The Sociology program offers students knowledge and resources to search systematically for answers to questions about society. Sociology students develop a sociological imagination, which is the ability to grasp the close relationship between personal experiences and the larger social world. Our Majors study social and cultural forces that shape individual and group behavior using a variety of scientific methods such as surveys, interviews, observation, and content analysis. By studying and critically assessing sociological theories, sociology students also describe, interpret, and explain how the world works.

Core courses provide excellent training in sociological concepts, theories, and methods. Electives focus on topics like the popular culture, families, inequalities, race and ethnicity, crime and deviance, anthropology, and global society. Sociology Majors may also engage in community research, service-learning projects, internships, and travel through coursework. Students with a bachelor's degree in sociology are well prepared for graduate and professional studies and careers using their interpersonal skills and specialized knowledge in the areas of social services, human rights, health and wellness, justice, advocacy, research, education, and social work.

To receive a degree in Sociology, a student must earn a grade C or better in all required core courses for the major: SOC-125 Introduction to Sociology SOC-125 Introduction to SociologySOC-125 Introduction to Sociology, ANTH-110 Cultural Anthropology or ANTH-111 Archaeology & Biological Anth , MATH-141 Introductory Statistics, SOC-301 Sociological Research Methods , and SOC-305 Sociological Theory, and Capstone. Courses may be retaken once to meet this requirement. If, after taking the course a second time, a student has not achieved the required grade, the student should meet with the student’s academic faculty advisor to discuss implications. If a student needs to take a course more than twice to progress in their Major, the student must receive written permission from the department responsible for the Major.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Major Requirements (40 Credits)
Core Courses (24 Credits)
SOC-125	Introduction to Sociology 2,3	4
SOC-301	Sociological Research Methods 2,3	4
SOC-305	Sociological Theory 2,3	4
MATH-141	Introductory Statistics 3	4
Select one of the following:		4
ANTH-110	Cultural Anthropology 2
ANTH-111	Archaeology & Biological Anth 2
Select one of the following: 1		4
ANTH-430	Ethnographic Research Meth
CJS-461	White-Collar Crime
CJS-465	Terrorism
CJS-471	Women and Crime
CJS-473	Race & Crime in Media
CJS-490	Advanced Topics in CJS
SOC-455	Special Populations & the CJS
SOC-475	Social Inequalities 4
SOC-490	Adv Topics in Sociology
Elective Courses (16 Credits)		16
Take 16 credits of electives in SOC, ANTH, or CJS with a minimum of 8 credits from Sociology. Twelve credits of electives must be at the 300-level or higher. Group 1: Take 16 elective credits in SOC (minimum 8 credits), ANTH, or CJS (maximum 4 credits). Group 2: Take a minimum of 12 credits of electives at the 300-level or higher. Group 3: Minimum of 8 credits must be in SOC.
Total Credits		40

¹

Students completing a double major in Criminal Justice Studies and Sociology must take a different 400-Level course for each major to fulfill each program's requirements.

²

Courses for the specialization that also fulfill requirements for the sociology Major are not counted twice for overall college credit.

³

Must earn a "C" or better.

⁴

May not count as an elective and also fulfill a capstone requirement.

Social Work Option

In Lieu of 16 credits in Sociology electives, Sociology Majors may choose the Social Work option by completing the following two courses (8 credits) plus 12 electives credits in the following manner. 

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Social Work Option (20 Credits)
Social Work Core Courses (8 Credits)
SOC-234	Intro to Social Work	4
SOC-310	Social Problems	4
Social Work Elective Courses (12 Credits)		12
SOC-320	Women, Gender & Society
SOC-345	Sociology of Families
SOC-357	Global Ethnic Relations
SOC-370	Homeless in NH & US
SOC-386	Race, State, & Justice
SOC-390	Studies in Sociology
SOC-475	Social Inequalities 4
Total Credits		20

⁴

May not count as an elective and also fulfill a capstone requirement.

Licensure as a Social Studies Teacher

Sociology is an approved Major for students seeking a Secondary Social Studies Licensure. Students will need to take the following additional licensure requirements:

Major in Education

• Secondary Education

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Requirements for Licensure (40 Credits)
HIST-161	American Encounters to 1877	4
HIST-162	American Encounters From 1877	4
HIST-111	Ancient & Medieval World	4
HIST-112	The Modern World	4
ECON-104	Intro to Macroeconomics	4
ENST-203	Globalization Culture & Place	4
PSYC-101	General Psychology	4
Select one of the following:		4
POSC-210	United States Politics	4
POSC-220	International Relations	4
Total Credits		40

Honors Program

Motivated sociology students may participate in an advanced program of research culminating in graduation with Honors in Sociology. Students electing to participate in this program complete all requirements for the Sociology major plus 8 credits of SOC-499 Senior Honor Thesis during the two semesters of the senior year.

Admission to the Honors Program is based on:

1. Self-nomination after completion of 80 credits with an overall and major GPA of 3.50 or above.
2. Support of an Honors Committee consisting of a faculty sponsor and two other faculty members, one of whom may be from a department other than Sociology. The Honors Committee will interview the student prior to enrollment in SOC-499 Senior Honor Thesis and notify successful applicants of their admission prior to enrollment.
3. Completion of, or enrollment in, at least five sociology courses, including SOC-301 Sociological Research Methods, and SOC-305 Sociological Theory. Final admission requires successful completion of those Sociology courses enrolled in at the time of application for admission to the Honors Program.

At the end of the senior year, each participant:

1. Submits a final written report on the Honors work for approval by the student's Honors Committee.
2. Presents the results of their work and responds to questions about the project and its relationship to the larger body of sociological knowledge, in a colloquium open to the public.
3. The student's Honors Committee votes on whether or not to accept the Honors project.

Students successfully completing all facets of the Honors Program and having an overall and major GPA of 3.50 or above will graduate with Honors in Sociology.

Institutional Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
General Education Explorations Requirements		40

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Institutional Requirements		120
Electives must be taken to reach at least 120 credits, (including GEE, major or minor credits), to satisfy degree completion requirements for the college.
40 credits must be at the 300 or 400-Level.

Upon completion of the Sociology B.A. degree, students will be able to:

• Think sociologically.
• Read and understand literature on complex social issues.
• Apply a comparative and international perspective to the study of social phenomena.
• Collect and analyze sociological data using appropriate research methods.
• Write a substantial research paper analyzing an important sociological issue.
• Critically assess, discuss, and write essays drawing on theoretical perspectives.
• Use sociological knowledge and abilities to contribute to their community and society.