Sociology Major

SURC-Kathryn-Kilichowski-Sociology-slider
Kathryn Kilichowski presents at the 2018 SUNY Undergraduate Research Conference
2014 sociology field course in Hong Kong
2014 sociology field course in Hong Kong

About the Major

SUNY Oneonta’s Sociology program will prepare you for a range of careers, including social services, counseling, administration, marketing, research, criminal justice, work with the elderly and social policy.

With eleven full-time faculty, several part-time teaching faculty and internship coordinators working in the field, the Sociology, Human Services, and Crime Studies Department at SUNY Oneonta is big enough to provide cutting-edge programs yet small enough to offer a personalized educational experience.

Curriculum

There are five tracks within the major:

  • The General track is a traditional sociology program that offers a foundation for careers or advanced education in all aspects of social life, including education, work, health and medicine, inequality and global development.
  • The Human Services track will prepare you for careers that emphasize working with and helping vulnerable populations, such as those living in poverty, in unhealthy relationships or with substance abuse problems. Many students go on to earn the Master of Social Work or counseling degrees.
  • The Community Development and Planning track is designed for students interested in improving the sustainability and quality of life of communities. Many students go on to earn advanced degrees in Urban and Regional Planning or Community Development.
  • The Criminology and Deviance track is designed for students interested in the study of individuals, groups and subcultures holding complex attitudes and beliefs or practicing behaviors that violate social norms, including those that violate formal laws (criminality). Many students will pursue advanced degrees in Criminology or Law.
  • The Aging Studies track will prepare you for fields that emphasize working with and helping improve the lives of elderly populations. Many students go on to earn advanced degrees in Gerontology or Medicine.

Request Information

Loading...

Contact

Sociology, Human Services, and Crime Studies Department
607-436-3512

Department Website

Sociology Club

Course Topics

Below are some of the courses available to Sociology majors across multiple tracks. View the full list of courses available in the Sociology, Human Services, and Crime Studies Department.

  • Introduction to Sociology
  • Social Research Methods
  • Sociological Theory
  • Sociology of Ethic Relations (Human Services Track)
  • Introduction to Social Work (Human Services Track)
  • Social Policy (Human Services Track)
  • The Community (Community and Environment Track)
  • Environmental Sociology (Community and Environment Track)
  • Urban Sociology (Community Environment Track)
  • Criminological Theory (Criminology Track)
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

Loading...

Five Tracks

You can tailor the program to your interests and career goals by choosing one of four tracks within the major. The Liberal Arts track is a traditional sociology program designed to permit students to dual major. The Human Services track prepares students for graduate work or careers in social work. The Community & Environment track examines the impact of human population growth and distribution on the environment. The Criminology track is designed for students interested in the study of crime and is suitable for students who wish to pursue a career in criminal law, crime research and crime policy.

Student Research

Research opportunities are available through both faculty- and student initiated projects. Students can earn college credit through independent study or in a research assistantship, and college funding is available for student research projects and travel to academic conferences.

Student Clubs

  • Sociology Club
  • Criminal Justice Club
  • Alpha Kappa Delta (Alphi Pi chapter), the international sociology honor society
  • Alpha Phi Sigma (Pi Delta Omicron chapter), the criminal justice honor society

Hands-On Learning Opportunities

Sociology students benefit from internship and service-learning opportunities, as well as participation in sociology and criminal justice clubs that organize fundraisers, host workshops and speakers, and attend conferences for professional organizations such as the Eastern Sociological Society.

The university’s Center for Social Responsibility and Community (CSRC) provides volunteer opportunities for students. Through the CSRC, students can gain exposure to social issues and problems, and the social policies and programs that have been or could be developed as a response.

Profiles

Morgan Whittington
Having grown up in a household that valued environmental sustainability, Morgan Whittington came to SUNY Oneonta with one of her two majors already in mind. From camping trips to traveling across the United States visiting national parks, Whittington has been an “advocate for the planet” ever since she was a child.
Aolat Salami
Describe Oneonta in one word? That’s easy, according to senior Sociology and Africana & Latinx Studies major Aolat Salami: “Community.” Here’s why…
Nicole Bausenwein
As a student at SUNY Oneonta, Class of 2022 alumna Nicole Bausenwein became interested in international development, learned how to write a grant and conduct research, and participated in the SUNY COIL Global Commons summer program, which allowed her to collaborate with a Non-Government Organization in Nigeria.
Kirstie Kemmerer
Assistant Professor of Sociology Kirstie Kemmerer is living proof that it’s OK to change directions in life. While earning her bachelor’s in business management, she thought she wanted to be a wedding planner. Now, several years later, she has a Ph.D. and teaches classes that deal with hard-hitting issues such as domestic violence and rural crime.

Back to top