DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY

Undergraduate Studies

Academic Advisors

Sociology majors and minors are each assigned a faculty advisor who is available to provide information and counsel throughout the student’s period of study at Case.  Advisors provide information about courses, concentrations, requirements, career issues, and other topics of concern.  As an undergraduate Sociology student, you are welcome to contact your advisor at any time to discuss questions and concerns.  If in the course of one’s studies, you find that your interests are shifting or for other reasons, you may also request to change advisors.

Each semester, during the pre-registration period you should have a discussion with your advisor, it is recommended that you come prepared for the consultation with your advisor about your course selection.  You need to check your status with regard to required courses, have a list of preferred courses, and a second list (in case those on your first list are closed) of backup courses.  When your advisor has approved your plan for the semester, s/he will release your advising hold.  Also, it is important that you arrange additional appointments throughout the semester to discuss any issues that you may have, as well as your general progress and future plans. 

An Undergraduate Major in Sociology

Sociology is a dynamic discipline that studies the fascinating realities of human interaction and variation in human social organization and the implications for the lives of individuals.  A major in Sociology provides a strong background for students considering careers in a broad array of fields including the health and social service professions, criminal and juvenile justice agencies, social research, public administration and program development, journalism, market research, social work, communications, teaching and business. A Sociology major also provides excellent preparation for advanced training for law school, medical school and for graduate study in social work, education and many other fields of advanced study.  A Sociology minor or other course work in Sociology offers excellent preparation to students majoring in other social and behavioral sciences, natural sciences, or humanities.

Undergraduate majors in Sociology are encouraged to experience firsthand the excitement of discovering and creating new knowledge through individualized research projects or other research experiences, either as part of a regular class, an independent study or an Honors project.  As an undergraduate Sociology student, you have the option of taking upper-level classes alongside graduate students in Sociology’s internationally recognized graduate program, which may provide added opportunities for research experience.  

Sociology majors have the option of choosing either a general Sociology curriculum or one of the four available concentrations: 1) Crime and Delinquency, 2) Health and Aging, 3) Gender, Work and Family and 4) Social Inequality. Concentrations are intended to guide you in the selection of courses relevant to your interests and future goals, as well as to provide a solid grounding in Sociology as one of the liberal arts sciences.  Students may thus connect their concentration to topics of interests, to possible employment opportunities, or to specific graduate and professional programs that you intend to pursue.

The major in Sociology is designed to serve the different educational goals of undergraduates: general education, pre-professional training, postgraduate employment, and preparation for graduate school.

The major requires a minimum of 30 hours of work. All majors complete the common core requirements: (12 hours):

• •SOCI 101 Introduction to Sociology:  Human Interaction
• •SOCI 300 Modern Sociological Thought
• •SOCI 303 Social Research Method
• •STAT 201 or PSCL 282 Statistics    
•                 
• •Plus, 18 hours of electives, consisting of any five courses in Sociology.
  • –SOCI 375 (Independent Study) is available to selected majors in their junior or senior year.

In addition to the requirements listed above for a Sociology major, Case Western Reserve University also requires all undergraduate students to participate in SAGES.  These requirements include First Seminar (first year), two University Seminars (by the end of the second year), a Department Seminar (third year) and finally a Senior Capstone.

Students may choose to complete their Capstone course in the department of their major or select the university-wide capstone course (UCAP 395) available to students who prefer to pursue a Capstone experience outside the constraints of approved departmental courses.  Students with two or more majors, only one senior capstone course is required in the major of choice or UCAP 395.

Undergraduate Handbook

An Undergraduate Minor in Sociology

The minor consists of 15 credit hours in Sociology.  Students must take the two required courses listed below plus three additional electives, of which at least two must be 300 level courses.

     SOCI 101 Introduction of Sociology:  Human Interaction

     SOCI 300 Modern Sociological Thought

Sociology Honors and Honorary Society

Honors in Sociology

Admission to the Departmental Honors Program is by faculty approval, and the planning of this project must start during the second semester of your junior year.  The year-long senior honors thesis program consists of two independent study courses:  SOCI 397 and SOCI 398.  To be accepted to senior honors courses, students must have demonstrated academic excellence and must earn at least a 3.4 general GPA and a 3.6 Sociology GPA.  The project will be structured as a two-semester experience and it calls for research and data collection, which can focus either on primary or secondary data.

SELECTING AN ADVISOR AND A THESIS TOPIC                                              

1. Identify topics that especially interest you.
2. Thesis topics usually emerge from courses that you have taken.
3. Since you will be working on this thesis for two semesters it is important to choose a topic that will hold your interest.
4. Selecting your thesis advisor is an important decision that you will make during this process.  You may consider both the professor’s expertise and the potential for a close working relationship.  Perhaps there is a particular professor who you think you can rely on for help, encouragement, and support.  The thesis advisor acts as your guide through the process of completing an honors thesis.
5. Make an appointment with the professor to discuss the possibility that person will serve as your thesis advisor.  Occasionally you may have to talk to several professors before finding the right faculty member who will direct your thesis.

Alpha Kappa Delta

The Department of Sociology at Case hosts the Iota chapter of Alpha Kappa Delta International Sociology Honor Society. As a new member of AKD, you will become part of a tradition of recognizing outstanding Sociology students that began in 1920. Since that time, over 80,000 students and faculty have been inducted into the society, and membership is lifetime. The AKD society’s purpose is, according to the AKD Handbook, “To promote an interest in the study of Sociology, research of social problems, and such other social and intellectual activities as will lead to improvement in the human condition”. Every year, during our annual Spring Honors & AKD Initiation Ceremony, an average of 18 well-deserving Sociology students are inducted into the Alpha Kappa Delta society. Candidates for membership must be Sociology majors with at least junior status, and must have an overall grade point average of 3.0 or greater and a grade point average in Sociology of 3.4 or greater.  If you meet these criteria and wish to join, contact the faculty advisor.

Interdisciplinary Programs Affiliated with Sociology

Gerontological Studies

B.A. in Gerontological Studies (Second Major or Minor Only)

The multidisciplinary Gerontological studies program is designed to integrate research and theory about aging and old age. Humanists, scientists, social scientists, and professionals have become interested in understanding the position of the aged in society, the aging process in various contexts, the meaning of aging to individuals, and the physical changes that accompany aging. The program draws on recent thinking and research in a variety of disciplines to provide students with a background that will be useful after graduation both in careers or graduate or professional school.  For more information, please visit http://www.case.edu/artsci/soci/gerontological.html or contact Professor Gary Deimling or Dale Dannefer in the Department of Sociology.

Gerontological Studies Informational Flyer

The Social Science Sequence for Engineers

Choose one of the following sequences listed below:

A.  Social Institutions

     Required Courses:
     SOCI 101: Introduction to Sociology
     OR
     SOCI 113:   Critical Problems in Modern Society

     Two (2) of the following courses:
     SOCI 204:   Criminology
     SOCI 300:   Modern Sociological Thought
     SOCI 320:   Delinquency and Juvenile Justice
     SOCI 328:   Urban Sociology
     SOCI 333:   Sociology of Deviant Behavior
     SOCI 349:   Social Inequality

B.  Human Behavior

     Required Courses:
     SOCI 101: Introduction to Sociology
     OR
     SOCI 113:   Critical Problems in Modern Society

     Two (2) of the following courses:
     SOCI 203:   Human Development:  Medical and Social
     SOCI 208:   Dating, Marriage and Family
     SOCI 222:   Gender in U.S. Society
     SOCI 361:   The Life Course
     SOCI 369:   Aging in American Society