纽约州立大学新帕尔兹分校

Sociology is the study of human social life. We are all greatly influenced by the people around us and by the society in which we live. Thus, if we want to understand why people behave and think as they do, we need to systematically examine the social conditions under which people are living. This is what will enable us to understand the origins of social problems such as poverty, racism, violence and gender inequality. A sociological perspective enables us to understand these issues and allows us to develop solutions for these social ills. Through the sociology major students will learn about the methods of sociological research and will gain an understanding of the theoretical perspectives utilized in the discipline. A sociology degree prepares students for a number of specific careers, while providing a perspective that is valuable throughout life.

The Department of Sociology offers three program options. Students who want exposure to a wide array of sociological topics can major in the basic Sociology program, which includes a set of core course requirements as well as a broad array of elective topics of the student’s choosing. Students may also elect to concentrate in a particular area of sociological study by taking an additional set of prescribed courses in one of two concentrations: Human Services, which will prepare students to work directly with people in need of support; or Criminology, which is designed for students with a focused interest on the issue of crime.

Required courses......................................20 credits
SOC100 Introduction to Sociology (3)
SOC220 Social Inequality (3)
SOC303 Sociological Theory (3)
SOC306 Research Methods (4)
SOC307 Social Statistics (4)
SOC490 Senior Seminar in Sociology (3)
* Before enrolling in SOC490 Senior Seminar, students must complete 21 credits of Sociology, including the required Sociological Theory (SOC303) and Research Methods (SOC306) courses.

Electives.................................................18 credits