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Sociology

Major: Sociology
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Total Credit Hours: 182.0
Co-op Options: Three Co-op (Five years); One Co-op (Four years); No Co-op (Four years)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 45.1101
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 19-3041

About the Program

The sociology major at Drexel University has three components: theory, methods, substantive coursework and features specialized coursework relating to social justice issues.

Sociology is the systematic study of societies. Society is the sum total of individual and group interaction and relations, from small groups and families to global networks and complex social organizations. The discipline covers a wide variety of fields of inquiry. Sociologists examine structural relations—how human society is organized from small groups to large institutions—and is committed to developing a critical understanding of these relationships. Thus the sociology major stresses theory, research methods, quantitative and qualitative data analysis as applied to a wide variety of substantive areas including but not limited to social inequality, political power, gender, class, race, ethnicity, family, crime, technology and environmental change as well as a wide variety of social and political movements connected with social change. The stress on critical understanding means that sociology majors will strive not only to develop strong analytic abilities but an intellectual and ethical engagement reflected in sociologically informed thinking and action.The research and analytical skills developed in our program are sought after by a wide variety of professions.

Specialized social justice coursework is typically carried out in connection with community groups and organizations. It is a way the Sociology Program and Drexel University as a whole seek to become practically engaged with the wider community while promoting social justice.

For more information about the sociology major, visit the Department of Sociology web page.

Degree Requirements

General Requirements
CIVC 101	Introduction to Civic Engagement	1.0
ENGL 101	Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research	3.0
ENGL 102	Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing	3.0
ENGL 103	Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres	3.0
UNIV H101	The Drexel Experience	1.0
UNIV H201	Looking Forward: Academics and Careers	1.0
Four Humanities/Fine Arts Courses		12.0
Two Mathematics Courses		6.0
Two Science Courses		6.0
Two Consecutive Foreign Language Courses ^*		8.0
Social and Behavioral Sciences		12.0
SOC 101	Introduction to Sociology
Social and Behavioral Sciences Electives (9.0 credits)
International Studies		6.0
Two International Studies Courses
Studies in Diversity		6.0
Two Studies in Diversity Courses
Sociology Core Requirements
Required Major Capstone		4.0
SOC 450	Capstone in Sociology
Theory Sequence		8.0
SOC 355 [WI]	Classical Social Theory
SOC 356	Contemporary Social Theory
Methods Sequence		16.0
SOC 250	Research Methods I
SOC 350	Research Methods II
SOC 364	Computer-Assisted Data Analysis
SOC 365	Computer-Assisted Data Analysis II
Required Sociology Electives		48.0
Select at least 12 of the following: (At least four must be at the 300 or 400 level; and at least one must be at the 400-level.)
SOC 115	Social Problems
SOC 210	Race, Ethnicity and Social Inequality
SOC 215	Sociology of Work
SOC 220	Wealth and Power
SOC 221	Sociology of the Family
SOC 222	Sex and Society
SOC 230	Gender and Society
SOC 235	Sociology of Health and Illness
SOC 240	Urban Sociology
SOC 245	Sociology of the Future
SOC 268	Sociology of Sport
SOC 270	Theory of Applied and Community Sociology
SOC 271	Sociology of Aging
SOC 276	Global Climate Change
SOC 313	Global Health Matters
SOC 315	HIV/AIDS and Africa
SOC 320	Sociology of Deviance
SOC 330	Development and Underdevelopment in the Global South
SOC 340	Globalization
SOC 341	Environmental Movements in America
SOC 345	Sociology of the Environment
SOC 346	Environmental Justice
SOC 349	Sociology of Disasters
SOC 370	Practicum in Applied and Community Sociology
SOC 380	Special Topics in Sociology
SOC 410	Imagining Multiple Democracies
SOC 420	Love, Rage & Debt: The Debt Society
SOC 430	Politics of Life
SOC 444	Social Movements
SOC 480	Advanced Special Topics in Sociology
SOC 490	Sociology Research Seminar I: Research Design
SOC 491	Sociology Research Seminar II: Data Acquisition and Analysis
SOC 492	Sociology Research Seminar III: Practicum in Sociological Research
SOC 499	Independent Studies in Sociology
Free Electives		38.0
Total Credits		182.0

*	At least one foreign language course must be at the 200-level. In addition, the department recommends students take 2 additional foreign language courses as free electives.

