Sociology is the study of group life. Thus, sociologists study the social and cultural forces that shape people’s behavior, beliefs, and relationships. This includes all types of social interaction—from economic to political to cultural and the full range of social organization—from small groups to communities to nations. Sociologists emphasize the careful use of rigorous methods to expand our understanding of the contemporary social world. Sociology is a general liberal arts major appropriate for many careers in industry, education, and government as well as for graduate study in administration, health, law, social work, public policy, and the social sciences.
The major requires eleven courses: two foundation courses SOC 101/HON 216 and STA 215 or STA 115), two core courses (SOC 301 and SOC 302), six SOC electives (at least four of which must be selected from the 300- or 400-level department offerings), and a senior capstone (SOC 398+499 OR SOC 493).
General Sociology Major Requirements
Department Core Requirements (4 course units)
Students must earn the grade minimum in prerequisite courses before they may register for department core courses. Except for SOC 101, all other core courses (301, 302, 398/499) must be taken at TCNJ and are offered in both fall and spring semesters.
Sociology Correlate (1 course unit)
Select one course:
- STA 115: Statistics
- STA 215: Statistical Inference and Probability
Sociology Core (4 course units)
- SOC 99: Orientation to Sociology
- SOC 301: Development of Socio-Cultural Theory
- SOC 302: Quantitative Research Methods
- SOC 398: Sociology Capstone Internship
- SOC 499: Senior Capstone Seminar
Capstone: Honors Thesis
- SOC 495: Senior Thesis in Sociology I
- SOC 496: Senior Thesis in Sociology II
Sociology Electives (6 course units)
Sociology majors select 6 additional courses from our department offerings, with at least 4 selected from the 300 or 400 course levels. Additional courses can be approved in consultation with the department chair. Present course offerings include:
- SOC 205: Social Work & Human Service Professions
- SOC 210: Social Deviance
- SOC 281: Sociology of Race in the US
- SOC 303: Gender and Activism in Global Perspective
- SOC 306: Qualitative Social Science Research Methods & Ethnography
- SOC 310: Urban Youth Deviance
- SOC 314: Food, Culture, and Society
- SOC 315: Racism, Power, Privilege
- SOC 316: Community Based Research
- SOC 317: Organizations in Modern Society
- SOC 320: Urban Sociology: Community, Cities, and Suburbs
- SOC 330: Demography and Population Dynamics
- SOC 333: Body Image, Culture, and Society
- SOC 334: Gender in U.S. Society
- SOC 335: Love, Relationships, and Family
- SOC 336: Cultural and Social Change
- SOC 340: Class, Status, and Power
- SOC 342: Social Change in Latin America
- SOC 345: Environmental Sociology: Inequality, Pollution, and Environment
- SOC 346: Climate Justice and Social Action
- SOC 350: Work, Occupation, and Professions
- SOC 355: Introduction to Urban Planning
- SOC 356: Self and Society
- SOC 360: Social Movements and Community Activism
- SOC 362: Global Perspectives in Social Gerontology
- SOC 365: Poverty and Welfare in the U.S.
- SOC 372: Global Public Health
- SOC 373: Public Health & Social Policy
- SOC 374: Medical Sociology
- SOC 375: Religion and American Culture
- SOC 377: Disparities in the US Health System
- SOC 380: Education and American Culture
- SOC 381: Economic & Social Development in China
- SOC 385: Intro. to Applied Sociology
Interested in finding out more about switching to or adding the Sociology major as a second major? Make an appointment with the Department chair and download and fill out this form
See our Department Overview
Course Descriptions: Anthropology and Sociology
No more than three (3) courses toward the major may be taken at other institutions.