Bachelor of Arts
The primary objective of the major is to provide students with a better understanding of human behavior, particularly in the contexts of society, economy, and culture. The major encourages students to critically analyze human experience through the prism of social, political, and economic structures and institutions, and to gain insight into the lives of individuals through a culturally sensitive lens. How are our lives as individuals—our material quality of life, our life chances and opportunities, our life styles, our identities and beliefs—potentially shaped by larger social, economic, and cultural systems and processes? Throughout their course of study in the major, and as reflective of the sociology faculty’s broad range of expertise, students will have the opportunity to apply sociological theory, research methods, and empirical scholarship to a wide range of foci, including but not limited to: the intersections of race, class, and gender; inequality; poverty and homelessness; globalization; immigration; violence and crime; politics; education and social policy; social movements and social change; health and medicine; media and technology; and popular culture.
Courses in the major emphasize those skills important to students’ careers: critical thinking, the ability to read and write analytically, to problem-solve, and to communicate orally. More specifically, the major’s objectives are to encourage students to appreciate the unique contribution of the sociological perspective; learn about the history and/or content of the discipline; develop an awareness of sociology and its relationship to the other social sciences and the liberal arts; develop methodological skills necessary to gather and evaluate sociological information; learn how sociological questions and answers influence social policy; develop a level of academic training necessary to pursue advanced studies in graduate and professional school in a variety of fields such as public policy, public health, criminal justice, law, counseling, social service, marketing, public relations, and business; develop a better understanding of their social environments, with special regard to race, class, gender, and other bases of inclusion/exclusion in American society and in other societies; and consequently to provide heightened insight into one’s life, society, and the critical problems of the times.
In addition to traditional and innovative classroom experiences, sociology majors can avail themselves of opportunities for independent study, internships, service experiences in the community, research and senior thesis courses under the supervision of a faculty mentor, and invitations to join our sociology honor society.
Required Courses
Academic programs vary in their requirements. Students should consult with their faculty advisor and the Academic Guidebook to review the Academic Planning Form pertinent to their program of study. In addition, students should review course descriptions regarding any prerequisites for required courses. Graduation requirements include a minimum of 120 credit hours, although some academic programs may require additional credits. Please refer to the Academic Resources section of the catalog for more information. Information regarding the new Core Curriculum, which takes effect with the Class of 2016, is available at http://www.providence.edu/academic-affairs/core-curriculum.
Students who major in sociology complete a minimum of 10 courses, including four “core” courses:
-
-
-
OR
-
- Students also must complete six electives and are encouraged to spread their electives over the department’s six areas of concentration.
- Those students interested in research-related fields or in attending graduate or professional schools are strongly encouraged to take .
- Ordinarily, the Research Methods and Theory courses must be completed by the end of the junior year.
- and/or are strongly recommended in the junior or senior year.
Return to: