Department of Sociology
| Associate Professor |
Brandon Vaidyanathan, Chair |
| Assistant Professors |
Laurie DeRose; Chelsea Rae Kelly; Hannah Chesterton |
| Professor Emerita |
Sandra L. Hanson |
| Lecturers |
Stephen Cranney; Jonathan Froehlich; Paul Hodos; Charlotte Lopez-Jaufrette; Román Ortiz, Sammy Perez; Tess Starman; Christopher Tamborini |
| Research Faculty |
Paul Sullins, Research Associate Professor |
Founded in the mid-1890s, the Department of Sociology is one of the oldest sociology schools in the United States. In keeping with its long academic tradition, the department offers a graduate program leading to the degree of Master of Arts designed to prepare students for careers in research and public policy and to enter doctoral programs.
The Department of Sociology curriculum is organized along four tracks or principal fields: (1) Crime and Justice Studies; (2) Global and Comparative Processes; (3) Public Policy Analysis; and (4) Health, Society, and Policy. Students with primary interests outside of these four tracks may work with the faculty in their area of interest. The master's degree requires 30 semester hours of graduate work, six of which can be fulfilled by writing an M.A. thesis. For this option students register twice for Thesis Guidance and present a topic for approval by the Department and the Dean. Six credits will be awarded when the approved thesis is deposited. Through our training in advanced quantitative methods, students become experts at using statistical procedures and software. These skills are highly sought by researchers at the University's own distinguished research institutes as well as by business and research centers throughout the Washington, D.C. area and elsewhere.
As an alternative to the thesis, two journal quality seminar papers, approved by a faculty mentor, may be submitted. Students finishing their M.A. course work must pass a comprehensive examination. There is no language requirement for the M.A.
Candidates for the M.A. must fulfill the following core requirements:
Core Required Courses
SOC 501 Research Design and Methods
SOC 503 Social Statistics
SOC 512 Social Theory
SOC 604 Intermediate Social Statistics (or equivalent course with department approval)
In addition to core courses, students take 18 credits of elective courses. To fulfill the requirements for one of the tracks, students must take at least three courses within the track and pass these courses with a minimum grade of "B" or better. Majors who complete the course requirements for one or more tracks will be awarded a certificate of completion upon graduation.
Elective Courses
Crime, Justice and Pre-Law Track
The Crime and Justice Studies track is ideal for students interested in careers in the field of criminal justice, crime investigation, law enforcement, pre-law, national security and transnational crime.
At least one of the courses taken in this track must have an international component.
SOC 505 Sociology of Crime
SOC 510 Policing and Social Control
SOC 515 Crimes in Urban Society
SOC 517 Crime and Its Control: a Survey of Crime and Delinquency
SOC 518 Current Issues in Juvenile Delinquency
SOC 520 Analysis of Terrorism Here and Abroad
SOC 532 Popular Culture and Crime in American Society
SOC 565 Keeping America's Borders Safe
SOC 571 Social Deviance
SOC 607 Survey of Violent Crime
SOC 608 Terrorism and Religion
SOC 650 Race in Films
Global and Comparative Processes Track
The Global and Comparative Processes track serves students with an interest in international affairs, non-profit organizations, and public service.
SOC 506 Sociology of the Family
SOC 520 Analysis of Terrorism Here and Abroad
SOC 541 Religion and Society
SOC 543 Religion and Mental Health in Global Context
SOC 561 Migration and Development
SOC 681 Population and Demographic Analysis
Public Policy Analysis Track
The Public Policy Analysis track is ideal for students interested in policy research and evaluation, social trend analysis and public administration and service.
SOC 506 Sociology of the Family
SOC 525 Public Policy and Healthcare
SOC 543 Religion and Mental Health in Global Context
SOC 551 Social Inequalities
SOC 553 Social Inequalities in Health
SOC 561 Migration and Development
SOC 565 Keeping America's Borders Safe
SOC 681 Population and Demographic Analysis
Health, Society, and Policy Track
The Health, Society and Policy track is ideal for students interested in healthcare systems, public health policy development and implementation.
SOC 525 Public Policy and Healthcare
SOC 543 Religion and Mental Health in Global Context
SOC 551 Social Inequalities
SOC 553 Social Inequalities in Health
SOC 681 Population and Demographic Analysis
General Electives
SOC 592 / SOC 692 Directed Readings
SOC 593 / SOC 693 Directed Research
SOC 594 / SOC 694 Independent Study
SOC 595 / SOC 695 Internship
SOC 696 Thesis Guidance
Courses Offered
Consult Cardinal Station for information about courses and to determine course offerings by semester.