Sociology

John Freed, Ph.D., Division Chair of Arts & Sciences

Stephanie Amedeo Marquez, Ph.D., Program Chair

Mark S. Langevin, Ph.D.

Myron Orleans, Ph.D.

Bonnie Ross, Ph.D.

Leslie Wasson, Ph.D.

Bachelor of Arts

We are all social beings; we must live in society and find ways to interact with others and make sense of the world that we create. Sociology is the study of our diverse ways of interacting and of the kinds of institutions and social systems we build. We both shape and are shaped by society.

Sociology is the study of how society organizes itself. The subject matter includes social institutions and culture, community life, family patterns and relationships, social change, social movements, gender and ethnic relations, race, social class, demographics, value systems, deviant behavior, conflict, mass media, health-seeking behavior, and the people and institutions of other societies and cultures.

Sociology is a valuable liberal arts major for students planning careers in educational, governmental and corporate settings. The undergraduate major provides the foundation for careers in social work, urban planning, public health, gerontology, medicine, law, criminal justice, social service agencies and other fields where an understanding of and knowledge of social institutions, social interaction, and a range of research techniques are needed. The sociology major also prepares students to enter graduate study programs and the student may choose between emphases in either sociology or social work.

All courses taken in the major program must be passed with a grade equivalent of "C" or higher. Courses may be used to fulfill both major and general education requirements.

Admission

Admission to the major requires completion of all other admission requirements and an autobiographical essay describing the student's background, personal and career goals, and the reasons he/she made the decision to major in sociology. This essay should represent the student's best writing ability, and should be turned in to the office of the Chapman University College campus where the student expects to take coursework. A completed essay is a requirement for admission, but will not be evaluated for purposes of making an admission determination.

Minor in Sociology