2024-2025 Sociology

Teaching/Learning Goals

Upon completion of the sociology program, a Duquesne Sociology student will have achieved the following goals.

Understand the kinds of questions asked by sociologists and the substantive areas studied.
Examine society using their sociological imagination.
Explain the main theoretical approaches used by sociologists.
Describe the research methods and statistical techniques used to study society.
Explain the ways in which social inequalities and hierarchies including social class, race, ethnicity, gender and sexuality shape modern societies.
Appreciate the applied and public approach to sociology.
Use their sociological imagination, theoretical knowledge and research skills to conduct their own research projects.

Professional Skills

Written and Oral Communication Skills
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
Research Design and Data Analysis such as SPSS and GIS
Multicultural Awareness
Participation in Faculty-led Community Engaged Research
Fieldwork in a local agency, organization or employer

In addition, our curriculum provides an excellent foundation for further graduate study in sociology or other related academic disciplines.

Requirements for the Major

A minimum of 33 semester hours is required for the major including five required courses.

The following courses are required for all majors
SOCI 101 Survey of Sociology. 3 credits
SOCI 200W Classical Sociological Theory, 3 credits
SOCI 201 Research Methods, 3 credits
SOCI 202 Quantitative Analysis, 3 credits
SOCI 455W OR SOCI 456W Senior Seminar, 3 credits

The Sociology major must also complete Math 125 Fundamentals of Statistics, offered by the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science. This course may satisfy the University Bridges requirement or the College Core requirement.

The major must be completed with a minimum grade point average of 2.0.

Courses within the major should be scheduled in consultation with their faculty mentor.

A minimum of 18 semester hours must be completed in residence at Duquesne University. Credit earned through Advanced Placement (AP) Exams, CLEP, and Credit-by-Exam may count as credits-in-residence.

Concentrations in the Major

Students may choose to major in Sociology without a concentration. Students without a concentration must completed an additional 18 credits from the Department's course offerings including 6 credits at the 300-400 level.

Alternatively, students may choose one of two areas of concentration: Criminal Justice, or Social Justice and Policy.

Criminal Justice

This concentration is designed for students who are interested studying crime and the Criminal Justice system using criminological theory, empirical research and critical thinking. It prepares students for careers in areas such as law enforcement, crime analysis, probation and parole, victim advocacy, and corrections and for advanced study in a variety of fields including law school.

Required courses (18 credits)
SOCI 101 Survey of Sociology
SOCI 103 Introduction to Criminal Justice
SOCI 200W Classical Sociological Theory
SOCI 201 Research Methods
SOCI 202 Quantitative Analysis
SOCI 456W Senior Seminar - Criminal Justice

Nine of the remaining 15 credits may be selected from any of the following

SOCI 211 Social Deviance
SOCI 213 Criminology
SOCI 216 Delinquency and Society
SOCI 218 Treatment and Community Corrections
SOCI 264 Police and Society
SOCI 304 Introduction to Peace and Justice
SOCI 312 The American Drug Problem
SOCI 321 White Collar Crime
SOCI 370 Gender, Crime and Justice
SOCI 371 Race, Crime and Justice
SOCI 409 Correctional Policy and Practice
SOCI 421 Criminal Justice Policy
SOCI 450 Fieldwork*
SOCI 454 Selected Readings

*Fieldwork: Must have completed 12 credits in criminal justice class work. Fieldwork combines independent study under a faculty mentor with an internship placement in a criminal justice related organization. A minimum of 5 hours in placement per week (or 75 hours per semester) and one hour of meetings with the instructor per week (or 15 hours per semester) is required for 3 credits.

A minimum of six credits must be selected from other Departmental offerings.

At least six credits must be selected from courses at the 300-level or above.

Social Justice and Policy

This concentration is designed for students who are interested in applying sociological theory and research to an understanding of contemporary social problems and responding to those problems using social policy. It prepares students for careers in such areas as advocacy, community engagement, evaluation research, all-levels of government, and not for profit organizations and for advanced study in a variety of fields.

