2023-2024 Academic Catalog 
    
    Dec 04, 2024  
2023-2024 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Sociology Minor


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Sociology Overview


The American sociologist C. Wright Mills described the perspective of sociology as the “sociological imagination.” This point of view enables us to see the ways in which individual lives are shaped by larger social forces. Mills argues that we cannot fully understand ourselves without understanding the society in which we live.


At Clark, the study of social inequality is central to the sociology major.  The sociological lens acknowledges that race, gender, sexuality, and social class - as well as social dimensions such as time period and geographic location - shape our destinies as much as our own personal efforts.  As a sociology major, you will study broad social processes - global dynamics, stratification, immigration, social movements, and more - and explore diverse institutions, from the law and medicine to family and religion.  Through the study of sociology, students will acquire the conceptual and analytical tools to enhance both their understanding of their own lives and the world in which they live.


One of the questions most frequently asked by students is “What can I do with a degree in sociology?” Because of the emphasis placed on critical thinking, analytical and communicative skills, and methodological training, students majoring in sociology are well equipped to enter a variety of occupations as well as professional and graduate schools. Sociology majors have gone to law school, medical school, social work programs, and business school. Others have become marketing analysts, city planners, government policy analysts, university administrators, and political consultants.

For more information, please visit the Sociology Department’s website.

Minor Requirements


The sociology minor consists of six courses, which must include three of the following:

Students are encouraged to begin with Introduction to Sociology.  Introduction to Sociology (SOC 010) is a prerequisite for Classical Sociological Theory (SOC 201), and Classical Sociological Theory is a prerequisite for Class, Status and Power (SOC 208). 

 

Students may substitute  PSCI 107 - Research Methods  or  GEOG 141 - Research Design and Methods in Geography  or Both PSYC 105 Statistics  and PSYC 109 Qualitative Methods in Psychology  for SOC 202 - Social Research Process  

 

All minors must also complete three additional sociology courses, at least two of which must be at the 200 level.  One internship credit may count toward the minor.  Four of the six courses required for the minor must be taken on campus.  SPS courses are not counted for sociology credit. To receive credit toward the sociology minor, students must earn a course grade of C- or better.  If students take courses with a Pass/Fail option, then a maximum of one course that receives a Pass grade will count towards the minor.

Attendance Policy


The Sociology Department requires students to miss no more than one-third of the semester to successfully complete the course.  This is in addition to an individual faculty members’ attendance expectations.

Sociology Faculty


Program Faculty


Parminder Bhachu, Ph.D.
Jack Delehanty, Ph.D.
Joseph A. Guzman, Ph.D.
Deborah Merrill, Ph.D.
Rosalie Torres Stone, Ph.D.
Shelly Tenenbaum, Ph.D.

Visiting Faculty


Matthew A. Gregory

Emeriti Faculty


Patricia Ewick

Bruce London, Ph.D.

Robert J.S. Ross, Ph.D.

Sociology Courses


Courses offered within the last 2 Academic Years

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