BA Sociology

SUNY Polytechnic Institute

SUNY Polytechnic Institute, New York’s premier public polytechnic, provides an innovative and affordable higher education for students interested in science, engineering, technology, business, healthcare, and other liberal arts offerings for a well-rounded approach to experiential learning. Our commitment to a hands-on education situates students with both the academic structure customary of undergraduate study and unique opportunities for training and cutting-edge research, ultimately providing learners an unmatched education targeted for success in our fast-changing world. SUNY Poly students enjoy public school tuition with benefits that many small, private institutions boast, including small class sizes, individualized learning experiences, and a tight-knit community.

The Program

Sociologists explore the human behavior that shapes our lives, working to better understand how these dynamics create social inequalities. People interested in sociology look at the world, its societies and cultures; their work provides new perspectives into why we live the way we do.

Students in SUNY Poly’s Sociology program work collaboratively with professors on research and writing projects, or try out career paths through an internship or practicum. In these ways, students use intellectual ideas in a practical setting and from meaningful connections between classroom learning and the real world, making our graduates more attractive in the job market. The sociology program honors academic excellence through Alpha Kappa Delta, a local chapter of the national sociology honor society.

Many sociology majors are also criminal justice minors.

SUNY Poly offers two specializations in applied sociology: criminology and social services.

Criminology

Criminology explores a large range of sociological theory and research in regard to lawmaking, lawbreaking, law enforcement and the consequences of law enforcement. Specialization in criminology prepares students to confront the social policy issues associated with crime control, as well as giving them a strong foundation and background for careers in criminal justice. Many sociological majors with this interest combine the sociology major with a minor in criminal justice.

Social Services

Social services deals with the social causes and sources of both personal and societal problems, and dynamics of the policies and programs set up to deal with them. Specialization in social services gives students sociological and anthropological perspectives that provide both a theoretical and practical understanding of the realities of work in social service careers.

Career Opportunities

Students who major in sociology often find themselves in careers such as social services, dealing with disabilities, chemical dependency and the elderly; education fields such as school counseling, tutoring or mentoring; and in corrections and criminal justice settings such as law enforcement, homeland security and criminological research. Skills and background in sociology can be applied to a wide range of occupations, including medical research, journalism, administration and marketing. Many sociology students go on for graduate education in sociology, social work, social policy, criminology or criminal justice law.

What you’ll study:

Introduction to Sociology

Social Problems

Sociology of Gender

Sociology of Race and Ethnicity

Class Inequality: Poverty & Wealth

History of Sociological Thought

Methods of Inquiry

Sociology of the Family

Sociology of Deviance

Chemical Dependencies and Human Behavior

Sociology of Crime

Sociology of Work

Social Gerontology

Internship

Practicum in Sociology

Social Services

Power and Violence in the Family

Sociology of Community

Social Welfare Policy

The Individual and Society

Criminology

Sociology of Corrections

White Collar Crime

Sociology of Law and the Courts

Comparative Criminal Justice Systems

Access the SUNY Poly catalog at https://webapp.sunypoly.edu/ undergrad-catalog/ for specific courses and program requirements.

“ SUNY Poly...Encouraging academic and intellectual achievements in a challenging, culturally diverse and supportive educational environment.”

Our Campus

Located in Utica, NY, on hundreds of wooded and landscaped acres, SUNY Poly’s campus is a beautiful living and learning environment. Students live in our modern, spacious residential complexes, including the new Hilltop Hall, SUNY’s first zero-net carbon residence hall, and enjoy an expanding array of student-focused facilities that include our state-of-the-art Center for Global Advanced Manufacturing, Student Center, and Wildcat Field House. Life on campus is enriched by a wide variety of events and activities, including the Wildcats’ championship-winning intercollegiate athletics program, our Wildcat Esports team, and a weekly agenda of intramurals, concerts, comedians, and more. Students can join one of the dozens of clubs and organizations or start one with a group of friends who share an interest.