Sociology

Description

Do you want to make a difference? Our vast network of undergraduate and graduate alumni is making an impact every day in fields like social work, juvenile justice, victim advocacy, public policy and law. Arm yourself with the knowledge and training you need to fight for positive social change.

Sociologists are driven by the need to improve the lives of others. As a sociology major, you’ll study how humans relate to one another and why they thrive—and flounder—in different societies. By asking important questions about human behavior, family structures, socioeconomic differences, and gender gaps, you’ll become a catalyst for social change. Suffolk encourages students to think globally, and you’re urged to challenge the status quo and seek ways to improve our world. Sociologists often go on to careers in government, nonprofits, business, and law. A popular major, this department is the second-largest at Suffolk with a robust faculty and a helpful peer-to-peer tutoring program.

Suffolk underscores the importance of real-world experience. In addition to your coursework, juniors and seniors have the chance to engage in practicums to conduct fieldwork and help underserved segments of the population. Our well-connected faculty help students find internships at local courts, youth services centers, law firms, and crisis centers. Suffolk also offers a respected Master’s program in Crime and Justice. You’ll benefit from those resources, most notably our renowned Center for Crime and Justice Research. Suffolk is noted for expertise in:

• Juvenile justice

• Men in prison

• Domestic violence

Choose from concentrations in:

• General Sociology

  The General Sociology concentration gives students a broad base of knowledge in the social sciences by exploring issues of social injustice, progress, and economic disparity, and human behavior. This is an excellent choice if you’re interested in human services and community advocacy work. The broad base of courses in research, analysis, and the social sciences gives you a strong foundation for graduate work, too.

• Crime & Justice

  The concentration in Crime & Justice gives students the knowledge and skills to be effective in the various fields of adult and juvenile justice, youth development, community justice, criminal justice, victim advocacy, and human services. Suffolk is also home to the renowned Center for Crime & Justice Research. You’ll have the opportunity to work with the center to conduct specialized research projects to assist government agencies, private businesses, community groups, and academic institutions, and local courts.

• Health & Society

  The Health & Society concentration prepares students for employment in the health care sector. You'll gain an understanding of the ways in which cultural patterns influence bodies and health globally, as well as the health experiences of men, women, children, the elderly, and other populations. Many Health & Society students seek jobs in the health care sector upon graduation. These jobs may be in hospitals, government agencies, insurance companies, and community organizations. Or you can continue your education at the graduate level in education, public health, social work, hospital administration, or public administration.

• Youth & Community

Detailed Course Facts

• USD 16265 Semester (National)

Full-time: 12-17 credits per semester $16,265

Students must complete a minimum of 126 credits for graduation.

• English

Course Content

Students must complete a minimum of 126 credits for graduation.

The major in sociology consists of 9 courses (36 credits). Students will select one of four concentrations: (1) General Sociology, (2) Crime and Justice, (3) Health and Society, or (4) Youth and Community.

All sociology majors are exposed to the foundations of the discipline; the study of sociology beyond their concentration; and a focus within a selected concentration.

Regardless of concentration, all sociology majors are required to take 4 core courses:

Sociology Core Requirements (4 courses, 16 credits)

• Introductory (100-level) Sociology
• Research Methods
• A Theory course
• One Senior Seminar

Due to the sequencing and prerequisites of some required courses, students should plan to take their introductory-level course during their first year at Suffolk. Students must complete at least 20 credits in the major in residence at Suffolk.

Students who successfully fulfill the requirements for programs in Crime and Justice; Health and Society; or Youth and Community may apply for certificates of completion. Students should consult with their advisors on proper procedures for certificate awards.

Requirements

We do not use specific minimums for scores or grades in the decision process, but weigh all factors together to gain a whole view of you and your potential for success as a Suffolk University student:

• Level and range of high school courses selected
• Grades achieved (official high school transcript with senior year grades)
• SAT or ACT scores (our code is 3771)
• Recommendations (two required; one from a guidance counselor, one from a teacher)
• The essay
• Other required forms
• Admission interview (optional)
• Transfer students should view the transfer requirements page for more details.

In high school, you should have completed:

• Four units of English
• Three units of mathematics (algebra I and II and geometry)
• Two units of science (at least one with a lab)
• Two units of language
• One unit of American history
• Four units distributed among other college preparatory electives

We may also consider other factors in the review process, such as:

• Class rank
• Honors courses
• AP courses

We are also very interested in personal qualities that will offer us further insights into you as an applicant, including:

• Admission interview
• Extracurricular involvement
• Community service
• Special interests

Work Experience

No work experience is required.

Related Scholarships*

• Academic Excellence Scholarship

  "The Academic Excellence Scholarship can provide up to a 50 % reduction in tuition per semester. These scholarships will be renewed if the student maintains superior academic performance during each semester of their 3-year Bachelor programme. The scholarship will be directly applied to the student’s tuition fees."

• Alumni Study Travel Fund

  Scholarships for students who are already attending the University of Reading.

• Amsterdam Merit Scholarships

  The University of Amsterdam aims to attract the world’s brightest students to its international classrooms. Outstanding students from outside the European Economic Area can apply for an Amsterdam Merit Scholarship.

* The scholarships shown on this page are suggestions first and foremost. They could be offered by other organisations than Suffolk University.