Sociology
As a student in Â鶹ֱ²¥â€™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
Academic Department
Sociology
Duration
4-year
Required Credit Hours
33
"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 many professional fields."
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. 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.Major Concentrations
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:
Some examples of course options for the criminal justice concentration include:
It prepares you for advanced study or careers in such areas as:
Some examples of course options for the social justice & policy concentration include:
Program Requirements
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
Minor in Sociology (15 credits)