Sociology Major

Sociology majors learn how to conduct and evaluate research, examine and contextualize the social bases of behavior, and analyze social institutions such as the economy, the family, education, religion, media, and government.

A sociology major is useful to students planning a career in any area where an understanding of human behavior, knowledge of social principles, and research skills are important.

Sociology majors develop competency in the contextualization of social behavior, the formulation of social inquiry, the social research process and social analysis. Graduates are prepared to examine society from a critical, research-based stance and to see social issues through the lens of social structure and social processes.

Students majoring in sociology work with faculty in the department to select the appropriate sequence of courses in areas of special interest such as family, gender, and human relationships, or social control and social deviance.

In addition, for students with a strong interest in psychology or social work, there is an opportunity to develop a double major program of study.

Upper-division sociology majors work with faculty on their own research projects, learning research skills from start to finish, and in off-campus, supervised internships, earning credits while exploring career choices.

Students also complete a senior capstone project which serves as an opportunity to integrate and synthesize conceptual and research skills in a senior research project.

Graduates of Cabrini's sociology program are in graduate programs of sociology, statistics, social work, and criminal justice. They are teaching and working in administration in secondary and post-secondary education, employed in pharmaceutical research, social work, mental health, school counseling, and human resources.

Requirements for the Major in Sociology

(all courses 3 credits unless noted)

SOC 203 - Contemporary Social Problems
SOC 215 - Introduction to Sociology: Race, Class, and Gender
SOC 272- Statistics for the Social Sciences
SOC 341 - Research Methods I
SOC 342 - Research Methods II
SOC 350 - Social Theory
Sociology Electives at 300 level (15 credits)
SOC/CRM 420 - Senior Capstone
SOC/CRM 488 - Internship
Electives from any Department (38–52 credits)

Two of the five sociology electives may be taken outside the department with permission of the Sociology Department Chair.

Math 118‐ Introduction to Statistics must be completed as a prerequisite to SOC 341 and SOC 342. Students are encouraged to take it as part of the quantitative literacy requirement of the college.

Total Credits for Major: 39

Special Requirements

Students planning a major in sociology must submit an application to the department chair and receive department approval.
Students planning double majors must consult with an advisor in the sociology department for course selection.
All majors must maintain a 2.33 cumulative average in their major courses.

Learning Outcomes
Sociology majors will:

demonstrate ability to place events and behaviors in cultural and historical contexts, demonstrating how socio-cultural contexts influence thoughts, norm creation, and action
design and conduct a scientifically grounded research study that demonstrates mastery of data analysis and the research process
demonstrate ability to interpret and critically assess sociological theories and concepts relevant to a chosen sociological topic, using professional conventions of the discipline
implement sociological knowledge, skills, and values in an applied work setting in which classroom-based learning informs the student’s ability to understand the organization and his or her role as a professional in it
integrate contextual, research, and theoretical skills in illustrating the sociological perspective of a given social issue or problem

Sociology Honors Program
Students who meet the following sociology department requirements will graduate with honors in the major:

active membership in Alpha Kappa Delta Honor Society
a minimum overall GPA of 3.2
a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 in all sociology courses taken at Cabrini
successful completion of SOC/PSY 342, and presentation of an original research paper in a public forum