Sample Plan of Study


Term 1		Credits
ENGL 101	Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research	3.0
SOC 101	Introduction to Sociology	3.0
UNIV H101	The Drexel Experience	1.0
Foreign Language Course		4.0
Mathematics course		3.0
	Term Credits	14.0
Term 2
CIVC 101	Introduction to Civic Engagement	1.0
ENGL 102	Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing	3.0
Social and Behavioral Science Elective		3.0
Foreign Language Course		4.0
Sociology Elective		4.0
	Term Credits	15.0
Term 3
ENGL 103	Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres	3.0
SOC 355 [WI]	Classical Social Theory	4.0
Diversity Studies Elective		3.0
Science Elective^*		3.0
Foreign Language Course		4.0
	Term Credits	17.0
Term 4
SOC 250	Research Methods I	4.0
Sociology Elective		4.0
Mathematics Course		3.0
Foreign Language Course		4.0
	Term Credits	15.0
Term 5
Sociology Required Electives		8.0
Science Elective^*		3.0
Free Elective		3.0
	Term Credits	14.0
Term 6
SOC 364	Computer-Assisted Data Analysis	4.0
Sociology Required Elective		4.0
Social and Behavioral Sciences Elective		3.0
Diversity Studies Elective		3.0
Free Elective		3.0
	Term Credits	17.0
Term 7
Sociology Required Elective		4.0
Sociology Required Elective (at 300 Lv)		4.0
Social and Behavioral Sciences Elective		3.0
Free Elective		3.0
	Term Credits	14.0
Term 8
UNIV H201	Looking Forward: Academics and Careers	1.0
Sociology Required Elective		4.0
Sociology Required Elective		4.0
Sociology Required Elective (at 300 Lv)		4.0
Free Elective		3.0
	Term Credits	16.0
Term 9
SOC 350	Research Methods II	4.0
Sociology Required Elective (at 300 Lv)		4.0
Humanities/Fine Arts Elective		3.0
International Studies Elective		3.0
Free Elective		3.0
	Term Credits	17.0
Term 10
SOC 365	Computer-Assisted Data Analysis II	4.0
Sociology Required Elective (at 300 Lv)		4.0
Humanities/Fine Arts Elective		3.0
Free Elective		4.0
	Term Credits	15.0
Term 11
SOC 356	Contemporary Social Theory	4.0
Sociology Required Elective (at 400 Lv)		4.0
Humanities/Fine Arts Elective		3.0
Free Elective		3.0
	Term Credits	14.0
Term 12
SOC 450	Capstone in Sociology	4.0
International Studies Elective		3.0
Humanities/Fine Arts Elective		3.0
Free Elective		4.0
	Term Credits	14.0
Total Credit: 182.0

*	See degree requirements.

Co-op/Career Opportunities

An undergraduate degree in sociology is excellent preparation for law school, medical school, or for graduate work in such fields as sociology, history, gerontology, or political science.

Outside of academics, sociologists work in a wide variety of settings. Some serve as statistical analysts for market research firms, health care agencies, and government. Others are involved in urban planning, survey research, public relations, agency management, trend analysis, or criminal justice. There are sociologists of religion working for national church organizations, and sociologists specializing in gerontology who are engaged in research or administration for agencies concerned with the aged.

Co-op Experiences

Some recent co-op positions held by sociology students include the following:

Human Resources Assistant, National Board of Medical Examiners
Giving Corps Intern, Cradles to Crayons
Organizing Internship, Food & Water Watch
Marketing Intern, Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young LLP
Small Business Outreach Co-op, The Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians

Visit the Drexel Steinbright Career Development Center page for more detailed information on co-op and post-graduate opportunities.

Minor in Sociology

The sociology minor is designed to give students specializing in other fields a broader knowledge of contemporary social issues and the ability to analyze them in a reasoned fashion. For students majoring in such fields as business and engineering, the minor helps develop skills in critical thinking that go beyond the acquisition of specialized, professional techniques. For students majoring in another area of the liberal arts, the minor offers the opportunity to place the issues raised in the major discipline within a larger social context.

Please note: No more than three courses that are required for a student’s major can count towards fulfilling requirements for the minor.

