Sociology
Why pursue a sociology degree at North Central College?
Sociologists study social interaction, social group and societies. Sociology addresses topics like dating relationships, organized crime, race relations, mental health, work organizations, social mobility, world systems and more. Sociology students develop substantive insight into unique questions like why do some people “get ahead” and others not, how does social media impact our self-presentation and what do changing definitions of sexuality and gender portend for our lives. At North Central, you’ll be presented with intellectual challenges and professional skills that promote personal development. Sociology opens many engaging career pathways like urban planning, social service providers, public health workers, community liaisons, journalists, educators and counselors. Sociological skills can lead to graduate school or a wide range of rewarding careers in government, education, non-profit or private corporations.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN
- Studying the ways society develops and functions and offering new solutions
- Making sense of and challenging ideas around social justice, change and fairness
- Conducting sociological research through data collection
then a degree in SOCIOLOGY might be for you.
Why study sociology at North Central College?
In the Classroom
Coursework topics:
- Chicago Encounters
- Crime, Law and Society
- Criminal Justice System
- Health, Illness and Care
- Life Changes and Choices
- Gender: Patterns/Privileges/Possibilities
- Policing and Corrections
- Power-Based Personal Violence
- Race/Ethnicity: Conflict and Change
- Schools and Society
- Social Class: Get Ahead/Fall Behind
- Social Inquiry: Qualitative
- Social Inquiry: Quantitative
- Social Life and Social Theory
- Sociological Culminating Experience
Beyond the Classroom
As a sociology major, you can:
- Apply for internships and jobs through robust faculty and alumni networks or the Center for Career and Professional Development.
- Apply for a Richter Grant and explore your own research interests from anywhere in the world.
- Conduct research and present findings at local, regional and national conferences.
- Learn more about the community through community engaged learning projects and volunteer opportunities with organizations like World Relief, Circle K and North Central’s Cardinals in Action.
- Join the Alpha Kappa Delta sociology honor society.
Sociology, B.A.
Sociology is the study of social interactions, social groups and societies. The subject matter ranges from dating relationships, to organized crime, race relations, mental health, work organizations, social mobility, world systems and pretty much everything in-between. Wherever people, groups and societies are connected to one another, this is the subject matter of the discipline. As a sociology student, you will develop substantive insights into these areas. For example, why some people "get ahead" and others not; how social media impacts our presentations of self in society; what the changing definitions of sexuality and gender portend for our lives. Along with these insights, you will develop a research sophistication and practical, real-world experiences that will lead to careers and meaningful work lives going forward. You will be presented with intellectual challenges, professional skills and intriguing ideas—all with the intent of promoting your own personal development, a career suited to your interests and a society that promises a greater sense of social justice and fairness.
Sociology opens up many engaging career pathways and offers valuable preparation for positions in many different types of organizational settings such as educational institutions, not-for-profit organizations, private corporations and government agencies. With a bachelor's degree in sociology, graduates are positioned to obtain and excel in occupations as urban planners, social service providers, public health workers, community liaisons, journalists, educators, admissions counselors, public relations professionals, juvenile counselors and police officers. For those students who are considering an advanced degree, sociology facilitates entry into professional programs in law, social work, public policy, theology, administration (e.g. public, business, fine arts), as well as master's and doctoral programs in sociology.
For additional programs and courses in this department, see Sociology and Anthropology.
Core Courses
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SOCI 100 - Life Chances and Choices: Introduction to Sociology
SOCI 100 - Life Chances and Choices: Introduction to Sociology
4.00 credit hours
Gateway to the social science of human interaction and the social causes and consequences of human behavior. Development of a sociological imagination to grapple with diverse and fascinating societal issues ranging from deviance to structured inequalities. Special focus on the life chances and life choices in emerging adulthood in areas of relationships, education, and work.
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SOCI 250 - Pathways in Sociology
SOCI 250 - Pathways in Sociology
1.00 credit hours
This course challenges students to reflect on how sociological skills and insights can be applied to their own lives, future careers and to the broader community. Students will examine the structural constraints individuals face as they consider personal and occupational vocations, explore specific career pathways, discuss the logistics of the job market and begin to develop resources to make them competitive applicants.
