Sociology

The careers of the department’s graduates include criminal justice, law, social work, environmental planning, policy analysis, gerontology, medical sociology, clinical counseling, public health, medicine, theology, teaching and educational administration, government service, marketing research,
industrial sociology, public relations, diplomatic service, organizational research, and administration in industry or community service organizations.

The goals of the sociology department are organized to ensure that students graduating from the department of sociology are prepared to:

• Enter graduate and professional studies
• Use their sociological skills and knowledge to begin careers
• Apply the sociological imagination and critical thinking to everyday life and community concerns
• Demonstrate a global orientation and enhanced awareness, knowledge, and appreciation of the African experience in Africa and the diaspora

Bachelor of Arts in Sociology

CURRICULUM 

Major Course of Study Requirements

Sociology prepares students for post-graduate study and careers in a variety of disciplines.

The major consists of 21 hours of required core courses, three hours of a communication studies course, nine hours of electives, three hours of advanced applications courses, and six hours of capstone courses (three hours must be HSOC 495 Senior Seminar in Sociology). Students who major in sociology must meet the college social science requirement by taking six hours of social science courses outside the field of sociology.

General Education (Core)
33-48 hours

Refer to the general education requirements for more information.

Sociology Major
42 hours

The major curriculum contains four types of courses organized around the four principal goals of the department. Students seeking a degree in sociology must fulfill the requirements for all four types of courses listed below:

I. Sociological Foundations

These courses include basic concepts, ideas, and empirical generalizations that explain society. They do not assume prior knowledge of sociology.

The following course is required:

• HSOC 101— Introduction to Sociology

Choose one course from the list below:

• HSOC 102— Cultural Anthropology
• HSOC 103— Social Problems
• HSOC 156— Men in Society
• HSOC 294— Principles of Sociology

Lower Level Electives (choose one course)

• HSOC 215— Criminology
• HSOC 255— The Family
• HSOC 259— Women in Society

II. Tools and Intermediate Applications

The following courses require successful completion of all sociological foundations coursework:

Communication Studies (choose one course)

• HCOM 253— Public Speaking
• HCOM 351— Professional Communication
• HCOM 354— Intercultural Communication
• HCOM 355— Argumentation and Debate

The following courses are required:

• HSOC 301— Statistics
• HSOC 302— Social Research in Research Methods
• HSOC 307— Social Thought
• HSOC 407— Sociological Theory

Upper-Level Electives (choose two courses)

The following upper-level elective courses assume successful completion of at least one prior social science course:

• HSOC 305— Urban and Community Sociology
• HSOC 316— Corrections
• HSOC 317— Law Enforcement: Global, National, Local
• HSOC 322— Social Inequality
• HSOC 331— Work in a Changing Society
• HSOC 355— Sexuality and Sexual Expression
• HSOC 360— Pan-Africanism as Cross-Cultural Dialogue*
• HSOC 361— African and African Diaspora Families*
• HSOC 414— Political Sociology
• HSOC 415— Juvenile Delinquency
• HSOC 416— Law and Society
• HSOC 422— Race and Ethnic Relations
• HSOC 455— The African American Family
• HSOC 487— Critics of Society
• HSOC 491— Seminar in Social Change
• HPSY 303— Social Psychology
• HAFR 375— Africana Muslims

* Courses designated for the Morehouse Pan-African Global Experience (M-PAGE)

III. Advanced Applications

These courses assume a background in social theory and social research methods. They are designed for students with majors or minors in sociology or related social science and humanities disciplines.

• HSOC 340— Medical Sociology
• HSOC 341— The Life Cycle and Aging
• HSOC 356— Demography, Ecology, and the Environment
• HSOC 403— Survey Research and Data Analysis
• HSOC 460— Sustainability and Development*

*Courses designated for the Morehouse Pan-African Global Experience (M-PAGE)

IV. Capstone Courses

Capstone Courses intend to promote the synthesis of sociology’s various elements as an approach to inquiry and life.

