Sociology Social Inequality and

Sociology

Catherine Simpson Bueker, Ph.D. Chair

The Sociology Department prepares students for life in a global society by offering two majors: Sociology and Criminology and Criminal Justice (CCJ). The Sociology major offers concentrations in human services or social inequality and social justice as well as a minor in CCJ. Whether students enter the world of work immediately after graduation or go on to graduate school, professional school, or do a year of service in a non-profit in the U.S. or abroad, the ability to think sociologically and criminologically will enhance their academic and professional lives.

The department offers a wide array of courses that prepare students to critically analyze the key institutions that comprise society and the dominant social and demographic issues that confront the world in the 21st century.

The department’s courses stress the development of critical thinking skills, quantitative and qualitative research skills, and oral and written analysis and argument. The internship allows students to meld theory with practice outside the classroom in a range of social research, social service, health care, social justice, criminal justice and educational organizations in the Boston area. The Seminar courses are the capstones to the majors’ undergraduate career.

Graduates of the sociology department have distinguished themselves nationally and internationally as lawyers, social workers, college and university professors and administrators, teachers, human resource directors, probation officers, local and federal law enforcement officers, health care and social service administrators, journalists, government officials, leaders of religious and non-profit organizations, corporate managers, market researchers and social researchers. They also have made very important contributions to the work of creating a more just global society through their involvement in social movements for peace, social justice, civil rights, women’s rights, criminal justice reform, democracy and human rights throughout the world.

SOCIOLOGY MAJOR

LEARNING GOALS AND OUTCOMES

At the completion of the Sociology major, the student will: • Demonstrate an appreciation of the sociological perspective and the sociological imagination in our understanding of social reality. • Demonstrate an understanding of sociological theories, paradigms and concepts. • Demonstrate an understanding of sociological research methods. • Acquire intellectual and professional skills. • Apply sociological concepts to micro and macro issues of inequality, diversity and globalization. • Develop an appreciation of social justice concerns.

THE CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE

The culminating experience for all Sociology majors is one of the two seminar courses offered in the department (SOC4998 or SOC4999). Students may choose to take SOC4998: Community Action Research in the fall of their senior year, or SOC4999: Seminar in Sociology in the spring semester. In