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 with a major 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.
BIOL 207 Roots of Environmental Crisis
BIOL 207 Roots of Environmental Crisis at Goshen College uses systems thinking across religion, economics, culture and biology to understand climate change.
CJRJ 200 Sociology of Crime and Deviance
CJRJ 200 Sociology of Crime and Deviance at Goshen College introduces criminology and theories of crime in contemporary U.S. society.
ECON 200 Principles of Economics
ECON 200 Principles of Economics at Goshen College introduces micro and macroeconomics: markets, prices, government's economic role and more.
ECON 309 Environmental Economics
ECON 309 Environmental Economics at Goshen College explores how the economy harms the environment and how environmental damage harms the economy.
HIST 330 Gender in World History
HIST 330 Gender in World History at Goshen College uses non-Western case studies to show how gender relations shaped historical change.
HIST 345 Environmental History
HIST 345 Environmental History at Goshen College explores how humans have shaped the environment over time, especially in the non-Western world.
PJCS 220 Inside Out:
PJCS 220 Inside Out brings Goshen College students and incarcerated students together in one class to study justice from inside and outside the system.
PJCS 360 Designing for Social Change
PJCS 360 Designing for Social Change at Goshen College analyzes strategies for change amid complexity and conflict, including dialogue and civic engagement.
POSC 200 Introduction to Political Science
POSC 200 Introduction to Political Science at Goshen College compares political institutions and behavior across regimes, with a focus on the U.S. system.
POSC 210 Introduction to Public Policy
POSC 210 Introduction to Public Policy at Goshen College explores how U.S. policy is made, from constitutional framework and interest groups to feedback.
POSC 308 International Politics
POSC 308 International Politics at Goshen College examines the structure and workings of today's international political system and its alternatives.
SOC 200 Principles of Sociology
SOC 200 Principles of Sociology at Goshen College introduces how sociologists study society: social problems, inequality, identity and social change.
SOC 205 Introduction to Gender Studies
SOC 205 Introduction to Gender Studies (same as WGS 200) at Goshen College introduces feminist thought and the social factors shaping women's lives.
SOC 210 Sociology of the Family
SOC 210 Sociology of the Family at Goshen College studies the family's role in society, its history and trends in dating, marriage and family relationships.
SOC 230 Ethnography and Culture
SOC 230 Ethnography and Culture at Goshen College teaches ethnographic methods and cultural analysis in anthropology and sociology, with hands-on practice.
SOC 236 Latin American Societies & Cultures
SOC 236 Latin American Societies and Cultures at Goshen College surveys Central and South American geography, social structure and current developments.
SOC 240 African Societies and Cultures
SOC 240 African Societies and Cultures at Goshen College studies development and modernization in Sub-Saharan Africa, its history and current issues.
SOC 260 Human Sexuality
SOC 260 Human Sexuality at Goshen College examines biological, psychological and social factors in sexuality, reproduction, values and gender equality.
SOC 302 Urban Diversity
SOC 302 Urban Diversity at Goshen College examines racism, sexism and classism in diverse urban communities, combining reading, research and writing.
SOC 310 Social Theory
SOC 310 Social Theory at Goshen College compares major social theorists of the past 200 years on modernity, globalization and identity. Distance format.
SOC 315 Religion in Culture and Society
SOC 315 Religion in Culture and Society at Goshen College analyzes how social and political contexts shape religion, and how religion drives social change.
SOC 320 Environmental Sociology
SOC 320 Environmental Sociology at Goshen College surveys theories of human-environment interaction, environmental movements and resource justice.
SOC 331 Social Justice and Social Change
SOC 331 Social Justice and Social Change at Goshen College studies social movements, organizing and power, with community-based learning. Every other year.
SOC 334 Race, Class & Ethnic Relations
SOC 334 Race, Class and Ethnic Relations at Goshen College examines power, class and majority-group dominance in assimilation and self-determination.
SOC 351 Contemporary Issues:
SOC 351 Contemporary Issues at Goshen College studies a current social topic, such as food and society, male identity or Latino families. Topics vary.
SOC 391 Methods of Social Research
SOC 391 Methods of Social Research at Goshen College teaches how to design, evaluate and interpret qualitative and quantitative research. Same as SOWK 391.
SOC 392 Junior Seminar in Social Research
SOC 392 Junior Seminar in Social Research at Goshen College covers theory and method and launches a research project for SOC 409 and the senior seminar.
SOC 409 Field Experience in Sociology
SOC 409 Field Experience in Sociology at Goshen College is an approved internship or work experience for senior sociology majors and minors.
SOC 410 Senior Seminar
SOC 410 Senior Seminar helps Goshen College sociology students explore professional fields and assess their own skills and convictions.
SOC 430 Environmental Justice
SOC 430 Environmental Justice at Goshen College examines patterns of injustice in environmental harms and benefits and the movements that respond to them.