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SOCI 200 - Social Inquiry I: Quantitative
SOCI 200 - Social Inquiry I: Quantitative
4.00 credit hours
An assessment of the strengths and limitations of various modes of quantitative data collection including experiments, surveys, content analysis and the use of secondary data. Sustained focus on applying the methods and techniques learned to actual social science data. Emphasis is placed on ethical issues, becoming a critical consumer of research and developing the ability to design and carry out an independent study.
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SOCI 300 - Social Inquiry II: Qualitative
SOCI 300 - Social Inquiry II: Qualitative
4.00 credit hours
Social researches and detectives have much in common. Both are concerned with human behavior and both investigate the world to gather evidence that produces valid and meaningful conclusions. This class provides students the opportunity to learn, practice and develop their research skills though the investigation of social worlds, with special emphasis upon in-depth interviews, observations, content analysis, focus groups and the ethical standards associated with each of these methods.
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SOCI 350 - Social Life and Social Theory
SOCI 350 - Social Life and Social Theory
4.00 credit hours
An introduction, review and application of classic and modern sociological theories to everyday life. Emphasis placed upon the attempts to understand the emergence of modern and post-modern times and the underlying problems brought about by these social developments. Applications of social thought to issues of work, marriage, deviance, presentations of self, love, police work, gender, consumer behavior and punishment.
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SOCI 400 - Sociological Culminating Experience
SOCI 400 - Sociological Culminating Experience
2.00 credit hours
A course designed for sociology majors as they transition from their undergraduate college experience to the variety of publics they will encounter in their lives after graduation. Students are asked to engage in a number of structured and supervised experiences that are extensions of their sociological knowledge and relate to their future careers, their own lives and the broader community. These experiences are completed under the guidance of an on-site supervisor and a faculty sponsor, who in combination with the student will create a framework for learning and reflection.
Inequalities Course
One of the following:
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SOCI 210 - Gender: Patterns/Privileges/Possibilities
SOCI 210 - Gender: Patterns/Privileges/Possibilities
2.00 credit hours
Explores the social construction and importance of gender and sexualities in our social world including life experiences, opportunity structures and institutions, such as the military and the media. Evaluates who is privileged and disadvantaged in this categorization system and some of the ways in which current practices are being challenged. Particular attention paid to the intersection of race/ethnicity, social class and disabilities.
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SOCI 211 - Race/Ethnicity: Conflict and Change
SOCI 211 - Race/Ethnicity: Conflict and Change
2.00 credit hours
An examination of racial and ethnic diversity in American society, with a focus upon racial and ethnic inequality; prejudice, discrimination and institutional racism; patterns of race and ethnic relations; racial and ethnic responses to racism and subordination. Attention to the various ways race and ethnicity are created and recreated in society, and the way these social constructions permeate all aspects of societal life, despite remaining largely invisible and normalized.
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SOCI 212 - Social Class: Get Ahead/Fall Behind
SOCI 212 - Social Class: Get Ahead/Fall Behind
2.00 credit hours
Social class impacts every aspect of life-from food choices, to college attendance, career options, good health, vulnerability to crime, happiness, life span, and on. Most importantly, it impacts the chances for getting ahead in society or falling behind. The social causes and personal consequences of class in American society are examined through a discussion of key concepts and theories, a cultural and structural tour through the class system, an examination of social mobility, and a debate on possible solutions to the problems of growing inequality.
Pathway Courses
Three courses from any of the following three areas:
Problems Courses
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SOCI 220 - Crime, Law and Society
SOCI 220 - Crime, Law and Society
4.00 credit hours
An analytic and real world examination of the intricate relationship between crime, law and society. Examination of the social roots of criminal behavior, the emergence of criminal laws, the types of crime (homicide, burglary and arson), characterizing segments of society and the criminal justice response to offenders. Special attention devoted to specific types of crime, including white collar and organized crime.
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SOCI 221 - Youth Justice, Crime and Law
SOCI 221 - Youth Justice, Crime and Law
4.00 credit hours
A close-up look at juvenile laws, crimes committed by young people and the juvenile justice system. Special attention given to specific crimes such as shoplifting, tagging and vandalism and more serious crimes of theft, assault and drug behavior. Discussions of social policies related to treatment and prevention and an analysis of juvenile courts, diversion program and incarceration.
