations do not fulfill requirements of the sociology major.
CLEP Policy:
Credits earned through CLEP examinations do not fulfill requirements of the sociology major.
Grades in Major Courses:
Students are required to earn a grade of “C-” (1.7) or better in all courses counted to fulfill requirements for the major with the exception of SOCY 499 (Senior Seminar). In that course, students must earn a grade of “C” (2.0) to fulfill the requirements for the major.
Pass/No Pass:
Courses fulfilling major requirements may not be taken pass/no pass.
Senior Assessment:
Students will fulfill their senior assessment through the senior seminar, which is to be taken within 2 semesters of graduation.
TELL Policy:
Students applying for credit in experiential learning should consult with the program faculty.
Transfer Credits:
Credits in courses equivalent to those required for the major from a similar institution may be accepted toward a major. Students majoring in sociology must take a minimum of four sociology courses at Trinity in addition to the Senior Seminar.
Course Descriptions
MATH 110 Introduction to StatisticsThis course presents the basic principles of statistics with applications to the social sciences. Topics include descriptive statistics, graphical representations of data, normal probability distributions and the Central Limit Theorem, linear correlation and regression and probability theory. This course also offers an introduction to the use of statistical software. Formerly MAT 110 Introduction to Statistics.
3 credits
Prerequisites: MATH 102, MATH 108, MATH 109 or higher level mathematics course.
SOCY 100 Introduction to SociologyIntroduces students to the science of sociology and prepares students for upper-level social science course work. Formerly SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area V
Core Area II: Understanding the Self and Society
SOCY 103 Introduction to Cultural AnthropologyStudies the nature of culture, sub-culture, cultural change, and cross-cultural comparisons. Formerly SOC 280 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology.
3 credits
SOCY 105 Social ProblemsExamines the political and economic organization of society and its impact on social problems. The goal of this course is to enable students to understand the social nature of social problems. Students focus on how social problems result from cultural and social arrangements. Critical scrutiny of polity and economy provides clues for the bias of society. Explains how political and economic processes affect what is currently being done about social problems and thus why so many social policies fail. Formerly SOC 200 Social Crisis and Social Policy.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry Area
FLC Area V
SOCY 131 Global Social IssuesSurveys the global problems of hunger, overpopulation, energy, pollution, war, and extremism (slavery, apartheid, relocation, genocide), and how they are built into society. Formerly SOC 254 Global Social Issues.
3 credits
FLC Area V
General Education Curriculum: Knowledge and Inquiry
SOCY 201 Sociology of EducationStudies the United States education system from sociological perspectives. This course identifies the major problems with the United States educational system and discusses solutions. Formerly SOC 201 Sociology of Education.
3 credits
General Education Curriculum: Applications Area
FLC Area V
SOCY 202 Sociology of ReligionSociology of Religion is a course that analyzes the institution of religion scientifically, using theory, research methods and demographics to compare and contrast religious structures. We shall examine religious belief systems,organizational cultures, and religious roles across a variety of local, national and international religious groups. Particular attention will be paid to issues of polity and gender. Cross-listed with RST 202.
3 credits
Prerequisites: SOCY 100
SOCY 203 Individual and Society: Understanding Human InteractionExamines how society influences individuals and, in turn, is influenced by them. Using a scientific approach, the course identifies factors that shape people's feelings, behavior, and thought in social situations. What are the influences-actual, implied, and imagined-that shape women and men and the world they inhabit? This course examines some of these influences and particularly addresses the issues of diversity: gender, social (cultural and ethnic), and individual. Formerly SOC 260 Individual and Society: Understanding Human Interaction.
3 credits
SOCY 221 Community Development and Urban ProblemsFocuses on the city and its sub-worlds, discusses its problems and strengths, and suggests a people approach to solutions. Formerly SOC 237 Community Development and Urban Problems.
SOCY 231 International MigrationSurveys key issues in international migration. Provides basic information about issues such as the intersection and implications of international migration and race/ethnicity within the destination, the brain drain, the socioeconomic adaptation of immigrants, transnationalism, the economic and cultural impacts of international migration, and the trafficking and exploitation of women and children, among others. Formerly SOC 259 International Migration.
Prerequisite: SOCY 100.
SOCY 241 Work and OccupationsStudies the world of work from a sociological perspective. This course traces the historical development of work in industrial society and examines the modern American workplace. Topics include occupational stratification, the relationship of work to the
SOCY 242 Social Criticism in FilmSocial Criticism through Film examines social problems through the lens of historical and current documentary and fictional films and scholarly readings. Students will learn to critically evaluate the topics through use of sociological concepts. Topics include migrant labor, global warming, post 9/11 fears, AIDS, and the selection of other issues.
3 credits
General Education Requirements: Critical Reasoning
SOCY 261 Family and SocietyIntroduces students to the role of the family in the social structure. Examines the family in historical perspective, the institution of marriage, socialization, the importance of gender, and current issues in the modern family. Formerly SOC 261 Family and Society.
SOCY 311 Research Methods for Social ScientistsIntroduces the student to various research methods used in the social sciences. Topics include causal analysis survey, observational, and evaluating strategies; feminist methods; database management; and statistical data analysis. Formerly SOC 342 Research Methods.
3 credits
Prerequisites: SOCY 100 and MATH 110
SOCY 321 Inequality and SocietyExamines classical and contemporary theories of social stratification. Are we all created equal? Can we become equal? Particular emphasis is on the American class structure, its impact on social institutions, and the importance of gender and race as factors contributing to inequality in society. Formerly SOC 378 Inequality and Society.
