Sociology (B.A.)

Faculty

Dr. E. Wairimu Mwangi, Assistant Professor of Sociology (program chair)
Sr. Mary Johnson, SND, PhD, Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Religious Studies
Dr. Hans Momplaisir, Assistant Professor of Sociology
Dr. Roxana Moayedi, Professor of Sociology 

Description

Sociology is the scientific study of human behavior in society.  The primary goal of the program is to enable students to develop a new way of thinking – the ability to see and understand the connection between larger social forces and individual private experiences, what C. Wright Mills referred to as the sociological imagination.  Students are also challenged to grasp the disciplines theoretical foundations that provide a framework for thinking about and explaining how society operates and or how society shapes human interactions and human interactions in turn shape society.

Sociology provides insight into how various social categories, such as social class, race, ethnicity, gender and age influences individual experiences and the operation of social institutions, including but not limited to, education, health, politics, law and order, and the economy. Sociology students, through research methods and design, are exposed to analytical skills that allow for the exploration of how various social categories influence individual and institutional behavior and how individual experiences in turn shape the existing societal social structure. Issues of interest include poverty, racial and gender inequalities, crime, health, education and economic inequalities and urban communities. At the global level, sociologists are interested in the study of migration, population growth, globalization and economic development.

Majoring in sociology prepares students for graduate school and a wide variety of careers, such as social psychology, criminology or criminal justice, social research, social work, public administration, organizational research, business, education, market research, health services 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.

Medical Sociology Minor (Concentration for Sociology Majors)

The Medical Sociology minor is based on the growing recognition that health cannot be understood simply as a biological phenomenon, but also a social phenomenon, which means considering how social, cultural, political and economic factors influence individual and group health outcomes. Medical Sociology challenges students to go beyond the biomedical model and take into account that social relations, such as class, gender, race, and other social categories shape health related behaviors and outcomes.  Students pursuing this minor are also challenged to explore the intricate relationship between social structure and health, including how the organization of various social institutions may differentially influence individual and group health outcomes.  This understanding is critical for the creation of an equitable healthcare system. Students pursuing the Medical Sociology minor should be well placed to pursue an interrogation of the social determinants of health and the broader structural factors that shape organizational structures used by health care providers; knowledge that is pertinent for the improvement of health care delivery and the development of community outreach programs.

Major Requirements

Required Courses (33 credits)

ALL of the following courses:

SOCY 100 Introduction to Sociology
SSC 350 Interdisciplinary Research Methods
SOCY 421 Sociological Theory
SOCY 499 Senior Seminar

ONE course in statistics:

MATH 110 Introduction to Statistics
SSC 255 Statistics for the Social Sciences

SIX additional courses in sociology or other approved courses

Recommended Courses

SSC 207 Writing for the Social Sciences
SOCY 491 Internship

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 Society

FOUR additional courses from the following:

SOCY 231 International Migration
SOCY 320 Sociology of Health and Illness (Medical Sociology)
SOCY 323 Race and Racism in Society
SOCY 333 Women and the Developing World
SOCY 335 Social Movements
SOCY 361 The Black Family

Minor Requirements

Required Courses (18 credits)

ONE introductory course:

SOCY 100 Introduction to Sociology

ONE course chosen from between:

SOCY 321 Inequality and Society
SOCY 421 Sociological Theory

FOUR additional courses in sociology or other approved courses, excluding field work. Students majoring in Human Relations may not declare a minor in sociology.

Medical Sociology Minor Requirements

Required Courses (15 credits)

SSC 255
SOCY 320 Sociology of Health and Illness (Medical Sociology)
SOCY 321 Inequality and Society
SOCY 350
SOCY 431

TWO Additional Courses in Sociology (6 credits)
SOCY 105 Social Problems
SOCY 131 Global Social Issues
SOCY 202 Sociology of Religion
SOCY 231 International Migration
SOCY 261 Family and Society
SOCY 323 Race and Racism in Society
SOCY 327 Sociology of Mental Illness
SOCY 333 Women and the Developing World
SOCY 353 Sociology of Health Care and Religion
SOCY 38

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 Statistics
SOCY 100 Introduction to Sociology
SOCY 103 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology
SOCY 105 Social Problems
SOCY 131 Global Social Issues
SOCY 201 Sociology of Education
SOCY 202 Sociology of Religion
SOCY 203 Individual and Society: Understanding Human Interaction
SOCY 221 Community Development and Urban Problems
SOCY 231 International Migration
SOCY 241 Work and Occupations
SOCY 242 Social Criticism in Film
SOCY 261 Family and Society
SOCY 311 Research Methods for Social Scientists
SOCY 320 Sociology of Health and Illness (Medical Sociology)
SOCY 321 Inequality and Society
SOCY 323 Race and Racism in Society
SOCY 327 Sociology of Mental Illness
SOCY 331 Population Studies
SOCY 333 Women and the Developing World
SOCY 335 Social Movements
SOCY 341 Women, Men, and Complex Organizations
SOCY 353 Sociology of Health Care and Religion
SOCY 361 The Black Family
SOCY 381 Understanding AIDS: Interdisciplinary Seminar
SOCY 421 Sociological Theory
SOCY 431 Advanced Research Methods for Social Scientists
SOCY 461 Advanced Seminar on the Family
SOCY 491 Internship
SOCY 498 Independent Study
SOCY 499 Senior Seminar
SSC 207 Writing for the Social Sciences
SSC 350 Interdisciplinary Research Methods
SSC 255 Statistics for the Social Sciences