Program Purpose: Students graduating from the Sociology program will be able to demonstrate comprehension of the major sociological theories and relevant concepts, the scientific method, the variety and appropriateness of sociological research designs and the application and interpretation of findings from such research. Additionally students will be able to critically evaluate and apply theoretical concepts to specific cultural phenomenon past and present.

Program Description: Sociology is the scientific study of human behavior in groups and the social forces that influence that behavior. The Sociology program offers a diverse curriculum in an effort to provide students with the tools necessary to comprehend their social world, using sociological theory and methodology to focus on the building blocks of the social structure and culture. The program includes courses that explore how social institutions play integral roles in our society, how class, race, ethnicity, and gender interact with these fundamental social institutions, the inequalities that exist in society, the importance of norms and values, the deviations therein, and the origins of social problems, their potential solutions, and the challenge to the status quo. Upon completion of a sociology course, the student will have a greater understanding of her/his part in the social world, enhancing interpersonal relationships and relationships to the social structure. A student graduating with an Associate of Arts in Sociology may transfer to a four-year institution to complete a Bachelor's Degree. Because of the broad scope of subject matter, sociology is excellent preparation for a wide range of career paths, including teaching, journalism, law, business, communications, non-profit management, corrections/law enforcement, and employment in the human services fields.

Sociology, the study of society and social life, is concerned with such areas as bureaucracy, community, deviant behavior, family, public opinion, social change, social mobility, social stratification, and such specific problems as crime, divorce, child abuse, and substance addiction. Sociology provides many distinctive perspectives on the social world that can help students to gain a better understanding of themselves and the society of which they are a part.