Sociology BA

Major: Sociology
Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Calendar Type: Quarter
Minimum Required Credits: 1
80.0
Co-op Options: Three Co-op (Five years); One Co-op (Four years); No Co-op (Four years)
Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code: 45.1101
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) code: 19-3041

About the Program

Sociology investigates how communities are formed and maintained and how people resist social conventions and inequalities. The Sociology major at Drexel University has three components: theory, methods, and substantive coursework. It also features specialized coursework relating to social justice issues.

Sociology is the systematic study of societies. Society is the sum total of individual and group interactions and relations from small groups and families to global networks and complex social organizations. The discipline covers a wide variety of fields of inquiry. Sociologists examine structural relations and are committed to developing a critical understanding of these relationships. Thus, the Sociology major stresses theory, research methods, and quantitative and qualitative data analysis. These are then applied to a wide variety of substantive areas including, but not limited to, social inequality, political power, gender, sexuality, class, race, ethnicity, family, health, cities and neighborhoods, technology and environmental change, as well as social and political movements connected with social change. The stress on critical understanding means that Sociology majors will strive not only to develop strong analytic abilities but an intellectual and ethical engagement reflected in sociologically informed thinking and action. The research and analytical skills developed in our program are sought after by a wide variety of professions.

Specialized social justice coursework is typically carried out in connection with community groups and organizations. It is a way the Sociology Program and Drexel University as a whole seek to become practically engaged with the wider community while promoting social justice.

Drexel Co-op for Sociology Majors

Sociology majors at Drexel embark on up to three, six-month periods of employment — exploring their career options, strengthening their résumés and building a professional network in the process. Students have the opportunity to earn a salary while gaining practical skills, making them competitive applicants when entering the job market. 

Additional Information

For more information about the Sociology major, visit the Department of Sociology webpage. 

Degree Requirements 

General Requirements
CIVC 101Introduction to Civic Engagement1.0
COOP 101Career Management and Professional Development *1.0
ENGL 101Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research3.0
or ENGL 111 English Composition I
ENGL 102Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing3.0
or ENGL 112 English Composition II
ENGL 103Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres3.0
or ENGL 113 English Composition III
UNIV H101The Drexel Experience1.0
UNIV H201Looking Forward: Academics and Careers1.0
Two Consecutive Foreign Language Courses **8.0
College of Arts and Sciences Core Curriculum***
Developing Quantitative Reasoning***6.0-8.0
Two courses in MATH based on placement exams OR
Symbolic Logic I
Symbolic Logic II
Engaging the Natural World***6.0-8.0
Analyzing Cultures & Histories***6.0-8.0
Understanding Society & Human Behavior***6.0-8.0
Cultivating Global Competence***6.0-8.0
Perspectives in Diversity***3.0-4.0
Sociology Core Requirements
SOC 101Introduction to Sociology3.0
Required Major Capstone4.0
Capstone in Sociology
Theory Sequence8.0
Classical Social Theory
Contemporary Social Theory
Methods Sequence8.0
Research Design: Qualitative Methods
Research Design: Quantitative Methods
Required Sociology Electives40.0
Select at least 10 of the following: (At least four must be at the 300 or 400 level; and at least one must be at the 400-level.)
Social Problems
Medicine and Society
Race, Ethnicity and Social Inequality
Sociology of Work
Wealth and Power
Sociology of the Family
Sex and Society
Gender and Society
Sociology of Health and Illness
Sociology of Health Professions
Urban Sociology
Sociology of the Environment
Sex and The City
Sociology of Sport
Sociology of Aging
Global Climate Change and Society
Gentrification and Neighborhood Change
Sociology of Global Health
Social Networks and Health
Sociology of Deviance
Development and Underdevelopment in the Global South
Sociology of Education
Globalization
Environmental Justice
Sociology of Disasters
Practicum in Applied and Community Sociology
Medicine, Technology and Science
Housing and Homelessness
Imagining Multiple Democracies
Love, Rage & Debt: The Debt Society
Politics of Life
Social Movements
Sociology Research Seminar I: Research Design
Sociology Research Seminar II: Data Acquisition and Analysis
Sociology Research Seminar III: Practicum in Sociological Research
Special Topics in Sociology
Free Electives63.0
Total Credits180.0-191.0
*

Students not participating in co-op will take one additional credit of free elective instead of COOP 101.

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major. 

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

**

Select from one of the following:

Two courses in: ARBC 103 or ARBC 201-499, CHIN 103 or CHIN 201-499, FREN 103 or FREN 201-499, GER 103 or GER 201-499, JAPN 103 or JAPN 201-499, KOR 103 or KOR 201-499, SPAN 103 or SPAN 201-499.

At least one foreign language course must be at the 200-level. In addition, the department recommends students take two additional foreign language courses as free electives.

