Sociology (B.A.)

Anthropology provides an understanding of culture, the various adaptive styles human beings have devised, and the ways in which they have become diversified. It is designed to prepare students for careers involving interaction and cooperation with people from diverse cultural, religious, and ethnic groups. Some examples are government; international development; foundation administration; business enterprises, especially those with overseas interests; non-profit organizations, especially non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) with global interests; human ecology; and environmental consulting. In addition, this area of focus prepares students for graduate study in anthropology, sociology, and international relations.

This subfield is for students interested in professional and business careers. The focus is on various models of work systems in American enterprise, social regulation of business, the character of the global economy, and markets as systems of social exchange relating to families, work organizations, and the state. Fieldwork is encouraged for students through our field experience course.

A focus on deviance and social control implies taking a careful look at how forms of social and personal behavior which violate mainstream norms arise, and at how mainstreamers and mainstream social institutions regard and respond to such behavior. We will be looking at behavioral styles called “crime”, “delinquency”, “immorality”, “non-conformity”, and so forth. How do such modes of behavior arise and how do they become labeled as deviant styles by the society and its mainstream enforcers? How do deviants assess their own behavior and how is it viewed by others? How does it affect their relationships with others? What do “insider- outsider” relations consist of? What does society as a whole define as order? How do various social institutions and groupings (the legal and medical establishments, and the upholders of public morality) respond to what they view to be disorder? How does society punish transgressors and enforce rules and impose sanctions? This subfield is particularly suitable for those interested in the practice of law and law enforcement, politics, public administration, mental health, and social work.

Students who focus on gender studies closely examine the way in which gender systems are embedded into social institutions, culture, and everyday interactions. Courses teach students to develop methods of inquiry regarding gender that they can continue to apply in multiple realms—ranging from family and intimate relationships to public policies related to crime and justice. As such, departmental areas of sociology, anthropology, and criminology can incorporate a productive focus on gender.

This subfield is appropriate for students interested in careers in human services, such as non-profit agency administration, social work, counseling, community organizing, health care policy analysis, and health care administration. Additionally, this area of focus offers preparation for graduate study in social work, health care administration, law, sociology, psychology, education, and human resource management. The Human Services subfield provides an in-depth examination of the impact of social forces on human behavior.

A focus on the study of social inequalities and the struggle to achieve a more equitable society and world. The area of focus examines class, race, ethnic, national, and gender divisions and their connections to major social and political problems. It also considers possible solutions and related strategies of social change. This subfield is suitable for students interested in political activism, government service, social work, teaching, law, and graduate work in the social sciences.