Department
of Sociology
Behavioral & Social Sciences 518
(707) 826-3139
http://www.humboldt.edu/~soc
Affiliated Research Institutes
Altruistic Personality and Prosocial Behavior Institute
Center for Applied Social Analysis and Education (CASAE)
Department Chair
Mary Virnoche, Ph.D.
Graduate/Practicing Sociology Coordinator
Jennifer Eichstedt, Ph.D.
.
Sociology students find an active and supportive departmental culture that
surrounds course work in sociological theory, methods and current social issues.
Department faculty members have a strong commitment to social justice that
shapes course offerings and content. Students prepare themselves for sociology-related
careers as well as graduate studies. Service learning is integrated into the
curriculum through the social problems course that includes volunteering with
local community-based organizations.
The Sociology Student Association creates additional opportunities for students
to connect with each other, faculty and local community organizations. Because
of the breadth, adaptability and practical applications of Sociology, students
with a BA in Sociology choose to work in many different sectors: non-profit,
private business, social services, education, health services, public relations,
criminal justice and government.
In high school take math, writing and social science courses (history, psychology, sociology).
SOC
104 Introductory Sociology
SOC
282 Sociological Statistics, or
SOC
282L Sociological Statistics Lab
Students who have elsewhere completed a statistics course approved by the department may enroll in the lab only portion of SOC 282.
SOC
201 Social Problems
SOC
310 Sociological Theory
SOC
382 Introduction to Social Research
SOC 410 Contemporary Theory
SOC
303 Race & Ethnic Relations or
SOC 316
Gender & Society
Choose four courses with at least one from each category.
Inequality:
SOC
305 Sociology of the Modern World-System*
SOC 350 Social
Movements
SOC
420 Social Change
SOC
430 Criminology
SOC
431 Juvenile Delinquency
SOC
480 Special Topics
Environment:
SOC
302 Forests & Culture*
SOC
320 Social Ecology
SOC 363
Environmental Crime
SOC 370 Environmental
Inequality and Globalization
SOC
480 Special Topics
Communities:
SOC 306 Changing
Family*
SOC
308 Sociology of Altruism & Compassion*
SOC 330
Social Deviance
SOC 345 Cybersociety: Race, Class, & Gender
SOC 411 Popular Culture
SOC 475 Community Organizing
SOC
480 Special Topics
* Courses with General Education designation.
SOC 492 Senior Project
Undergraduate sociology students must earn a “C” or better
in all courses taken to satisfy the requirements of the degree. Total major
unit
requirement: 40.
•
No more than 8 units of SOC courses that have GE designations (*) can be counted
toward your major. Students may request that a Sociology course not listed
above be approved to count in one of the above knowledge areas.
•
The Department of Sociology offers 1-2 unit weekend workshops around pressing
social issues and popular topics. We encourage our students to enroll in these
workshops, but the units may not be counted as part of the required 40-unit
major requirement.
SOC
201 Social Problems
SOC
382 Introduction to Social Research
Plus twelve units of upper division sociology course work. No more than one elective
for your minor may be a sociology course with general education designation (*).
Students must earn a “C” or better in all sociology courses taken
to satisfy the requirements of the minor. To best meet student interests, minor
electives should be selected in consultation with a
sociology faculty member. Total minor unit requirement: 20
The Master’s Program in Sociology feeds the sociological imagination and effects change through education and community engagement. The program fosters a network of students, faculty, alumni and community members who are committed to social justice. Students develop a solid foundation in sociological theory, methods, professional socialization and hands-on field experience. Practical experience is accumulated in one of two program tracks: Teaching Sociology or Practicing Sociology. A total of 38 units are required to complete the degree.
