Sociology

Learn how social context shapes your life and the lives of others.

Our students connect intellectually and personally with sociology coursework. They think critically about their classroom experiences, consider the larger social world, and identify the moral and ethical implications of sociological knowledge. In sum, they cultivate sociological imaginations—the ability to make connections between personal experiences, social structures, culture, and history.

Sociology examines the complexity of social life. We invite you to join us in exploration of topics that range from enduring forms of inequality to interactions between individuals. How is the world socially organized? What is society’s impact on individuals? Do culture and power shape the way we define social issues? How do societies differ around the world? Why are there inequalities based on race, class, gender, sexuality and age? Come explore the formation of personal identities as well as of collective movements for social change.

At Drake, sociology students thoughtfully engage with critical social issues. The program combines social theory and research design coursework with elective classes chosen by the student based on personal interests. Community-engaged learning provides hands-on experience with local, national, and global contexts. The major prepares students for graduate school and professional work in nonprofit sectors, government service, social services, law, human resources, higher education, and other fields.

Sociology Program Learning Goals

1. Theory: students will learn to recognize, critically engage with, and productively use key sociological concepts and perspectives.
2. Research design: students will learn how to ask critical questions about the social world and discover evidence to answer them.
3. Interdisciplinary knowledge building: students will learn to create constructive dialogues between sociological knowledge and other approaches to social and cultural analysis.
4. Critical and reflexive understanding: students will learn to locate and examine their experiences and beliefs – as well as larger public concerns – in the context of prevailing cultural discourses, social institutions, and power arrangements.
5. Praxis: students will learn to consider ethical, cultural, and political dimensions of civic participation and social change.

Degree Options

Bachelor of  Arts
Sociology
Sociology -w/Concentration in Social Services, Policy, and Advocacy
Sociology -w/Concentration in Crime, Violence, and Justice         

Minor
Sociology
Anthropology

Sociology Major (36 credits)
2025-26

Core Requirements (18 Credits):

• SOC 001: Introduction to Sociology (3 credits)
• SOC 042: Sociological Inquiry (3 credits)
• SOC 065: Social Science Data Literacy (3 credits) (Or Psych 11: Introductory Statistics)
• SOC 159: Social Research Practicum (3 credits)
• SOC 175: Theories of Inequality (3 credits)
• SOC 199: Senior Seminar on Community Engagement (3 credits)

Disciplinary Sociology Electives (12 Credits)

• Up to 6 credits can be from Anthropology.
• At least 6 must be upper-level credits

 Cognate Electives (6 credits)

• Any 6 credits of related electives from the following disciplines—at least 3 credits must be upper-level
  • Economics
  • Education
  • English
  • Environmental Science and Policy
  • History
  • Law, Politics, and Society
  • Philosophy
  • Politics and International Relations
  • Psychology
  • Religion

To graduate with a sociology major, students must earn a grade of "C-" or higher in each core course. SOC majors may not earn a double major in ANSO.

Sociology Major with Concentration in Social Services, Policy and Advocacy (42 credits)
2025-26

Core Requirements (21 Credits):

• SOC 001: Introduction to Sociology (3 credits)
• SOC 042: Sociological Inquiry (3 credits)
• SOC 060: Social Services, Policy and Advocacy (3 credits)
• SOC 065: Social Science Data Literacy (3 credits) (Or Psych 11: Introductory Statistics)
• SOC 159: Social Research Practicum (3 credits)
• SOC 175: Theories of Inequality (3 credits)
• SOC 199: Senior Seminar on Community Engagement (3 credits)

Communication Elective: Choose one of the following (3 credits)

• SOC 90: Effective Listening
• ANTH 136: Digital Storytelling
• ENG 094: Business & Administrative Writing
• ENG 119: Community Writing
• ENSS 54: Environmental Communication
• WLC 148: Intercultural Communication

Disciplinary Sociology Electives (9 Credits)

• Choose 9 credits from sociology electives, with at least 3 credits upper-level.

Cognate Electives (9 credits)

An additional 9 credits of electives can be chosen from sociology, anthropology or approved courses from following disciplines.  No more than 6 credits can come from the same discipline with the exception of sociology and anthropology.

• Anthropology
• Economics
• Education
• English
• Environmental Science and Policy
• History
• Law, Politics, and Society
• Philosophy
• Politics and International Relations
• Psychology
• Religion
• Sociology

To graduate with a sociology major, students must earn a grade of "C-" or higher in each core course. SOC majors may not earn a double major in ANSO.

Sociology Major with Concentration in Crime, Violence and Justice (42 credits)
2025-26

Core Requirements (21 Credits):

• SOC 001: Introduction to Sociology (3 credits)
• SOC 042: Sociological Inquiry (3 credits)
• SOC 062: Crime and Justice (3 credits)
• SOC 065: Social Science Data Literacy (3 credits) (Or Psych 11: Introductory Statistics)
• SOC 151: Criminology Or ANTH 170: Global Political Violence
• SOC 175: Theories of Inequality (3 credits)
• SOC 199: Senior Seminar on Community Engagement (3 credits)

One course in the area of race and ethnicity from list: (3 credits)

• SOC 161: Issues in Race and Ethnicity
• SOC 167: Sociology of the African-American Experience
• EDUC 164: Perspectives on Race, Ethnicity, and Gender

Disciplinary Sociology Electives (9 Credits)

• Choose 9 credits from sociology electives, with at least 3 credits upper-level.

Cognate Electives (9 credits)

An additional 9 credits of electives can be chosen from sociology, anthropology or approved courses from following disciplines.  No more than 6 credits can come from the same discipline with the exception of sociology and anthropology.

• Anthropology
• Economics
• Education
• English
• Environmental Science and Policy
• History
• Law, Politics, and Society
• Philosophy
• Politics and International Relations
• Psychology
• Religion
• Sociology

To graduate with a sociology major, students must earn a grade of "C-" or higher in each core course. SOC majors may not earn a double major in ANSO.

Catalog 2024-25

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