Requirements for the Major and Minor
Declaring a Major or Minor in Sociology
All students must officially declare their major or minor in Sociology by logging on to DORI
Go to the Index on the top menu bar and select Liberal Arts to find and fill out the form.
Requirements for the Major and Minor
A minimum of 34 semester hours is required for the Sociology major. These must iinclude:
* 101 Survey of Sociology
* 200W Classical Sociological Theory
* 201 Sociological Methods I
* 202 Sociological Methods II
* Sociological Methods II Lab
* 455W OR 456W Senior Seminar
Majors may choose one of three areas of concentration:
Major in Sociology without a Concentration
To major is sociology without a concentration, students may choose the remaining 15 credits from any of the Department’s course offerings (with the exception of 450 and 451 - see below)
Courses within the major should be scheduled in consultation with the student’s faculty mentor.
In addition, the major must complete Math 125 Fundamental of Statistics, offered by the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science.
This course may also satisfy the University Core requirement.
Concentration in the Major: Criminal Justice
A minimum of 34 semester hours is required for the concentration in Criminal Justice.
This program provides the student with the opportunity to develop knowledge and skills in preparation for advanced study or for career pursuits in areas including:
- probation
- parole
- law enforcement
- investigation
- corrections
- research
Required courses (19 credits):
* 101 Survey of Sociology
* 103 Introduction to Criminal Justice
* 200W Classical Sociological Theory
* 201 Sociological Methods I
* 202 Sociological Methods II
* 202L Sociological Methods II Lab
* 456 W Senior Seminar Criminal Justice
Nine of the remaining 15 credits must be selected from any courses in the concentration (course numbers are listed below).
Courses included in the Criminal Justice concentration are:
* 103 Introduction to Criminal Justice
* 211 Social Deviance
* 212 Drugs and Society
* 213 Criminology
* 216 Delinquency and Society
* 218 Treatment and Community Corrections
* 222 Introduction to Peace and Justice
* 264 Police and Society
* 310 The Law and the Juvenile Offender
* 311 The Law and the Adult Offender
* 314 The American Judicial System
* 321 White Collar and Corporate Crime
* 369 Race, Gender and Crime
* 409/509 Correctional Policy and Practice
* 450 Fieldwork
* 454 Selected Readings
We recommend that at least six credits be selected from courses at the 300 level or above. 3 credits must be selected from other Departmental offerings.
Concentration in the Major: Social Justice & Policy
A minimum of 34 semester hours is required for the concentration in Social Justice & Policy.
This concentration is designed for the student who is interested in applying sociological theory and research to an understanding of social policy and its applications.
It prepares the student for advanced study or careers in such areas as:
* urban planning
* local government
* human services
* gerontology
Required courses: (19 credits)
* 101 Survey of Sociology
* 106 Social Problems and Social Policy
* 200W Classical Sociological Theory
* 201 Sociological Methods I
* 202 Sociological Methods II
* 202L Sociological Methods II Lab
* 455W Senior Seminar-Sociology
9 credits from the following:
* 205 Person and Society
* 208 Racial and Ethnic Groups
* 215 Mass Media and Society
* 217 Social Movements
* 222 Intro to Peace and Justice
* 225 Family Systems
* 315 Socialization and the Life Cycle
* 318 Sociology of the City
* 320W Organizations
* 450 Fieldwork
The remaining 6 credits may be selected from any of the following:
* 404/504 The Social Landscape: Place, Space and Society
* 408/508 Population
* 409/509 Correctional Policy and Practice
* 415/515 Health, Illness and Social Policy
* 416/516 Minorities and Public Policy
* 421/521 Criminal Justice Policy
* 440/540 Family and Policy
(Note: The above (slash) courses may be taken only during the student’s senior year).
The student may be interested in applying to Duquesne’s Graduate Center for Social and Public Policy.
The successful applicant may apply the 6 credits of 400/500 level courses to the Master’s degree.
Concentration in the Major: Human Services
A minimum of 34 semester hours is required for the concentration in Human Services .
This concentration is designed to provide a knowledge base and fundamental skill development to those students interested in pursuing careers and graduate training in areas such as:
* social work
* human services administration
* community organization
It is a pre-professional concentration in its focus on both theoretical and applied concepts. As such, it combines course work with an internship experience.
Required courses (28 credits):
* 101 Survey of Sociology
* 200W Classical Sociological Theory 201 Sociological Methods I
* 202 Sociological Methods II
* 202L Sociological Methods lab
* 214 Helping Process
* 219 Introduction to Human Services
* 450 Fieldwork (6 credits)
* 455W Senior Seminar - Sociology
Three credits must be selected from the following:
* 106 Social Problems and Social Policy
* 203 Sociology of Aging
* 207 Sociology of Health and Illness
* 208 Racial and Ethnic Groups
* 218 Treatment and Community Corrections
* 225 Family Systems
* 315 Socialization and the Life Course
* 318 Sociology of the City
* 411 Aging and Mental Health
Three credits must be selected from the following:
* 415/515 Health, Illness, and Social Policy
* 416/516 Minorities and Public Policy
* 421/521 Criminal Justice Policy
* 440/540 Family and Policy
(Note: The above (slash) courses may be taken only during the student’s senior year).
The Sociology Minor
To earn a sociology minor you must enroll in a minimum of 15 semester hours, which must include 101 Survey of Sociology. You should design your minor in consultation with a sociology professor.