Required courses (18 credits)
SOCI 101 Survey of Sociology
SOCI 106 Social Problems and Social Policy
SOCI 200W Classical Sociological Theory
SOCI 201 Research Methods
SOCI 202 Quantitative Analysis
SOCI 455W Senior Seminar

Nine credits from the following
SOCI 208 Racial and Ethnic Groups
SOCI 215 Sociology of Media: From Print to Social Media
SOCI 217 Protest and Social Movements
SOCI 220 Environmental Sociology
SOCI 225 Family Systems
SOCI 304 Introduction to Peace and Justice
SOCI 305 Person and Society
SOCI 309 Social Stratification
SOCI 450 Fieldwork**
SOCI 454 Selected Readings

The remaining six credits may be selected from any of the following: *
SOCI 315 Socialization and the Life Course
SOCI 318 Sociology of the City
SOCI 404 The Social Landscape: Place, Space and Society
SOCI 408 Population
SOCI 415 Health, Illness, and Social Policy
SOCI 416 Minorities and Public Policy
SOCI 441 Healthcare Ethics and Public Policy
SOCI 450 Fieldwork**
SOCI 454 Selected Readings

*Students may petition the Sociology Department for a substitution if they encounter scheduling difficulties

**Fieldwork: Must have completed 12 credits in Sociology. Fieldwork combines independent study under a faculty mentor with an internship placement in a local organization. A minimum of 5 hours in placement per week (or 75 hours per semester) and one hour of meetings with the instructor per week (or 15 hours per semester) is required for 3 credits.

Minors

For all minors a minimum of 6 semester hours of the minor must be completed in residence at Duquesne University. Credit earned through Advanced Placement (AP) Exams, CLEP, and Credit-by-Exam may count as credits-in-residence. There is no restriction on credit-sharing between majors and minors, the University Bridges Curriculum, or a School's or the College's Core Curriculum.

All minors must be completed with a minimum grade point average of 2.0.

We suggest that students meet with a Sociology mentor in order to better plan their course of study. After meeting with a Sociology mentor, students must officially register for the Minor or Certificate following the guidelines for their School. Liberal Arts students must register for the minor using the Duquesne Portal.

The Sociology Minor

The Minor in Sociology is intended to provide the essential knowledge about social interaction, social structure and social change. The minor will foster critical thinking about social inequality and society.

To minor in Sociology, students must complete a minimum of 15 credit hours, which must include 101 Survey of Sociology. Students are required to take 9 credits at the 200 level or above and at least 3 credits at the 300 or 400 level. Students should design their minor in consultation with a Sociology Mentor.

The Sociology Minor is not available to Sociology Majors.

The Criminal Justice Minor and Certificate

The Criminal Justice Minor and Certificate are intended to provide the essential knowledge about the causes of crime and how the Criminal Justice system responds to crime. In addition, the Criminal Justice Minor and Certificate will take a conceptual approach and will foster critical thinking about crime and the criminal justice system. Finally, the Minor and Certificate provides students with a sociological perspective in understanding how crime and criminal justice systems are related to social inequality and social justice

To minor in Criminal Justice, students must complete a minimum of 15 credit hours, which must include 103 Introduction to Criminal Justice. In addition, students must select one course from Inequality-themed courses and one course from Theories of Crime courses. Students are encouraged to take at least three credits at the 300 or 400 level. Students should design their minor in consultation with a Sociology Mentor.

The certificate differs from the minor only in the additional requirement of three credits of fieldwork.

One required course
SOCI 103 Introduction to Criminal Justice

One of the following Inequality-themed courses
SOCI 208 Racial and Ethnic Groups
SOCI 210 Sociology of Sex and Gender
SOCI 309 Social Stratification
SOCI 321 White Collar Crime
SOCI 370 Gender, Crime and Justice
SOCI 371 Race, Crime and Justice

One of the following Theories of Crime courses
SOCI 211 Social Deviance
SOCI 213 Criminology
SOCI 216 Delinquency and Society

Two of the following Sociology courses
SOCI 211 Social Deviance
SOCI 213 Criminology
SOCI 216 Delinquency and Society
SOCI 218 Treatment and Community Corrections
SOCI 264 Police and Society
SOCI 304 Introduction to Peace and Justice
SOCI 312 The American Drug Problem
SOCI 321 White Collar Crime
SOCI 370 Gender, Crime and Justice
SOCI 371 Race, Crime and Justice
SOCI 409 Correctional Policy and Practice
SOCI SOCI 421 Criminal Justice Policy
SOCI 450 Fieldwork (3 credits in criminal justice related placement)*

Six credits may double count toward the Sociology Major.

