Sociology

What You Will Learn

1. Identify and articulate the interplay of macro and micro level structural forces and the influence of culture in shaping behavior.
2. Understand the power dynamics in the social construction of society and its intersectionality with race, class, gender, sexuality, and nationality.
3. Recognize and communicate effectively about institutional challenges to and opportunities for freedom and democracy.
4. Understand the stratified nature of globalization and the importance of intercultural differences within and between local and global communities.
5. Identify, describe, and apply core sociological theories/perspectives to sociological phenomena.
6. Understand and describe the connection between sociological theory and methods in a cogent manner.
7. Understand and distinguish quantitative and qualitative research methods and identify their strengths and weaknesses.
8. Incorporate ethical considerations into research and other scholarly practices.

Students who wish to graduate with a full major in Sociology must satisfactorily complete a minimum of ten graded courses:

• The introductory course: SOC 001 PZ or SOC 001X PZ 
• One theory course: SOC 109 PZ or SOC 110 PZ or SOC 112 PZ (we strongly encourage students who are considering graduate work in sociology or a related field, such as social work, to take more than one theory course)
• Two methods courses: SOC 101 PZ and SOC 102 PZ (students may use CASA 105 in place of SOC 102 PZ and any statistics course can be used to fulfill SOC 101 PZ). We strongly recommend that students take SOC 101 PZ/SOC 102 PZ as soon as they declare the major or before senior year.
• Five additional sociology courses, at least two of which should be from Foundations.
• One Capstone course (SOC 199A PZ or SOC 199B PZ ), which are only offered during the spring semester.

No more than three courses can be counted to fulfill the requirements in another major or minor or be transferred from another institution. Independent studies cannot be used to fulfill these requirements.

CASA Pitzer Courses: Sociology will accept both CASA 101 and CASA 105 for two courses towards the major.

Honors

Students who have a minimum GPA (cumulative and in Sociology) of 3.5 may request that their senior thesis be considered for honors. Two faculty members (at least one of which must be in the sociology field group) must evaluate the research project and make a recommendation to the Sociology Field Group. In the case of combined majors, one faculty member from each field group must evaluate the project. Eligible students should begin thinking about an honors thesis at the end of their junior year and discuss their ideas for a thesis with two faculty members at the beginning of their senior year.

Students must complete the requirements of both majors, including any theses or honor requirements. No more than two courses can be counted to fulfill the requirements in both fields.

Students who wish to graduate with a combined major in Sociology must satisfactorily complete eight graded courses: either SOC 001 PZ or SOC 001X PZ; either SOC 109 PZ or SOC 110 PZ; both SOC 101 PZ and SOC 102 PZ; three additional sociology courses, at least two of which should be from Foundations; one Capstone course. No more than two courses can be counted to fulfill the requirements in both fields.

Students who wish to graduate with a minor in Sociology must satisfactorily complete six graded courses:

• Intro course – SOC 001 PZ or SOC 001X PZ
• One theory course: SOC 109 PZ or SOC 110 PZ 
• One methods course: SOC 101 PZ or SOC 102 PZ (Students may use CASA 105 PZ in place of SOC 102 PZ. If a student has already taken a statistics course in another field, then either the qualitative course SOC 102 PZ or any other Sociology course should be substituted).
• Three additional Sociology courses, at least two of which should be from Foundations.

No more than three courses can be counted to fulfill the requirements in another major or minor or be transferred from another institution. Independent studies cannot be used to fulfill these requirements.

CASA Pitzer Courses: Sociology accepts both CASA 101 PZ and CASA 105 PZ for two courses towards the minor.