Sociology
Program Overview
The mission of the Sociology Program is to engage students in the empirical study of society and social behavior, enabling students to understand their social world, to recognize the forces of change operative within it, and to critique conditions affecting social life.
The goals of the Sociology Program are:
- To facilitate student learning of sociological theory, sociological research methods, and substantive areas of the discipline appropriate to baccalaureate-level education;
- To enable students to develop skills needed for conducting, evaluating, analyzing, and presenting research;
- To promote in students scholarly integrity and compliance with professional codes of ethics; and
- To graduate women prepared for further study, for career-track employment, and for life in a changing society.
The Program also introduces students interested in the social work profession to that field of study through a four-course concentration in social work.
Our course offerings acquaint students with the major concepts, significant findings and diverse theoretical perspectives of sociology. They also facilitate students' understanding of the process of social research, their acquisition of research skills, and their use of appropriate computer resources, and they and prepare students for related graduate study and/or for varied careers utilizing their knowledge of sociology and their analytical skills. Service learning, field work, and internship opportunities are available.
Sociology works excellently as a double major, enabling students to place the understandings that they gain in another discipline within the larger context of society and to study the impact of this other discipline on, and within, society. Recently, sociology students have most often double majored with education, psychology, justice studies, communication, business, or a foreign language, though double majors with many other fields are possible.
Outcomes
The successful Sociology major will be able to:
- Understand the major concepts, methodologies, and theoretical perspectives of sociology;
- Analyze literature on topics of sociological importance;
- Conduct research consistent with scientific and ethical guidelines; and
- Create and present academic work (papers, posters, oral and technologically-enhanced presentations) that represents one's sociological knowledge and values.
In addition, students who participate in sociology and social work internships will employ their study of sociology and social work in a field work setting, preparing them for work and/or further study in those fields.
Graduates
A bachelor's degree in Sociology is a very a useful degree, as most employers realize the importance of hiring people who are skilled in understanding and working with diverse multicultural populations and who possess keen analytical reasoning, research, and communication skills. It complements the study of education, business (especially marketing and economics), justice studies, psychology, communication, history, political science, and American Studies especially well, as it overlaps with and has much in common with each of these disciplines, and provides a solid basis for future study in any of these fields. It also prepares students for the study and practice of law, public health and policy, and graduate study in a wide variety of disciplines.
Sociologists work in such areas as:
- Corporations and various businesses
- Governments and policy analysis
- Law
- Personnel and human resources
- Public relations
- Research and polling
- Sales
- Social activism (consumer, environmental, etc.)
- Social Services
- Teaching
Recent graduates of Saint Elizabeth University Sociology Program have also gone on to pursue advanced graduate education in the fields of sociology, social work, psychology, law, and business.