Sociology, Department of

Introduction
Degree Description

Student Learning Outcomes
Programs and Courses Offered

Department Chair

Carter Rakovski

Department Office/Website

College Park 900
657-278-3531

https://sociology.fullerton.edu/

Faculty

Anthony Alvarez, Mariam Ashtiani, Christine Chin, Dana Collins, Ed Collom, Jorge Fontdevila, Christopher Gibson, Brianna Harvey, Sharon Kim, Patricia Literte, Edwin Lopez, Maria Malagon, Michael Perez, Carter Rakovski, Devon Thacker-Thomas, Berna Torr, Ed Watson

Introduction

Sociology is the systematic and scientific study of society and social behavior. Sociologists study how social norms and values affect people’s attitudes and behavior; using scientific methods to answer questions about all aspects of social life, ranging from brief interactions among strangers to large-scale social movements and global change. They use a variety of methods and data, such as surveys, interviews, observations and more, to answer research questions about people, their beliefs, actions and lives. Sociologists apply a critical lens to social institutions and are dedicated to studying social inequalities.

The sociology major provides students with skills, leading to careers in counseling, social work, education advising, criminal justice, substance use counseling, human resource management, research analyst, market research, politics, law, public administration, the nonprofit sector, international development, urban and environmental planning, public relations and other social service professions. The Bachelor of Arts in Sociology also prepares students for advanced studies in several areas, including sociology, social work, environmental studies, education, public health and urban planning.

The Sociology Department offers rigorous, quality academic programs. It provides a supportive student-centered learning environment. The department promotes student engagement in local and global communities for social justice purposes. Its faculty conduct academic research on a wide variety of areas of expertise, including race and ethnic relations, education, demography, gender and sexualities, crime and deviance, health and illness, economic sociology, political sociology, religion, and migration and globalization. They contribute to the public good by producing knowledge, engaging public policy, and by their commitment to social and scientific responsibility in the communities they study.

The Sociology department achieves its mission by:

Engaging in quality social research and other scholarly activities that advance knowledge in the sociological discipline and can be applied to teaching activities.
Providing students with knowledge and understanding of key sociological concepts, findings and theoretical approaches so that they can apply them critically and reflect on complex social issues and contexts, including their own.
Fostering critical thinking and analytical abilities among students to identify, for example, the structure of an argument, examine the implicit assumptions of an institutional practice or media message, and more generally, meet the challenges of a rapidly changing and uncertain world.
Creating a learning environment where students acquire and practice qualitative and quantitative research design and methods, academic writing skills and interpersonal communication skills to be professionally competitive in a multicultural and transnational job market.
Offering students opportunities to engage in experiential, cultural diversity learning and other high-impact educational practices, including student-faculty research collaborations, independent research, service learning, internships and study abroad programs.
Promoting civic engagement and good democratic citizenship among students, including respecting the rights, worth and dignity of all people, training in the standards of ethical research, professional fairness, and social and scientific responsibility.

Degree Description

A degree in Sociology is part of a strong program of social science studies that fosters critical thinking and analytical abilities, as well as develops the writing and communication skills that prepare students for a diverse and increasingly global job market. Through honing an understanding of and facility with both quantitative and qualitative methods of inquiry, the sociology major acquires a toolkit for problem solving. Majoring in Sociology prepares students for a wide range of occupations, including social work, market research and statistical analysis, education, criminal justice, business and management, graduate school, and community and social services, among others.

Student Learning Outcomes

Programs and Courses Offered

Programs

Bachelor of Arts

Master of Arts

Sociology, M.A.

Non-Degree

Sociology Minor

Courses

Sociology

Courses are designated as SOCI in the class schedule.