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SOCI 222 - Power-Based Personal Violence
SOCI 222 - Power-Based Personal Violence
4.00 credit hours
Debunks pervasive myths by delving into the causes and consequences of Power-Based Personal Violence, which takes many forms (e.g. harassment, stalking, sexual assault, intimate partner violence). Utilizes the lenses of intersectionality and social justice. Engages deeply with community partner prevention programs and trains with a strengths-based model of survivor empowerment. Makes space for candid conversations about the emotional impact of researching PBPV and anticipated career challenges in fields, such as criminal justice and social services.
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SOCI 223 - Community and City Life
SOCI 223 - Community and City Life
4.00 credit hours
Discover the breath of experiences, the range of life styles, and the persistent problems that make city life the social setting for the richest opportunities and most perplexing inequalities in contemporary society. Attention given to issues of urban culture, schooling, housing and planning for more sustainable and equitable environments.
Tools Courses
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SOCI 295 - Research Practicum
SOCI 295 - Research Practicum
1.00-4.00 credit hours
Work in collaboration with faculty on ongoing research. Activities vary according to project needs and student background, but may include bibliography construction, literature review, recruitment of participants, data collection and entry, qualitative coding or statistical analysis. This course is graded pass/no pass. May be taken more than once for up to four total credit hours.
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SOCI 330 - Policing and Corrections
SOCI 330 - Policing and Corrections
4.00 credit hours
Reviews how criminal punishment and the justifications for it (e.g. deterrence, retribution, rehabilitation, incapacitation and restoration) have evolved over time. Reflects on contemporary trends, such as the increased militarization and mass incarceration. Assesses the strategies of police and corrections officers and identifies best practices in criminal investigations, law enforcement, prisoner supervision, rehabilitation and reintegration. Special emphasis on relationships with the broader community.
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SOCI 332 - Chicago Encounters
SOCI 332 - Chicago Encounters
4.00 credit hours
From the Gold Coast to Pilsen, Bucktown to Bridgeport. Join with fellow students in a first-hand, field study of Chicago's most interesting and intriguing neighborhoods. Students work together and conduct an original investigation of a selected neighborhood by means of interviews, demographic analysis and street level observations. A Chicago Semester course that provides students with a supervised introduction to the communities of the city and the opportunity to develop an appreciation for the personal and career opportunities in this world-class urban environment.
Institutions Courses
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SOCI 340 - Criminal Justice System
SOCI 340 - Criminal Justice System
4.00 credit hours
An in-depth study of the functions, structure and organization of the agencies that are responsible for the administration of justice. Special emphasis is placed on the institutions and processes of law making and enforcement, the judicial system, corrections and the juvenile justice system. Attention is given to issues such as overburdened court calendars, crowded and explosive jail conditions, pervasive citizen fear of crime and understaffed police departments.
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SOCI 341 - Schools and Society
SOCI 341 - Schools and Society
4.00 credit hours
Examines the education system through the sociological lens, focusing on the practices and outcomes of schooling and the structural environment in which schools are situated. Considers the relationship between organizational practices and individual experiences, as well as cross-cultural variation in educational systems. Attention given to school reform efforts, the "achievement gap" between students from different communities and debates about K-12 curricula.
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SOCI 342 - Families and Intimate Relationships
SOCI 342 - Families and Intimate Relationships
4.00 credit hours
Examines topics from a sociological and feminist perspective including the history of the family, the relationship between work and family, the changing definition of the family and the impact of class, race and gender on family dynamics. Thought-provoking discussions explore ideals about love, marriage, gender, parenthood, sex and sexuality-scientifically considering both the "public" and "private" dimensions of families over the course of the semester.
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SOCI 343 - Health, Illness and Care
SOCI 343 - Health, Illness and Care
4.00 credit hours
This course covers the theoretical orientations that guide sociological and anthropological insights into health, illness, treatment seeking and the organization of medical care and the current state of empirical knowledge in the field. Topics include the social origins of illness; lay beliefs about disease; sociodemographic variations in health care utilization; the profession of medicine; the structure of the American health care system and cross-national disparities in health and longevity. This course challenges our assumptions about the social foundations of health disparities, the sovereignty of medical providers and the administration of health care.
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ANTH 345 - Religion, Spirituality and Community
ANTH 345 - Religion, Spirituality and Community
4.00 credit hours
An examination of the interplay of religion, culture and society. Special emphasis on religion and spirituality in context of social inequality. Theoretical approaches to explain religious change including revitalization theory and secularization theory. Contemporary religious diversity in the U.S. and globally. Participant observation fieldwork required for the course. Related study abroad experience offered occasionally.