Required Courses ^*
SOC 355 [WI]	Classical Social Theory	4.0
or SOC 356	Contemporary Social Theory
Select five of the following: ^**		20.0
SOC 115	Social Problems
SOC 210	Race, Ethnicity and Social Inequality
SOC 215	Sociology of Work
SOC 220	Wealth and Power
SOC 221	Sociology of the Family
SOC 222	Sex and Society
SOC 230	Gender and Society
SOC 235	Sociology of Health and Illness
SOC 240	Urban Sociology
SOC 245	Sociology of the Future
SOC 250	Research Methods I
SOC 268	Sociology of Sport
SOC 271	Sociology of Aging
SOC 276	Global Climate Change
SOC 313	Global Health Matters
SOC 315	HIV/AIDS and Africa
SOC 320	Sociology of Deviance
SOC 330	Development and Underdevelopment in the Global South
SOC 340	Globalization
SOC 341	Environmental Movements in America
SOC 345	Sociology of the Environment
SOC 346	Environmental Justice
SOC 349	Sociology of Disasters
SOC 350	Research Methods II
SOC 370	Practicum in Applied and Community Sociology
SOC 410	Imagining Multiple Democracies
SOC 420	Love, Rage & Debt: The Debt Society
SOC 430	Politics of Life
SOC 444	Social Movements
SOC T380	Special Topics in SOC
SOC 450	Capstone in Sociology
SOC T480	Special Topics in Sociology
SOC I499	Independent Study in SOC
Total Credits		24.0

*	No more than three courses that are required for a student's major can count towards fulfilling requirements for the minor.
**	Students must take at least three elective courses at the 300 or 400 level.

Sociology Faculty

Susan E. Bell, PhD (Brandeis University) Department Head, Sociology. Professor. Science, technology and medicine; embodied health movements; the experience of illness; women's health; global health.

Robert J. Brulle, PhD (George Washington University). Professor. Environmental policy and politics, climate change, critical theory, marine risk, social movements, environmental sociology.

Jessica Cohen, PhD (Bowling Green State University). Associate Teaching Professor. Family demography; life course; contemporary courtship, marriage and childbearing decisions of the Millennial generation; Quantitative secondary data analysis and life course perspective.

Mary Ebeling, PhD (University of Surrey) Director, Women's and Gender Studies. Associate Professor. Science of science and technology, data brokers and big data, healthcare privacy, marketing communication, medicine, health, knowledge and power in late capital, the production of value and alternatives, anarchism and democratic potentials of artist-run spaces, collectives and feminist methodologies.

Claire Herbert, PhD (University of Michigan). Assistant Professor. Urban sociology; property, housing and homelessness; contemporary cities and urban decline; former prisoners' reentry to urban life; sociology of law, criminology; Qualitative and quantitative research.

Kelly Joyce, PhD (Boston College) Director, Master's Program in Science Technology & Society. Professor. Science, medicine and technology; aging and technology; qualitative social science methods; healthcare and medicine.

Emmanuel F. Koku, PhD (University of Toronto). Associate Professor. Social network analysis; qualitative/quantitative research; medical sociology; social epidemiology; social demography; sociology of development; communication and information technology.

Nada Matta, PhD (New York University). Assistant Professor. Sociology of the Middle East; social movements and revolutions; gender studies; political economy, and development.

Elizabeth McGhee Hassrick, PhD (University of Chicago). Assistant Research Professor. Social network interventions that promote positive outcomes for people with ASD, their families and communities

Kevin Moseby, PhD (University of California-San Diego). Assistant Teaching Professor. The social and cultural studies of biomedicine/health, particularly as those domains intersect with and through the institutions of race/sexuality/gender, social movements/community advocacy, HIV/AIDS, racial health disparities, science and technological studies, and Black Studies

Jason Orne, PhD (University of Wisonsin). Assistant Professor. Urban sociology; gentrification; space use; sexuality, gender, and race, especially within the LGBTQ populations; ethnography and qualitative research.

Mimi Sheller, PhD (New School for Social Research) Director, Center for Mobilities Research and Policy. Professor. Sustainable mobility and mobility justice: new cultures and infrastructures of travel, transport, mobile communication, and urbanism; Caribbean Studies: history, culture and political theory of the region, including intersections of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality and class; Caribbean mobilities: the relation between tourism, migration and air travel across the US-Caribbean borders; tracing the histories and forecasting the futures of cultures of mobility and wider mobility regimes, including theorizing transitions in complex systems.

Diane Sicotte, PhD (Arizona State University). Associate Professor. Sociology of environmental injustice: inequalities in the citing of environmental hazards; community-based research in neighborhoods dealing with industrial hazards; sociology of the environment; urban sociology; social inequalities.

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