(Teaching and Practicing Sociology Tracks)
SOC
583 Quantitative Methods (4 units)
SOC
610 Contemporary Social Theory (4 units)
SOC 650 Race,
Ethnicity & Gender (4 units), or
SOC 660 The Family (4 units)
Project/Thesis
After completing one semester or more of graduate work (preferably in the second
semester of course work), a student should consult with the Graduate Coordinator
and solicit the participation of three graduate faculty members to serve
on his or her thesis or project committee. The names of committee members
must be submitted to the Department. At this time, students must also apply
to the Graduate School for advancement to candidacy. Once a student has advanced
to candidacy, he or she is required to enroll in at least one unit of Thesis
or Project work every semester until work is complete and each committee
member has provided written acceptance of the work. Students must register
for a minimum of 6 units of SOC
690 Master’s Degree Thesis or SOC
692 Master’s Degree Project to complete a master’s in Sociology.
A maximum of 9 units of SOC
690 Thesis, SOC
692 Project, or SOC
699 Independent
Study may be counted toward the 38-unit Master’s in Sociology requirement.
Conditional Program Admission
Students who lack adequate undergraduate preparation in sociological theory
and methods may receive conditional program admission. Conditionally admitted
students must complete with a “B” or better all or some of the
following undergraduate courses:
SOC 282 Sociological Statistics (4 units)
SOC 310 Sociological Theory (4 units)
SOC 382 Intro to Social Research (4 units)
Track I: Teaching Sociology
The teaching track prepares graduate students for college teaching through
a practical presentation of the processes and issues involved in teaching
sociology. In addition to the general core requirements above, teaching track
students must take the following coursework:
SOC
560 Teaching Sociology (2 units)
SOC
595 Teaching Assistantship (2 units)
Fully admitted students are required to take SOC
560 during their first semester
and strongly encouraged to participate in a Teaching Assistantship while enrolled
in SOC
560.
Teaching Assistantship
Teaching Sociology students are required to complete at least one teaching
assistantship. Participation in a teaching assistantship requires prior or
concurrent enrollment in SOC
560. Teaching Assistants must enroll in SOC
595 Teaching Assistantship (2 units) each time they TA. Only one teaching assistantship
(2 units) counts toward the 38-unit degree.
Area Seminar Electives
SOC
520 Social Inequality (4 units)
SOC
530 Individual and Society (4 units)
SOC
540 Social Change (4 units)
SOC
550 Social Structure (4 units)
Teaching track students must take two (2) of the above area seminars (8 units).
Other Electives
Teaching track students must enroll in eight additional units of Sociology
course work to complete their 38-unit requirement. Four of these units must
be based in substantive (non-methods) course work. These units could include
an additional area seminar from the above list, another substantive graduate
seminar, or an upper division non-general education (GE) undergraduate sociology
course. If a graduate student enrolls in the latter, additional “graduate
student requirements” will be determined by that course instructor. The
final 4 elective units may be substantive or methodological. Methods-based
electives include the following:
SOC
584 Qualitative Methods (4 units)
SOC 535 Dispute
Resolution (4 units)
SOC 592 Program
Evaluation (4 units)
SOC
683 Advanced Research Training (4 units)
Teaching Internship (optional)
Select students will be invited to participate in SOC
682 Teaching Internship.
In the teaching internship, a student will work with a faculty member to teach
a section of Introductory Sociology.
As with the SOC
595 Teaching Assistantship, the SOC
682 Teaching
Internship units do not count toward the 38-unit degree requirements. However,
this more independent teaching experience will enhance teaching credentials.
Prerequisites for participating in the Teaching Internship include SOC
560 Teaching Sociology and SOC
595 Teaching Assistantship.
This discipline-specific program is designed to better prepare the graduate student interested in a teaching career at the community college or university level. Participation requires completion of, or current enrollment in, the sociology mas--ter’s program.
The certificate consists of five components (13 units), described below. After consulting with your graduate advisor, and under the advisement of the College Faculty Prep-aration Program coordinator, develop a plan of study tailored to meet your specific timelines and professional goals. The CFPP coordinator and the dean for Re-search and Graduate Studies must ap-prove each plan of study.
