Sociology

College of Behavioral and Social Sciences
Dean: Joel Kassiola

Department of Sociology
HSS 370
415-338-1466
Chair: Rachel Kahn-Hut

Faculty

Professors--Cavan, Kahn-Hut, Seashore

Associate Professors--Barbosa, Hossfeld

Assistant Professor--Dumont

Lecturer--Nussbaum

Programs

B.A. in Sociology

Minor in Sociology

Program Scope

Sociology is the study of the sources and consequences of social action. Courses cover a broad range of topics including: the study of individuals as social actors; the analysis of social processes such as social psychology and deviance and conformity; the study of institutions such as family, health care, and education; and the investigation of the social organization of entire societies in the global context. By addressing what we know, how we know (method of social research), and how we explain or interpret social data (theory and analysis), sociology provides information which students can use to better understand the complexity and multiplicity of social worlds, their own society and their place in it. The department offers a variety of courses of interest to non-majors as well as to majors.

Career Outlook

Upon completion of a B.A. in Sociology, students can continue their education with graduate work in either sociology or in some related field such as social work, public administration, or law. For students who choose to pursue employment with their bachelor's degree, sociology provides an excellent liberal arts foundation for a range of career paths that utilize their sociological insights as well as the conceptual and methodological skills they have acquired. Training in sociology can open a variety of doors in the human services and in business. Those who enter human services may work with youths at risk, the elderly, or people experiencing problems related to poverty, substance abuse, or the justice system. Some find employment in agencies that work for social change including various organizations concerned with human rights issues or the environment. Sociology majors who enter the business world work in sales, marketing, customer relations, or human resources.

In addition, the sociology major has a competitive advantage in today's information society. The solid base received in research design, data analysis, statistics, and sociological concepts enables them to compete for support positions in research, social planning, policy analysis, program evaluation, and other social science endeavors.

BACHELOR OF ARTS IN SOCIOLOGY

Courses for this discipline are listed in alphabetical sequence (consult the Index for page reference).

Units

SOC 300	Sociological Analysis		4
SOC 370	Theories of Society		4
SOC 392	Sociological Research--Methods 
and Techniques I 4
SOC 393	Sociological Research--Methods 
and Techniques II or
SOC 394	Advanced Research Methods 
(SOC 392 and approved statistics
course are prerequisites) 4
SOC 500	Senior Seminar or
SOC 501	Internship: Applied Sociology		3
Sociology Electives(to include one course from 
each of the following areas) 23-24

Area 1: Interpersonal Perspectives

SOC 340	Social Psychology (4)
SOC 362	The Social Construction of 
Deviance and Conformity (4)

Area 2: Institutional Perspectives

SOC 457	Sociology of Law (4)
SOC 464	Families and Society (4)
SOC 466	Society and Education (4)
SOC 469	Gender and Society (4)
SOC 472	Social Inequality: Poverty, Wealth, 
and Privilege (4)
SOC 476	Medical Sociology (4)
SOC 477	Environmental Sociology (4)

Area 3: Global Perspectives

SOC 461	Ethnic Relations: International 
Comparisons (4)
SOC 471	Societal Change and 
Development (4)
SOC 480	The City in a Global Society (4)
SOC 483	Global Sociology (4)
SOC 484	Population Problems (4)
The remaining units may include additional 
courses from these areas or any other
courses offered with a sociology prefix,

including SOC 105.
Total for major		42-43
Students who take SOC 394 but not SOC 393 must also complete a statistics course outside the department. Statistics courses other than SOC 393 must be approved in writing by the department and do not count toward the total number of units required in the sociology major.

MINOR IN SOCIOLOGY

Units

SOC 300	Sociological Analysis		4
SOC 370	Theories of Society		4
SOC 392	Sociological Research--Methods 
and Techniques I 4
Sociology Electives(to include at least one 
course from two of the three following
areas): 11-12

Area 1: Interpersonal Perspectives

SOC 340	Social Psychology (4)
SOC 362	The Social Construction of 
Deviance and Conformity (4)

Area 2: Institutional Perspectives

SOC 457	Sociology of Law (4)
SOC 464	Families and Society (4)
SOC 466	Society and Education (4)
SOC 469	Gender and Society (4)
SOC 472	Social Inequality: Poverty, Wealth, 
and Privilege (4)
SOC 476	Medical Sociology (4)
SOC 477	Environmental Sociology (4)

Area 3: Global Perspectives

SOC 461	Ethnic Relations: International 
Comparisons (4)
SOC 471	Societal Change and 
Development (4)
SOC 480	The City in a Global Society (4)
SOC 483	Global Sociology (4)
SOC 484	Population Problems (4)
The remaining units may include additional 
courses from these areas or any other

course offered with a sociology prefix.
Total		21