Note that courses from other Departments may be cross-listed as electives, where appropriate

The Criminal Justice Minor and Certificate are not available to Sociology Majors with a Criminal Justice Concentration.

Neither the minor or certificate are available to Sociology Majors with a Criminal Justice Concentration.

Health and Human Services Minor and Certificate

This interdisciplinary program is based in the Departments of Sociology and Psychology. Students will take required courses in Sociology and Psychology, as well as elective courses in Health Sciences, Ethics, Philosophy, or History.

The certificate differs from the minor only in the additional requirement of three credits of fieldwork.

Students can choose from one of three distinct tracks: gerontology, human services or medical health. Each track has two required courses plus 9 credits of approved electives, including at least one course from the School of Health Sciences. Up to 6 credits may be double counted with a student's major.

Gerontology:
SOCI 101 Survey of Sociology or PSYC 101 Intro to Psychology
SOCI 203 Sociology of Aging or PSYC 325 Developmental Psych: Adulthood & Aging
9 credits of approved electives

Human Services:
SOCI 101 Survey of Sociology or PSYC 101 Intro to Psychology
SOCI 219 Introduction to Human Services or SOCI 214 Helping Process
Nine credits of approved electives

Medical Health:
SOCI 101 Survey of Sociology or PSYC 101 Intro to Psychology
SOCI 207 Sociology of Health & Illness or PSYC 252 Psychological Disorders
Nine credits of approved electives

Sociology
SOCI 101 Survey of Sociology
SOCI 203 Sociology of Aging
SOCI 207 Sociology of Health & Illness
SOCI 214 The Helping Process
SOCI 219 Introduction to Human Services
SOCI 315 Socialization & the Life Course
SOCI 408 Population
SOCI 411 Aging and Mental Health
SOCI 415 Health, Illness & Social Policy
SOCI 441 Healthcare Ethics & Public Policy
SOCI 450 Fieldwork*

*Fieldwork: Must have completed 12 credits in Sociology. Fieldwork combines independent study under a faculty mentor with an internship placement in a local organization. A minimum of 5 hours in placement per week (or 75 hours per semester) and one hour of meetings with the instructor per week (or 15 hours per semester) is required for 3 credits.

Psychology
PSYC 101 Intro to Psychology
PSYC 225W Developmental Psychology: Childhood & Adolescence
PSYC 228 Psychology of Personality
PSYC 252 Psychological Disorders
PSYC 324 Perspectives on Disability and Illness
PSYC 354 Psychology of Social/Cultural Diversity
PSYC 325 Developmental Psychology: Adulthood and Aging
PSYC 390 Internship in Psychology (3 credits)

English
ENGL 316W Literature in Medicine

Ethics
(only one of the following ethics courses will count for the minor)
HCE 240 Bioethics: African Perspectives
HCE 330 Global Bioethics
HCE 412 Who Decides When I’m Ill?
THEO 253 Health Care Ethics (Theology)
PHIL 254 Health Care Ethics (Philosophy)

History
HIST 222 Flatlined: History and Politics of U.S. Healthcare

Philosophy
PHIL 314 Philosophy of Aging

Rangos School of Health Sciences (must select at least one course from this list)
PBHL 201 Intro to Public Health
PBHL 205 Intro to International Public Health
PBHL 318 Healthcare Delivery & Organization
HADM 101 Intro to Healthcare Administration
HADM 308 Intro to Health Information Management
HADM 311W Healthcare Law and Policy
HADM 402 Quality and Performance Improvement (only for Health Management Systems students)
HLTS 200 Disparities in Health Care (only for Health Sciences students)
OCCT 305 Foundations & Concepts of OT (only for OT students)
OCCT 310 Occupational Performance across the Lifespan (only for OT students)
OCCT 416 Fundamentals of Practice (only for OT students)
SLP 245 Disabilities across the World: Search for Dignity

Six credits may double count toward the Sociology Major.

The Health and Human Services Minor and Certificate are available to Sociology Majors.