Notation of certificate completion will appear on your official university transcript.
Introduces undergraduate teaching through a practical presentation
of the processes and issues involved in sociology instruction.
Students work with instructors of core courses in sociology. Four
units, taken first or second semester of the MA program:
SOC
560 Teaching Sociology and
SOC
595 Teaching Assistantship
Guidance in the skills and knowledge relevant to teaching in
higher education. Three units, taken first or second semester
of the MA program:
EDUC
583 Teaching in Higher Education
Certificate requirements #3 & #4 come after completion of #1 (Discipline-Specific Teaching Methods) and after or concurrent with #2 (Higher Education Teaching Methods).
Explore the nature and philosophy of postsecondary institutions
and their roles and functions in higher education. One unit, concurrent
with the fourth requirement, which follows.
SP
684 Orientation to Higher Education
One of the following tracks:
OR
Guidance in developing a professional teaching portfolio and job-search support
materials. Two units, taken after all previous components have been completed.
SP
685 Instructional Resources for Higher Education
Track II: Practicing Sociology
Practicing Sociology provides foundational graduate level training in theory
and research methods, while assuring students have practical experience using
their sociological skills and knowledge to meet needs of community groups
outside the traditional college classroom. Sociology faculty members, along
with the Practicing Sociology Advisory Board, cultivate a range of opportunities
for students to practice sociology. Practicing Sociology students choose
one of two specializations: program evaluation or community action.
Specialization in Program Evaluation Program evaluation is the periodic, independent
and objective review and assessment of a program to evaluate program objectives,
design, and results. Drawing on sociological knowledge and skills, students
work collaboratively with existing local, regional and state organizations
to evaluate and inform existing programs.
Specialization in Community Action Drawing on sociological knowledge and skills,
students work collaboratively with existing local, regional and state organizations
to inform, develop, and/or implement programs or workshops.
The specialization is largely shaped by field placements that include serving
as research consultants to community groups, as well as working with community
groups to meet their programmatic, training or education needs.
In addition to the general core requirements above, Practicing Sociology students
must take the following course work:
SOC 590 Practicing
Sociology (1 unit taken 4 times)
SOC 584 Qualitative Methods (4 units)
Area Seminar Electives
SOC 520 Social Inequality (4 units)
SOC 530 Individual and Society (4 units)
SOC 540 Social Change (4 units)
SOC 550 Social Structure (4 units)
Practicing track students must take one (1) of the above area seminars (4 units).
Methods Electives
SOC 535 Dispute Resolution (4 units)
SOC 592 Program Evaluation (4 units)*
SOC 683 Advanced Research Training (4 units)
Practicing track students must take one (1) course (4 units) from the above
list of methods electives.
* Practicing Sociology students specializing in Program Evaluation must take
SOC 592 Program Evaluation.
Other Electives
Practicing track students must enroll in at least four (4) units of substantive
(non-methods) Sociology course work to complete their 38-unit requirement.
These units could include an additional area seminar from the above list, another
substantive graduate seminar, or an upper division non-general education (GE)
undergraduate Sociology course. If a graduate student enrolls in the latter,
additional “graduate student requirements” will be determined by
that course instructor.
Field Site Placement Requirements
Practicing Sociology students are required to complete 240 hours of field placement
related work that may include up to 40 hours of academic administrative work
such as scheduling and meeting with faculty advisors, preparing and submitting
required reporting and evaluation information, and formatting of final products
to graduate school requirements. Specialization requirements in “program
evaluation” or “community action” are largely defined by
placement work. Placement requirements are defined in the “placement
contract.”
Other Considerations
Teaching and Practicing Sociology students must earn a “B” (3.0)
or better in all courses taken to satisfy the requirements of the degree. The
department reserves the right to dismiss from the program a student who does
not make reasonable progress.
To help you plan your MA in Sociology, please request a “Graduate Program
Manual” from the Department.