Sociology
Courses & Curriculum
Qualifications
Students must have a minimum grade of C in all required courses and maintain a 2.0 GPA in their major and a 2.0 overall average to graduate with a degree in sociology. All students must complete a minimum of 120 credit hours to graduate.
Advisement
All students should have an advisor in the major and should contact the department directly to have an advisor assigned if they do not already have one. All majors should work closely with their advisor in discussing career expectations, choosing their major electives, developing their entire academic program and planning their co-curricular or supplemental academic experiences. Students should consult with Dr. Christian, Director of Sociology, for current advisement information. Students are advised to be familiar with their Griff Audit and should make arrangements each semester to receive their registration PIN.
Curricular Requirements for the Major
Core: All students complete Core Curriculum requirements as part of their overall Canisius education.
Free Electives
Free electives are courses in addition to the Core Curriculum and major requirements sufficient to reach a minimum of 120 credit hours for graduation. Students may graduate with more but not less than 120 credit hours.
Major Courses
|
Course |
Title |
Credits |
|
MAT 131 |
Statistics and Computers |
3 |
|
SOC 110 |
Introduction to Sociology |
3 |
|
SOC 111 |
Contemporary Social Problems |
3 |
|
SOC 342 |
Research Methods |
3 |
|
SOC 432 |
Theories in Sociology |
3 |
|
SOC 450 |
Senior Capstone: Community and Diversity |
3 |
|
Six 3 credit sociology electives (18 credit hours) |
||
|
|
||
|
Major Electives: |
||
|
SOC 234 |
Environment and Society |
3 |
|
SOC 273 |
Social Movements and Social Change |
3 |
|
SOC 291 |
Gender and Society |
3 |
|
SOC 299 |
Immersion Reflection |
1 |
|
SOC 300 |
Special Topics in Sociology |
3 |
|
SOC 324 |
Visual Sociology |
3 |
|
SOC 330 |
Health and Wellness |
3 |
|
SOC 340 |
Sociology of the City |
3 |
|
SOC 341 |
Race and Ethinic Relations |
3 |
|
SOC 390 |
Marriage and Families |
3 |
|
SOC 498 |
Internship |
3 |
|
SOC 499 |
Individual Reading and Research Methods |
3 |
|
|
||
|
The following courses in the other departments count as electives for the sociology major: |
||
|
ANT 122 |
Sociocultural Anthropology |
3 |
|
ANT 351 |
Qualitative Research Methods |
3 |
|
ANT 355 |
Sociolinguistics |
3 |
|
ANT 360 |
African American English |
3 |
|
ANT 365 |
Gender Issues in Language |
3 |
|
CRJ 320 |
Criminology |
3 |
|
CRJ 354 |
Juvenile Delinquency |
3 |
Additional Course Considerations
The department encourages sociology majors to study a foreign language of their choice and to participate in the college study abroad program. Students considering study abroad should consult with their advisor regarding course sequencing.
Recommended Semester Schedule for Major Course Requirements
|
Year |
Fall Semester |
Spring Semester |
|
Freshman |
SOC 113 (3 credits) |
SOC 111 (3 credits) |
|
|
||
|
Sophomore |
MAT 131 (3 credits) |
SOC elective (3 credits) |
|
SOC elective (3 credits) |
||
|
|
||
|
Junior |
SOC 342 (3 credits) |
SOC elective (3 credits) |
|
SOC elective (3 credits) |
||
|
|
||
|
Senior |
SOC 432 (3 credits) |
SOC 450 (3 credits) |
|
SOC elective (3 credits) |
SOC elective (3 credits) |
Dual Majors
Students who wish to expand their educational opportunities may decide to declare a dual major. The decision may be based on career goals or planned graduate studies. Before a student declares a dual major it is important to meet with the appropriate academic departments for advisement. Some dual major combinations can be completed within the minimum 120 credit hour degree requirement, but in some cases additional course work may be required. In order to declare a dual major, the student must complete the appropriate dual major request form and get the signature of each department chairperson and the appropriate associate dean.
Minors
Students who wish to expand their educational opportunities may decide to declare a minor in addition to their major. The decision may be based on career goals or planned graduate studies. Minors generally range from six to eight required courses. A listing of the minors can be found under the Academic Curricula section of the catalog. Some majors and minors can be completed within the minimum 120 credit hour degree requirement, but in some cases additional course work may be required. Students must complete the appropriate minor request form.
Sociology Minor
Sociology has a great deal to offer students from other disciplines who do not have room in their curriculum for a dual major. Premed students, business majors and education majors can all benefit from the insights into human behavior that come from a familiarity with sociological analysis. The Department supports the interdisciplinary minor in Peace and Justice Studies. Specific information on the minor can be found here.
