Sociology
Overview
Sociology is concerned primarily with the scientific study of social groups and social relations. Sociologists seek to understand how societies, institutions, organizations and other social forces shape and are shaped by individuals. One of the department's primary aims is to provide students with the analytical critical skills needed to understand and evaluate social institutions and social change more effectively.
The sociology faculty complement one another in a way that allows them to offer a varied range of courses. Courses reflect a growing interest and focus in the discipline on disadvantaged groups and classes of people and the ways they interact with social institutions. Occidental's proximity to Los Angeles, one of the most ethnically and economically diverse cities in the world, makes this focus all the more appropriate and provides students with the opportunity to observe many of these social phenomena firsthand.
Sociology majors will receive excellent preparation for graduate and professional study in sociology, law, social work, journalism, public health, business management, teaching, public administration, and other fields that require the ability to think critically, analytically, and ethically about a wide range of social issues in the search for viable solutions. While the department is committed to providing majors with the best possible preparation for careers in sociology and related fields, it is equally committed to providing non-majors with knowledge of social life as well as evaluative and analytical skills from which they will benefit in their chosen field of study and their careers in an increasingly diverse and complex world.
Major Requirements
Eleven courses (44 units) are required to complete the major.
COURSEWORK
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology | 4 units |
| Or | | |
| SOC 102 | Introduction to Sociology: Global Perspectives | 4 units |
| | | |
| And | | |
| SOC 304 | Sociological Inquiry | 4 units |
| SOC 490 | Senior Seminar in Sociology | 4 units |
Students must select one course from below:
| SOC 200 | Classical Sociological Theory: Marx, Weber, Durkheim | 4 units |
| SOC 205 | Contemporary Sociological Theory | 4 units |
Students must select one from the list below:
| SOC 305 | Quantitative Research Methods | 4 units |
| SOC 306 | Qualitative Research Methods | 4 units |
| SOC 310 | Sociological Field Methods | 4 units |
Electives:
Choose six additional courses from within the department
The Sociology Department encourages students to declare the major by the end of their first year.
INTERNSHIPS
The department, in concert with the Hameetman Career Center, keeps files on available internships in law, criminal justice, and various social and community agencies.
PROGRESSION THROUGH THE MAJOR
If you declare at the end of your first year, you should:
Take Classic or Contemporary Sociological Theory in your sophomore year.
| SOC 200 | Classical Sociological Theory: Marx, Weber, Durkheim | 4 units |
| SOC 205 | Contemporary Sociological Theory | 4 units |
Take Sociological Inquiry in your sophomore year
Take a research methods course in your junior year
| SOC 305 | Quantitative Research Methods | 4 units |
| SOC 306 | Qualitative Research Methods | 4 units |
| SOC 310 | Sociological Field Methods | 4 units |
Enroll in Senior Seminar (490) in the fall of your senior year.
| SOC 490 | Senior Seminar in Sociology | 4 units |
If you declare during your sophomore year, you should:
Take Classic or Contemporary Sociological Theory as soon as possible.
| SOC 200 | Classical Sociological Theory: Marx, Weber, Durkheim | 4 units |
| SOC 205 | Contemporary Sociological Theory | 4 units |
Take Sociological Inquiry as soon as possible.
Take a research methods course in your junior year.
| SOC 305 | Quantitative Research Methods | 4 units |
| SOC 306 | Qualitative Research Methods | 4 units |
| SOC 310 | Sociological Field Methods | 4 units |
Enroll in Senior Seminar in the fall of your senior year.
| SOC 490 | Senior Seminar in Sociology | 4 units |
Sociology students are encouraged to consider studying abroad for a semester. Those who plan to study abroad should work with their advisor on an academic plan that allows for both a study abroad experience and completion of their major requirements. The ideal plan ensures that students study abroad, and have taken at least two Sociology electives and the following courses prior to senior year: SOC 101 or SOC 102; SOC 200 or SOC 205; SOC 304; and SOC 305, SOC 306, or SOC 310. Up to two courses taken in Sociology departments while abroad count towards the major electives.
Second-Stage Writing Requirement
Students majoring in Sociology will satisfy the second-stage component of Occidental College's college-wide writing requirement by completing any 300-level Sociology course by the end of the fall semester of the junior year with a grade of B- or higher. Students should familiarize themselves with the departmental requirement at the time of declaring the major. See the Writing Program and consult the department chair for additional information.
Comprehensive Requirement
Students will engage in a major research project that will culminate in a written senior thesis.
College Honors
A distinctive ("PD") comprehensive senior thesis based on primary research along with a 3.5 grade point average in the department and 3.25 overall.
Minor Requirements
Five courses (20 units) in Sociology for which
at most one of SOC 101 and SOC 102 may count. The remaining four courses are electives that students may select from all the other courses offered by the department.
Transfer Credit Policies
The Sociology Department may accept online courses to count toward the major or the minor.
While there is not an AP or IB examination in Sociology, a qualifying A-level examination score on any of the three, post-2017 Sociology examinations will be considered equivalent to completing SOC 101 or SOC 102. Students will earn four units of credit for each qualifying examination score. Up to eight units may be applied toward the major and up to four units may be applied toward the minor.
Students may apply up to two courses (eight units of credit) in transfer toward the major or one course (four units) in transfer toward the minor.
Students should reference the Transfer Credit section for more details.
Courses
Sociology Courses
Faculty
Regular Faculty
Jan Lin, chair
Professor
B.A., Williams College; M.S., London School of Economics and Political Science; Ph.D., New School for Social Research
John T. Lang
Associate Professor
B.A., M.A., Ph.D., Rutgers University
Richard Mora
Associate Professor
B.A., Harvard College (Sociology); M.A., University of Michigan (Education); M.A., Harvard University (Sociology); Ph.D., Harvard University (Sociology & Social Policy)
Charles Brady Potts
Assistant Professor
B.A., Rhodes College; M.S., University of Wisconsin, Madison; Ph.D., University of Southern California
Mai Thai
Assistant Professor
B.A., Pomona College; Ph.D., Indiana University
Dolores Trevizo
Professor
A.B., Occidental College; M.A., Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
Benjamin Weiss
Assistant Professor
A.B., Occidental College; Ph.D., University of Southern California
On Special Appointment
Isaac Speer
Non-Tenure Track Assistant Professor
B.A., Pitzer College; M.A., Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
Min Yoo
Non-Tenure Track Assistant Professor
A.B., Occidental College; M.A., Ph.D., University of California, Riverside