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Majors & Minors
Sociology
PROGRAM OVERVIEW The study of sociology enables students to appreciate and engage the complexities of social life. The program in sociology is designed as a central component of the curriculum in the College of Arts and Sciences and in the University.
As a result of taking classes in sociology, students should develop an awareness of how sociologists produce knowledge, of the nature of that knowledge and of the relevance of sociological inquiry in society. Students should develop sociological imaginations and an ability to appreciate and articulate the connection between personal biography, social structure and human history, and they should be able to bring this imagination to focus in the effort to understand local national and global communities. Students must be intellectually and personally stimulated by their classroom experiences, must be able to think critically about those experiences and about the larger social arena in which their work has relevance, and gain a sense of the moral and ethical implications of the production and application of sociological knowledge.
The sociology major prepares students for careers in contemporary society and for graduate study in sociology and in other professional fields. Additionally, the sociology major enhances student preparation for effective participation in the community and society at large.
FACULTY The seven sociology faculty specialize in globalization, social inequality, criminology, deviance, race/ethnicity, gender and feminist studies, and science studies. Faculty have taught and conducted research in various capacities in Russia, China, and India, while also participating actively in local communities. They publish regularly, and are active professionally.
ACADEMIC PREPARATION There are no prerequisite high school courses or requirements needed for enrollment in the sociology program, but students should have a well-rounded academic high school curriculum.
REQUIREMENTS FOR MAJOR A minimum of 37 credit hours in sociology are required. The various courses in the sociology program examine social groups and processes in a wide diversity of contexts, with an emphasis on critical thinking and social justice. The program has flexibility built into the core course requirements and includes anthropology in the curriculum.
Transfer courses may not be used to fulfill the theory-intensive, methods-intensive or capstone requirements. To graduate with a sociology major, students must earn grades of "C" or higher in each core course. Students completing the sociology major may not earn a major in the anthropology and sociology major.
REQUIREMENTS FOR MINOR A minimum of 18 hours of coursework in sociology including one entry level course and an additional 15 hours of sociology courses are required for a minor. Specific courses are planned by the student in consultation with an academic adviser to complement the major and/or future career and educational goals. A maximum of six hours in anthropology courses may be part of the 18 hours required for the minor. A maximum of nine hours of transfer credit may be applied toward the sociology minor.
DRAKE CURRICULUM The Drake Curriculum, required of all undergraduates, is designed to help students meet personal and professional goals as they acquire fundamental knowledge and abilities in ten Areas of Inquiry, including communication, critical thinking, artistic experience, historical consciousness, information and technology literacy, international and multicultural experiences, scientific and quantitative literacy, values and ethics and engaged citizenship. Students work closely with their academic advisers to craft a program of study in general education that prepares students for civic and professional leadership.
The Drake Curriculum also requires first-year seminars, which foster development of critical thinking and written and oral communication skills through a topical focus; and a Senior Capstone, in which students demonstrate the capacity to bring information, skills and ideas to bear on one project.
INTERNSHIPS & OPPORTUNITIES Sociology majors obtain internship experiences in private and public agencies related to career and academic goals. Such internships may take students into law offices, agencies such as the Department of Elder Affairs or Children and Family Services, probation offices, domestic violence centers, or personnel offices of private corporations. Through the internship, students have the opportunity to bring their academic understanding to focus in the world outside the University. Numerous social agencies in Des Moines provide internships, including Children & Families of Iowa, Iowa Coalition for the Housing & Homeless, Urban Dreams, Refugee Cooperative Services, Young Women’s Resource Center, and others.
A digital film editing lab is available in Howard Hall for student digital video projects. The lab makes digital video cameras available to students and includes several Macintosh editing stations.
CAREER OPTIONS Sociology students have used their work in sociology to enter government positions, primarily in areas of social policy and programming. Other students pursue careers in the criminal justice system, including the FBI. Students also enter private business and management careers. Others pursue high-quality graduate programs in sociology and related fields. Some graduates choose employment in the student service area of higher education. Still others pursue studies in professional programs such as law, social work and journalism. A major in sociology is particularly well-suited to the student interested in shaping a career plan that reflects the details of his or her own past experiences, work, volunteer and socially responsible activities, and future aspirations.
HONORS Qualified students are invited to receive departmental honors. The McNurlen Award is given annually to the most outstanding senior sociology major, and the McNurlen Scholarship is given each year to the most outstanding junior sociology major. Sociology majors are eligible for membership in state, regional and national academic associations.
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS AND ACTIVITIES Alpha Kappa Delta is a national honor society open to students who have completed 12 hours of sociology courses with an overall GPA of at least 3.0.