Social Sciences Minor in Child, Family and Community Studies
The social science interdisciplinary minor is co-sponsored by the Department of Psychology and the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Criminal Justice. It is intended for students seeking a deeper understanding of the dynamics of family relations and the interaction of the family with society. Its mission is to prepare undergraduate students for careers and future graduate studies in the fields of education, social work and social services. Embedded within the interdisciplinary focus of the minor is an emphasis on creating reflective and compassionate practitioners who are committed to the Jesuit ideal of men and women for others.
Courses
SOC 110 Introduction to Sociology 3 credits
Topics include theory, methods, culture, socialization, race and ethnicity, groups and organizations, and social inequality; analysis of everyday events, using sociological imagination. (Field 5) Fall
SOC 111 Contemporary Social Problems 3 credits
Exploration of selected social problems from various sociological points of view, emphasizing some of the sociological concepts and methods employed in analyzing these problems. (Field 5, Diversity Attribute) Spring
SOC 234 Environment and Society 3 credits
Explores connections between environmental issues and their social causes. Topics of analysis include environmental racism, environmental health, risk and uncertainty, political economy, globalization and sustainability. (Field 5)
SOC 273 Social Movements and Social Change 3 credits
Explores the development of social movements as a force of social change in society. Focus is on theoretical developments in movement theory, as well as explorations of social movements through history. (Field 5, Justice Attribute)
SOC 291 Gender and Society 3 credits
Exploration of origin of gender roles; socialization into masculine and feminine roles; intersection of gender and social institutions such as family, work and education. (Field 5)
SOC 299 Immersion Reflection 1 credit
Critical reflection of immersion experience. Permission of instructor required. Spring and Fall
SOC 300 Special Topics in Sociology 3 credits
Critical examination of a selected topic in sociology. Subject matter determined by the instructor. Fall and Spring
SOC 324 Visual Sociology 3 credits
Emphasizes a visual approach to analyzing social concepts. Analysis of visual media forms to explore core ideas in sociology such as gender, race, environment, social class, family and global diversity.
SOC 330 Health and Wellness 3 credits
The social aspects of health, wellness and health care. Epidemiology, the experience of illness, the evolving health care industry, and a comparison of alternative and traditional medicine.
SOC 340 Sociology of the City 3 credits
Exploration of how people experience and understand city life, how cities grow and develop, and various issues affecting cities today such as suburbanization and urban sprawl.
SOC 341 Race and Ethnic Relations 3 credits
Focus is on issues surrounding race and ethnicity in the United States, including the social construction of race and ethnicity, prejudice and discrimination, unequal opportunity structures, and the racial/ethnic makeup of the US population.
SOC 342 Research Methods 3 credits
Overview of the major steps in constructing social science research, from developing a research question, operationalization and measurement through data collection and analysis. Prerequisite: MAT 131 with minimum grade of C. Fall
SOC 390 Marriage and Families 3 credits
Covers family development from relationship formation through marriage, divorce and remarriage. Includes sexuality, sexual orientation, cohabitation, parenting and the intersection between the family and major social institutions.
SOC 432 Theories in Sociology 3 credits
Course emphasizes theory development as a tool to understand society. Focuses on major social theorists and their contributions as well as classical and modern theoretical schools in sociology. Prerequisite: Senior Status, majors or minors only. Fall
SOC 450 Senior Capstone: Community and Diversity 3 credits
The culminating experience for the major, in which students synthesize the
knowledge they have acquired in their course work and the core, integrate cross-disciplinary knowledge, and connect theory and application in preparation for graduate school or entry into a career. Prerequisite: Senior status. Spring
SOC 498 Internship 3 credits
Opportunity for students to participate in the daily work of an agency or organization. Prerequisite: Instructor’s signature, G.P.A. of at least 2.75. Fall and Spring
SOC 499 Individual Reading and Research 3 credits
Independent studies allow in-depth study of a specific topic and are most often reserved for seniors who cannot otherwise fulfill a graduation requirement. Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor, department chair and associate dean. Fall and Spring
The following courses offered by other departments or programs count as satisfying the requirements for the sociology major or minor:
• ANT 122 Sociocultural Anthropology (3 credits)
• ANT 351 Qualitative Research Methods (3 credits)
• ANT 355 Sociolinguistics (3 credits)
• ANT 360 African American English (3 credits)
• ANT 365 Gender Issues in Language (3 credits)
• CRJ 320 Criminology (3 credits)
• CRJ 354 Juvenile Delinquency (3 credits)
