The Sociology Major

The information on these pages provides basic information about majoring (or minoring) in sociology. The narrative is organized according to a series of questions that identify core features of sociology as field of concentration at VCU.

What is sociology?

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Sociology is rarely taught in high schools. As a result, most students usually encounter it for the first time in college and, understandably, want to know, "What is sociology?"

What he meant is that to truly understand any social phenomenon we must look at how individuals ("biography") are shaped by, and in turn may influence, the forces ("history") in their larger social environment. For example, you are a college student now not only because of your individual choice, but because of social forces: family influences, economic resources, the existence of educational institutions, job market requirements, a culture that places high value on formal education, and so forth. To understand the phenomenon of higher education, therefore, sociologists would look at both individual actions and larger structural conditions.

This basic perspective constitutes the core of sociology and it is applied to a wide variety of issue areas. In sociology, you can study everything from how small groups work to why crime occurs, from evolving family structures to why class, race, and gender-based inequality is so persistent, from the changing health care system to how new media technologies affect our culture. If you have an interest in better understanding the world in which we live, sociology has a place for you.

Why major in sociology?

Often students find sociology courses to be fascinating and are excited about how a sociological perspective can be applied to issues in which they are interested. Students are challenged to broaden and deepen their understanding of themselves, their communities, and the world at large. Some students choose to use this newfound knowledge as the basis for citizen participation in their community. This personal and intellectual growth is an important reason why some people major in sociology.

However, most students are also concerned about the practical implications of majoring in sociology. You may ask yourself, "Will I be able to use a sociology degree to further my career goals?" The short answer is definitely, "Yes."

The longer answer requires an understanding of the changing nature of work and education in our society. (There’s that sociological perspective again!) A generation or two ago, it was not uncommon for many people to get a job and stay with a single company for nearly their entire careers. In their vocational education, they could receive specific job training and expect to perform a particular type of work for a long time.

As you probably know, today’s work environments are much more flexible and tend to require higher levels of education. With changing technology and rapidly evolving economic sectors, someone training for a specific job may find their education outdated by the time they enter the job market. Instead, workers need to be broadly educated and flexible in the range of skills they develop.

That’s why, today, a very old idea is more relevant than ever: a liberal arts education. Sociology is a liberal arts discipline. This means that studying sociology usually does not train you for a specific career. Instead, it helps you to develop basic skills that are valuable in a wide range of job fields. Other liberal arts disciplines teach similar skills. However, sociology is unique in allowing you to develop practical employment-related skills while studying the social issues in which you are truly interested.

It is important to figure out what you are interested in. You may feel pressure—from yourself or others—to major in something that seems to be more immediately "practical," even if you don’t find it particularly interesting. That’s understandable, but be careful. In the long run, you are likely to be better off by studying something that truly interests you. You’ll be better able to focus on your studies, apply yourself, and come away with a real learning experience.

Also, some students pick majors on the basis of perceived job market demand for entry-level positions closely corresponding to the degree program. Although these students fulfill their immediate job-related goals, their intrinsic lack of interest in the subject often leads to problems later in their careers. Vocational counselors today note that increasing numbers of young adults aged 25-35 have sought counseling because they are dissatisfied in their work. When choice of major, and subsequently career choice, is made on the basis of apparent job market demand and salary, disappointment is often the result. In addition, narrow training in a specific field may make it more difficult to successfully change careers later on.

In the end, majoring in sociology may make a great deal of sense for you. You can study material that interests you, grow personally and intellectually, and develop practical skills useful in developing a career.

What skills will I learn while majoring in sociology and anthropology?

(Note: this section is a shortened version of a brochure that you can get from the sociology and anthropology department.)

As mentioned earlier, students usually get interested in majoring in sociology because they find the subject matter to be very interesting. Some students go on to graduate school in sociology and work in directly related fields. Most, however, do not. Instead, they use the basic skills they learn while majoring in sociology to pursue careers in a wide variety of fields, including social services, business, administration, criminal justice, education, and many others. These skills include the following.

1. Writing Skills. In an information-based society, written communication skills are a must. These skills are an asset that easily translates to many types of work environments. The ability to write reports, memos, and letters that clearly present information and analyses is a valuable skill for anyone.

