Department of Sociology

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Mission Statement

The sociology program at Coastal Carolina University is comprised of a group of highly qualified and motivated teacher-scholars dedicated to a comprehensive range of specialty areas within the field of sociology. Consistent with the University’s comprehensive orientation, our mission is to provide students with theoretical knowledge and practical skills necessary to investigate questions important to the discipline of sociology from a scientific perspective, emphasizing critical thinking and communication skills in a collaborative environment. Students may elect to study a generalist course or more specialized training in criminology, medicine and health, or social justice. In addition, we strive to foster the personal and professional growth of our students by offering extensive and varied opportunities for integrative experiential learning, including faculty/student collaborative research and community-based internships.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students will:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of appropriate scientific methods to conduct independent and group research.

2. Identify the major research methodologies used by sociologists and identify the strengths and weaknesses of the methodologies.

3. Demonstrate knowledge of the components of sociological research, and apply relevant methods of sociological research.

4. Demonstrate an understanding of the applicability of sociology theory as it relates to the science of sociology.

5. Demonstrate the usefulness of sociological principles in the community by completing a supervised internship (not a major requirement).

6. Demonstrate an ability to comprehend sociological literature.

The educational goals and objectives of the sociology program are as follows:

A major in sociology offers students a thorough foundation in sociological theory and research methods in the social sciences. There are multiple opportunities for research, service learning, and internships. Students may elect a general course of study in the field or more specialized training in criminology, medicine and health, or social justice. The sociology program emphasizes public sociology, the application of sociological insights to a range of issues and endeavors. Students who earn a sociology degree may pursue advanced training in sociology, social work, criminal justice, business, education, law or other fields. Graduates with the Bachelor of Arts in sociology find employment in a variety of professions and occupations. Some of these include positions in human resources, social services, criminal justice, business and industry, research, planning, advocacy, education, and public service in governmental and nongovernmental organizations.

Students must earn a grade of ‘C’ or better in each course used to satisfy major requirements, cognate requirements, and minor requirements.

First semester seniors are strongly encouraged to meet with their adviser for a pre-graduation check.

Programs

• Criminal Justice, B.A.
• Sociology: Criminology Concentration, B.A.
• Sociology: Generalist Program, B.A.
• Sociology: Medicine and Health Concentration, B.A.
• Sociology: Social Justice Concentration, B.A.

• Criminal Justice Minor
• Criminology Minor
• Social Justice Minor
• Sociology Minor

Courses

• CRMJ 100 Introduction to Criminology and Criminal Justice - 3 credits
• CRMJ 421 The Judicial Process - 3 credits

• SOC 101 Introductory Sociology - 3 credits
• SOC 102 Social Problems - 3 credits
• SOC 201 Sociological Analysis - 3 credits
• SOC 298 Careers and Professional Development in Gerontology - 1 credit
• SOC 300 Q* Social Justice - 3 to 4 credits
• SOC 301 Gender and Society - 3 credits
• SOC 305 Sociology of the Family - 3 credits
• SOC 306 Religious Cults and Violence - 3 credits
• SOC 307 Sociology of Religion - 3 credits
• SOC 308 Q* Community Development and Social Change - 3 to 4 credits
• SOC 309 Social Inequality - 3 credits
• SOC 309L Q* Social Inequality Laboratory - 1 credit
• SOC 310 Social Demography - 3 credits
• SOC 311 Sociology of Poverty - 3 credits
• SOC 313 Social Welfare and Social Work - 3 credits
• SOC 315 Educational Justice - 3 credits
• SOC 320 Individual and Society - 3 credits
• SOC 325 Qualitative Research - 3 credits
• SOC 326 Quantitative Research and Analysis - 3 credits
• SOC 330 Sociological Theory - 3 credits
• SOC 331 Q* Methods in the Social Sciences - 3 credits
• SOC 331L Methods in the Social Sciences Laboratory - 1 credit
• SOC 340 The Sociology of Drugs & Drug Control Policy - 3 credits
• SOC 341 Organized Crime - 3 credits
• SOC 350 Q* Juvenile Delinquency - 3 to 4 credits
• SOC 351 Deviant Behavior - 3 credits
• SOC 352 Comparative Policing - 3 credits
• SOC 353 Criminology - 3 credits
• SOC 355 Q* Race and Ethnicity - 3 credits
• SOC 357 African American Communities - 3 credits
• SOC 360 Q* Environmental Sociology - 3 credits
• SOC 361 Sociology of Health and Illness - 3 credits
• SOC 362 Medical Sociology - 3 credits
• SOC 365 Sociology of Sexualities - 3 credits
• SOC 380 Collective Action and Social Movements - 3 credits
• SOC 395 Internship Experience in Sociology - 0 credits
• SOC 399 Independent Study - 1 to 6 credits
• SOC 401 Sociology of Corrections - 3 credits
• SOC 403 Sociology of Sports - 3 credits
• SOC 440 The Jail Experience - 3 credits
• SOC 450 Victimology - 3 credits
• SOC 454 Sociology of Death and Dying - 3 credits
• SOC 455 Sociology of Aging - 3 credits
• SOC 457 Aging and Social Policy - 3 credits
• SOC 460 Sociology of Mental Health - 3 credits
• SOC 465 Sociology of AIDS - 3 credits
• SOC 470 Sociology of the South - 3 credits
• SOC 495 Gerontology Internship - 3 credits
• SOC 496 Q* Senior Capstone Internship - 3 credits
• SOC 496L Internship Capstone Laboratory - 1 credit
• SOC 497 Q* Senior Thesis - 3 credits
• SOC 497L Senior Thesis Laboratory - 1 credit
• SOC 498 Q* Topics in Sociology - 3 credits
• SOC 499 Q* Internship - 0 to 6 credits

• HUS 101 Introduction to Human Services - 3 credits

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