Academics > Majors and Areas of Study > Sociology



The Department of Sociology houses two majors: Sociology and Criminal Justice Studies. The Department of Sociology is also attached to the Legal Studies minor, which is under the direction of the Department of Political Science.

Sociology is the branch of science which specializes in the study of human social interaction. As part of a liberal arts education, the program in sociology has three main goals:

1. To convey basic knowledge of human societies and social relations leading to the development of a perspective for understanding and appreciating the diversity and potentiality of human cultures.

2. To develop skills in collecting and analyzing social data, in speaking and writing clearly and effectively, and in thinking logically and critically.

3. To prepare students for graduate study in sociology, social work, or a related field; for employment in the social services; or other occupations in which a liberal arts background is beneficial.

A student who graduates from Thiel College with a major in sociology will:

• understand and be able to apply the sociological perspective.
• understand and be able to apply the principles of good social science research methodology.
• understand and be able to apply the major theoretical paradigms of sociology.
• understand the complexity and interaction of social marginality in United States culture in terms of race/ethnicity, sex/gender, social class, sexual orientation, age and disability.
• understand the diversity of human behavior and belief in a global context.