SOCIOLOGY

Alexander Hall
(206) 281-2158
www.spu.edu/depts/soc/

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The Department of Sociology offers a major and a minor in sociology. Within the major, students may choose a social service emphasis.

Sociology is the systematic study of societies and the groups and institutions that compose them. The central premise of sociology is that the individual cannot be understood apart from societal and interpersonal contexts. Therefore, coursework is designed to help students gain perspective on themselves and the world around them through an analysis of social structure and culture.

SPU students majoring in sociology have secured positions in government, business, industry, and private research agencies. Others hold jobs in planning agencies and research departments of city, county, state, and federal government and religious organizations, law enforcement agencies, and many other settings. The sociological perspective has also proven invaluable for students entering any of the helping professions. Advanced positions in these areas often require graduate training. Students desiring to focus on social service are offered courses that provide an overview of theory and skills necessary to enter helping professions that provide direct services to people in need. Many graduates take entry-level positions in the areas of child welfare, mental health, gerontology, delinquency, and in programs that alleviate poverty. A social service background assists and encourages students to prepare for graduate work, especially in the areas of social work, counseling, teaching, or health care professions.

Admission to the Major or Minor
To qualify for admission to the major, a student must have a 2.5 minimum GPA and 15 credits of completed work in the discipline.

Requirements for the Sociology Major
* A maximum of 10 credits of SOC 4940 can apply to the major. Note: Students in the sociology major are strongly encouraged to take the core courses in sequence — introduction, statistics, methods, theory and then capstone. With the help of their advisors, students should create a plan that includes the combination of elective courses that will best prepare them to achieve their career and life goals.

Requirements for the Sociology Minor
* SOC 4940 does not apply to the minor. Note: Students should consult a sociology advisor to create a course of study that best accommodates their educational program.

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