***

See Core Curriculum List for complete list of course options.

Writing-Intensive Course Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.

A "WI" next to a course in this catalog may indicate that this course can fulfill a writing-intensive requirement. For the most up-to-date list of writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Writing Intensive Course List at the University Writing Program. Students scheduling their courses can also conduct a search for courses with the attribute "WI" to bring up a list of all writing-intensive courses available that term.

Sample Plan of Study

4 year, no co-op

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
ENGL 101 or 1113.0CIVC 1011.0ENGL 103 or 1133.0VACATION
SOC 1013.0ENGL 102 or 1123.0Free electives8.0 
UNIV H1011.0Foreign Language course4.0Perspectives in Diversity 3.0-4.0 
Developing Quantitative Reasoning3.0-4.0Sociology required elective4.0  
Foreign Language course4.0Understanding Society & Human Behavior3.0-4.0  
 14-15 15-16 14-15 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
SOC 2414.0SOC 2424.0SOC 3554.0VACATION
Developing Quantitative Reasoning3.0-4.0Analyzing Cultures & Histories 3.0-4.0Analyzing Cultures & Histories 3.0-4.0 
Sociology required electives8.0Engaging the Natural World3.0-4.0Free electives6.0 
 Sociology required elective4.0Understanding Society & Human Behavior3.0-4.0 
 15-16 14-16 16-18 0
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
SOC 3564.0UNIV H2011.0Free electives9.0VACATION
Free electives8.0Free electives6.0Cultivating Global Competence 3.0-4.0 
Sociology required elective (300-level)4.0Sociology required elective4.0Sociology required elective (300-level)4.0 
 Sociology required elective (300-level)4.0  
 16 15 16-17 0
Fourth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
Cultivating Global Competence 3.0-4.0Free electives9.0SOC 4504.0 
Free electives6.0Sociology required elective (400-level)4.0Free electives12.0 
Engaging the Natural World3.0-4.0   
Sociology required elective4.0   
 16-18 13 16 
Total Credits 180-191

4 year, 1 co-op

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
ENGL 101 or 1113.0CIVC 1011.0COOP 101*1.0VACATION
SOC 1013.0ENGL 102 or 1123.0ENGL 103 or 1133.0 
UNIV H1011.0Foreign Language course4.0Free electives7.0 
Developing Quantitative Reasoning3.0-4.0Sociology required elective4.0Perspectives in Diversity3.0-4.0 
Foreign Language course4.0Understanding Society & Human Behavior3.0-4.0  
 14-15 15-16 14-15 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
SOC 2414.0SOC 2424.0SOC 3554.0SOC 3564.0
Developing Quantitative Reasoning3.0-4.0Analyzing Cultures & Histories3.0-4.0Analyzing Cultures & Histories 3.0-4.0Free electives8.0
Sociology required electives8.0Engaging the Natural World3.0-4.0Free electives6.0Sociology required elective (300-level)4.0
 Sociology required elective4.0Understanding Society & Human Behavior 3.0-4.0 
 15-16 14-16 16-18 16
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
UNIV H2011.0Cultivating Global Competence 3.0-4.0COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCE
Free electives6.0Free electives9.0  
Sociology required elective4.0Sociology required elective (300-level)4.0  
Sociology required elective (300-level)4.0   
 15 16-17 0 0
Fourth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
Cultivating Global Competence 3.0-4.0Free electives9.0SOC 4504.0 
Engaging the Natural World3.0-4.0Sociology Required elective (400-level)4.0Free elective12.0 
Free electives6.0   
Sociology required elective4.0   
 16-18 13 16 
Total Credits 180-191
*

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 001 in place of COOP 101.

5 year, 3 co-op

First Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
ENGL 101 or 1113.0CIVC 1011.0COOP 101*1.0VACATION
SOC 1013.0ENGL 102 or 1123.0ENGL 103 or 1133.0 
UNIV H1011.0Foreign Language course4.0Free electives7.0 
Developing Quantitative Reasoning3.0-4.0Sociology required elective4.0Perspectives in Diversity3.0-4.0 
Foreign Language course4.0Understanding Society & Human Behavior 3.0-4.0  
 14-15 15-16 14-15 0
Second Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
SOC 2414.0SOC 2424.0COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCE
Developing Quantitative Reasoning3.0-4.0Analyzing Cultures & Histories 3.0-4.0  
Sociology required electives8.0Engaging the Natural World3.0-4.0  
 Sociology required elective4.0  
 15-16 14-16 0 0
Third Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
SOC 3554.0SOC 3564.0COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCE
Analyzing Cultures & Histories 3.0-4.0Free electives8.0  
Free electives6.0Sociology required elective (300-level)4.0  
Understanding Society & Human Behavior 3.0-4.0   
 16-18 16 0 0
Fourth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
UNIV H2011.0Free electives9.0COOP EXPERIENCECOOP EXPERIENCE
Free electives6.0Cultivating Global Competence 3.0-4.0  
Sociology required elective4.0Sociology required elective (300-level)4.0  
Sociology required elective (300-level)4.0   
 15 16-17 0 0
Fifth Year
FallCreditsWinterCreditsSpringCredits 
Cultivating Global Competence 3.0-4.0Free electives9.0SOC 4504.0 
Free electives6.0Sociology required elective (400-level)4.0Free electives12.0 
Engaging the Natural World3.0-4.0   
Sociology required elective4.0   
 16-18 13 16 
Total Credits 180-191
*

