College Catalog

Description and requirements Faculty Courses

Description:

Do you want to create a better world? Are you fascinated by such topics as race, social class, gender, globalization, the environment, education, social work, or social change?

These subjects and others that deal with social relationships, culture, and the nature of society comprise the discipline of sociology. As a broad and eclectic field of inquiry, sociology uses many different approaches, ranging from cultural and historical studies to survey research.

The sociology major at Purchase College is designed to give students maximum exposure to the breadth of the field. A choice of four concentrations—Sociology (self-design); Local and Global Communities and Social Change; Social and Health Advocacy; and Education and Society—allows students to focus on a particular area of interest. The program also offers a minor in sociology.

The sociology program is based on social action. It offers opportunities for a broad general education in the liberal arts as well as preparation for work in a range of fields and for further professional training in the discipline or in a variety of other areas. Graduates have earned advanced degrees in sociology, education, law, journalism, public administration, social work, hospital administration, and other disciplines.

What can you do with a degree in sociology? Opportunities exist in both the private and public sectors in the fields of social advocacy, social work, human service, education, business, law, criminal justice, social science research, and community relations. For more detailed information about career opportunities, visit the American Sociological Association.

Requirements:

In addition to meeting General Education requirements and other degree requirements, all sociology majors must must complete one of the following concentrations (41–46 credits):

Concentration 1: Sociology (41–44 credits; self-design)

SOC 1500/Introduction to Sociology: 3 credits
SOC 3015/ProSeminar in Sociology: 1 credit [FALL only]
SOC 3405/Research Methods: 4 credits [FALL JR only]
SOC 3850/Sociological Theory: 4 credits [FALL JR only]
At least four sociology electives, chosen from Group A, B, and C (at least one in each group): 13–16 credits
One internship, study-abroad opportunity, or community-action independent study, chosen in consultation with the faculty advisor: 4 credits
SOC 3885/Sociology Junior Seminar: 4 credits [SPR JR only]
SPJ 4990/Senior Project I: 4 credits
SPJ 4991/Senior Project II: 4 credits

SOC 2365/Self and Society
SOC 3035/Birth and Death
SOC 3095/Introduction to Counseling Theory and Professions
SOC 3155/Sociology of the Body and Embodiment
SOC 3265/Critical Animal Studies
SOC 3385/Culture and Collective Memory: Latin America
SOC3325/ On Fashion
SOC 3455/Conflict Management and Mediation
SOC 3625/Sex, Drugs, and Gray Hair
SOC 3655/Sociology of Childhood
SOC 3670/Contemporary Sociological Theory
SOC 4030/Seminar in Sociological Issues
SOC 4053/Astrosociology & Consciousness Communities

SOC 2050/Social (In)Justice and the Law
SOC 3135/Politics, Policy, and Society
SOC 3136/Social Policy, Justice, Advocacy
SOC 3137/Contemporary Issues in Bioethics
SOC 3175/Sociology of Health and Illness
SOC 3203/Introduction to Teaching
SOC 3235/Social Organizations
SOC 3287/Science and Technology Studies
SOC 3435/Cults, Sects, and New Religious Movements
SOC 3475/Surveillance, Technology, Society
SOC 3500/Sociology of Education
SOC 3595/Public Health: Selected Topics
SOC 3615/Families, Communities, Cultures
SOC 3670/Contemporary Sociological Theory
SOC 4030/Seminar in Sociological Issues
SOC 4053/Astrosociology & Consciousness Communities

HIS 3115/Sex Radicals in the 19th-Century U.S.
SOC 1030/Cultural Activism in the Americas
SOC 2020/Human Sexuality
SOC 2105/Art and Outsiderness
SOC 2140/Race and Ethnicity
SOC 2165/Culture, Consumption, and the City
SOC 2210/Sociology of Gender
SOC 3056/Global Social Movements
SOC 3125/Social and Cultural Studies of Food
SOC 3255/Environmental Sociology
SOC 3266/Urban Sociology
SOC 3275/Critical Disability Studies
SOC 3365/Social Movements, Action, Advocacy
SOC 3375/Global Inequalities
SOC 3005/Feminism. Art and Reform
SOC 3495/Art Worlds and Their Discontents
SOC 3515/Education Across Cultures
SOC 3565/Society and Public Policy
SOC 3585/Communities, Ethnicities, and Exclusion
SOC 3625/Sex, Drugs, and Gray Hair
SOC 3627/The Ageless Self: Technological Gerontology
SOC 3635/I Forgot: Aging, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Anxiety
SOC 3661/Border Wars and Transnational Human Rights
SOC 3670/Contemporary Sociological Theory
SOC 3705/Masculinities: Feminist Perspectives
SOC 3725/Globalization, Culture, Social Change: Latin America
SOC 3755/Sexualities and Society
SOC 4025/Critical Race Theory
SOC 4030/Seminar in Sociological Issues
SOC 4035/Theories of Justice
SOC 4040/Generation XYZ
SOC 4050/Bioethics: Contemporary Issues
SOC 4053/Astrosociology & Consciousness Communities
SOC 4060/Cross Cultural Solutions to Climate Change
VIS 3500/The Arts for Social Change

