Sociology

As a student in Duquesne University’s Department of Sociology, you’ll gain a greater understanding of the social structures and processes that underlie our daily lives, attaining a heightened awareness of the possibilities of social-scientific research for increasing our understanding of society.

Against the broad backdrop of our liberal arts education, you’ll explore topics that cover many aspects of social problems, policy and human interaction, ranging from criminal justice and global cultures to the sociological aspects of aging, health, ethnicity and peace and justice. Few fields have such broad scope and relevance for research, theory and application of knowledge.

As a sociology major, you can have a general sociology focus or choose one of two other areas of concentration: criminal justice or social justice & policy.

Through Duquesne's core curriculum, you’ll learn social theory and research methods, which provide the basic knowledge necessary for graduate study or employment in the social sciences. Our vast array of elective courses will provide you with deep knowledge relevant to specific areas of your interests.

If you’d prefer to major in another discipline, you can minor in sociology, criminal justice or health and human services, any of which would give you a thorough grounding in the field.

 

Program Information

Within our liberal arts education, explore Sociology topics encompassing social problems, policy, human interaction, criminal justice, global cultures, aging, health, ethnicity, and peace and justice. Uncover broad scope and relevance for research, theory, and practical application of knowledge.

Program Type

Major, Minor

Degree

Bachelor's

School

McAnulty College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts

Academic Department

Sociology

Duration

4-year

Required Credit Hours

120

Modality

In-Person

What Can You Do With a Sociology Degree?

Aidan Reilly, A'26, earned a double major in psychology and sociology with a minor in history before going on to pursue a master's in social work at his top-choice graduate school.

During his time at Liberal Arts, Aidan discovered a passion for phenomenological research through faculty like Dr. Leswin Laubscher and Dr. Ann Marie Popp.

"I was primarily drawn to this type of research due to its ability to go in depth with individuals about their own experiences," he said. "The emphasis on lived experience from real people that I get to know well is an important aspect of the scholarship that I find most fulfilling."

His studies gave him a strong grounding in the ethics of working with vulnerable populations.

"Liberal Arts did a great job emphasizing responsibility and care," he said. "Various classes also addressed the ethical concerns and moral responsibility of working with human research participants."

Aidan's commitment to phenomenology earned him the Jurczak Excellence in Sociology Award.

"My professors and fellow students are some of the smartest, hardest working, and empathetic people I have ever met. The people here are truly special, and I've made long-lasting connections that will never go away," he said.
Aidan Reilly reads a book in the community garden on Academic Walk.

Ready to find your focus?

Explore sociology at Duquesne

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Career Skills and Success

Delaney Fiore on the beach.

Studying sociology here has broadened my horizons, allowing me to understand the world in a new way. The various opportunities available to students in this program also helped develop my writing and research skills, which are essential in my professional field.

Delaney Fiore, A'23 Associate Policy Analyst, New Jersey Assembly Democratic Office

Major Concentrations

The criminal justice concentration provides substantive background for work or further education in the criminal justice field.

As a student with this concentration, you will have the opportunity to develop knowledge and skills in preparation for advanced study or for career pursuits in areas including:
  • Corrections
  • Investigation
  • Law Enforcement
  • Probation
  • Parole
  • Research
Some examples of course options for the criminal justice concentration include:
  • SOCI 211 Social Deviance (3 cr.)
  • SOCI 212 Drugs and Society (3 cr.)
  • SOCI 218 Treatment and Community Corrections (3 cr.)
  • SOCI 264 Police and Society (3 cr.)
  • SOCI 371 Race, Crime and Justice (3 cr.)
  • SOCI 409 Correctional Policy and Practice (3 cr.)
The social justice & policy concentration is designed for students who are interested in applying sociological theory and research to an understanding of social policy and its applications.

It prepares you for advanced study or careers in such areas as:
  • Gerontology
  • Human services
  • Local government
  • Urban planning

Some examples of course options for the social justice & policy concentration include:
  • SOCI 208 Racial and Ethnic Groups (3 cr.)
  • SOCI 215 Sociology of Media: From Print to Social Media (3 cr.)
  • SOCI 217 Protest and Social Movements (3 cr.)
  • SOCI 225 Family Systems (3 cr.)
  • SOCI 305 Person and Society (3 cr.)
  • SOCI 309 Social Stratification (3 cr.)

Program Requirements

View Catalog
All sociology majors must complete the following courses:
  • SOCI 101 Survey of Sociology (3 cr.) 
  • SOCI 200W Classical Sociological Theory (3 cr.)
  • SOCI 201 Research Methods (3 cr.)
  • SOCI 202 Quantitative Analysis (3 cr.) 
  • SOCI 455W or 456W Senior Seminar (3 cr.)
  • MATH 125 Fundamentals of Statistics (3 cr.)
If you choose to concentrate in either criminal justice or social justice & policy, the remaining major credits must go toward the concentration.

You can also choose to study sociology without a concentration. You would just take elective sociology credits around your areas of interest for the remainder of your program (at least 6 credits need to be at the 300-level or above).

Research in Sociology

Explore the major far beyond the classroom.

You’ll research topics as diverse as street crime and delinquency, corporate downsizing, how people express emotions, welfare, education reform, families, peace and war. And you’ll learn to understand social inequality, patterns of behavior, forces for social change and resistance and how social systems work.

Minor in Sociology (15 credits)

The minor in sociology is intended to provide you with a brief background in the same essential knowledge, substantive application and general perspectives provided in our sociology major while fostering critical thinking about society and culture.

If you minor in sociology, you will be required to take 15 credits: SOCI 101 Survey of Sociology and 12 additional credits in sociology.

Learning Outcomes

In addition to the Liberal Arts General Outcomes for all Undergraduate Degree Areas, students in the B.A. in Sociology program will demonstrate the following general competencies:
  1. Sociological imagination: Examine the relationship between the individual and society using their sociological imagination.
  2. Theoretical perspectives: Explain the theoretical approaches used by sociologists.
  3. Own research projects: Use their sociological imagination, theoretical knowledge and research skills to conduct their own research projects.
  4. Research methods: Describe the research methods used to study society.
  5. Substantive areas: Identify the kinds of questions asked and the substantive areas studied by sociologists.