Co-op cycles may vary. Students are assigned a co-op cycle (fall/winter, spring/summer, summer-only) based on their co-op program (4-year, 5-year) and major.

COOP 101 registration is determined by the co-op cycle assigned and may be scheduled in a different term. Select students may be eligible to take COOP 101 in place of COOP 101.

Co-op/Career Opportunities

Sociology majors at Drexel embark on up to three, six-month periods of employment — exploring their career options, strengthening their résumés and building a professional network in the process. Students have the opportunity to earn a salary while gaining practical skills, making them competitive applicants when entering the job market. 

An undergraduate degree in sociology is excellent preparation for law school, medical school, or for graduate work in such fields as sociology, history, gerontology, or political science.

Outside of academics, sociologists work in a wide variety of settings. Some serve as statistical analysts for market research firms, health care agencies, and government. Others are involved in urban planning, survey research, public relations, agency management, trend analysis, or criminal justice. There are sociologists of religion working for national church organizations, and sociologists specializing in gerontology who are engaged in research or administration for agencies concerned with the aged.

Co-op Experiences

Some recent co-op positions held by sociology students include the following:

Visit the Drexel Steinbright Career Development Center page for more detailed information on co-op and post-graduate opportunities.

Sociology Faculty

Susan E. Bell, PhD (Brandeis University). Professor. Sociology of health and illness; global and transnational health; reproductive health, rights, and justice; experience of illness; narrative; visual sociology
Jessica Cohen, PhD (Bowling Green State University). Associate Teaching Professor. Family demography.
Mary Ebeling, PhD (University of Surrey). Professor. Science and technology studies; emerging technologies and biocapital; media and democratic cultures; radical social movements; sociology of markets; political sociology; and ethnographic methodologies.
Sarah Hosman, PhD (Boston University). Assistant Teaching Professor. Urban sociology, Gentrification, Cultural sociology, Economic Sociology, Narratives of place, Ethnography
Xiaorui Huang, PhD (Boston College). Assistant Professor. Environmental Sociology; Human Drivers of Climate Change; Global Political Economy; Quantitative Longitudinal Analysis.
Sonali Jain, PhD (Boston University). Associate Teaching Professor. South Asia, Race, Ethnicity, Gender, Transnationalism.
Kelly Joyce, PhD (Boston College). Professor. Science, medicine and technology; aging and technology; qualitative social science methods; healthcare and medicine.
Emmanuel F. Koku, PhD (University of Toronto). Associate Professor. Social network analysis; qualitative/quantitative research; medical sociology; social epidemiology; social demography; sociology of development; communication and information technology; community and urban sociology.
Nada Matta, PhD (New York University). Assistant Professor. Political Economy, Social Movements, Middle East Studies, Gender Studies, Revolutions, Inequality.
Elizabeth McGhee Hassrick, PhD (University of Chicago). Assistant Professor. . Sociology of Education;Educational Inequality; Social Networks; Organizational Sociology; Sociology of Disability
Amanda McMillan Lequieu, PhD (University of Wisconsin-Madison). Assistant Professor. Environmental sociology, political economy, place and space, rural-urban interface, qualitative and historical methodologies.
Brad Nabors, PhD (University of Southern California). Assistant Teaching Professor. . Cultural sociology; Sociology of religion; Social Theory.
Diane Sicotte, PhD (Arizona State University). Associate Professor. Sociology of environmental justice; inequalities in the citing of environmental hazards; community-based research in neighborhoods dealing with industrial hazards; sociology of the environment; urban sociology; social inequalities.
Kelly Underman, PhD (University of Illinois at Chicago). Associate Professor. Medical education, the social construction of bodies and emotions and the politics of scientific knowledge production.

Emeritus Faculty

Robert J. Brulle, PhD (George Washington University). Professor Emeritus. Environmental policy and politics, critical theory, marine risk, social movements, environmental sociology.
Arthur Shostak, PhD (Princeton University). Professor Emeritus. Futurism, race and ethnic relations, social implications of 20th century technology, urban sociology.
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