Course Listings
Sociology
A major and a minor are available in Sociology.
Major in Sociology
41-43 credit hours
Core courses
(20-22 credit hours)
Elective and related courses
(21 credit hours):
- Choose four of the following courses12
- CJRJ 200 Sociology of Crime and Deviance
- SOC 210 Sociology of the Family
- SOC 230 Ethnography and Culture
- SOC 236 Latin American Societies & Cultures
- SOC 240 African Societies and Cultures
- SOC 302 Urban Diversity
- SOC 315 Religion in Culture and Society
- SOC 320 Environmental Sociology
- SOC 331 Social Justice and Social Change
- SOC 351 Contemporary Issues:
- SOC 430 Environmental Justice
- Choose one of the following (Identities & Inequalities)3
- Choose one of the following (Politics & Social Change)3
- Choose one of the following (Sustainability & Human Ecology)3
Student learning outcomes
Graduates in Sociology will:
- Demonstrate knowledge of basic sociological concepts, principles, and theories.
- Demonstrate knowledge of basic principles of social research methodology.
- Identify an original sociological question and design an appropriate strategy to research that question.
- Use appropriate ethical and methodological practices to gather evidence.
- Describe, analyze, and interpret evidence from a variety of perspectives.
- Skillfully communicate sociological arguments in written and oral form.
- Interpret the moral responsibilities of sociological work for their own future.
Planning guide
| First Year | Goshen Core SST language prerequisite Principles of Sociology Lower level sociology electives |
| Second Year | Social Theory Lower level sociology courses Goshen Core SST |
| Third Year | Methods of Social Research Junior Seminar in Social Research Race, Class & Ethnic Relations Goshen Core Upper level sociology electives |
| Fourth Year | Senior Seminar Upper level sociology electives Field experience Balance of Goshen Core |
Planning and advising notes
The sociology major includes a collaboration between three Mennonite educational institutions. In addition to courses on campus, students will have the opportunity to take courses with sociology faculty members at Bluffton University (Ohio) and Eastern Mennonite University (Virginia). These courses will be offered in various distance education formats.
Minor in sociology
18 credit hours
Planning and advising notes
The minor in sociology is not available to students majoring in social work. For elective sociology courses in the minor, courses taught from within the sociology department (not cross-listed from other departments) are strongly preferred.
SOC 200 Principles of Sociology
An introduction to the principles and methods used in the study of human society. Includes a survey of topics in social problems, social inequalities, social identity, human ecology and social change.
SOC 310 Social Theory
A comparative study of prominent social theorists of the past 200 years with specific attention to their interpretations of social changes related to modernity, globalization, and identity. Includes an examination of the purpose of social theory particularly as it relates...
SOC 334 Race, Class & Ethnic Relations
A study of race/ethnic group interaction, gender and class dynamics focusing on marginalized groups in the U.S. Attention is given to social class, power and majority-group dominance as factors in assimilation and culture-loss or collective self-determination and maintenance of cultural...
SOC 391 Methods of Social Research
(Cross-listed from SoWk 391) An introduction to the principles and methods of social research. Students will develop the knowledge and skills needed to develop and evaluate research designs, interpret both qualitative and quantitative research, and be effective consumers of research...
SOC 392 Junior Seminar in Social Research
Philosophy of science in sociology; synthesis of theory and method; choice of a topic and initial literature review, research design and piloting of any instruments in preparation for Soc 409 Field Experience and Soc 410 Senior Seminar. To be taken...
SOC 409 Field Experience in Sociology
(Cross-listed with CJRJ 409) An approved internship or work experience related to Sociology. Open to senior majors or minors of Sociology. Prerequisite: Soc 392.
SOC 410 Senior Seminar
(Cross-listed with CJRJ 411) After researching the various professional subfields in sociology as well as the particular challenges facing each of these, students will complete an inventory of their own particular skill sets and convictions leading to an extended self-...