The following course are required:

• HSOC 495— Seminar in Sociology/Senior Project

Choose one course from the list below

• HSOC 492— Criminal Justice Internship
• HSOC 493— Criminal Justice Internship
• HSOC 496— Directed Studies/Mentored Research
• HSOC 497— Departmental Honors/Thesis
• HSOC 498— Internship/Fieldwork in Sociology
• HSOC 499— Internship/Fieldwork in Sociology

COURSE SEQUENCE FOR MAJORS IN SOCIOLOGY

Students majoring in sociology are required to consult with their faculty advisers regularly to develop, assess, and make adjustments to their academic and career plans. This is particularly important for students wishing to concentrate in criminal justice and other meaning areas. The department will offer to consult with their advisees to make sure they are registered for the right electives. Especially in their senior year, majors are encouraged to use free elective hours to pursue independent reading, research, and internship projects, which may or may not be related to their senior paper.

Minor in Sociology

CURRICULUM

A minor in sociology consists of six hours of required core courses. Students minoring in sociology may satisfy three hours of the college social science requirement with HSOC— 101. Those students only seeking a minor in sociology are not required to take HSOC— 495 Senior Seminar.

Required Core

Students wishing to minor in sociology must take one of the following courses:

• HSOC 101— Introduction to Sociology
• HSOC 102— Cultural Anthropology
• HSOC 103— Social Problems
• HSOC 156— Men in Society
• Students wishing to minor in sociology must take the following course:
• HSOC 294— Principles of Sociology

Students wishing to minor in sociology must take one of the following courses:

• HSOC 294— Social Research Methods
• HSOC 307— History of Social Thought

Electives

Students wishing to minor in sociology must take three of the following courses:

• HSOC 215— Criminology
• HSOC 255— The Family
• HSOC 259— Women in Society
• HSOC 305— Urban and Community Sociology
• HSOC 316— Corrections
• HSOC 317— Law Enforcement: Global, National, Local
• HSOC 322— Social Inequality
• HSOC 331— Work in a Changing Society
• HSOC 340— Medical Sociology
• HSOC 341— The Life Cycle and Aging
• HSOC 355— Sexuality and Sexual Expression
• HSOC 356— Demography, Ecology, and the Environment
• HSOC 414— Political Sociology
• HSOC 415— Juvenile Delinquency
• HSOC 416— Law and Society
• HSOC 422— Race and Ethnic Relations
• HSOC 455— The African American Family

Designated Electives

• HSOC 102— Cultural Anthropology
• HSOC 103— Social Problems
• HSOC 156— Men in Society
• HSOC 259— Women in Society
• HSOC 316— Corrections
• HSOC 331— Work in a Changing Society
• HSOC 416— Law and Society
• HSOC 422— Race and Ethnic Relations

MINOR IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE

The criminal justice minor complements a range of careers and academic interests. The curriculum for the minor seeks to promote systematic, critical analysis of issues of crime and justice. It stresses the theoretical and methodological while paying careful attention to social policy and includes the core courses typically required for a major in the field of sociology.

Students are provided with a foundation for direct entry into criminal justice-related careers and solid preparation for graduate and professional study. They also gain a sound basis for civic and community involvement with issues related to crime and criminal justice, particularly as they concern African Americans.

Our minor in criminal justice promotes systematic, critical analysis of issues of crime and justice, stressing the theoretical and methodological, and paying careful attention to social policy. You develop a foundation for direct entry into criminal justice-related careers and, complementing your major discipline, are provided with solid preparation for graduate and professional study.

The criminal justice minor consists of nine hours of required core courses and nine hours of designated electives, for a total of 18 hours. You are encouraged to take a research methods course and to complete an internship with a criminal justice agency.

Required Core

• HSOC 215—  Criminology
• HSOC 316— Corrections
• HSOC 416— Law and Society or HPSC 350— Race and the Law

Designated Electives

Choose three courses from the list below

• HSOC 301— Statistics
• HSOC 317— Law Enforcement: Global, National, Local
• HSOC 415— Juvenile Delinquency
• HSOC 492— Criminal Justice Internship