All classes have writing assignments, but in order to focus on developing writing skills some courses have been designated as "writing intensive." That means these courses require more writing and revision than is normally expected. In "writing intensive" classes, students must complete a series of writing assignments, some of which require revision and resubmission. In addition, time is spent in the classroom discussing the process and mechanics of effective writing, including how to develop ideas, how to construct arguments, and how to use supporting evidence properly.

2. Oral Communication Skills. The ability to speak effectively is just as important as the ability to write effectively. Presenting information to employers and co-workers, speaking as a citizen in a public forum, or making a speech to a conference are all situations requiring good oral communication skills.

While all classes encourage oral participation in discussing course material, some classes make a special effort to develop oral communication skills by requiring structured oral presentations and by studying the basics of effective oral communication.

3. Critical Thinking Skills, Including Ethical Evaluation. Learning "critical thinking" skills is learning how to systematically question and evaluate things you read, see, or hear, in order to make informed judgments about their value. When faced with contradictory claims we need to know how to sort through the various arguments, assess the evidence and ethical claims being presented, and come to some conclusion about our own position on an issue. That process is critical thinking.

Every sociology and anthropology course will ask you to use critical thinking skills. But some courses pay special attention to helping you learn how to think critically. These courses also give you special opportunities to practice your critical thinking skills.

4. Cross-Cultural Skills. More and more social interaction is becoming cross-cultural. That’s because our own multi-cultural society is more diverse than ever and because international communication across cultures is becoming more common. It is important, therefore, that you develop an awareness of cultural diversity and, when possible, that you learn basic cultural competency skills. Developing cultural competency involves learning to work effectively across cultural differences. There are a variety of courses that highlight cross-cultural appreciation and/or cultural competency skills. Some of these are international courses while others focus on the considerable diversity in our own society.

5. Computer and Information Technology Skills. Nobody needs to tell you that computers are here to stay. They are tools that can be very useful in helping us gather, organize, synthesize, and present information effectively. Learning how to use them successfully is a vital skill that will only grow in importance in the coming years.

One key aspect of computer and information technology is the Internet. Many courses require students to find and access Internet resources, and some courses make the Internet a central part of the learning experience. Computers are not only used to retrieve information but also as a critical component in creating it. Several courses focus on how quantitative data are stored, analyzed, and interpreted.

6. Quantitative and Qualitative Research Skills. The world is full of facts, figures, and research findings. But unless you know how this information was collected you can’t really make an informed judgment about whether or not you should believe the claims being made. That’s where learning about research methods comes in. Courses in research methods and statistics offer the opportunity for students to become better-informed consumers of research and to pursue their own research efforts as well.

7. Group Work Skills. Much of education focuses on individual skills and abilities. However, "real-world" work and community efforts almost always involve working with other people in group settings. Learning how to work with others in active problem solving is therefore a valuable skill. One course, Sociology 341, is devoted entirely to "Group Dynamics," offering a comprehensive analysis of the nature of groups and inter-group relations. Other courses incorporate cooperative effort into the class requirements.

8. Work-World Skills. All of the skills already mentioned are relevant for the world of work. But students can also develop work skills particular to their field of interest through applied, "hands on" experiences in workplace settings that include internships and service learning classes. The information, skills, and personal contacts developed through such experiences are often useful in later obtaining employment in a chosen field. (More information about learning beyond the classroom is presented below.)

9. Citizenship and Community Service Skills. From volunteer programs that promote literacy to the civil rights movement, the United States has had a wide variety of active citizen efforts to improve our society in ways big and small. Sociology majors have the opportunity to learn and practice how to effectively contribute to making their communities better places through involvement in community service and social change efforts. One place such skills are emphasized is in service learning courses. (See "Beyond the Classroom")

You can see that majoring in sociology is not intended to train you for a specific job. Instead, you will have opportunities to develop skills that can help you become…

…who knows how to critically evaluate information,

…who can use the latest in computer technology, and

…who can work effectively in multicultural workplaces

…who understands cultural diversity in from local communities to modern global society,

…who can effectively communicate views to fellow citizens and elected officials,

…who understands and is experienced in civic participation

…who understands his or her relationship to others in society

…who appreciates cultural diversity

…who is well-informed and equipped to make a better life for individuals, their families, and the larger community.