3 credits
Prerequisites: SOCY 100
SOCY 323 Race and Racism in SocietyTraces the history of race relations, prejudice, and racism within the United States. Special emphasis will be given to the relationship of racism and the changing economic, political, demographic, and educational structure of society. Examines the roots of prejudice, its expression, and its impact on individual, families, communities, and societal institutions. Addresses the critical role of social science theory and research in increasing understanding of race relations and racism, and suggests intervention strategies for improved relations. Formerly SOC 350 Race and Racism.
3 credits
FLC Area V
Prerequisite: SOCY 100.
SOCY 331 Population StudiesExplores theories of population growth, trends in population growth, problems associated with uncontrolled population growth, problems that result from urbanization in the Third World and strategies for slowing population growth. Formerly SOC 359 Population Problems.
3 credits
SOCY 333 Women and Third World DevelopmentExamines insights that the feminist perspective brings to the issues of development, challenging the assumption that "integrating women into development" will solve problems caused by plans and policies that neglect women. This course is meant to be a guide to recent thinking and literature about women and development, and to the feminist critique of these. The course focuses on multinationals, rural development, and food production, including appropriate technology and income generation, health, migration, education, and communication. Formerly SOC 310 Women and Third World Development.
3 credits
Prerequisite: SOCY 100.
SOCY 335 Social MovementsThis course discusses the principal contemporary perspectives of social movements and collective behavior. Social, economic, and political inequality eventually lead to social movements as communities organize to demand changes to the societies to which they belong. By examining different social movements we will attempt to answer the questions: why do movements start? and how are they organized?, as well as who joins?, who stays?, and who drops out? Social Movements examined will include the Women’s Movements, the Civil Rights Movements, the Labor Movements, Gay Rights Movements, the Environmental Movements, and others.
3 credits
Prerequisites: SOCY 100
General Education Area: IV
SOCY 341 Women, Men, and Complex OrganizationsDevelops the student's understanding of sex and gender as organizational variables: the ways in which the structure and processes of organization reflect power relations that are interlaced with dominant forms of gender relations. Attention is given to a broad range of personal, social, and organizational influences that shape gender identity and behavior and the way in which gender behavior affects organizational behavior. Formerly SOC 368 Women, Men, and Complex Organizations.
3 credits
SOCY 353 Sociology of Health Care and ReligionProvides an overview of the relationship of religion and spirituality to health care in the US and internationally. The course moves from a macro-analysis of the relationship of religion and spirituality to health care systems, social movements, and institutions to a micro-look at the role religious and spiritual practices play in the lives of some patients, family members, and health care personnel.
3 credits
Prerequisites: SOCY 100
SOCY 361 The Black FamilyProvides a multidisciplinary approach to the study of Black families, including immigrant families from Africa and the Caribbean. The course covers four broad content areas: historical/theoretical approaches to the study of Black families; Black family patterns (including socioeconomic, demographic, and intergenerational patters); socialization within Black families; and advocacy for and gender relations within Black families. Formerly SOC 302 The Black Family.
3 credits
Prerequisite: SOCY 100.
SOCY 381 Understanding AIDS: Interdisciplinary SeminarProvides students with a multi-dimensional approach to understanding AIDS. The course examines AIDS as a social construct utilizing Writing Across the Curriculum and cooperative learning techniques to build an interdisciplinary knowledge of AIDS. Formerly INT 340 and SOC 340 Understanding AIDS: Interdisciplinary Seminar.
3 credits
Gen Ed V: Capstone Seminar
SOCY 421 Sociological TheoryInvestigates the origin and development of classical sociological theory and how it is used in contemporary sociology. Formerly SOC 486 Sociological Theory.
3 credits
Prerequisites: SOCY 100.
SOCY 431 Advanced Research Methods for Social ScientistsIntroduces students to research methods in the social sciences, with strong emphasis on quantitative data analysis. With hands-on, computer-based introduction to data analysis, the course covers such topics as the application of the scientific method to the study of human behavior, the relationship between logic, observation, and data analysis in the research enterprise, ethical issues in social science research, research design, conceptualization, measurement, modes of observation, and the logic of sampling.
3 credits
Prerequisite: MATH 110
SOCY 461 Advanced Seminar on the FamilyExplores in depth current issues causing conflict and change in the contemporary family. Alternate family forms, working families, reproductive technology, AIDS and other health issues, and family violence are among the issues examined. Students are expected to contribute to the class through their own research and analysis of selected issues. Designed for students who have a background in the sociology of the family. Formerly SOC 461 Advanced Seminar on the Family.
3 credits
FLC Seminar II
SOCY 491 InternshipProvides students with two days a week work experience in a variety of settings, research, human services, and criminal justice. Formerly SOC 595 Internship.
3 credits
This course cannot be taken Pass/No Pass
SOCY 498 Independent StudyProvides an opportunity for directed study as approved by the program chair. Formerly SOC 498 Independent Study.
3 credits
SOCY 499 Senior SeminarServes as a capstone course that explores contemporary sociological and criminological concepts through new research and theory in the discipline. Students will contribute to class discussion through written work and oral presentations. Formerly SOC 460 Senior Seminar.
3 credits
Prerequisites: Senior status in the major
SSC 207 Writing for the Social SciencesOffered in a seminar format, the course equips students with the skills necessary to write papers for social science courses. The course covers the process of writing for the social sciences and develops technical skills in researching and writing a variety of paper types. Specific topics include proposal writing, library research skills, internet research skills, critical thinking and writing, organization, outlines, drafts and documentation.
3 credits
General Education Requirements: Capstone Seminar