Concentration 2: Health Advocacy and Social Work (46–47 credits)

SOC 1500/Introduction to Sociology: 3 credits
SOC 3015/ProSeminar in Sociology: 1 credit [FALL only]
SOC 3405/Research Methods: 4 credits [FALL JR only]
SOC 3850/Sociological Theory: 4 credits [FALL JR only]
One internship*, study-abroad opportunity, or community-action independent study, chosen in consultation with the faculty advisor: 4 credits
SOC 3885/Sociology Junior Seminar: 4 credits [SPR JR only]
SPJ 4990/Senior Project I: 4 credits
SPJ 4991/Senior Project II: 4 credits
Three courses from the following list (12 credits):
SOC 3035/Birth and Death
SOC 3125/Social and Cultural Studies of Food
SOC 3155/Sociology of the Body and Embodiment
SOC 3175/Science, Medicine, Culture
SOC 3255/Global Populations, Local Problems
SOC 3275/Critical Disability Studies
SOC 3287/Science and Technology Studies
SOC 3435/Cults, Sects, and New Religious Movements
SOC 3475/Surveillance, Technology, Society
SOC 3585/Communities, Ethnicities, and Exclusion
SOC 3615/Families, Communities, Cultures
SOC 3670/Contemporary Sociological Theory
SOC 4030/Seminar in Sociological Issues
SOC 4060/Cross Cultural Solutions to Climate Change
Any relevant policy-based political science course
Two of the following courses (6–7 credits):
SOC 2020/Human Sexuality
SOC 2140/Race and Ethnicity
SOC 2210/Sociology of Gender
SOC 3441/Class, Power, Privilege
SOC 3455/Conflict Management and Mediation
SOC 3585/Communities, Ethnicities, and Exclusion

*For students considering graduate school in social work, two internships in human services locations are recommended. Advisors can assist with course planning for a career in social work.

Concentration 3: Local and Global Communities & Social Change (41–43 credits)

SOC 1500/Introduction to Sociology: 3 credits
SOC 3015/ProSeminar in Sociology: 1 credit [FALL only]
SOC 3405/Research Methods: 4 credits [FALL JR only]
SOC 3850/Sociological Theory: 4 credits [FALL JR only]
One internship, study-abroad opportunity, or community-action independent study, chosen in consultation with the faculty advisor: 4 credits
SOC 3885/Sociology Junior Seminar: 4 credits [SPR JR only]
SPJ 4990/Senior Project I: 4 credits
SPJ 4991/Senior Project II: 4 credits
Three of the following courses (10-12 credits):
LIT3227/Revolutionary Havana: The Cuban Revolution and the Havana Imaginary
SOC2050/Social (In) Justice and the Law
SOC 2255/Environmental Sociology
SOC 3056/Global Social Movements
SOC 3095/Introduction to Counseling Theory and Professions
SOC 3135/Politics, Policy, and Society
SOC 3136/Social Policy, Justice, Advocacy
SOC 3137/Contemporary Issues in Bioethics
SOC 3255/Global Populations, Local Problems
SOC 3266/Urban Sociology
SOC 3385/Culture and Collective Memory: Latin America
SOC 3435/Cults, Sects, and New Religious Movements
SOC 3455/Conflict Management and Mediation
SOC 3585/Communities, Ethnicities, and Mediation
SOC 3515/Education Across Cultures
SOC 3585/Communities, Ethnicities, and Exclusion
SOC 3627/The Ageless Self: Technological Gerontology
SOC 3635/I Forgot: Aging, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Anxiety
SOC 3661/Border Wars and Transnational Human Rights
SOC 3725/Globalization, Culture, Social Change
SOC 4030/Seminar in Sociological Issues
SOC 4040/Generation XYZ
SOC 4050/Bioethics: Contemporary Issues
SOC 4060/Cross Cultural Solutions to Climate Change
Any relevant anthropology course
Any relevant environmental studies course
One of the following courses (3 credits):
SOC 2140/Race and Ethnicity
SOC 2210/Sociology of Gender
SOC 3441/Class, Power, Privilege
SOC 4025/Critical Race Theory

Concentration 4: Education and Society (45–47 credits)

SOC 1500/Introduction to Sociology: 3 credits
SOC 3015/ProSeminar in Sociology: 1 credit [FALL only]
SOC 3405/Research Methods: 4 credits [FALL JR only]
SOC 3850/Sociological Theory: 4 credits [FALL JR only]
One internship, study-abroad opportunity, or community-action independent study, chosen in consultation with the faculty advisor: 4 credits
SOC 3885/Sociology Junior Seminar: 4 credits [SPR JR only]
SPJ 4990/Senior Project I: 4 credits
SPJ 4991/Senior Project II: 4 credits
Three courses from the following list (11–12 credits):
PSY 2500/Adolescent Psychology
PSY 2650/Child Development
PSY 3850/Practicum in Child Development
SOC 3095/Introduction to Counseling Theory and Professions
SOC 3135/Politics, Policy, and Society
SOC 3203/Introduction to Teaching
SOC 3255/Global Populations, Local Problems
SOC 3275/Critical Disability Studies
SOC 3455/Conflict Management and Mediation
SOC 3500/Sociology of Education
SOC 3515/Education Across Cultures
SOC 3585/Communities, Ethnicities, and Exclusion
SOC 3615/Families, Communities, Cultures
SOC 3661/Border Wars and Transnational Human Rights
SOC 3670/Contemporary Sociological Theory
SOC 4030/Seminar in Sociological Issues
Two of the following courses (6–7 credits):
HIS 3466/To Enjoy Our Freedom: African American History Since 1865
HIS 3635/Race, Ethnicity, and Identity in the U.S
SOC 2140/Race and Ethnicity
SOC 2210/Sociology of Gender
SOC 3441/Class, Power, Privilege
SOC 4025/Critical Race Theory