What are some of the fields in which sociology majors work?

Majoring in sociology affords you the opportunity to learn a series of skills associated with a liberal arts education (see basic skills, above). The type of job that majors later pursue reflects the broad diversity of subject areas included in sociology. A small sample of fields in which you will find sociology majors:

• education (see the related Extended Teacher Preparation program in the School of Education)
• health care
• criminal justice
• social services (government agencies and community non-profits)
• business
• research (applied research, marketing)
• and many more

What are some of the basic requirements I need to fulfill to earn a degree?

One common feature of bureaucracies (a sociological concept!) is a set of formalized procedures designed to accomplish certain tasks. Not to be left out, VCU has a full set of administrative hurdles you must pass to attain an undergraduate degree. Each administrative level—department, college, and university—has corresponding requirements that are too detailed to fully describe here.

Your standard reference is the VCU Undergraduate Bulletin. Your "effective bulletin" is the one issued in the academic year you enter or re-enter a degree program; if you are continuously enrolled, you may fulfill the degree program requirements listed in your freshman year bulletin or those listed in any later bulletin. If you change your major, your "effective bulletin" is the one issued during the academic year of the change.

You should have a copy of the Undergraduate Bulletin and be aware of the university and College of Humanities and Sciences degree requirements. If you are confused about these, get help from the sociology advisor, Dr. John Mahoney (jmahoney@saturn.vcu.edu; also see getting help) Your department file will contain a graduation worksheet that you and your advisor can use to filter through the maze of College and departmental requirements. You should do this each semester in a face to face meeting with your advisor.

While we cannot provide all the details about the requirements you must fill for the University and the College of Humanities and Sciences, we can sketch out some of the basic departmental requirements.

The Bachelor of Science curriculum in sociology and anthropology requires a minimum of 30 credits in sociology and anthropology, 21 of which must be in upper-level (300-400) courses. ANTH 103 Cultural Anthropology and SOCY 101 General Sociology are required of all majors. Students can choose to concentrate in either sociology or anthropology.

Students concentrating in sociology must take at least 15 of the 21 upper-level required credits in sociology. The rest may be in anthropology. Courses required for the sociology concentration are:

SOCY 205 Introduction to Social Science Computing

SOCY 320 Research Methods in the Social Sciences

SOCY 402 Sociological Theory

In addition, students must take ONE course from THREE of the following FOUR content areas:

Social Organizations and Institutions

Control, Conflict and Social Change

The Relationship of Individual Society

Historical and Cross-Cultural Patterns

For more details about requirements see the Undergraduate Bulletin.

Can I have a minor in sociology?

Yes. To minor in sociology you must complete 18 credits in sociology, including SOCY 101 General Sociology. At least 12 credits must be upper level (300-400) courses and must include SOCY 402 Sociological Theory. (If you concentrate in anthropology, you cannot get a minor in sociology.)

What are AKD and the ASA?

Alpha Kappa Delta (AKD) is a national sociological honor society, with the goals of promoting interest in sociology and advancing social research for the purpose of improvement of human welfare. To be eligible for membership, a student must have at least a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 in all sociology courses and be in the upper 35% of her/his class in scholarship. Although a prospective member must have completed at least 10 credit hours in sociology, AKD is not restricted to sociology majors. Ask your advisor to submit your name in nomination to join this Honor Society.

The American Sociological Association (ASA) is the largest professional association in sociology. It is dedicated to advancing sociology as a scientific discipline and profession serving the public good. The ASA web site has a whole section devoted to material for sociology students.

What if I’m interested in continuing study in sociology?

If you think you might want to continue your study of sociology in graduate school, consider the Sociology Masters Program at VCU. It offers training in both general sociology and an urban emphasis on "Social Problems and Social Change."

Where can I get more advice and information about studying sociology?

The sociology undergraduate adviser is Prof. John Mahoney. You can reach him at (804) 828-6515, or e-mail him at: jmahoney@vcu.edu His office is Room 303 in the Sociology building (Bird House), which is at 820 W. Franklin Street.