Sociology

Degree Program: The Bachelor of Arts in Sociology

The program in Sociology acquaints students the with major concepts, significant findings, theoretical perspectives, and research methods of the discipline. If you are interested in people and groups and how they operate, Sociology may be for you. It also works very well as a double major, since all fields of study take place in society! Sociology is a very in-demand major as it prepares you in all aspects of life, for graduate school, and for any number of careers: teaching, law, marketing, journalism, sales, management, counseling, social work, and many positions in hospitals and in the criminal justice system. 

Internship opportunities and a concentration in social work are available. The Bachelor of Arts degree is awarded to majors; a minor in Sociology is available. For further information contact the department at sociology@cse.edu or the Program Chairperson, Dr. Mary Chayko.

Sociology Department Faculty 

Dr. Mary Chayko – Program Chairperson      X4120                   mchayko@cse.edu

Dr. Anne Langan – Director, Gerontology Program    X4155        alangan@cse.edu

Sociology Department Mission Statement

As an academic unit of the College of Saint Elizabeth, the Sociology Department participates in, and contributes to, the College’s mission to be a community of learning in the Catholic liberal arts tradition for students of diverse ages, backgrounds, and cultures.  The Sociology Department’s singular mission is to engage in the empirical study of society and social behavior with a view to enabling students to understand their social world, to recognize the forces of change operative within it, and to critique conditions affecting social life. 

Sociology Department Program Goals

The program goals of the Sociology Department flow from, and are consistent with, its mission.  Thus, the Sociology Department program goals are:

• to facilitate student learning of sociological theory, sociological research methods, and substantive areas of the discipline appropriate to baccalaureate-level education;
• to enable students to develop skills needed for conducting, evaluating, analyzing, and presenting research;
• to promote in students scholarly integrity and compliance with professional codes of ethics;  and
• to graduate women prepared for further study, for career-track employment, and for life in a changing society.

Outcomes for the Sociology Major 

In addition to contributing to the realization of the stated outcomes for all graduates of the College of Saint Elizabeth, the sociology major will:

(1)  understand the major concepts, methodologies, and theoretical perspectives of sociology;

(2)  analyze literature on topics of sociological importance;

(3)  conduct research consistent with scientific and ethical guidelines; and

(4)  create and present academic work (papers, posters, oral and technologically-enhanced presentations) that represents one’s sociological knowledge and values.

In addition, students who participate in sociology and social work internships will:

(5)   employ their study of sociology and social work in a field work setting, preparing them for work and/or further study in those fields.

Requirements for the Sociology Major

34 credits are required for the Sociology major. A student may elect to complete a four-course concentration in Social Work, in which case 42 credits will be taken.

Core Requirements:

Course No.   Title                                                   Credits

SOC 101       Introduction to Sociology                          4

SOC 301       Social Research Methods                           4

SOC 331       Race, Class and Gender                             4

SOC 365       Data Analysis                                            4

SOC 371       Sociological Theory                                    4

SOC 431       Senior Seminar in Sociology                        2

                                                                   Total:     22

Sociology Requirements in Addition to Core:

SOC ----        200-level Elective                                       4

SOC ——       200-level Elective                                        4

SOC ——       300-level Elective (or higher)                       4

                                                                   Total:      12 

Total for Sociology Major -- 34 credits

Optional Social Work Concentration for Sociology Majors (12 credits)

SOC 207       Introduction to Social Welfare and Social Work         4 (can double-count for the Sociology major as a 200-level elective) 

SOC 305       Social Welfare Programs, Policies, and Issues           2

SOC 307       Methods in Social Work                                           4 

SOC 495       Internship in Sociology                                           2 

Total for Social Work Concentration – 12 credits

Total for Sociology Major with Social Work Concentration – 42 credits

IMPORTANT NOTE: Courses must be passed with a “C” or better to count toward the major and to serve as a prerequisite for other courses within the major.

Sequencing of Required Research Courses

It is critical that the three research-oriented sociology courses be taken in sequence. This sequence is as follows:

SOC 301  Social Research Methods – Fall of junior year

SOC 365  Data Analysis – Spring of junior year

SOC 431  Senior Seminar in Sociology – Fall of senior year

In addition, the two remaining upper-level requirements should be taken as follows:

SOC 371  Sociological Theory – Fall of junior year

SOC 331  Race, Class and Gender – Spring of sophomore, junior or senior year (is only offered in the spring of odd-numbered years)

The Minor in Sociology 

Requirements for Sociology Minor 

SOC 101       Introduction to Sociology                              4

SOC 301       Social Research Methods                               4

SOC 331       Race, Class and Gender                                 4

SOC ----        Elective (200, 300, or 400 level)*                   4

SOC ----        Elective (300-level or higher)*                        2-4

                                                                   Total:       18

*Excluding all courses in Social Work, SOC 431 (Senior Seminar), all Independent Study, and Internship in Sociology

Sociology Department Capstone Experience

The Sociology Department Capstone Experience consists of:

1. A comprehensive review of the literature completed in SOC 301 which will result in the production of a professional paper, a poster (completed in SOC 365), and presentation to the CSE community (completed in SOC 431). This project will be submitted to at least one academic conference, with attendance at the conference expected if accepted (pending sufficient funding), and a re-working of the project abstract with a faculty member if denied, with the goal a successful submission to another conference. These submissions will be part of SOC 301 and SOC 365.

2. The development of an empirical research project as part of SOC 431.

Students must receive a passing grade in both parts to successfully complete the capstone experience. Students who receive a score of Honors in both may be eligible for departmental honors.

Departmental Honors

Students must have a cumulative GPA of 3.7 in Sociology courses to be eligible for departmental honors at graduation.  Student must also pass with honor all three portions of the Capstone Experience.

Alpha Kappa Delta (International Honor Society of Sociology)

The College of Saint Elizabeth is host to the Tau chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta, the International Honor Society of Sociology. In June of each year, eligible juniors will be identified and invited to apply for membership. Eligible students must have a 3.0 cumulative average overall in sociology courses and have taken at least four sociology courses. AKD members will be inducted into the honor society in the fall, choose officers and may plan events at that time, and may purchase and wear teal honor cords at graduation.  The faculty advisor for AKD is Dr. Mary Chayko.