Note: An additional writing course is recommended for students in Concentration 4. Refer to The Senior Project for additional information.

Minor requirements:

The minor in sociology is designed to provide students with a basic understanding of the discipline and to introduce them to some of the major subfields.

Students interested in the minor in sociology should consult with a member of the sociology faculty, then submit a completed Application for a Program of Minor Study.

Academic Requirements for the Minor in Sociology

Five courses, as follows:

SOC 1500/Introduction to Sociology
Plus four elective courses in sociology, chosen in consultation the sociology faculty. PSY 2170/Social Psychology can count as one of the electives.

Matthew Immergut

Marin Kosut

Alexis M. Silver

Kristen Karlberg

Lisa Jean Moore

Official Catalog: Published September 22, 2023

Course Frequencies

Information Changes

Information for:

Need Assistance?

Other Resources:

College Catalog

Description:

Requirements:

Concentration 1: Sociology (41–44 credits; self-design)

Group A: Sociological Perspectives on Individual Behavior

Group B: Social Institutions

Group C: Inequality and Change

Concentration 2: Health Advocacy and Social Work (46–47 credits)

Concentration 2 Electives

Concentration 3: Local and Global Communities & Social Change (41–43 credits)

Concentration 3 Electives

Concentration 4: Education and Society (45–47 credits)

Concentration 4 Electives

Minor requirements:

Academic Requirements for the Minor in Sociology

Faculty

Matthew Immergut

Marin Kosut

Alexis M. Silver

Kristen Karlberg

Lisa Jean Moore

Courses

HIS 3466: To Enjoy Our Freedom: African American History Since 1865

LBS 2029: Collaboration and Adaptive Leadership

PHI 3150: Tibetan Buddhist Philosophy

SOC 1030: Cultural Activism in Latin America

SOC 1035: Contemplation, Meditation, and Mind

SOC 1500: Introduction to Sociology

SOC 2020: Human Sexuality

SOC 2050: Social (In)Justice and the Law

SOC 2105: Art and Outsiderness

SOC 2140: Race and Ethnicity

SOC 2165: Culture, Consumption, and the City

SOC 2365: Self and Society

SOC 3002: Introduction to Social Work

SOC 3005: Feminism, Art, and Performance

SOC 3015: Proseminar in Sociology I

SOC 3035: Birth and Death

SOC 3056: Global Social Movements

SOC 3095: Introduction to Counseling Theory and Professions

SOC 3125: Social and Cultural Studies of Food

SOC 3126: Social and Cultural Studies of Food: Italian Gastronomy

SOC 3127: Social and Cultural Studies of Food: India

SOC 3136: Social Policy, Justice, Advocacy

SOC 3155: Sociology of the Body and Embodiment

SOC 3175: Sociology of Health and Illness

SOC 3203: Introduction to Teaching

SOC 3235: Social Organizations

SOC 3255: Environmental Sociology

SOC 3265: Urban Ecology and Animal Studies

SOC 3266: Urban Sociology

SOC 3325: On Fashion

SOC 3335: Politics, Policy, and Society

SOC 3365: Social Movements, Action, Advocacy

SOC 3385: Culture and Collective Memory: Latin America

SOC 3405: Research Methods

SOC 3415: Racial Inequalities

SOC 3435: Cults, Sects, and New Religious Movements

SOC 3441: Class, Power, and Privilege

SOC 3455: Conflict Management and Mediation

SOC 3475: Surveillance, Technology, Society

SOC 3495: Art Worlds and Their Discontents

SOC 3500: Sociology of Education

SOC 3515: Education Across Cultures

SOC 3595: Public Health: Selected Topics

SOC 3615: Families, Communities, Cultures

SOC 3625: Sex, Drugs, and Gray Hair

SOC 3627: The Ageless Self: Technological Gerontology

SOC 3635: I Forgot: Aging, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Anxiety

SOC 3655: Sociology of Childhood

SOC 3661: Border Wars and Transnational Human Rights

SOC 3705: Masculinities: Feminist Perspectives

SOC 3725: Globalization, Culture, Social Change: Latin America

SOC 3755: Sexualities and Society

SOC 3850: Sociological Theory

SOC 3885: Sociology Junior Seminar

SOC 4025: Critical Race Theory

SOC 4030: Seminar in Sociological Issues

SOC 4040: Generation XYZ

SOC 4050: Bioethics: Contemporary Issues