Department of Sociology
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| Sociology Undergraduate Program | |||||
Also, check out our Sociology Undergraduate Student Club.
Sociology (What is Sociology, Majoring in Sociology, Sample Four Year Curriculum, Minoring in Sociology, Honors in Sociology, Internships in Sociology)
What is sociology? Sociology is the science of society. It explains how human groups, institutions, and social movements shape our lives. Sociology develops students' insights into theoretical and practical aspects of life. Sociology students study such topics as social thought, sex and gender roles, marriage and the family, social problems, criminology, large scale business and government organizations, international development, and social change.
Training in sociology is basic both to creative living and to such practical tasks as the development and effective working of businesses, families, community service agencies, political movements and parties, churches, social clubs, government, industry, and schools.
Those with degrees in sociology find meaningful and rewarding employment as consultants to business and government, social change agents (e.g., community organizers), politicians, educators, and diplomats. Like other liberal arts students, sociology majors also enter the business world, particularly in the sales or personnel divisions of major corporations.
An undergraduate major in sociology is excellent preparation for those anticipating graduate study in law, social welfare, business administration, journalism, and many of the technical and scientific fields. In addition, many students have enjoyed the benefits of double majors or major minor combinations between sociology and one of these related fields. Sociology and paralegal studies for legal assistants is an example of double majors involving two programs that are both in the College of Liberal Arts, while sociology and journalism are double majors involving programs in the College of Liberal Arts and the College of Mass Communication and Media Arts.
Majoring in Sociology. A student planning to major in sociology should consult the department's director of undergraduate studies as early as possible for initial advisement on the major and to be assigned a faculty advisor. Subsequently the student will visit a faculty advisor each semester until all major requirements have been completed. A record of progress for each student will be on file in the department.
To graduate with a major in sociology the student must meet all the University Core Curriculum requirements and the requirements of the College of Liberal Arts. The major requires thirty-six hours of course work. Four courses are required: Sociology 108, 301, 308 and 312. A capstone course during the senior year, Sociology 497, is also required, though students doing Independent Research (SOC498) may be excused from the Senior Seminar. Each student must also take two additional 400 level courses in sociology. These requirements are summarized below.
Sample Four-Year Curriculum with Sociology Major
First Year Second Year
Fall Spring Fall Spring
Science?................................. 3 3 Elective........................................... 3 -
Introduction to Sociology ....... - 3 Social Science?............................... - 3
Humanities?............................ 3 3 Introduction to Oral Communication... 3 -
Composition I and II................ 3 3 Foreign Language×........................... 4 4
Mathematics?.......................... 3 - 200 or 300-level Sociology Electives..3 3
Human Health?........................ 2 - Electives.......................................... 3 6
Fine Arts?............................... - 3
Third Year Fourth Year
Fall Spring Fall Spring
Theory and Society ................. 3 - Senior Seminar *?....................... - 4
Statistics for Social Science... 4 - 400-level sociology courses....... 3 3
Elements of Soc. Research… - 4 Electives ................................... 11 6
Sociology electives.................. 3 3
Integrative Studies.................... 3 3
Electives.................................. 3 6
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? See Core Curriculum requirements
× Two semesters (usually 8 hours) of a foreign language are required for all CoLA majors
? Writing intensive courses that meet CAC requirements
* With advance permission from a faculty supervisor, Independent Research (SOC498) may be substituted for the Senior Seminar (SOC497).
No more than nine hours of Sociology Core Curriculum courses, including Sociology 108, can count toward both the University Core Curriculum requirements and the Sociology major.
Sociology Minor. A minor in sociology consists of a minimum of 15 hours, including Sociology 108 and at least three more 300- or 400-level sociology courses at SIUC. No more than six hours of Sociology Core Curriculum courses, including Sociology 108, may count toward both the University Core Curriculum requirements and the sociology minor.
Transfer Students. Credits for some sociology courses taken at community colleges are transferable. Students should have their sociology credits evaluated by the department’s director of undergraduate studies at the earliest opportunity. At least 20 hours of sociology credit must be earned at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. The two 400-level courses must be taken at a senior level institution and Sociology 497 or 498 must be taken at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Honors Program. The department offers an honors program for academically outstanding sociology majors. Qualifications for acceptance into this program are: (1) an overall grade point average of at least 3.00; and (1) completion of 8 hours in sociology courses with a grade point average of at least 3.25 in all sociology courses taken at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and the completion of no fewer than six, nor more than fourteen, semester hours in research or independent study which are counted toward the major. Successful completion of the department’s honors program is noted on the academic record at the time the degree is recorded and on the diploma, i.e., Departmental Honors in Sociology. For details, qualified students interested in this program should consult the department’s director of undergraduate studies.
Internships in Sociology. Internships are open to sociology majors with junior standing and a GPA of 2.5 or above. They are intended to give students practical and sociologically relevant work experience, allowing them to try out a field in which they might wish to work upon graduation. Internships require a minimum of 120 hours of unpaid work with an organization or business approved by the Internship Coordinator. Students are asked to keep journals of their sociologically-relevant experiences with the organization; make presentations about their experiences to sociology classes; and write a paper that integrates their experience with their coursework. Interns have worked for a State Senator, the Carbondale Women’s Center, the Illinois Education Association, the First Circuit Court’s Probation Department, Catholic Family Services, and the Illinois Department of Corrections, among others.
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