Sociology Minor

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 how individual lives are shaped by larger social forces. Mills argued that we cannot fully understand ourselves without understanding the society in which we live. At Clark, the sociology faculty is committed to developing such an analytic capacity in students.

Through the examination of social processes, such as social stratification, social movements and social change, and through an investigation of diverse social institutions, such as the law, family, medicine and religion, students 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, sociology students majoring in sociology are well equipped to enter a variety of occupations, as well as professional careers and graduate schools. Our students have gone to law school, medical school, social-work and business school. Others have become marketing analysts, government policy analysts, university administrators and political consultants.

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

Minor Requirements

Requirements for a sociology minor consist of six courses with the following provisions:

Three of our four core courses:

• SOC 010 - Introduction to Sociology   or (SOC 012)
• SOC 012 - Introduction to Sociology in a Global World
• SOC 107 - Classical Sociological Theory
• SOC 200 - Class, Status and Power
• SOC 202 - Social Research Process

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Sociology Faculty

Parminder Bhachu, Ph.D.
Patricia Ewick, Ph.D.
Bruce London, Ph.D.
Deborah Merrill, Ph.D.
Debra Osnowitz, Ph.D.
Robert Ross, Ph.D.
Shelly Tenenbaum, Ph.D.

Sociology Courses

• SOC 010 - Introduction to Sociology
• SOC 012 - Introduction to Sociology in a Global World
• SOC 085 - The Corporate Planet
• SOC 090 - No Sweat! The New Sweatshops in Global Context
• SOC 107 - Classical Sociological Theory
• SOC 110 - Sociology of Gender
• SOC 125 - Cities and Suburbs (formerly Soc247)
• SOC 130 - Genocide
• SOC 137 - Race and Ethnicity Across Borders: Comparing the Local and Global
• SOC 160 - Global Cultures and Identities
• SOC 167 - Problems of Globalization
• SOC 175 - The Sociology of Families
• SOC 180 - Aging and Society
• SOC 200 - Class, Status and Power
• SOC 202 - Social Research Process
• SOC 203 - American Jewish Life
• SOC 204 - Observing Culture and Society (formerly SOC 138)
• SOC 205 - Sociology of the Environment
• SOC 210 - Claims Making, Media, Construction
• SOC 215 - Sociology of Education
• SOC 225 - Religion and Society
• SOC 232 - Population, Environment and Development
• SOC 241 - Sociology of Medicine
• SOC 252 - Race and American Society
• SOC 253 - Corporations and Inequality
• SOC 255 - The Creation of Nationalism, Nationalist Cultures and Symbols
• SOC 258 - Women in Jewish Culture
• SOC 260 - Roots and Routes: Immigrants, Diasporas and Travel
• SOC 262 - Law and Society
• SOC 263 - Deviance
• SOC 265 - Social Movements: Quest for Justice
• SOC 267 - Poverty and Social Policy in Comparative Perspective
• SOC 272 - Punishment, Politics and Culture
• SOC 276 - Environment and Inequality
• SOC 280 - Working in a Digital Age
• SOC 294 - Global Ethnographies: Ethnographers in the Making for the 21st Century
• SOC 297 - Senior Honors
• SOC 298 - Internship
• SOC 299 - Directed Study