Students must demonstrate elementary competence in a foreign language. For more information, see the
Sociology Minor
For additional programs and courses in this department, see Sociology and Anthropology.
A minimum of 20 credit hours, including:
-
SOCI 100 - Life Chances and Choices: Introduction to Sociology
SOCI 100 - Life Chances and Choices: Introduction to Sociology
4.00 credit hours
Gateway to the social science of human interaction and the social causes and consequences of human behavior. Development of a sociological imagination to grapple with diverse and fascinating societal issues ranging from deviance to structured inequalities. Special focus on the life chances and life choices in emerging adulthood in areas of relationships, education, and work.
-
SOCI 400 - Sociological Culminating Experience
SOCI 400 - Sociological Culminating Experience
2.00 credit hours
A course designed for sociology majors as they transition from their undergraduate college experience to the variety of publics they will encounter in their lives after graduation. Students are asked to engage in a number of structured and supervised experiences that are extensions of their sociological knowledge and relate to their future careers, their own lives and the broader community. These experiences are completed under the guidance of an on-site supervisor and a faculty sponsor, who in combination with the student will create a framework for learning and reflection.
Inequalities
One of the following:
-
SOCI 210 - Gender: Patterns/Privileges/Possibilities
SOCI 210 - Gender: Patterns/Privileges/Possibilities
2.00 credit hours
Explores the social construction and importance of gender and sexualities in our social world including life experiences, opportunity structures and institutions, such as the military and the media. Evaluates who is privileged and disadvantaged in this categorization system and some of the ways in which current practices are being challenged. Particular attention paid to the intersection of race/ethnicity, social class and disabilities.
-
SOCI 211 - Race/Ethnicity: Conflict and Change
SOCI 211 - Race/Ethnicity: Conflict and Change
2.00 credit hours
An examination of racial and ethnic diversity in American society, with a focus upon racial and ethnic inequality; prejudice, discrimination and institutional racism; patterns of race and ethnic relations; racial and ethnic responses to racism and subordination. Attention to the various ways race and ethnicity are created and recreated in society, and the way these social constructions permeate all aspects of societal life, despite remaining largely invisible and normalized.
-
SOCI 212 - Social Class: Get Ahead/Fall Behind
SOCI 212 - Social Class: Get Ahead/Fall Behind
2.00 credit hours
Social class impacts every aspect of life-from food choices, to college attendance, career options, good health, vulnerability to crime, happiness, life span, and on. Most importantly, it impacts the chances for getting ahead in society or falling behind. The social causes and personal consequences of class in American society are examined through a discussion of key concepts and theories, a cultural and structural tour through the class system, an examination of social mobility, and a debate on possible solutions to the problems of growing inequality.
Electives
An additional 12 credit hours of Sociology, with at least four credit hours at the 300- or 400-level.
Sociology Internships and Jobs
Whether you have an undergraduate, master's degree, or doctoral degree, sociology opens up many engaging career pathways and offers valuable preparation for positions in different types of organizational settings such as, educational institutions, not-for-profit organizations, private corporations, and government agencies.
Internships
- Mental health services intern, Wheaton, IL
- Intern, Illinois State Police, Downers Grove, IL
- At-risk youth mentor, Metropolitan Family Services, Wheaton, IL
- Intern, HHS Planning and Consulting, Chicago
- Refugee resettlement intern, World Relief, Aurora, IL
- TLC youth advocate, Hesed House, Aurora, IL
- Adult probation services intern, 19th Judicial Circuit, Waukegan, IL
- Exploring diversity intern, Bardwell School, Aurora, IL
- Not-for-profit management, Appalachia Service Project, Johnson City, TN
Graduate Schools
Recent graduates in sociology have been accepted at:
- University of San Diego
- Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Careers
- Urban planner
- Social service providers
- Public health workers
- Community liaisons
- Journalists
- Educators
- Admission counselors
- Public relations professionals
- Juvenile counselors
- Police officers
For those students who are considering an advanced degree, sociology facilitates entry into professional programs in law, social work, public policy, theology, administration (e.g. public, business, fine arts), as well as master's and doctoral programs in sociology.
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